In memoriam - Professional Hunter Greg Michelson killed by Buffalo

[Ridge Runner]

Don’t take it personally, just quoting the quote.

I wasn't taking it personally. Just thought I needed to better define the intent.

IIRC it was about a year or so ago. An OP or threads leading away from an OP on this forum that implied outfitters and PHs were getting rich off selling hunts they provided. This prompted at least one forum sponsor outfitter to post a rebuttal response and a sample of their operational cost and net earnings.

 

[Arctic97]

Prayers and condolences to his family.

 

[canuck2024]

Very sad. RIP

 

[AimSmall]

This is one if the reasons to join DSC and support their Frontline Foundation (as well as others).

The Frontline was created to help support PHs and anti-poaching team members that have been injured or killed. A good cause, for sure.

RIP Greg.

 

[juan pablo pozzi]

Greg Michelson of GM Safaris of Zambia and before that Zimbabwe. An excellent and well known professional hunter, someone I respected very much was killed by a wounded Buffalo in the Luangwa Valley today.

I copied this from a Facebook group. Sad news indeed.

Very sorry RIP until Valhalla

 

[juan pablo pozzi]

Well said. Our prep and conduct is no small matter.

Well said

 

[Scott CWO]

I read about this a few days ago on IG. Horrible. I still have emails I exchanged with Greg. I hoped to hunt with him someday. A chance now lost. He was one of the good ones. RIP Sir.

 

[Hunt anything]

I received a message from a friend this weekend, he forwarded an audio message from a PH friend in Zimbabwe. Greg and his client were indeed tracking a wounded buffalo and when the bull charged both emptied their rifles at the bull and failed to stop him. Greg received a broken leg and massive abdominal injuries. They called in a rescue plane but he died on the way to the airstrip.
I believe he said that Greg was just doing a few more hunts before he retired.
I will listen to it again and see if I left anything out.
Be at peace and God bless his family.

 

[RogerHeintzman]

The dangers of a PH's life. R.I.P. our friend. Prayers for all involved.

 

[sureshot375]

Incident report from PGOAZ

 

[TERMINATOR]

Incident report from PGOAZ

View attachment 629670

Very sad.

Doesn’t say anything about where the buffalo was hit or the distance of the shot but since the bull traveled a long ways and had a lot of steam left, it’s obvious he was poorly hit.

And I doubt Greg would have let the client shoot if the range or shot opportunity were unacceptable. And you can assume Greg was coaching the client as to aimpoint.

So obviously the client failed to do his part and didn’t deliver an accurate shot. And a good man lost his life as a result . And the client has to live with that knowledge.

It is also amazing how cunning the bull was circling to the side to watch his trail. You can’t underestimate their ability to pull a move like that!.

I often wonder how many people hunt DG and the step up to a .375 or above has them scared of or intimidated by the rifle.

In any event if you can’t shoot the gun accurately and/or remain calm when it’s time to fire you should stick to PG

And it goes without saying you need to practice with the big gun before going over there..
A lot!

Very sad story and I pray for all that knew and loved Greg. I never met the man but the people who did speak highly of him. Even though he was doing his job he deserved better from his client

 

[Scott CWO]

Incident report from PGOAZ

View attachment 629670

Damn, this is so sad! Tough way to go.

 

[mark-hunter]

So obviously the client failed to do his part and didn’t deliver an accurate shot. And a good man lost his life as a result . And the client has to live with that knowledge.

I often wonder how many people hunt DG and the step up to a .375 or above has them scared of or intimidated by the rifle.

My PH insists, for client to use scoped rifle to hunt DG.

There are all kinds of clients. Some poor shots, some want to hunt DG "classic way", double rifle with iron sights - because they were reading vintage African books.

I think that average client on a DG hunt is elderly gentleman. Young generation does not have the money to hunt DG, as a general rule except for rare exemptions. In our age (50 +) we all use glasses for reading. So, why not using a glass on the rifle? (and yet, some prefer - not to use the scope). I am not saying this was the case in this event, but for sure poor shot was made for whatever the reason.

Some clients are with oversized calibers making them poor shots with massive recoil and flinch. This was many times mentioned on the forum.

The iron sights in the bush, when you need to place accurate shot, above the front leg, through the small window between the branches is liability. In these conditions you need scope (as per my PH, but I cannot argue this logic).

There could be flinching with jumbo calibers, there could be iron sights at some distance or in the bush, or there could be adrenalin and buck fever. Many reasons why a poor shot can be made. In this case, client made a poor shot, and he knows the best how it happened.

Now he has to live with the consequences.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Very sad.

Doesn’t say anything about where the buffalo was hit or the distance of the shot but since the bull traveled a long ways and had a lot of steam left, it’s obvious he was poorly hit.

And I doubt Greg would have let the client shoot if the range or shot opportunity were unacceptable. And you can assume Greg was coaching the client as to aimpoint.

So obviously the client failed to do his part and didn’t deliver an accurate shot. And a good man lost his life as a result . And the client has to live with that knowledge.

It is also amazing how cunning the bull was circling to the side to watch his trail. You can’t underestimate their ability to pull a move like that!.

I often wonder how many people hunt DG and the step up to a .375 or above has them scared of or intimidated by the rifle.

In any event if you can’t shoot the gun accurately and/or remain calm when it’s time to fire you should stick to PG

And it goes without saying you need to practice with the big gun before going over there..
A lot!

Very sad story and I pray for all that knew and loved Greg. I never met the man but the people who did speak highly of him. Even though he was doing his job he deserved better from his client

I think anyone who does any amount of hunting should be good to go with a rental 375 provided it doesn't have a hair trigger. I killed my first buffalo with one shot through the heart and a rental 375 I had fired once at the range. Till then I had never fired anything heavier than 300 Win and only a couple of rounds with that borrowed rifle (2 shots for 2 muley bucks). That first buffalo was shot at 100 meters in a stiff wind. PH and lodge operator both agreed I should take the shot: "We knew you can shoot." Mostly, they knew I had experience in the field hunting.

 

[TERMINATOR]

My PH insists, for client to use scoped rifle to hunt DG.

There are all kinds of clients. Some poor shots, some want to hunt DG "classic way", double rifle with iron sights - because they were reading vintage African books.

I think that average client on a DG hunt is elderly gentleman. Young generation does not have the money to hunt DG, as a general rule except for rare exemptions. In our age (50 +) we all use glasses for reading. So, why not using a glass on the rifle? (and yet, some prefer - not to use the scope). I am not saying this was the case in this event, but for sure poor shot was made for whatever the reason.

Some clients are with oversized calibers making them poor shots with massive recoil and flinch. This was many times mentioned on the forum.

The iron sights in the bush, when you need to place accurate shot, above the front leg, through the small window between the branches is liability. In these conditions you need scope (as per my PH, but I cannot argue this logic).

There could be flinching with jumbo calibers, there could be iron sights at some distance or in the bush, or there could be adrenalin and buck fever. Many reasons why a poor shot can be made. In this case, client made a poor shot, and he knows the best how it happened.

Now he has to live with the consequences.

Good thoughts