Are you prepared?

Countrylife

Countrylife

AH veteran
Joined
Jan 17, 2017
Messages
150
Reaction score
182
Media
20
Hunting reports
Africa
2
Europe
1
Australia/NZ
1
Hunted
USA, New Zealand, Namibia, Spain
There was a thread a little while ago that said something to the effect that since the hunts are so expensive, the hunters will spend the time to be prepared for the Africa hunt.

I met someone today that answers this question. He's been talking about his Africa hunt for over a year and he gets on the airplane tomorrow. He has never shot off sticks before, so he decided he should check them out. So, he set up a set of sticks in his office this morning and put his gun on them and told me it is definately different from what he's used to. He was shopping for clothes to wear on the hunt. No plans for bringing the animals home, or taxidermy choice. Also, no idea as to the animals he wants to go after (which is probably good).

I don't have a lot of experience, but I have been there once. I also put forth the effort to practice and spent a couple of days with a person who has been a client and a PH so I would know what to expect. So, from my perspective - Guys (and Gals), don't put stuff like this off to the last minute, it is different and the sooner you prepare the better and more enjoyable your entire trip will be.
 
As my ol' man used to say, "He's in for a rude awakening". :E Rofl:

Or "Some people just have to learn the hard way". :A Bonk:
 
Not unusual for some. The trip is probably just a "bucket list" type thing. You're right- not knowing the animal may not be a bad thing or maybe at worst just neutral but also shows a real lack of interest in the whole trip. He'll probably do OK because most guides and PHs deal with it regularly. Next month it will be rock climbing somewhere or next year sky diving somewhere else, then onto some other trendy destination. Then an ATV trip, then fly fishing for tarpon, then onto this, that or other currently popular activity. Hunters like that may be just as well off going to a smaller "put and take" operation that has trail cam recordings of most of the trophies available then picking the right one from a catalog and sitting on the water hole they've been using. He'll get pictures and talk about Africa and get the trophies back and talk about Africa some more :)
 
He procrastinates a lot so he and I don't cross paths much anymore so there may not be a follow on report. I'm definitely not going to follow up to see how he did. I think fourfive8 is right - he talks like he's knowledgeable but when asked questions, the response is lacking.
 
Different strokes...

I spend many hundreds of hours preparing. It is just the way I roll.

I don't expect everyone to do what I do. And unless they expect me to carry their pack up to the Butts Creek Lookout in the Frank Church, it really doesn't matter to me.

Not everyone goes into a hunt with the same dreams and expectations.

Me, I don't want my PH to ever look at me and think "this guy isn't ready for this".

Others could care less what their PH thinks.

I don't understand that attitude, but hell, it's their money and their hunt. They'd probably be miserable doing 700 miles of pack work and shooting 1,000 rounds of big-bore to go hunt a buffalo. To me, it's all part of the hunt.
 
Much of the joy of a hunt is in the preparation! And it doesn’t matter what type of hunt. The beauty of a hobby is becoming engrossed in the process of learning and the journey as a whole. It is acquiring a skill and becoming proficient, there is honor in that.
 
I was ready to leave 6 months before I hit the airport.

I had made a list that had been added to and subtracted from so many times that I made a new list. Then I had a packing list, one for my check bag and one for my carry on. When I took something out of one I made a red X saying that it was out of the bag, then when I put it back I blacked out the X.

Then for the last 5 months before I left I just sat back and enjoyed.

This gentleman's hunt might get quite interesting once he hits the lodge that he is going to. But then again he might just not care and is just going to enjoy the time he has in Africa.
 
Sounds not so much like a hunter but as a tourist who might shoot something. Has he hunted anything before?
 
As has been said most of us do quite a bit of prepping for Safari. It’s part of the fun. Checklists, packing, and Getting guns ready is a big part of the fun for most of us. Hence the reason I discourage people from using camp guns and not taking their own due to travel fears. Fears that a good travel agent can alleviate.
Philip
 
Our concerns were not clothing or gear related. We just created a list of stuff to take using information from this website BTW!

What concerned us most was fatigue and its effects and overall marksmanship. I was going with a new rifle in .375 H&H which was the biggest caliber rifle I ever shot.

For about 6 months prior to our trip we:
  1. Walked 3 times per week at least a mile, once/week 4 miles with backpacks.
  2. Broke in our new boots by doing #1
  3. We never hunted off sticks before so we practiced shooting off sticks seated, kneeling and standing. We did this first for accuracy then for speed.
    1. Not knowing what else to do we created an arbitrary timed test standing, 3 shots in 1 minute off sticks into the black area (13 in. circle) of a SR 200 yard reduced target. That wasn't particularly difficult after a while.
    2. When we could do that we tried to see how fast we could get those 3 shots into the 9 ring - the best I ever did was about 15-20 seconds.
As expected, fatigue played a major role in our ability to stand-aim-shoot. If I'm exhausted I wobble and it takes me longer to feel I'm ready for a shot.

We didn't practice shooting offhand much as the PH indicated he would pretty much insist 100% on sticks. We were fine with that.

We did OK. 10 animals total and no losses.

SR target:
sr-200.gif
 
Countrylife, I'll bet your acquaintance believes he is well prepared for this trip. He found an Outfitter and opened up his wallet. After all, to this kind of "hunter" nothing else matters or is important.
 
As many have said earlier, the prep is part of the fun! I’ve been to RSA twice, hunted once and trip next year is already booked and planning since I was there last year. Already have guns worked out and loads developed for next trip. As for shooting prep, I bought a big pod and made another set of sticks and practice shooting from them every chance I get! I was packed 3 months before I left for my trip last year as well. Also studied the animals was/will be hunting and spent a lot of time on AH!

I know a fellar that claimed to be a master hunter, went on safari with little prep and practice and the folks that went with him have some stories to tell!
 
I have seen more than once a “deer hunter” buying a shotgun (slug only state) the week before season. I can’t imagine the misses and wounded animals they produce.
 
I see that African sticks, and preparation with them is always the subject.

I am a bit surprised, because I always use the sticks for hunting, when walk and stalk. Its routine.

So, I have to digress a bit, and ask: How majority of Americans shoot, hunt at their home grounds - without sticks?
What is usual, common American way?
 
mark-hunter said:
I see that African sticks, and preparation with them is always the subject.

I am a bit surprised, because I always use the sticks for hunting, when walk and stalk. Its routine.

So, I have to digress a bit, and ask: How majority of Americans shoot, hunt at their home grounds - without sticks?
What is usual, common American way?
Click to expand...

Offhand standing, sitting or prone, bipods, tripods, makeshift rests on rocks, crotch of a tree, up against a tree. Varmint hunting, portable shooting benches and where legal, some sort of setup on a vehicle. Have not seen any preference for two legged sticks in the U.S.
 
mark-hunter said:
I see that African sticks, and preparation with them is always the subject.

I am a bit surprised, because I always use the sticks for hunting, when walk and stalk. Its routine.

So, I have to digress a bit, and ask: How majority of Americans shoot, hunt at their home grounds - without sticks?
What is usual, common American way?
Click to expand...
Mark-hunter in Texas the majority of deer hunting is done from blinds or stands of some sort, be it elevated box, ground, tree.

The wife and I kill 100's of pigs a year at night using thermal scopes on AR style guns and use 2 and 3 legged shooting sticks exclusively for this, so shooting off sticks is second nature to us.

For varmint hunting at night most of our shots are taken off a "high rack" mounted in the bed of a truck.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Members online

... and 1093 more.
Total: 15,359 (members: 1,143, guests: 14,216)

Forum statistics

Threads
53,943
Messages
1,141,116
Members
93,264
Latest member
Marplot
 

 

 

Proudly sponsored by

Latest posts

Latest profile posts

HENRY GRIFFITHS SAFARIS
HENRY GRIFFITHS SAFARIS
Because of some clients having to move their dates I have 2 prime time slots open if anyone is interested to do a hunt
5-15 May
or 5-15 June is open!
shoot me a message for a good deal!
•••
D
dogcat1 wrote on skydiver386's profile.
I would be interested in it if you pass. Please send me the info on the gun shop if you do not buy it. I have the needed ammo and brass.
Thanks,
Ross
•••
HENRY GRIFFITHS SAFARIS
HENRY GRIFFITHS SAFARIS
Jackal hunt on triggercam,

•••
HENRY GRIFFITHS SAFARIS
HENRY GRIFFITHS SAFARIS
Jackal hunt on triggercam,

•••
F
Francois R wrote on Lance Hopper's profile.
Hi Lance hope you well. The 10.75 x 68 did you purchase it in the end ? if so are you prepared to part with it ? rgs Francois
•••

Share this page

 
Top