I leave for Zim in a little over a week. It is my understanding that "the rains" have begun. How does this typically impact hunting? Do you guys (and ladies) wear any kind of rain gear or just get wet? Given this time of year (hot), the thought of wearing a rain jacket or shirt of any kind is rather unappealing. Thanks for your thoughts.

If the grasses haven't yet grown much hunting when it's wet isn't bad. Easy to track, odors can be covered and sometimes sounds are muffled, usually to the benefit of the hunter. I like a regular GI boonie hat (you might spray it with ScotchGuard) for headgear in the rain. Some of the typical military raingear isn't bad, but that might not be your style. If you are going to be in a daily shower I would check out the summer rain gear golfers use. Usually they allow for good maneuverability and are mostly made with good breathable (GoreTex type) fabrics. Many can be scrunched up into a very small package you can stow when not needed. Even the cheap K-Way (that's a brand in France) can be useful if waterproofed.

When I hunted northern Zim in late August a few years ago the rains gave us a welcome break from the heat. I still hunted in shorts and T-shirt. The only change I made was to wear waterproof chuckas instead of canvas tennis shoes(converse). Hunting with wet feet does not intrest me.

Jason

i fished competively in zimbabwe and in the summer rain months we used to use raingaer called froggs toggs its waterproof but its very light and breathable so it kept us dry but we did not feel too hot its widely availible in America and is not too expensive.you could even leave it behind for your ph i am sure he would appreciate it.

I have hunted a bit too much in rain for my preference. Since I don't like getting wet, I wear a rain jacket, but a nylon rain jacket is too noisy and gets caught on stuff, but a waxed cotton (Filson) jacket is way too hot.

We did hunt in rain storms on my last hunt in Mozambique and although I did have a light rain coat, it was sitting back at camp.
Anyway, it was hot though and the storms came and went fast so it wasn't a problem, in fact it was refreshing.
The rain did wash the spoor away but the next day spoor was so clear that even I could follow it.

I was in Northern Zim (Chewore) a couple years ago,in June and we had a couple days of unusual rain for that time of year and,for what it's worth,it brought out the Tsetse flies like you cant believe.When things dried out they were not nearly so bad.The roads got a little sloppy
also.If youre going to northern Zim, BEWARE OF THE FLIES!!!!

Thanks for the feedback gents. Think I will pack my short-sleeved golf rain shirt and just keep my fingers crossed I wont need it too much.

At the very least a light weight packable poncho would not be a bad idea. I took these in March and kept them in the truck duffle, as although refreshing and fun, riding in the back of the truck during a downpour can be a bit painful w/o some protection. It is entertaining to watch the trackers come up with their own solutions, which includes rolling up in a little ball and hiding under the bench seat.

Hunting in the rain is an over-rated passtime. I like my water hot out of a shower or ice cold in a glass and no other way.

Having said that... You don't say where you will be hunting - The highveld is quite wet at the moment with showers nearly every day, but most of the country is still bone dry.

In Matebeleland where I grew up, rain is usually very heavy and very brief. Pull up a book and wait for half an hour. The Zambezi Valley is similar except that at the moment it is so hot that it is a pleasure to stand in it!

Had a rain storm come in on me in a lion blind this year. The blind was 30 feet up in the top of a tree. It was like holding onto an unbroke horse but when the lightning started I was out of there. The normally hot dies turned into absolutely opressively humid hikes. It got tough after that rain. If it had rained again I would have wanted as much to stay in my clothes as possible.

Ganyana,

I will be hunting in Chirisa.

Getting wet, but not enough to disperse the game. Pretty hot, would take a lightweight poncho and let the tracker carry it

Ganyana, I appreciate the local intel. By the way, how hot is "pretty hot"???

Ah hell, if it starts raining on you, just strip down to a loincloth and go native...

Seriously, rain or shine, I hope you have a great hunt...
Brian

Allout- I had a bief mental picture of you in a loin cloth- and lost my breakfast


Bwanahile- around the 100 mark by day. they have had a little rain which has taken the edge off the heat

Regardless of rain or heat, there will be no loin/lipon cloth for this guy! Hopefully the rains and the heat will remain in moderation fro the next few weeks.

Ganyana...
I agree that would be a bad mental image. However, it couldn't be as bad as you wearing a "kilt" and blowing the bagpipes.
Be well...

Brian

hmmm now there's an idea for a "classic" Safari al la R. G. Cummings. He hunted in a kilt and prefered his claymore (broad sword) for night use on lions over his musket...

Tell you what, I'll wear the kilt, you disembowl lion and Buff with my claymore - Well have to get a good camera man

I have to weigh in here, Ganyana has, on a number of occasions qualified to wear a blouse, so the addition of a skirt would complete the picture.


later,
500

quote:

Originally posted by Ganyana:
Tell you what, I'll wear the kilt, you disembowl lion and Buff with my claymore - Well have to get a good camera man

I guess I am not too smart. If you are paying the fees I am riding the jet tomorrow.

You only live once, make the most out of it, right?
Brian

I would take a lion on with a claymore but not the sword kind!

465H&H