Closing in the distance

[Duckhunter3000]

I’ve done a lot of research over the past couple years about hunting Africa since I stumbled upon this site. I’ve noticed that the PH’s would like their hunters to get as close as they can. For plains game hunting in Namibia, what are the normal shooting distances?

 

[Nosler guy]

Depending on the type of terrain, the area and game you are hunting, that can really vary.

Most places with a good PH, expect most plains game shots to be between 100 and 250. I would venture that the 20+ trophies that we took in central Namibia would have averaged about 125 yards.

 

[UNTAMED KNIVES]

I can’t speak for Namibia, but growing up and hunting Zim, was taught that 150m was a long shot.

Most hunting in Zim is done in fairly thick bush though, and on lighter calibers getting your shot bounced by a random twig is a real concern. The only anima I have ever wounded and not recovered in my life was an Impala at about 50m out, .223, boiler room shot. It must have tipped a twig that I didn’t see though. There was great blood, but that impala ran and we tracked it for about 3kms before the blood ran out and we never found it. Spent the better part of day looking, still to this day I don’t know where that shot went in to give me that much blood but no animal.

The point of my story is, keep the shot as short as possible to negate any possibility of having your shot tipped off.

Obviously if you’re hunting an area that is more open, then you can get your ranges up.

 

[Duckhunter3000]

I can’t speak for Namibia, but growing up and hunting Zim, was taught that 150m was a long shot.

Most hunting in Zim is done in fairly thick bush though, and on lighter calibers getting your shot bounced by a random twig is a real concern. The only anima I have ever wounded and not recovered in my life was an Impala at about 50m out, .223, boiler room shot. It must have tipped a twig that I didn’t see though. There was great blood, but that impala ran and we tracked it for about 3kms before the blood ran out and we never found it. Spent the better part of day looking, still to this day I don’t know where that shot went in to give me that much blood but no animal.

The point of my story is, keep the shot as short as possible to negate any possibility of having your shot tipped off.

Obviously if you’re hunting an area that is more open, then you can get your ranges up.

Good to know, I mainly do ducks and small game like rabbits and squirrel we’re I’m from. Only rifle use for me if any would be on stuff like coyotes for example. But for the most part, a shotgun is the way to go as well.

 

[Charlie64]

.

I was taught - get as close as you can & then get another 20 m closer !

Have shot plains game from 25 m out to 340 m, animals don't follow rules

.

 

[375Fox]

It depends where you hunt in country. Most of my shots in Namibia have been around 200 yards on 5 trips. I’d go expecting anywhere from 50-350. Your PH isn’t getting close for the sake of getting close. He’s getting you to a distance you’ll have a high likelihood of a good shot off sticks. If that’s 200 yards max for you that’s where he’ll try to get you.

 

[BeeMaa]

Shot distance will depend on a number of factors. One of the most important is how confident the PH is in the hunters ability to properly place the shot.

In general, a PH wants to be within 100 yards if they are hunting with someone for the first time and have no prior knowledge of them.

After some trust is formed, longer shots will get the green light but that trust can be easily lost. Take your time and do it right the first time.

Other factors will be the terrain, hunting pressure, animal being hunted along with the PH’s knowledge of the environment and animal behavior. There isn’t just one answer to this problem.

 

[Duckhunter3000]

I’d go expecting anywhere from 50-350.

I mainly hunt waterfowl and small game. I don’t do much rifle hunting where I’m from. Even for deer when I tried to get one this year. It’s just the way my state works. The only exception of coyotes and foxes, that’s about it. But even then a shotgun is more ideal in most situations as well. But, I do try to get some range time with my rifle when I get the chance. I’m great at 50 with my limit out to 100 yards( could use some work at a 100 yards though). So with my limited range, how good would I do in Namibia?

 

[375Fox]

I mainly hunt waterfowl and small game. I don’t do much rifle hunting where I’m from. Even for deer when I tried to get one this year. It’s just the way my state works. The only exception of coyotes and foxes, that’s about it. But even then a shotgun is more ideal in most situations as well. But, I do try to get some range time with my rifle when I get the chance. I’m great at 50 with my limit out to 100 yards( could use some work at a 100 yards though). So with my limited range, how good would I do in Namibia?

You would struggle, but you are writing that assuming you can’t get better. I think you have some fundamentals to work on whether you realize it or not. I’d find someone to load the rifle for you at range. You’ll learn a lot about how you shoot pulling the trigger on an empty you think is live. Where the crosshairs go when trigger breaks is where bullet would have gone. You pick up bad trigger habits from shotguns. After that I find someone to teach you to shoot properly from sticks. Maybe even a professional course. Quad sticks like 4 stable sticks or viper flex improve stability dramatically over a tripod also.

Even now for myself, I do more dry fire practice than live rounds. I loaded dummies so I can’t tell apart from the live rounds. Shooting 20 shots poorly doesn’t help anyone. The bad habits get covered up by recoil at last second. I improve my shooting the most when the rifle goes “click.”

 

[Flipper Dude]

What is limiting you to 100 yds? Not dissing, just curious. Vision? Accuracy outside of 4-6”? Problem shooting from sticks? Scope? I’d work on resolving that issue first. I would hate to be traveling to Namibia to hunt with a limit of 100 yds unless I was happy hunting at a hide at a watering hole. 100 yards would work in most of Limpopo or Zimbabwe, or Mozambique, at least where I’ve hunted

 

[Red Leg]

The biggest favor you can do for yourself is get a set of sticks and practice off them religiously before leaving. Dry firing is, if done correctly, about as effective as actual rounds down range. Most of the PHs in Africa use a simple tripod. As an old duck hunter, I promise you can train yourself fairly quickly to hit out to 150 very consistently.

I have hunted quite a few times in Namibia and the vast majority of my shots have been under 150 yards. Exceptions have been a mountain zebra and a couple of the oryx I have taken. Even with those, nothing was beyond 250.

You will be fine.

 

[Firebird]

Your ph is going to do everything for you just short of pulling the trigger. They will find the game, assess the wind, stalk with you in their back pocket, set up the tripod or sticks and remind you to aim “on the shoulder.” Your main function is to take a good breath, calm yourself and make the shot. After the shot all you must do is sit behind the animal and smile for the camera!
So the shot is your main job.
In your shoes, I would invest in a pain of shooting sticks and I would strongly recommend the four stable sticks or Rudolph brand that are becoming very popular for a reason. They have a front and rear rear in the same setup. Then I would spend every opportunity at the range, finding the target in the scope, calming my nerves, gaining my breath and making the shot. Sort of quickly.
Off four stable sticks you will have no trouble out to 200 and with practice you’ll get beyond that, but in Namibia, I don’t think you’ll need it.

 

[Duckhunter3000]

You would struggle, but you are writing that assuming you can’t get better. I think you have some fundamentals to work on whether you realize it or not. I’d find someone to load the rifle for you at range. You’ll learn a lot about how you shoot pulling the trigger on an empty you think is live. Where the crosshairs go when trigger breaks is where bullet would have gone. You pick up bad trigger habits from shotguns. After that I find someone to teach you to shoot properly from sticks.

I actually shoot rifles pretty well. I learned the fundamentals from air rifles and it just transferred over to rifles. So I always had that skill. I also shoot iron sights mostly, I’m not sure how much that could hinder the hunt when I eventually find a way over there. I don’t use scopes as much. I will definitely learn how to use the sticks when I’m ready though.

 

[Duckhunter3000]

What is limiting you to 100 yds? Not dissing, just curious. Vision? Accuracy outside of 4-6”? Problem shooting from sticks? Scope? I’d work on resolving that issue first. I would hate to be traveling to Namibia to hunt with a limit of 100 yds unless I was happy hunting at a hide at a watering hole. 100 yards would work in most of Limpopo or Zimbabwe, or Mozambique, at least where I’ve hunted

No problem, I mainly use iron sights and don’t use scopes most of the time. I don’t have shooting sticks, but I can plan to get this in the future. It’s also just the range we have here. There really isn’t much of a need to go past or close to 100 in most cases where I hunt at. It probably can be done in certain areas though.

 

[Tim Blackwell]

Before I hunted with Kowas in Namibia, I asked them their average shot distance and they said 130m. After my Safari, across 8 trophies, I found this to be spot on. Shots ranged from 40m out to just over 200m.

 

[analog_peninsula]

My last experience hunting PG in Namibia was quite challenging in terms of shooting, and the animals were very wary indeed. Yes, there were shots at modest ranges, but at least three were over 300 yards. If the shooting is easy, be thankful, but don't count on it.

 

[Flipper Dude]

Was in Botswana and we were after impala, just wrapping up a great trip and because I like hunting impala. Came across a nice ram about 300 yards out across an open field. Park the truck and sneak back to the edge of the field and I’m thinking to myself, ‘How the hell are we gonna sneak up on these guys?’

Riann sets the sticks and says “The one furthest back on the right”.

“Oh, I see how this works now,” I replied
“ That’s a long poke with a borrowed rifle”

Riann grinned and relayed the fact that that “The pressure can’t always be on the PH, now can it?”

“Well hell, steady my elbow then”.

R8 with a can. Too damn ugly to include in the picture.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

You need to work on shooting out to 200 yards at least. What rifle are you using? Dry firing is very useful but you still need to ensure your rifle can shoot that far accurately. Invest in a scope. Period! Otherwise you're at increased risk of wounding animals. That is unacceptable. 3-9x is a good choice. Don't need to get anything fancy (e.g. Christmas tree reticle, lighted reticle, open turrets, etc.). Keep it on 3 or 4x while hunting and use high magnification for special purpose (don't forget to turn it back down!). Learn to shoot from sitting position using the sling for added stability. Situations don't always allow it but I find sitting position is more stable than shooting from sticks. In a perfect situation quad shooting sticks are hard to beat. But in an imperfect situation, they can be a pain in the ass.
Wingshooting is a world of difference from hunting big game with a rifle. Shooting at birds we naturally jump on the trigger rather than squeeze it. But wingshooting can prepare the hunter for shooting game on the run with a rifle. My PH has said more than once he thinks I may be a better shot at game on the run vs standing on the sticks. I suspect there's some truth to it. On the sticks I'm often taking too muc.h time = overthinking the shot and/or getting too wound up. I need to let my natural instincts take over and focus on the target not the gun. For me, if I shoot quick, I usually shoot well. Don't misunderstand. I do NOT advocate shooting at animals on the fly. Better to take the standing shot. But sometimes, especially if the animal has been hit, a running shot is necessary. Wingshooting prepares the hunter to remain concentrated on the target vs the rifle sights.

A good rifle that you can group 1"-1.5" off the bench or sitting at 100 yards should be good to go out to 250 yards. I sight my 30-06 in 1.5" high at 100 yards with 165 gr bullets and it's slightly high at 200 yards and still can hit a deer in the boiler room at 300 yards.

 

[Duckhunter3000]

You need to work on shooting out to 200 yards at least. What rifle are you using? Dry firing is very useful but you still need to ensure your rifle can shoot that far accurately. Invest in a scope. Period! Otherwise you're at increased risk of wounding animals. That is unacceptable. 3-9x is a good choice. Don't need to get anything fancy (e.g. Christmas tree reticle, lighted reticle, open turrets, etc.). Keep it on 3 or 4x while hunting and use high magnification for special purpose (don't forget to turn it back down!). Learn to shoot from sitting position using the sling for added stability. Situations don't always allow it but I find sitting position is more stable than shooting from sticks. In a perfect situation quad shooting sticks are hard to beat. But in an imperfect situation, they can be a pain in the ass.
Wingshooting is a world of difference from hunting big game with a rifle. Shooting at birds we naturally jump on the trigger rather than squeeze it. But wingshooting can prepare the hunter for shooting game on the run with a rifle. My PH has said more than once he thinks I may be a better shot at game on the run vs standing on the sticks. I suspect there's some truth to it. On the sticks I'm often taking too muc.h time = overthinking the shot and/or getting too wound up. I need to let my natural instincts take over and focus on the target not the gun. For me, if I shoot quick, I usually shoot well. Don't misunderstand. I do NOT advocate shooting at animals on the fly. Better to take the standing shot. But sometimes, especially if the animal has been hit, a running shot is necessary. Wingshooting prepares the hunter to remain concentrated on the target vs the rifle sights.

A good rifle that you can group 1"-1.5" off the bench or sitting at 100 yards should be good to go out to 250 yards. I sight my 30-06 in 1.5" high at 100 yards with 165 gr bullets and it's slightly high at 200 yards and still can hit a deer in the boiler room at 300 yards.

It sounds like this hunt needs a lot more planning then I thought. Not sure where I can find a range that allows for shots at 200 yards. A scope is probably easy to find. Unfortunately, it’s busy where I’m at so I can’t do all of these things now. But I’ll definitely look back at this in the future.

 

[Sika98k]

I’ve done a lot of research over the past couple years about hunting Africa since I stumbled upon this site. I’ve noticed that the PH’s would like their hunters to get as close as they can. For plains game hunting in Namibia, what are the normal shooting distances?

If you are down south in the Kalahari the shots in general will be long on springbok and oryx, 200 to 300 are the norm.further north the bush is denser so expect shorter ranges.
The first photo is fairly typical of my experience of the Namibian Kalahari. The second is typical of several cattle farms I’ve hunted on in the Etosha Conservancy and Kunene.