Bowhunters left alone in their blinds

[H50]

As I continue to dream/ plan a bow hunt to Africa I have ran into a question that I hope everyone can help me with.. My question is what is the protocol for bow hunters and their PH's in relation to hunting out of a blind?? I have read a lot of hunting reports from various sites where the hunters are left alone in their blinds with a walkie talkie and they call their PH when they have shot/ shot at something so they can start tracking. Is that the norm?? Some of these reports are from seemingly reputable outfits but it seems like a situation that can lead to a lot of bad shots/ lost animals. Some of the reports I have read seem to allude to this. Some make it sound like they have hunted with the PH before and were cleared to do this but others are first timers to Africa and seem to not frankly know fully what they are doing which I can surely relate too!! I thought your PH was supposed to be with you all the time?? No one has ever said their PH refused to sit with them but I was just wondering what to expect?? Also if you are paying a full daily fee shouldn't you have the services of your PH available? Thanks to everyone in advance for any helpful info- I appreciate the help and thanks again to Jerome and Brickburn for such an awesome site.

 

[TokkieM]

I can't speak for others, but I would never let a client sit alone in a hide. Just too many things that can go wrong. Trophy estimation,male,female identification are just a few to mention.

 

[bluey]

on my first trip to Africa in 2010
I did 10 days in thabazimbi , in limpoppo
in that time I was never left unattendered, in all that time
we spent a bit of time in the blinds , but walk and stalked every morning and afternoon
with some time in treestands aswell
the P.H that's was my guy , never ever left me alone in the field .

maybe if you went with the same outfit for three or four times they may let you hunt out of blind by yourself , but you would have too prove your worth , if that was to happen ,
id guess they would want to count your arrows before leaving you and set a video camera , so they could check your shots after you called them in .
but im only guessing here ........

 

[G Skinner]

Like bluey my PH never left my side .
Glen

 

[siml]

It is illegal to leave a client by himself, the law states he must always be under your direct control.

 

[jeffpg]

Based on my relatively extensive experience with this subject matter...

I have to plead the 5th on this one!

 

[siml]

Guessing you shot your ph?

 

[jeffpg]

Of course not!

He's the one with the rifle! lol

 

[H50]

I can't speak for others, but I would never let a client sit alone in a hide. Just too many things that can go wrong. Trophy estimation,male,female identification are just a few to mention.

That was my understanding as well but I have ran across several pretty big name outfits that seem to not do it that way which was much to my surprise. I wouldn't go with an outfit who wanted me to sit alone as a novice but it seems to be done quite a bit. I don't know what the advantage is to the outfit- guess to save money??

 

[siml]

H50, I can only give it a good guess.......lazy.....!!!

 

[TokkieM]

If the Outfitter does not provide a fulltime PH to you while you are there, I would avoid him,if your PH puts you in a hide alone, ask for a more dedicated one. If you are happy to sit alone, you may pass on something good or shoot something that does not quite measure up to what you wanted.
As TMS said, its illegal to have a client sit by himself.

 

[siml]

HHS, I am actually pretty shocked to hear that this sounds like common practice. I would fire that PH on the spot if he ever did that with one of my clients.

 

[TokkieM]

TMS can't agree more. Just too many things to consider. Sitting in a hide is not my first option, but with the bow sometimes its the only one. I get bored pretty quick and the smell of burning Zebra dung gets me thinking of smoking all the bloody time.
Remember a year or so ago a young man lost his life in a hide when he bled out, accidents do happen.
I too would send the lazy PH for a long walk on a short peer.

 

[H50]

TMS can't agree more. Just too many things to consider. Sitting in a hide is not my first option, but with the bow sometimes its the only one. I get bored pretty quick and the smell of burning Zebra dung gets me thinking of smoking all the bloody time.
Remember a year or so ago a young man lost his life in a hide when he bled out, accidents do happen.
I too would send the lazy PH for a long walk on a short peer.

I'm frankly amazed at the number of places that actively advertise on their web sites that they do this or at least give you the option of doing it. I have read several reports from a well known place ran by the former president of PHASA that seems to do it as standard practice. Not meaning to call anybody out but I'm just trying to learn.

 

[TokkieM]

As I said before, I will never do it, can't see why others would do it either. No different than letting a client sit on a Leopard bait alone.

 

[BRICKBURN]

Based on my relatively extensive experience with this subject matter...

I have to plead the 5th on this one!
................

Been there, done that.



Typically, no you are not going to be left alone.

 

[matt85]

your day rates cover your PH being with you at all times. i would be more then a little upset if left alone unless i specifically requested it.

from an outfitters point of view, they are seriously trusting you by leaving you on your own!

-matt

 

[CAustin]

Never been without a PH or two right next to me.

 

[jeff]

On most of my hunts I have hunted alone all or part of the time and really enjoyed it, it depends on your experience and what you want. After the Ph has hunted with you for a while they get to know you and your level of experience. I have found that hunting many SA areas and Namibia to be much less dangerous than hunting in the remote Rockies or Alaska on DIY solo hunts. I find there is less pressure on me when alone. I have even went as far as booking with specific outfitters who would drop me off at the hide, nothing worse than a PH who gets impatient with waiting or wants to have a smoke or go back for lunch and a knap.

 

[siml]

Jeff, I would not break the law so that I could get a client to book with me. Leaving a client in a blind alone to totally illegal. Just to touch on the smoking part, I have shot just as many animals with a client who smokes than doesn't in a blind, except with leopard, I don't let a client smoke.

If I was a client and the PH just dropped me in a blind, I would tell him I only want to shoot animals that make the book, every animal I shot that didn't make the book, I would refuse to pay. Hell I would go wild in the blind....