First Animal you PH'd or Guided - Photos

BRICKBURN

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I have "guided" people while hunting at home, as I am sure many people have. Now I think of it more like hosting someone.


This photo was taken of the result of my very first hunt "being the PH" in South Africa. It was for a friend and that did not lesson the pressure one bit. I did not expect any pressure but that changed in a moment’s notice.

Sorting out which Ram was the largest from an entire herd of Blesbok that were milling and moving around constantly, and then to try and describe the specific animal to the hunter, while watching the animals that might move behind it and cause the dreaded "spare" error.


Hat's off to the guys who do this all the time.

Please share your first guided hunt results!


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After I qualified as a PH, a very good friend of mine, which I look up to as a mentor (a PH himself), asked me to book him a Red Duiker hunt. This was my first "official" hunt that I would take the lead role in as newly qualified PH.
I quickly realised that there is no such thing as a preassure free hunt when you take the lead, even if it is meant to be a ice breaker.... I managed to get him on a decent animal which he took.

I still thank him to this day for helping me to take that "one small step for man, one giant leap for a new PH".


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This should be a good thread.
 
Agreed. Looking forward to more
 
I'm not a PH, but this photo might be considered almost relevant to this thread...

This photo is of 3 generations of current (and future) PHs. It's Henk (videographer/PH), Henk's son Hino, Bosveld Jacobs (father of Henk and Riaan, PH and leopard specialist), and Riaan (our main PH) with my kudu.

I believe this was Hino's first kudu hunt.

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By no means am I a PH nor am I a professional guide but this hunt this past fall is one that will stick with me for the rest of my days. My sons first hunt, harvesting a nice jackrabbit. Next year we will upgrade him to hogs. He has been getting lots of range time in with his .22

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I will submit this pic on behalf of my PHs who also happen to be fine young gentleman, and a whole lot of fun to hunt with....

This was the first Cape buffalo for my PH Otto Bousema (rear-center), as the lead PH in the hunting party. Otto is one of our "young guns" who began with Limcroma as an 18 year-old apprentice and has since developed into one of our most gifted and requested PHs.

This hunt was both unique and special for all of us since it was also my first attempt at a Cape buffalo. As if the pressure of taking the lead was not enough, I also added the weight of wounding this buffalo with the first arrow. The pressure for Otto to ensure that we got this bull on the ground was intense to say the least.... Otto showed experience, professionalism, and a calmness beyond his years on this hunt. My confidence in him never wavered as I watched him diligently work to track this bull and keep us safe. It was an emotional hunt for all of us, and the mixture of elation and relief on Otto's face when the bull hit the ground was priceless. It is a memory that we will all cherish for a lifetime.

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The first animal I did with my son. He had taken other animals already but always on guided hunts. Ended up being a very special time in so many ways.

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I think he thought he drew the short straw since I had only hunted turkey one other time and the other guys with there sons had taken many over the years at there place we were hunting. It worked out great as after taking his bird the other bird that was with came back to beat up on his dead friend and I took him. Luck was on our side as we got the only two birds that weekend.

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During my first trip to SAfrica, toward the end, we lost our driver for one day so our PH had to drive. I took control in the back and stood making hand signals that PHs do :sneaky: I spotted this impala, which the PH couldn't see from inside the truck and I assured a member of our hunting party it was a shooter. Turns out I was right and he ended up with a 23+" ram.

I have guided many deer/exotic hunters in Texas but there is no telling where those pictures pics exist.

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Looks like a great thread to follow.
Bruce
 
I asked my brother who is our PH to wright something about the first hunt he guided...

Looking for the hartmann zebra for the hunter.

At home we decided to go and walk the area where they mainly hang around during the morning hours. Upon arrival, we get off the truck and told them to come and pick us up when we call them. The plan was to walk towards the west so they can not pick up our smell.

The truck wasn't even 500m away when we heard the zebras in the direct opposite direction. We decided to give it an shot, although not all in our favour.

We set off in an eastern direction. It was not long before we found the fresh tracks and dung off the zebras. At first it was easy walking on the tracks, untill we reached the rocky areas.
We kept going because we could hear the group just in front off us. They kept zig-zagging across the rocky terrain. After about an hour they crossed the road onto the softer ground.

This is were we started to catch up on them. The stalk was very slow, as we were trying to move as quite as possible(with the wind already not in our favour) and the hunter an old man and needed to take a rest every few yards.

As we got into the open space we saw the zebras at about 150 yards away. I placed the shooting sticks to get the hunter ready for the shot. As he was placing his rifle, they picked up our sent. 4 or 5 of them started galloping away. The one older mare stared at us. I knew it was now or never. I told him to take the shot and hit her straight in the chest.

The moment the shot hit her, I know it was a good shot. The blood trail was easy to follow. The zebra was found about 100 yards away.

It was a very nice hunt with a very nice trophy. The old man was very happy since it was a long time since he had such an far stalk for an trophy.

His words" now this is hunting" made it my best first ph guiding ever.

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