29 Dec 03

Sage comments from Joe DaSilva, my friend and guide in Africa. Joe has kept me from being injured more than once. I owe him a lot. He knows what he is talking about:

"I have been hunting and guiding in Africa for thirty years, and I need to comment on your Ruark posting:

Firstly, the biggest mistake first-time African hunters make is failing to study the anatomy and habits of our game animals here. Time and effort in reading and speaking with people who know game in Africa will pay big dividends. Hunting here is serious business. Hunters are grievously injured here every year. Some are killed. Many more are unsuccessful and frustrated. The more you know, the luckier you get! Secondly, Correctly choosing the rifle, caliber, mounts, and scope for the type of animals that you are going to hunt. Again, you need to listen to experienced people and take their advice seriously. Over the years I've seen many guys and gals with ill-selected equipment either (1) lose game, or (2) damage the animal so badly that the taxidermist is unable to create a suitable mount.

Thirdly, You need to study the terrain where you will be hunting. For example, if you are hunting antelope in heavy bush, you will be shooting at ranges that will not exceed one hundred meters. You may have shots as close as twenty meters! For this, you don't need a 7mmRmag. A 270, 308, or 30-06 will do the job very well. Finally, Most hunters who come to Africa are not accomplished riflemen and have not practiced nearly enough. Worse yet, they don't want to listen to advice from those of us who live here. They invariably bring rifles in an inappropriate caliber. The routine result is that they become gun shy and miss their shots. They miss consistently, because they have created a huge flinch, a poor and inconsistent cheek weld, and are thus scared to take a second shot. I seen many guys with half moon (scope) cuts above their eye, and, oh boy, do they bleed! After such an experience, most hunters are finished for the day, maybe even their entire trip. The two rifles we like most here are the 300H&H and the 458WinMag. Doubles are glamorous, but I like bolt guns. I have killed twenty-four cape buffalo and, in all that time, have been charged twice. I can tell you confidently that the 458WM is more than enough. Controlled, accurate shooting is the key! You cannot allow yourself to panic. Understand that you'll have to hit the beast more than once. Most guys with 378s, 470s, 450s, and 500s cannot even make a viable second shot because of recoil. As a result, the wounded animal trots away, or charges! What's the use of having it?"

/John