Mike

I think you and I agree that you tell the PH what you want to do and not the other way around. My post wasn't directed at anybody in particular. Some of the earlier comments have stated that they would do what the PH suggested.

Mickey, It looks like we are on the same page with this one.

Like everything else in life, you generally get out what you put in. The harder you work for your animal the greater the satisfaction. However, I will concede that some hunters are not physically able to hunt on foot. For them, I recommend the sit and glass or sit and wait method over shooting off the back of a pickup.

Taking animals from the vehicle is not hunting. You miss the details that make for a complete experience...the tracks in the sand, insects crawling about their daily routines, tree fruits and seeds, bleached bones that tell of struggles ended, the colorful birdlife, the sounds of the bush, the silence of the bush (why?), undisturbed animals living out their lives in ancient rythms...

One exception: the hot pursuit leopard hunt. The vehicle is necessary to make the final rush and provoke the charge. It is also arguably a little safer than facing the charge on the ground. A little, I say, as the leopard is perfectly capable of leaping into your face and ripping your guts out, even if you are standing atop a Land Cruiser.

For those of you who see things my way, I can arrange for you to hunt with folks that are willing to work for their fees. If you want to collect trophies from a vehicle, there are plenty of other PHs (or is that Professional Drivers) out there who are perfectly happy to help you. Like the New York cabbies, they have figured out that fast and furious equates to more dollars to take home at the end of the day.

Anyone else ever had a bird perch on his head? A mule deer sniff you from inches away? There's a world of difference, don't miss out.

Gentlemen,

I am willing to bet you that the majority of "hunters" who go hunt Africa will be happy to shoot from the back of the truck! In fact, I bet the majority do.

It is great to sit at home and be an expert on ethics on hunting in Africa.

I have not done much hunting in either the US or Europe - I shot a pronghorn in Texas sitting in sand buggy, and I have shot one wild boar in Belgium sitting in a tree stand - both because that is the way they are hunted in those countries.

In hunting in Zimbabwe, all our shots were taken on foot. You are not even allowed to lean on the truck. Some animals were actually "hunted"; i.e. tracked on foot for hours, stalked and shot. Some animals were "shot", as against "hunted", by seeing them while driving in the truck, and all one has to do is jump out and fire his shot.

In South Africa, I have shot animals both on foot and from the truck, and frankly, I cannot see anything wrong with that at all.

I did find it a bit strange at the beginning. As I always jumped off the truck to shoot an animal, and as soon as I was on the ground, the animal was nowhere to be seen. Back to the top of the truck, where one can see it in the grass.

I shot my oryx bull off the cab of the truck on the third day. That is the only big game animal I've ever shot from a vehicle. I thought about the situation a lot before doing it, and we had also hunted a half day in the Kalahari on foot.

On a "hunting-shooting" scale. I found what we did much closer to hunting, and more satisfying, than the game I've shot in Central Texas from a blind, looking over a feeder. That is pure shooting in my opinion. You rely on luck that the buck will come to your feeder. You use little if any skill since most feeders are within 100 yards of your blind. (It is still better than sitting on your couch watching T.V.)

What is Hunting? Is it a long walk or a streuious climb? Is it the patience to sit quitely in a blind for Leopard or Lion? Is it just looking for game? The first two cannot be done from a Bakkie, but the the third one can and is. It is still hunting the only difference is the method.

As to a PH getting you as many heads as possible and all of those heads are Medal heads I guess he has still done a pretty good job, eh.

[ 06-22-2003, 20:22: Message edited by: Die Ou Jagter ]

Well I don't know where you guys hunt Buffalo (re:LV Erics post) but someone shooting from the truck isn't going to interfere with anyones hunting on our concessions, because the guy shooting from the truck is the only one on that concession...I think this would or should apply to all Safari Companies in Africa..AND if I were hunting afoot, you can bet I wouldn't be near any road, thats the point of hunting on foot, to get away from the traffic and find the big boy.

We don't shoot Buffalo from the truck persay, we spot and stalk, to save a lot of shoe leather and we still get in quite a few miles...Albiet should a 50" bull step out into the road, and the hunter gets all gushy and proud and refuses to shoot from the truck, he just pooped in his nest and I will be the sole owner of old Dagga Boy..

I will tell you one thing for sure and that is the rear view mirror with your elbow on the steering wheel is sure a good rest and you can expect a clean kill, lot to be said about that..

I'm with Saeed, some folks hunt to little and read too much, get preconceived ideas but in time reality will set in...

Sure guys like Saeed, Nick, Robgunbuilder, self, and others have all put in lots of time on the track and endured all manor of hardships, but they have also, like any preditor, learned to take advantage of circumstances...

Ray,

I was talking about some of the buffalo heards in and around Matetsi. The heards circulate around several different concessions. My PH commented on it one day while we drove up on a rather large heard. His concern was that the operators near by were shooting from trucks thus messing things up for other operators. When the heard saw our truck from a distance it was absolute panic hence his comment. A few days later near the Park boundary we saw a couple different heards that payed no mind to our truck. Since trucks arnt usually associated with any natural threat he said that unless you come in at the heard fast they wont panic. I noticed the the difference made a mental note for a thread and here we are.

[ 06-23-2003, 06:59: Message edited by: LV Eric ]

LV,
They are closing in on us, I have no doubt..If the Metetsi is becoming crowded then were in for trouble, thats a shame...oh well there is always Tanzania and the wonderfully protective Tetsi fly the salvation of hunting in Tanzania..

Ray,

I dont know if Matetsi is becomming over crowded or if its just a matter of indeginious operators who hire sub-par PH's that dont care. The way it was explained to me that several units there are being run like this now. They are selling their buffalo off to the highest bidder who brings his truck, client etc. They (PH) dont care what happens cause they wont be there next week. The indeinious operators dont seem to care or know better and still get paid the same. That is a recipe for disaster.

I've never been up for my PH being of the indigenous species of man, in fact it just ain't gonna happen...no exceptions.