Yesterday was the first of the year's two shooting proficiency tests for aspirant professional hunters and guides. This test must be passed before the candidates can move on to their interviews and final exams.

There are four separate courses of fire, and the IPSC "Practical" score-divided by time format insures that an element of pressure is introduced. .375 H&H is the minimum caliber allowed, and is scored as "minor" with anything in the 4s (that makes the muzzle energy requirement of 5.3kJ) counting as "major".

There were 16 candidates, out of whom 6 passed - 5 learner PHs and 1 learner guide. Like the rest of Zimbabwe's test criteria it's not designed to be easy!

Those who came close can try again at the end of the year.

That course would be a sight to see! Is there video of this anywhere on the internet?

It would be interesting to know how the 4 courses are laid out how many target and distances. Do they include what we called called, in or military training, a bushlane, where you have animal target instead of human targets.

The standards for becoming a PH and the qualification process for PHs in Zimbabwe are the best in Africa. Regardless of what all else may be happening in Zimbabwe, the PH community, by and large, continues to be credit to the profession and deserves to hold their heads high.

quote:

Originally posted by FFemtRN5287:
That course would be a sight to see! Is there video of this anywhere on the internet?

Assuming no changes, this is the course of fire, posted right here on AR.

http://forums.accuratereloadin...22101325/m/347100925

quote:

Originally posted by MJines:
The standards for becoming a PH and the qualification process for PHs in Zimbabwe are the best in Africa. Regardless of what all else may be happening in Zimbabwe, the PH community, by and large, continues to be credit to the profession and deserves to hold their heads high.

Agree 100%.

The shooting test is difficult in another respect. We can shoot as much as we like, ammunition or at least reloading is relatively cheap and plentiful. An appy makes no money and has limited supplies to practice. Makes it that much more difficult.

Barry what was the highest score , out of those passed how many where repeats , this shooting test is not easy and take alot of practice its expensive for the kids who don't have fund or axcess to ammo ,couple years ago they had 32 candidates thanks for posting

quote:

Originally posted by MJines:
The standards for becoming a PH and the qualification process for PHs in Zimbabwe are the best in Africa. Regardless of what all else may be happening in Zimbabwe, the PH community, by and large, continues to be credit to the profession and deserves to hold their heads high.

Amen!

quote:

Originally posted by bambazonke:
Barry what was the highest score , out of those passed how many where repeats , this shooting test is not easy and take alot of practice its expensive for the kids who don't have fund or axcess to ammo ,couple years ago they had 32 candidates thanks for posting

I've read a bit about the proficiency tests and hear the oft repeated problem of lack of money for enough ammo to practice. How hard is it to acquire a set of dies, a cast bullet mold and a bit of shotgun powder, pull some from cartridges if need be.

While not providing the same level of recoil it will certainly provide plentiful cheap ammo to run through courses and practice the handling and loading of a firearm. Expensive cases will last forever using cast bullets even if requiring occasional neck annealing which is not rocket science.

If it means the difference between getting your licence and earning your living rather than sitting out for a year before a retest!!!!!

African Hunter ran a story with photos some years ago, I will look through my back issues. I'll also ask a couple of guys on the range if they have footage.

quote:

Originally posted by FFemtRN5287:
That course would be a sight to see! Is there video of this anywhere on the internet?

That's the one Mike. The targets can vary from year to year, but it's a center-of-mass scenario, with no visibly defined aiming marks.

quote:

Originally posted by MikeBurke:

quote:

Originally posted by FFemtRN5287:
That course would be a sight to see! Is there video of this anywhere on the internet?

Assuming no changes, this is the course of fire, posted right here on AR.

http://forums.accuratereloadin...22101325/m/347100925

Using the IPSC scoring system, the top score (when the point scores have been divided by the time it took to shoot the stage) automatically becomes 100%, and everyone else's score is a percentage of that. So there is no "highest possible score" as there is in, say, Olympic shooting.This adds another dimension, because the highest scores will vary with each test day, and also with the caliber (no pun intended) of the better shooters. So if you're a weaker shooter, it is very bad luck to do the test on the day when a "range god" is shooting it. And, as has been noted, many of the apprentices can't afford the amount of practice they should get. A number of training courses are now being offered, and there was a week-long course at Rifa on the Zambezi before last weekend's shooting test. Chris Pakenham, a former National Parks warden who was at both said it did make a difference.

quote:

Originally posted by bambazonke:
Barry what was the highest score , out of those passed how many where repeats , this shooting test is not easy and take alot of practice its expensive for the kids who don't have fund or axcess to ammo ,couple years ago they had 32 candidates thanks for posting

Sorry, these are supposed to be individual replies, I'm pushing the wrong button somewhere.

It may be the percentage will drop when you get a good guy in, but the hit factor will stay the same, i.e. points per second.

What is a passing score for this test?

How does the Zim qualifications stack up against the ones the Namibian guys have to get for their big game licence?

Well, the faster the shooter completes the course of fire, assuming his point score is good - say HPS for instance, the faster those points - points per second - will be scored. In order to make it more "understandable" for National Parks, Don Heath and Charlie Haley sat down and determined fixed point values to be added to each stage, which kind of bridges Comstock scoring with "conventional" scoring. So an aggregate score of 120 points for all stages is required for a pass.

quote:

Originally posted by crbutler:
It may be the percentage will drop when you get a good guy in, but the hit factor will stay the same, i.e. points per second.

What is a passing score for this test?

Not sure - I don't know the Namibian course of fire, but would like to.

quote:

Originally posted by Matt Graham:
How does the Zim qualifications stack up against the ones the Namibian guys have to get for their big game licence?

There are different criteria for hunters and guides, and the test is even slightly different for canoe guides who only shoot with a handgun. Hunters require 115 points overall to pass, and guides 80.

quote:

Originally posted by Barry Groulx:
Well, the faster the shooter completes the course of fire, assuming his point score is good - say HPS for instance, the faster those points - points per second - will be scored. In order to make it more "understandable" for National Parks, Don Heath and Charlie Haley sat down and determined fixed point values to be added to each stage, which kind of bridges Comstock scoring with "conventional" scoring. So an aggregate score of 120 points for all stages is required for a pass.

quote:

Originally posted by crbutler:
It may be the percentage will drop when you get a good guy in, but the hit factor will stay the same, i.e. points per second.

What is a passing score for this test?

You are correct, thanks for posting that.

quote:

Originally posted by ijl:
There are different criteria for hunters and guides, and the test is even slightly different for canoe guides who only shoot with a handgun. Hunters require 115 points overall to pass, and guides 80.

quote:

Originally posted by Barry Groulx:
Well, the faster the shooter completes the course of fire, assuming his point score is good - say HPS for instance, the faster those points - points per second - will be scored. In order to make it more "understandable" for National Parks, Don Heath and Charlie Haley sat down and determined fixed point values to be added to each stage, which kind of bridges Comstock scoring with "conventional" scoring. So an aggregate score of 120 points for all stages is required for a pass.

quote:

Originally posted by crbutler:
It may be the percentage will drop when you get a good guy in, but the hit factor will stay the same, i.e. points per second.

What is a passing score for this test?

quote:

Originally posted by Barry Groulx:
Not sure - I don't know the Namibian course of fire, but would like to.

quote:

Originally posted by Matt Graham:
How does the Zim qualifications stack up against the ones the Namibian guys have to get for their big game licence?

Barry - I actually meant the whole course mate, not just the shooting proficiency.

Perhaps Kevin Robertson will chime in. He has been involved in Zim instruction and/or testing.
He shoots clays IN THE AIR with his Dumoulin 505.

From 2006
http://forums.accuratereloadin...=482100925#482100925

quote:

Originally posted by ijl:
There are different criteria for hunters and guides, and the test is even slightly different for canoe guides who only shoot with a handgun. Hunters require 115 points overall to pass, and guides 80.

quote:

Originally posted by Barry Groulx:
Well, the faster the shooter completes the course of fire, assuming his point score is good - say HPS for instance, the faster those points - points per second - will be scored. In order to make it more "understandable" for National Parks, Don Heath and Charlie Haley sat down and determined fixed point values to be added to each stage, which kind of bridges Comstock scoring with "conventional" scoring. So an aggregate score of 120 points for all stages is required for a pass.

quote:

Originally posted by crbutler:
It may be the percentage will drop when you get a good guy in, but the hit factor will stay the same, i.e. points per second.

What is a passing score for this test?

Wonder what use a handgun is in the field?

quote:

Originally posted by Brice:
Perhaps Kevin Robertson will chime in. He has been involved in Zim instruction and/or testing.
He shoots clays IN THE AIR with his Dumoulin 505.

Quite a change from his story of when he first shot it, when he knocked himself out and set fire to the area.

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:


Wonder what use a handgun is in the field?

I carry one at times when the situation calls for it. Like if I am going fishing in a small boat - protection against overly friendly crocodiles!! Many of our fishing guides here in the NT get a licence to have one for this purpose. While hunting game I sometimes carry it when going after smaller animals - not as much need to lug the big gun around everywhere and easier to get in and out of the truck in a hurry, with the handgun. Some protection for oneself - if we bump an upset larger animal.

I'm not sure about the written components, I'll ask around.

quote:

Originally posted by Matt Graham:

quote:

Originally posted by Barry Groulx:
Not sure - I don't know the Namibian course of fire, but would like to.

quote:

Originally posted by Matt Graham:
How does the Zim qualifications stack up against the ones the Namibian guys have to get for their big game licence?

Barry - I actually meant the whole course mate, not just the shooting proficiency.

quote:

Originally posted by bambazonke:
Barry what was the highest score , out of those passed how many where repeats , this shooting test is not easy and take alot of practice its expensive for the kids who don't have fund or axcess to ammo ,couple years ago they had 32 candidates thanks for posting

I was once told by a Zimbabwe PH that Andrew Dawson (Chifuti Safaris) holds the record for the highest score on this test with Mike Payne (Save Safaris) coming in second. I was also told both shot the course using .470NE double rifles - a nice tidbit to know when you are choosing your PH for a dangerous game hunt

A handgun is used primarily as a backup and Don Heath was a great proponent of carrying one; he could also use one to great effect. The other application is for canoe guides, some of whom do not carry rifles. Don was always a big fan of the .41 Magnum, which is probably about entry level.

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:

quote:

Originally posted by ijl:
There are different criteria for hunters and guides, and the test is even slightly different for canoe guides who only shoot with a handgun. Hunters require 115 points overall to pass, and guides 80.

quote:

Originally posted by Barry Groulx:
Well, the faster the shooter completes the course of fire, assuming his point score is good - say HPS for instance, the faster those points - points per second - will be scored. In order to make it more "understandable" for National Parks, Don Heath and Charlie Haley sat down and determined fixed point values to be added to each stage, which kind of bridges Comstock scoring with "conventional" scoring. So an aggregate score of 120 points for all stages is required for a pass.

quote:

Originally posted by crbutler:
It may be the percentage will drop when you get a good guy in, but the hit factor will stay the same, i.e. points per second.

What is a passing score for this test?

Wonder what use a handgun is in the field?

The double is no disadvantage at all in capable hands, and can be a decided advantage in the speed shoot. As said, the scores vary from year to year, and there was also a regular shooting test that the Zimbabwe Hunters' Association (the group that represented local, mostly non-professional hunters) held for its members, and oftentimes PHs would come and shoot that as well, so it depends on which test.

quote:

Originally posted by subsailor74:

quote:

Originally posted by bambazonke:
Barry what was the highest score , out of those passed how many where repeats , this shooting test is not easy and take alot of practice its expensive for the kids who don't have fund or axcess to ammo ,couple years ago they had 32 candidates thanks for posting

I was once told by a Zimbabwe PH that Andrew Dawson (Chifuti Safaris) holds the record for the highest score on this test with Mike Payne (Save Safaris) coming in second. I was also told both shot the course using .470NE double rifles - a nice tidbit to know when you are choosing your PH for a dangerous game hunt