Here in Mauritania hunting is not regulated and the support structure is none existent, however I found useful with my hunting buddies (all locals) to have a small briefing at the beginning of the hunt, work out a plan, some safety basics and establish from the outset who has to shoot the game down in the event I miss a shot. We also establish who stays on the lookout for predator when we approach water holes.
The point is: while it is true that the client is the client and satisfying the client desires is good for business, it is also true that having hunted in Africa before doesn't qualify for any game especially the big 5; most of us, myself included, have seen Jumbos far away, getting close and personal is a whole different thing.
My suggestion would be that when it comes to some potentially nasty creatures (leopard included), the whole approach should be a little different; it should be made clear to the customer that there are no guarantees, that safety comes first, that he will have to take a little indoctrination before setting out (just to assess if he has done his homework on the habits, anatomy, sensory perceptions and individual/group behavior of the potential game); that regardless of his tackle, he should shoot within "x" yards and he should take a couple of days without bow and arrow, to track down some of games, get closer and just observe them, how they behave, take pictures, etc. The guide should take this time to assess the chap a little to see the potential for freaking out.
I greatly respect the chaps that make a living out of taking us hunting; like in aviation sometime there is just too much plane for the pilot (referring to some rich chaps that buy expensive high performance planes that they can't handle); in hunting is sometimes, the same, just to much expectations for the bowman regardless of the tackle, there is a lot more to hunting than just shooting the bow. We all miss, that's a fact, the intelligent hunter puts himself in the position which I call of the "golfer-pro"; the secret to me, is to make a shot that even though not perfect is still a reasonable, lethal shot.
Sadly I have seen on discovery channel few examples of "big 5 fobia for cash"; the latest episode of "I shouldn't be alive" recalled a Dagga boy hunt gone awry (it was a rifle hunt..........), a cute all dressed up "safari lady" shot a bull cape buffalo from about 50 yards (it was a rushed and almost on the run shot, kind of "spray and pray" type and it was crystal clear that the lady was nervous to say at least), the bullet lodged just under the spine, missing the lungs.
The Dagga Boy rushed away and looked for revenge, back tracked them in the thicket, waited for them in the cover at the entrance of a small clearing and then it went straight for the lady, knocked her off badly, then it went for the husband who tried to get in between, shattering one leg almost open to the bone. No one managed to shoot a round during the prowl.
Morale: client satisfaction is good; but if you get the "no brainer" treat them gently as such; if they get it fine they will be appreciative of the guide's sense of responsibility, professionalism and concern for their safety, if they don't get it, hard luck if they start complaining about the money paid, refund them and send them away alive.........ignorance has life and death consequences, some folk just don't see it.
These decisions are hard to live with sometimes! It seemed it was never gonna end well any which way!
www.africahunting.com
