Last week I was watching Tracks Across Africa (episode 121) and the hunter shot his elephant frontal brain at 25 yds . Literally as the elephant started to stagger from the shot you could hear a second shot being fired and the animal collapsed. The shots were essentially simultaneous. The hunter worked the bolt quickly and the PH, Mark Valero of Chifuti Safaris walked the hunter forward and had him shoot once more into the chest. I literally had to watch the scene several times in slow motion to CONFIRM that the PH who was off camera really had fired simultaneously with the client.

Fast forward to this week and on episode 122 the same PH, Mark Valero guides a hunter who shoots a buffalo. The client and PH BOTH approach the downed bull. The bull is on his side,head down, facing away, and not moving. They come in from behind the still not moving bull, and from about 20yds Valero shoots the bull and they both then walk on in. He never said a word to the client about putting in another round for “insurance”. He just shot it himself very casually as they walked in.

While I understand the role of the PH and will always defer to their judgment on issues of safety. In both these cases the PH just blasted away with no necessity to do so. I was angry just watching it on tv, but I would have been furious had he pulled that nonsense on a hunt that I was paying for!

You are here to save my butt in an emergency, if there is any extra shooting necessary and it is safe for me to do so, then hold your fire or go pay for your own hunt!

JCS, see the thread "TAA Today" below your post. This is hashed out there.
Peter.

Did you see the guy shoot at the Buffalo? Looks like he has not handled a Rifle very much. Would not be suprised if he missed the shot.

Sorry, this topic has clearly been beaten to death in the other post entitled "TAA Today" which I had not read prior to my grumbling about the matter.

It bears repeating. If nothing else it makes you aware of what can happen if you do not shoot well, and reach agreement before hand with your PH. I had to stop watching it again. Just made my blood pressure blow the cuff off.

thanks for the post

Rich