Elephant hunting Paranoid

[archeryblackdog]

I just got back from an Elephant Hunt in the Caprivi Strip Sunday…
don’t overthink it lol..
go have fun and enjoy your hunt and experience.
enjoy the search…the tracking…
enjoy being near and around magnificent elephant
you will have a great experience
Be confident in yourself and your experience.
imagine that moment in your mind and simply execute when you get your opportunity.
I probably saw 300+ Elephant (mostly in the Parks) and had a great hunt
what area are you hunting?

Good day.

Thank you ! I find your post Reassuring and uplifting I’ll be hunting Caprivi as well no no clue about the area.

 

[BRICKBURN]

Do not assume others mistakes will be your own.
There are myriad car crashes every day and you still get in your car. Drive defensively and get home every day.

You've trained, now put it into practice. Good luck.

 

[Uncontrolled_round_feed]

Don’t know why but I think so to. Nevertheless, why do you suggest so, maybe we have different reasons.

Big ol target that is easier to visualize and moves around less helps minimize the trepidation of things going wrong.
When in doubt, I always tell myself that whatever I'm aiming at is a cow elk for the freezer. Silly but works for me.
Good luck and definitely listen to the PH and you'll have a great hunt.

 

[Sideshow]

If you have never been around elephants on foot. May I suggest that you find the nearest zoo that has them.
Sure there behind bars and your safe. But take some ear plugs to drown out all the background noise’s and just focus on one elephant go through your shot placements then do the same on the next. Walk away turn around and do the same exercise again. It should get you in the right frame of mind to not only enjoy your hunt but not be surprised by at there shear size.
Most people can’t get there heads around how big there are, how quiet there can be, how invisible they can be and how bloody fast they can move.

Then take your self off to the panda pen and have a good laugh.

 

[Tanks]

First, use enough gun so a near miss on a brain shot (not just a head shot) stuns the animal. Secondly, do not overthink it.
Here are examples of frontal and side brain shots.

 

[Just a dude in BC]

I have never hunted elephant. But, I have shot competitively at the international level, and done well. I go through all the emotions you are going through before every large competition. Here are my two cents on how to manage these emotions.

What you are experiencing is doubt, and specifically doubt not necessarily in your ability, but also in the situation you may be faced with. This doubt can unhinge top tier competitive shooters, and hunters chasing quarry alike. In competitive shooting circles we all practice and are coached on mental management to help us shoot our best, and these practices translate directly to hunting situations.

So, here are three mental management things you can do, that will directly help you face the pressure you are putting on yourself:
1. Four square breathing. This is a relaxation technique that is proven to lower your stress levels and heart rate. If you find yourself getting amped up, fast heart rate and such, simply follow this pattern for 30-60 seconds. Breath in slowly over 4 seconds. Hold your breath for 4 seconds. Breath out slowly for 4 seconds. Hold and empty breath for 4 seconds, and repeat. If you repeat this cycle 2-4 times your body will calm down. You can do this in the last few mins before you encounter your animal, or any time you find you are stressing over the hunt.
2. Visualization. Your body tends to make happen, what your mind fixated on happening. So you need to teach your mind to see the best possible outcome. How can you do this? Well every night before you go to bed, and every morning before you get out of bed, simply lie in a comfortable position, close your eyes and remember a hunt that went well. One where you remember taking the shot, knowing the shot was great, and then walking up to the animal and seeing that the shot was great. You need to remind your brain that you are 100% capable of making great shots. Then visualize the hunt on the elephant, see it in your mind, see the elephant, imagine yourself putting the sight perfectly on the elephant, taking the perfect shot, and the elephant dropping on the spot. Imagine it from any different angles, and the shot always being perfect. What you are doing here is training your mind to take the prefect shot. Do in the morning and at night, and during any nap or anything mid day. If you train your mind to see and take the perfect shot, your body will execute your minds will when the time comes.
3. Calming thoughts. Right before you are going to be in a shooting position, imagine a calming scene. For me I imagine a wave (which I identify as stress) washing over me, but as the water leaves, I remain. I imagine the water washing away my stress, and a relaxed version of myself remaining. I practice this imagination technique right before I step onto the berm to shoot a match. It only takes 5-10 seconds and it 100% centers me before shooting.

I can tell you that mentally, these three things will help you shoot better regardless if it is at a competition or at an animal. remember that if that first shot is a good one, all the worries you have disappear.
And if you have time, I would recommend getting and reading this book: "with winning in mind - by Lanny Basham" It was written by an Olympic gold medal shooter on how he managed his mind to make perfect shoots.

The key to all of this is to make that first perfect shot. Oh... and listening to your PH!

 

[Scott CWO]

Good day everyone; I write this post since I believe am trapped in a spiral of negative emotions instead of excitement……

I am leaving for Namibia in 03 days to trophy elephant hunt ; which is a new for me (I have hunted Rhino, Lion, Buffalo (02) and hippo). So about a month ago I began watching YouTube videos of elephant hunting and began reading 02 books one of them a really good one (white hunters). Well in all the videos either the elephant charges or it doesn’t drop to the head shoot; besides in the book all the top PH’s of the time end up dead while elephant hunting.

So now all I think of is negative pessimistic crap which ends up bad for me. It does not help that a grind which organices hunts for clients in Europe with outfitters in Africa how had a client hunting in Namibia, placed a shoot tracked the elephant but the elephant crossed to Botswana and he lost the animal, the hunt and his money of course.

So I would like to hear from those that have elephant hunt in okabango in Botswana or Namibia your opinion if I am falling in a paranoid spiral and I should relax or if indeed I have sign up for something that requires to write my will…….

So the truth now please!

You will be fine. The vast majority of elephant hunts go according to plan. The problem hunts get more attention.

Use enough gun and practice. You can’t limit yourself to only certain shots. On my Botswana hunt, I took a very close side brain shot on a walking elephant using a 458 Lott. Although not perfectly brained, the bull went down and I kept shooting, including a rear hip shot to further anchor the big bull. An elephant can’t walk without both rear legs. As others have said, study anatomy and videos. Even though my elephant was only 200 yards from the border of the area, my PH never fired a shot because I just kept shooting.

If you weren’t a little mindful of the possible danger, you would be a fool. Mitigate your fear by being knowledgeable, prepared and use proper equipment. Good luck!

 

[Altitude sickness]

Darn it, After reading this. Now I want to go with you.

 

[cwpayton]

Ive never hunted ELE ,but they are a big beast for sure, so IM hoping for you to overcome all your anxiety's and enjoy your hunt , if not, I guess the best I can do Is offer to go in your place and die if thats in the cards dealt, PM me soon tho 3 days is not much time.

 

[WAB]

Elephant hunting is one of the most challenging and rewarding hunts you will do. They deserve respect, with perhaps a twinge of fear. Respect means proper preparation and armament. You must be in shape to hunt elephant properly. You must be well armed and capable with your weapon. Most of all, you must realize that you are hunting the greatest game animal on earth. Killing one is an emotional experience for a true hunter.

Appreciate the opportunity. It is going to change you.

 

[375Fox]

I’ll drive to camp for my first elephant hunt tomorrow. This will be my 13th safari and the first I feel intimidated by. I practiced with my rifle. I think I chose one of the best PHs and outfitters I can. I reviewed shot placement thoroughly. I think I did all I can pre-hunt. I’ll trust the PH now.

 

[Fatback]

People often say or think that they will “rise to the occasion” which is simply not true. In stressful situations you will “sink” to your highest level of training and preparation. So, as long as you have prepared and put in the time before your hunt, you are going to be just fine. Respect your quarry, follow the instructions of your PH and trust your training and go make a life long memory.

 

[Sideshow]

Darn it, After reading this. Now I want to go with you.

@Altitude sickness as tag along mental health coach sounds good to me. I’ll come as loader

 

[Altitude sickness]

You bring the wallet too and it’s a deal

 

[Sideshow]

You bring the wallet too and it’s a deal

You know it’s empty eh….but sure I’ll bring it

 

[Buff]

Nothing can live without lungs. Mine made it 50 yards before laying down

 

[Altitude sickness]

Where were you able to hunt Ele with a recurve. What is your setup for that hunt.

 

[wildfowler.250]

I’ve no notion of hunting elephants but I didn’t know you could chest shoot them. Surely that’s got to be easier? Aim small miss small and all that.

These aimpoint sites you can get now must also be ideal for it?