Elucidate me please!

[Blakefmd]

Many years since I’ve hunted in Africa but never stop dreaming. I have watched several recent hunting videos where I see guides reaching over to adjust the clients scope, putting the safety on or off, even taking the rifle off the sticks and out of the clients hands almost before the shot echoes have died out. Is this something trending or am I imagining it? I know if I was about to shoot and someone reached over in front of my face to adjust my scope or check my safety we would have a problem.

 

[Flipper Dude]

I’ll admit that I haven’t watched these videos, but I’m thinking that if a PH does some of those things mentioned he has watched his client from the rifle check onwards; the way he handles his firearm and his hunting and firearms familiarity, and is trying to do what is required to make the hunt safe and successful.

 

[JimP]

Perhaps the hunter has a handicap and needs help, or he is using a rented rifle and in unfamiliar with it or a new hunter.

The PH is there to help any way that he can and if you are upfront with them they'll make your hunt a success

 

[375Fox]

I’ve seen a lot of those videos. It seems exclusively South Africa and scopes with range dials. I always assumed it was a rental rifle. I’ve never had a PH adjust anything on my own rifle other than verbally verifying on safe. I have however had my guide turn the range dial to the appropriate yardage on his rental rifle while waiting on ibex to stand in Spain.

 

[Blakefmd]

All of these things make sense, thanks!

 

[Firebird]

Talking to a couple on my flight home-they had hunted with a popular and well represented ph/company in the east cape. -lots of YouTube videos. Said they would never hunt with them again. Were strongly encouraged to use the ph rifles. Strongly encouraged to take long shots. They both said the ph was constantly adjusting the custom turret and moving the gun for them. They were simply the device that pulled the trigger. They were not happy and despite talking with the ph, things did not change. A poor experience for them-

 

[Blakefmd]

This is what I’ve seen just lately. Several different videos.

 

[375Fox]

Talking to a couple on my flight home-they had hunted with a popular and well represented ph/company in the east cape. -lots of YouTube videos. Said they would never hunt with them again. Were strongly encouraged to use the ph rifles. Strongly encouraged to take long shots. They both said the ph was constantly adjusting the custom turret and moving the gun for them. They were simply the device that pulled the trigger. They were not happy and despite talking with the ph, things did not change. A poor experience for them-

That’s disappointing to hear. If it’s outfitter I’m thinking that’s unfortunate because they have very good reputation, but watching videos I thought the same. It seemed they were putting way too much emphasis on long range and using the range dials on scope.

 

[mark-hunter]

Many years since I’ve hunted in Africa but never stop dreaming. I have watched several recent hunting videos where I see guides reaching over to adjust the clients scope, putting the safety on or off, even taking the rifle off the sticks and out of the clients hands almost before the shot echoes have died out. Is this something trending or am I imagining it? I know if I was about to shoot and someone reached over in front of my face to adjust my scope or check my safety we would have a problem.

It is trending.
I was on 5 safaris and never experienced this. But i have seen plenty videos like that.

This reflects the overall trend of less skilled hunters, and declining firearm safety education.
Sometimes clients bring spouses, who are not skilled but want to try hunt.
This is a way of how PHs try to keep safety standard in the field.