In your opinion what makes a Big Game Hunter

Erik7181 · Mar 6, 2019

what makes a Big game hunter. Or what makes a good one in your own thoughts

Ridgewalker · Mar 6, 2019

One needs to pay attention to detail, be highly visually oriented and love wildlife and the outdoors. The hunt is the passion while the kill is the anti-climax. I don’t know how many times I have been hunting until the last day only to decide not to take the shot.

Others may very well differ since we are all individuals with many different experiences.

sierraone · Mar 6, 2019

Ridgewalker said:
One needs to pay attention to detail, be highly visually oriented and love wildlife and the outdoors. The hunt is the passion while the kill is the anti-climax. I don’t know how many times I have been hunting until the last day only to decide not to take the shot.

Others may very well differ since we are all individuals with many different experiences.

I have hunted far more times and not seen a deer than the times I have shot and killed one. Africa is a big exception!

Newboomer · Mar 6, 2019

Think like the animal you're hunting. Try to envision what he would do in a certain situation and act accordingly. To me, that is half the fun when I can ambush him. If I want to take the shot I can or I can let him go. Just being out in God's kingdom among His creatures is a blessing and well worth the hardships or not bagging an animal.

Divernhunter · Mar 7, 2019

Attitude(positive) is the number one thing. With that you will enjoy yourself and so will others around you even if you do not kill something. You can learn to hunt but if you have a poor attitude even you will not be happy. Killing an animal is the goal but remember once you do that the hunting part is done.
I do not enjoy and since I have hunted for many years WILL NOT hunt with someone who has a bad attitude. This includes people who MUST have record book animals, hunt with a tape measure in their pocket, do not listen to the PH/guide, bitch about everything(especially if things are going not perfectly), come off as better than you(or the rest of the people including the PH/guide) or constantly brag just how great they are or rich they are. Often times they cannot shoot and show up with a new and the latest and greatest rifle they cannot handle.

My Africa PH told my daughter and I that they get 2 types of people. Born Hunters and they are fun to be with and usually do well. Then there are Money Made Hunters and they hate to have them in camp. Born Hunters can be rich or just common folk with smaller amounts of hard earned money to spend. It is all attitude!

Also do not want to be around a drunk. In camp or hunting. That includes one with a hangover when hunting. Done that and not again. The other person being drunk and such not me. If I want to get drunk I can do it in the comfort of my own home NOT in hunting camp. I love the Red Heart Rum in Africa that I cannot get in the USA but not once would I consider getting drunk there.

All that said my daughter and I shot a number of record book animals and we were on a budget hunt and told the PH we would like reprehensive animals. Ended up with the #48 Gold Cape impala, #30 gold Black Springbok, #62 gold Red Hartebeest as well as other gold/silver animals. The owner/outfitter/PH enjoyed us and we them in 2013. Our once-in-a-lifetime hunt turned into another hunt for me in 2017 for a month long stay.

Again I cannot stress enough that a positive attitude is foremost important---If you have that everything else will fall into place. UNLESS you have a very bad outfitter/PH/guide.

Newboomer · Mar 7, 2019

Divernhunter said:
Attitude(positive) is the number one thing. With that you will enjoy yourself and so will others around you even if you do not kill something. You can learn to hunt but if you have a poor attitude even you will not be happy. Killing an animal is the goal but remember once you do that the hunting part is done.
I do not enjoy and since I have hunted for many years WILL NOT hunt with someone who has a bad attitude. This includes people who MUST have record book animals, hunt with a tape measure in their pocket, do not listen to the PH/guide, bitch about everything(especially if things are going not perfectly), come off as better than you(or the rest of the people including the PH/guide) or constantly brag just how great they are or rich they are. Often times they cannot shoot and show up with a new and the latest and greatest rifle they cannot handle.

My Africa PH told my daughter and I that they get 2 types of people. Born Hunters and they are fun to be with and usually do well. Then there are Money Made Hunters and they hate to have them in camp. Born Hunters can be rich or just common folk with smaller amounts of hard earned money to spend. It is all attitude!

Also do not want to be around a drunk. In camp or hunting. That includes one with a hangover when hunting. Done that and not again. The other person being drunk and such not me. If I want to get drunk I can do it in the comfort of my own home NOT in hunting camp. I love the Red Heart Rum in Africa that I cannot get in the USA but not once would I consider getting drunk there.

All that said my daughter and I shot a number of record book animals and we were on a budget hunt and told the PH we would like reprehensive animals. Ended up with the #48 Gold Cape impala, #30 gold Black Springbok, #62 gold Red Hartebeest as well as other gold/silver animals. The owner/outfitter/PH enjoyed us and we them in 2013. Our once-in-a-lifetime hunt turned into another hunt for me in 2017 for a month long stay.

Again I cannot stress enough that a positive attitude is foremost important---If you have that everything else will fall into place. UNLESS you have a very bad outfitter/PH/guide.

Divernhunter; Oh, how many times have I seen that. The mouth and the drunk. If anything can ruin a good hunt, it's those two. In their mind they are and have the best of everything, be it guns, ammo, experience, you name it. And to put up with their hangovers or still half drunk in the field is a recipe for disaster. Alcohol and gunpowder do not mix. Then there's the constant complaining and thrashing about when you are trying to make a stalk. It's the fault of equipment or PH if they miss a shot. Oh, well, such is life.

Witold KrzyÅ¼anowski · Mar 7, 2019

Ridgewalker said:
One needs to pay attention to detail, be highly visually oriented and love wildlife and the outdoors. The hunt is the passion while the kill is the anti-climax. I don’t know how many times I have been hunting until the last day only to decide not to take the shot.

Others may very well differ since we are all individuals with many different experiences.

I think the same as Ridgewalker.

johnnyblues · Mar 7, 2019

Yes attitude goes a long way. I ve been on many hunts that were just not going well, weather, piss poor attitude of my guide you get the picture. I always try to remain upbeat when I can and not dwell on the days fruitless events. As we all know as hunters things can change in a Nano second. There is a lot a hunter has no control over no matter how much money one has. I ve been around big money guys in camp that I wouldn't give the sweat off my b---s. Try to pitch in too... I remember several hunts where my Italian cooking instincts had to take over. Good guides but...LOL Anyway just my 2 cents

Hogpatrol · Mar 7, 2019

Erik7181 said:
what makes a Big game hunter. Or what makes a good one in your own thoughts

As above, it's all about attitude. Personally, I prefer hunting with people that hunt as I do, all year long. They are serious about preparation, research, equipment, firearms, ammunition, and enjoy seeing animals in their native environment. They can also let a trophy animal walk if the shot isn't a sure thing.

JakeH · Mar 7, 2019

I’ll echo what most here have said, but I love a quote from Ruark for this...

“Already I was beginning to fall into the African way of thinking: that if you properly respect what you are after, and shoot it cleanly and on the animal’s terrain, if you imprison in your mind all the wonder of the day from sky to smell to breeze to flowers—then you have not merely killed an animal. You have lent immortality to a beast you have killed because you loved him and wanted him forever so that you could always recapture the day.“

steve white · Mar 7, 2019

Hold lots of likker, brag always, pay the PH not only to shoot your game for you, but to keep his mouth shut about it. A leopard hat band is mandatory.

Philip Glass · Mar 7, 2019

Passion, drive, and love for wild lands and wildlife.

TXhunter65 · Mar 7, 2019

I would say the same thing that makes a hunter in general.

An individual that holds a reverence for the species they pursue. A respect and quest for knowledge of not only the animals they hunt but for the natural world in general from the smallest flora and fauna to the largest. A passion that drives their actions in the out-of-doors. The humility to recognize their position as the ultimate apex predator while acknowledging their individual insignificance in a global ecosystem. Lastly, a willingness to teach that mankind has a true connection with nature and is a participant not just an observer to the next generation.

In your opinion what makes a Big Game Hunter

Erik7181

Ridgewalker

sierraone

Newboomer

Divernhunter

Newboomer

Witold KrzyÅ¼anowski

johnnyblues

Hogpatrol

JakeH

steve white

Philip Glass

TXhunter65

Members online

Forum statistics

Proudly sponsored by

Latest posts

Latest profile posts

Buffalo Hunt with Henry Griffiths Safaris $10000

Share this page