Anyone had a ph tell you to shoot the wrong animal or wrong shot?

[Vanguard2279]

Buffalo hunt in South Africa. Bulls were passing by a fairly wide gap in the brush. I'm on the sticks and the PH is glassing each bull as it passes. He hisses "That one!" and I send a round out. The bull takes off and we hearing it's death bellow in under a minute. We approach and I realize that it is a completely soft-bossed bull. Absolutely heart-breaking. I didn't get mad as mistakes happen. It was the only bull in the slot so there was no confusion between that and another bull. I estimated that it was a 6-7 year old bull. Dr. Robertson would later confirm that I was correct after seeing the pictures, but said it was much closer to 6 than 7.

 

[BRICKBURN]

1. Reedbuck hunting in tall grass. We stalked in under 60 yards and the PH was assessing the trophy through the cover. I was watching a great specimen and got the classic "take him when you are ready". I line up on the big guy I have been watching and reply that the ram has a tree over his vitals and I can't shoot. The PH, says "What?" in a confused, incredulous tone. He lifts his head away from the binos, looks at my rifle and we both note that we are assessing two different rams with our own tunnel vision. He now looks at mine and we reposition and I make the shot on the ram I have been looking at.
That tree saved us from the classic "the one on the left. No, the other left" result.

2. During a culling excursion in Botswana I was taking a rather lengthy shot on a broadside Wildbeest. The animal was facing left. I get the go ahead to shoot. I pulled the trigger and the animal dropped and the rest of the herd scattered. We made our way up to the animal and found the beast dead on its side with a hole behind the shoulder where I had aimed. The mystery; the animal was dead on its side facing right, the wrong direction. I was pretty certain it was in the exact spot where the target animal was standing/fallen when the shot had been taken. There were no blood trails, no spare critters. To this day I can't figure out what happened. Thankfully, the PH did not care as the goal was to cull every Wildebeest in that area for disease control.

3. A buddy had a PH make a rather bad error judging Kudu. My buddy even questioned him twice before making the shot. The PH assured him again and again. It was an truly embarrassing judging error.
Unhappy hunter, embarrassed PH. Don't recall any further result.

 

[gillettehunter]

In my 10 trips to Africa it's happened too often. First trip the PH had me shoot a female red hartebeast. He admitted it was his fault and that I'd shot the one he told me to.
Next one I remember was a blesbuck. A herd came by quite close and my brand new PH finally decided that there was one I should take when they were out there 300 yds. Shoot the last one in line. So I did. unfortunately the "last"one in line was hidden from me by some bushes and I had a doink.
Then there's the eland. First time hunting them. We find a herd and as they are working along a hillside we're looking at them. I find a dark blue one and think it's the bull. I'm dumb enough to just be looking at color. I ask the PH is it one with it's head up. Yes. Just took a step yes. Now head is down. Yes.... Bang and whop. I thought the PH said I hit him. Later he claims he said I didn't. Bull moves around and stops on a rocky point. Bang whop and down he goes. We walk over and I have 2 eland down. A big cow plus a bull. Cow isn't pregnant so I got off with minimal cost.
The biggest goof ever tho was in Zambia. Private ranch. We see a herd of 4 hartebeast and my PH claims all are bulls. We sneak into 240 yds and I set up the bipod. He tells me which one to shoot and we wait for it to give me a broadside shot. It does so I shoot it. We walk up and it's a female. He says that I shot the wrong one. I tell him no way. We load it up to take back for processing and bump into the other 3 "bulls". Short stalk. Shoot that one, so I do so. Another female. No chance I shot the wrong one. We load it up and stumble on the 2 remaining hartebeast. We hop out and make a short stalk. Shoot that one so I did. 3rd female............ All were females in that herd and the PH screwed up. I didn't pay for any of those. We went to another property for a male the next day..........
In Kyrgyzstan hunting Ibex in the winter we got on a large wintering herd before we could see to shoot. As it got light they said shoot #3. OK the 3rd on in from the right was a male so boom and whop and down. Mediocre bull. They meant the 3rd bull in from the right..........
I try harder now to be sure I know which one they mean.....
Bruce

 

[Ridge Runner]

First miscommunication in RSA on my first safari we were hunting Kudu. My PH was standing slightly higher up behind and to the side of me looking at a bull about 200 yards away. He instructed me to the location of the kudu,.. see the big tree? Come down the hillside . It's in the thick brush. I could make out the body of the kudu but couldn't get a good look at it's head to confirm it was the bull we were after. Since he only seen the one bull.....and a cow that was further ahead of the bull. I kept repeating I couldn't see horns and wasn’t sure of the animal I was looking at was a bull.

My PH was getting more excited about the size of the bull and that we were going to miss another opportunity on this big bull he began saying Shoot! Shoot! Reluctantly I touched the trigger on my 30-06. We heard the animal crash to the ground in the thick cover.

When we go to recover the kudu the tracker in Afrikaan told my PH who translated the news, PH said, you shot the cow.

Seems it was another instance of hunter and PH looking at 2 different animals and miscommunication on where the bull was actually standing.

In Zimbabwe the owner/PH mistaked a young cow hippo with calf for the bull hippo we were hunting. His response was, '....well we shoot cows [hippos] also.' More details on this very bad Zimbabwe safaris experience with Lloyd Yeatman is in my 2021 hunt report.

 

[pilar]

In my 10 trips to Africa it's happened too often. First trip the PH had me shoot a female red hartebeast. He admitted it was his fault and that I'd shot the one he told me to.
Next one I remember was a blesbuck. A herd came by quite close and my brand new PH finally decided that there was one I should take when they were out there 300 yds. Shoot the last one in line. So I did. unfortunately the "last"one in line was hidden from me by some bushes and I had a doink.
Then there's the eland. First time hunting them. We find a herd and as they are working along a hillside we're looking at them. I find a dark blue one and think it's the bull. I'm dumb enough to just be looking at color. I ask the PH is it one with it's head up. Yes. Just took a step yes. Now head is down. Yes.... Bang and whop. I thought the PH said I hit him. Later he claims he said I didn't. Bull moves around and stops on a rocky point. Bang whop and down he goes. We walk over and I have 2 eland down. A big cow plus a bull. Cow isn't pregnant so I got off with minimal cost.
The biggest goof ever tho was in Zambia. Private ranch. We see a herd of 4 hartebeast and my PH claims all are bulls. We sneak into 240 yds and I set up the bipod. He tells me which one to shoot and we wait for it to give me a broadside shot. It does so I shoot it. We walk up and it's a female. He says that I shot the wrong one. I tell him no way. We load it up to take back for processing and bump into the other 3 "bulls". Short stalk. Shoot that one, so I do so. Another female. No chance I shot the wrong one. We load it up and stumble on the 2 remaining hartebeast. We hop out and make a short stalk. Shoot that one so I did. 3rd female............ All were females in that herd and the PH screwed up. I didn't pay for any of those. We went to another property for a male the next day..........
In Kyrgyzstan hunting Ibex in the winter we got on a large wintering herd before we could see to shoot. As it got light they said shoot #3. OK the 3rd on in from the right was a male so boom and whop and down. Mediocre bull. They meant the 3rd bull in from the right..........
I try harder now to be sure I know which one they mean.....
Bruce

Mid Asian ibex Tajikistan , guides are yelling “ shoot , shoot that one “ the female interpreter grabbed my arm and said “ no to small and to far “ “ that one “
She was a real classy intelligent individual, that hunt only worked because of her

 

[Grandpa Moose]

Need to trust your PH for sure. Stalked a sable that looked pretty good and waited for a full broadside view, PH wanted to see length of curl for sure; in my excitement as the animal appeared ready too run I broke it's neck with the 375 I was carrying ; decent animal couple inches short of book but patience would have offered a better chance. Had a young starting PH who called shoot on a nice impala, nailed him but he thought it was missed ; upon checking it lay dead behind brush, he didn't stay on animal as I shot. Good chuckle between us

 

[DieJager]

Luckily never happened, (yet) in Africa. But I'm always trying to judge the trophy myself as well. If I do not see its size and I'm not certain it is a good, adult specimen I'm not shooting.

I've shot some wrong roe deer, not the ones that my mentor wanted and he raised hell. Now I'm always double checking.

 

[Nyati]

My first safari, in the thick of the Limpopo bush, my PH said shoot that impala, and I did.

When we got to it he said, sorry, too small, this one is free, we´ll find you a better one.

 

[HookMeUpII]

My first safari, in the thick of the Limpopo bush, my PH said shoot that impala, and I did.

When we got to it he said, sorry, too small, this one is free, we´ll find you a better one.

I know of someone who had that happen. I won't tell their story, however, it happens.

PH's are humans just like everyone else.

Mine was the opposite, luckily. He lost the one we wanted, said the one behind was a shooter as well, but didn't know how big. I shot and it's probably going to be SCI Gold.

Sword can cut both ways.

 

[wildwilderness]

Yup, night hunting and the PH had poor eyes…. Let’s just say he said shoot and I did. Wrong sex and he said I had to “pay” game official and tracker to bury it…. he never told the crooked outfitter who didn’t pay him past wages though so no trophy fee for me. The next night we hunted a different blind and ended up shooting a juvenile of another species since he didn’t say it was young…. That was a fiasco of a hunt, PH was nice but under a lot of stress from a bad outfitter.

 

[Fatback]

The only issue I’ve ever had was a mistake by a PH on ranging an impala. It was about 75 yards further than what I shot it for. It was a clean miss. Worked out great because about 45 minutes later I was able to connect in an even bigger Impala. Alls well that ends well cokes to mind in my situation.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Kudu are hard to judge. I recall another complete thread about this subject. My PH on third safari had me on a promised fifty inch bull for a couple of days before we finally got him. In the salt he measured only 44.5". I thought my PH was going to cry. Really. But I was okay with it. The bull had a very ratty cape and I only wanted a skull mount. And it is a very pretty rack, dark brow, smooth, thick, three turns, ivory tips. Another client might have been very disappointed without a cape to mount. Worked out fine for all. I love hunting that mountainous country. Last safari I hunted the same property and never got a shot at kudu, though we sure saw a lot of them. No big deal. Lovely country.

 

[Dudders]

I needed to shoot a fallow buck for a local village deer roast we have provide one for many years, This event usually took place on the first weekend in august and as fallow bucks season begins the 1st of August some years we do not have many days and busy with harvest. I had seen a buck a couple of times that would be perfect. I took a young american airman out with me to shoot this buck, got to where the buck had been seen the last few days it was still dark as we pulled into the field there he was in the headlights with a young pricket not twenty yards, lights off killed the engine and we waited 20 minutes and i explained we would let them move off across the field when they settled we would get into position for a shot i really need a head or neck shot using my rifle where you put the red dot the bullet will go. It was just starting to get light so we head off wide creep into about 100 yards hidden from view by stone field boundry wall. the pricket is stood against the edge of a small wood and the buck i want had just moved into the wood. I place the rifle on the wall get him set for the shot as i am sure the big buck will come back out in a minute, I tell the young lad not to shoot i am going to check the buck has not come out the other side of the wood i take a quick look nothing, thinking good the buck will still be just in the wood plenty of time to wait him out "CRACK" off fires the rifle up jumps the young airman " I GOT HIM " as I watch the buck i wanted run off across the field and a little pricket lying dead on the floor . I did get a buck that evening. the young airman was happy his fallow pricket and i get tell the tale of the time the now son in law shot the wrong bloody deer.

 

[dchum]

Mid Asian ibex Tajikistan , guides are yelling “ shoot , shoot that one “ the female interpreter grabbed my arm and said “ no to small and to far “ “ that one “
She was a real classy intelligent individual, that hunt only worked because of her

You should write a report of YOUR hunt in Tajikistan, please share some pictures of YOUR hunt

 

[dchum]

Mid Asian ibex Tajikistan , guides are yelling “ shoot , shoot that one “ the female interpreter grabbed my arm and said “ no to small and to far “ “ that one “
She was a real classy intelligent individual, that hunt only worked because of her

I don’t think you went on one….


“Grabbed MY arm”…
Or was it your buddy’s arm?
This is the same story you told on here 2 years ago but you said it was your friend. Now you are obviously making it sound like it was your hunt? Your catfishing on here as of late has gotten more obvious. Weird behavior

Just like your two buddy’s you were “talking to” last week about Zambia….then a member on here found it turned out to just be from a Ron Spomer podcast lol Subtle catfishing like that is just as bad as any in my book. Just be yourself, I’m sure you are interesting enough without little fibs and lies

 

[steve white]

Now I’m just confused, who won a two buff hunt auction or raffle?

Uh, that would be me....

 

[pilar]

I don’t think you went on one….


“Grabbed MY arm”…
Or was it your buddy’s arm?
This is the same story you told on here 2 years ago but you said it was your friend. Now you are obviously making it sound like it was your hunt? Your catfishing on here as of late has gotten more obvious. Weird behavior View attachment 718623

Just like your two buddy’s you were “talking to” last week about Zambia….then a member on here found it turned out to just be from a Ron Spomer podcast lol Subtle catfishing like that is just as bad as any in my book. Just be yourself, I’m sure you are interesting enough without little fibs and lies

I’m really not interested in conducting an internet argument with you, but if you’re interested in a negative experience just let me know by pm ! until then you can block me on here so you don’t have any more little girlie fits!!
Or contact me on a more negative website like rockslide

 

[Mark Biggerstaff]

I have one time out of 6 trips and 60 plus animals. It was not really the PH's fault but rather mine and miscommunication on which animal.
We had come across a herd of Gemsbok and eased into them. PH says take the 3rd one from the right, there were maybe 8-9 kind of standing in a line. Well I had kind of tunnel vision and the farthest right was blocked by a tree from my angle. So I came up three and shot and it dropped. PH says you missed and tracker says same. I say it dropped in tracks, and it had. It was still a really nice female at 44 inches, but the other was bigger, Got the right one the next day, she was 46 and change.. I was happy paying for both.

 

[dchum]

I’m really not interested in conducting an internet argument with you, but if you’re interested in a negative experience just let me know by pm ! until then you can block me on here so you don’t have any more little girlie fits!!
Or contact me on a more negative website like rockslide

I agree

There is no argument to be had - you are caught lying again and again. Small little details to make you seem…I’m not even sure

just stop being a catfish - simple

Just last week you said “on my next safari I’m taking this gun”
How can you say “next safari” if you have never been on one to begin with? It’s obvious what you are tying to do - stop

Thanks

 

[fourfive8]

In answer to ? of OP… not really. I make my own decisions about which animal and where….and live with those decisions. Then no one to blame for screw ups but me. I really try to avoid the blame game. I really don’t care for PHs who start yelling, “shoot, shoot, shoot!” Discussing opinions on certain animals or if real unseen safety concern involved… sure no problem. But no one “tells” me to shoot anything.