Outfitters and PH's Please respond. All others: who does this...?

[Ridge Runner]

Ok.
I'm bored! I am missing not being able to hunt Africa.
So, I am watching YouTube videos......as therapy.

While watching videos of various PG and DG hunts, in various African countries. I stumble across a particular video of a hunter drinking beer while out hunting, (this guy is drinking in the back of the bakki, after a kill the PH and client are toasting the kill, while the animal is laying on ground in the field; first at their feet in front of them and again behind them in the background).

Guns and alcohol dont mix in my book. But what do I know. Stupid is, As stupid does.

Being safety conscious for not only myself and everyone else,.....including the client.

What ligitament/justifiable reason is there for an outfitter or even a PH to allow a client with a gun to drink (beer) and handle a weapon while in the field hunting? Especially during a buff hunt and later, on a lion hunt?!.??

Celebratory drinks and toast are fine upon return to camp or the lodge. But what I seen being conducted in the field while still out hunting.....to me IMO...is uncomprehendable.

Thus I'm asking outfitters and PHs why they will allow such a disconcerting for their safety and their clients safety by allowing a client or even themselves to drink while hunting?

 

[jwr]

I honestly believe that consuming alcohol whilst out hunting is careless, stupid and dangerous. If clients want to drink in the day then there should be no hunting that day, simple as that.

However, I don’t have a problem with clients having a beer on the way back to camp once the rifles are packed away and hunting is done for the day.

Furthermore, hunting dangerous game with a hangover is also careless and stupid! We had a rule in Tanzania where if the clients/PH’s got to bed late after heavy drinking, especially after a “kabubi” then the following mornings hunt was to be forfeited.

Safety is everything, mistakes and poor judgement in dangerous situations happen quickly when everyone in the hunting group is not on top of their game!

 

[Terry Blauwkamp]

I too saw the same hunts and caught the Beer drinking, Not only that, but I've seen Crocs, peppered with .223 autos, etc.

Also the poor marksmanship of many clients, very seldom to you see "one shot kills".

Maybe if the client was not wearing a white hat or shirt, he might get close enough to make a better shot.

 

[Philip Glass]

I have not seen the video but it depends on the situation. None of us would find it a good idea to drink all day while hunting. However a beer at lunch or on the way back to camp is not a problem.
Some guys have a rule of no beer in the bakkie. I like to have a beer in the way back to camp and guys who don’t allow that annoy me.
Philip

 

[Denvir Tire]

I'm with Philip 100 % on this.
Dove shooting in Argentina however.....Quilmes anyone?

 

[MMAL]

I agree 100% with Philip. Not always, but a beer at lunch or a drink at last light as hopefully you are skinning/loading an animal all ok in my book.

I have never heard of forfeiting the morning hunt after a bigger night. I guess it really depends on how big and how much sleep the client gets but in my situation I would be pissed.

Also don't forget about a big portion of the African clientele these days is Russian. They put vodka in their cereal. Or at least that is the perception. In the end it is a very tough choice for the PH, he is the one that has to walk in front of the clients gun.

 

[curtism1234]

I get why there are rules against drinking during lunch at some establishments - its a big liability. Of course it doesn't hurt to ask the ph if an exception can be made as that rule may go away depending on the guests in camp - sort of like parks closing at dusk to keep the teenagers out but the police aren't going to say anything to the 40 year old walking the dog.

I wouldn't lead with that the first day though...let the workers get to know you a little bit.

 

[John Telford]

Let just say there was an accident and someone gets shot and you land up in court where the judge asks you , “where you drinking ?” If your reply is yes - but just one beer.....The only thing you are going to hunt is cockroaches in prison.

 

[curtism1234]

Let just say there was an accident and someone gets shot and you land up in court where the judge asks you , “where you drinking ?” If your reply is yes - but just one beer.....The only thing you are going to hunt is cockroaches in prison.

Very valid point, especially when in another country.

 

[Cam Moon]

I think it kind of depends on the situation. Is it one beer? Or half a dozen? Is it while hunting? Or a celebratory drink after the animal is down? Who's driving? And are they drinking? If so, how much? And are they driving an easy trail back to camp, a treacherous hillside or river valley, or are they driving down the highway heading back from another concession? It's my holiday, and if I want to enjoy a beer, I think that's not unreasonable. However, if it results in putting myself or others in danger then it's pretty damned irresponsible. I do agree that alcohol and guns don't mix well. As far as canceling the morning hunt if the party goes too late the night before, I guess that could be open to interpretation. Obviously if somebody went to bed completely shit-faced, and was up and wanting to hunt 2 hours later I would be thinking that they should seriously reconsider that decision. Many good things in life are best when done in moderation.

 

[Mark Biggerstaff]

I agree alcohol and guns don’t mix especially during a hunt. I have been on 2 safaris is all. We had a celebratory beer in the field only one time. That was after I had taken my Cape Buffalo. But I will add that the hunting was done for the day also and it was only one beer and no more until we were back at camp. I feel that no alcohol is best during a hunt only when the day is over.

 

[Scott CWO]

Not allowed in our camps until done hunting for the day.

 

[Nyati]

In Spain we hunt with a wine skin, and we don´t understand lunch without wine.

In Finland, hunters carry a flask filled with some kind of schnapps to celebrate when you actually hunt some animal.

This is cultural, and of course I mean using very moderate amounts of alcohol, drunks have no place in hunting.

 

[TOBY458]

I usually have at least 8 Castles in the morning with breakfast. That way I don't have the shakes while Elephant hunting in the thick jess. Hahaha!
In all seriousness, I think a beer with lunch, or for celebration of a harvest in the field would be just fine. I am not much of a daytime drinker anyway, so I am fine to wait until we're back in camp. But I must admit, a good cold beer is hard to beat with billtong.

 

[Art Lambart II]

@TOBY458 I've seen the green goo you drink in the mornings, are you sure you dont want to switch to a few Castles?

 

[BeeMaa]

I have 3 points.
I don't go to Africa to drink.
All things in moderation.
Common sense applies at all times.

A beer or wine with lunch IMO is fine.
To celebrate a harvest...sounds good after a long hunt.
On the way back to camp...making a plan for tomorrow morning.

As long as the PH & outfitter are OK with it...
You are on vacation...in AFRICA!!!
Enjoy it, just not too much.

 

[TOBY458]

@TOBY458 I've seen the green goo you drink in the mornings, are you sure you dont want to switch to a few Castles?

That green stuff is the secret sauce!

 

[Hogpatrol]

Never had to deal with this but regardless of how much one can hold his liquor, I would think bringing alcoholic beverages on a hunt would be a HUGE liability issue. Something goes south and you're innocent until you run out of money

 

[Tokoloshe Safaris]

We have never had a problem with American hunters & alcohol. Eastern Europeans are a whole different story. I would be happy if they just had a beer at lunch or one beer after a major animal was loaded. Enough said!

 

[Hogpatrol]

We have never had a problem with American hunters & alcohol. Eastern Europeans are a whole different story. I would be happy if they just had a beer at lunch or one beer after a major animal was loaded. Enough said!

Two of them in camp, twelve empty bottles of South African wine in the trash can in the morning of their first hunting day. I don't know how late they stayed up drinking but they had a lot of misses. From what I've seen of this type, it seems like a lot of camp based deer hunters. They just want to get away from their wives and drink without hearing a bunch of crap.