Last minute PH change...should I be concerned?

[BRICKBURN]

Not informing me directly about the change would have me more pissed off than the change itself.

I've heard of that happening yes. Sometimes for legitimate reasons and some that have appeared to be a bait and switch. ..................

Yup

 

[Graham Hunter]

I got screwed in Zim. Not by the PH but the Outfitter swapped areas. I was promised one area where it was great Buff and Leopard. When I arrived I was told I was going to a different area just to shoot my Buff in 2 or 3 days and then would return to hunt the Leopard. In 8 days I saw 2 Buff both babies. Never got to hunt Leopard. In that time the Father and son who hunted the area I was supposed to shot a 70lb Ele two Buff over 40" and numerous PG.

 

[Hogpatrol]

I got screwed in Zim. Not by the PH but the Outfitter swapped areas. I was promised one area where it was great Buff and Leopard. When I arrived I was told I was going to a different area just to shoot my Buff in 2 or 3 days and then would return to hunt the Leopard. In 8 days I saw 2 Buff both babies. Never got to hunt Leopard. In that time the Father and son who hunted the area I was supposed to shot a 70lb Ele two Buff over 40" and numerous PG.

We need the name of that outfitter. That's what I call getting screwed

 

[slam8031]

I hope all goes well! I certainly agree that it is worth a phone call, but I have been sent out with PH's other than the owner/PH--didnt find out til the morning over coffee--the owner /PH had to do something related to property work--asked if it was ok. The bottom line--I have never had a bad day in Africa over three trips--it beats my normal office routine and rat race pace of life in the states. I trusted the owner/PH--and his guys wanted to make a great impression for the owner and the hunter. So, my suggestion would be to make the phone call, but spend more time shooting and figuring out what not to pack--he did give you a fifty day heads up. Have a great safari!

 

[Graham Hunter]

Lloyd Yeatman Chipimbi Safaris. Booking Agent Jeff Blair Blair World Wide Adventures. If you hear either name rin away as fast as you can. I did file a report here.

 

[BeeMaa]

Not informing me directly about the change would have me more pissed off than the change itself.

That's kinda where I am.
I'm calming down a bit, however I'll still be having a talk with the outfitter.

 

[Buckdog]

I agree with Brickburn I would be most pissed that I had to find out about the change and wasn't told directly. My guess is you weren't going to be told until you showed up. I have been there done that deal. Once the young ph/guide was super once the replacement ph/guide was a bozo. So what I would suggest is as other said talk to outfitter get more info and references if the kid seems to check out don't sweat it and give him a chance for a day or two by them you will know if he is a bozo or a stud ph. And I would tell outfitter those were going to be MY TERMS if bozo he gets me a different one like yesterday, a stud Ph and I keep him.

 

[Royal27]

Lloyd Yeatman Chipimbi Safaris. Booking Agent Jeff Blair Blair World Wide Adventures. If you hear either name rin away as fast as you can. I did file a report here.

Heard those names before.....

 

[Red Leg]

Unless it was a return hunt, I have rarely known my PH or guide going in. Typically, I have met them for the first time upon arrival in camp. Each and every one has worked out just fine.

 

[Philip Glass]

Our first safari is less than 50 days away.
We booked this trip a year and a half in advance.
My wife and I will be hunting PG animals only, no DG.

We found out by accident that our original PH (I'll call him CH) is being replaced by another PH (TJ).
One of the staff mentioned that we will be hunting with TJ in an email to my wife...
Turns out CH's wife is having a baby which has necessitated the change.
CH is their most senior and respected PH, TJ the most junior.
My wife and I were quite comfortable with CH, but have never even met TJ.

My concerns are these.
Is this normal?
Should I be concerned?
I'm pissed beyond belief at the moment and I know that I'll calm down, but should I even be pissed?
Haven't decided what I want to do or how to handle the situation at the moment.
Would appreciate some advice from the membership.

If you were on a particular DG hunt like leopard etc I’d be concerned. For a PG hunt I would not worry at all, I’m sure you’ll be with a competent PH. Plus why in the world would you be pissed the guys having a baby!
Philip

 

[jeff]

I booked a hunt and was told by the outfitter/ owner that his AH clients were very important to him and he would personally be my PH, when I got to camp after refreshments he informed me that he wouldn't be able to be my PH for a couple of days that he had other clients but then he could, to make a long story short 2 days turned into 3 before the other clients left but he still never hunted with me except for a couple hours one day, instead I got a first year Ph that was a very nice guy but had very little knowledge, to illustrate, a nyala ewe and young showed up at the blind and he thought they were bushbuck and assured me that there were no nyala on the property I had to tell him that there is at least two. LOL Another time there were horse tracks going up the road and he thought they were zebra!! Six days of hunting and only a baboon taken! I was bumped for clients who shot high dollar animals, hippo, giraffe ect. SO BE VERY CONCERNED WITH THE SWITCH A GOOD PH CAN MAKE OR BREAK THE HUNT !!!!!!!

 

[BeeMaa]

Plus why in the world would you be pissed the guys having a baby!
Philip

Yeah, I know.
Just disappointed at how it's being handled, like the baby being born is a surprise to them.

I just sent an email asking for the owner to call me tomorrow.
It's my guess that they don't see it as such a big deal as I'm making it out to be.
Which can really be the case and if it is...fine, we move forward with the hunt.

 

[Tra3]

I suppose there is a good chance that the new PH is looking to make a good reputation for himself and will work very hard to make an excellent safari happen. If the outfitter does a good amount of return business, that is another good reason to trust the change will work well.

 

[BRICKBURN]

Dollars and Rands, just details.

 

[IdaRam]

Dollars and Rands, just details.

Details matter???

 

[sestoppelman]

Its OK to be p'oed at first, been there done that. My guess is the young lad will work hard for you and you will have a great hunt despite this minor setback. I would also guess that you are not nearly as upset now as a few hours ago. Look forward to your trip and have a good time.

 

[JKO HUNTING SAFARIS]

Good day guys,

If this will help I will add my 2 cents here.... I have been in the industry for a while and not to cover for outfitters and professional hunters but it is not always easy to keep every one happy regarding who they hunt with and when we truly have a limited time (busy months) to do 70% of our safaris for the year, if it is booked in a less busy time of the year for the purpose to hunt with a specific PH I cannot see a excuse though.

Unfortunately there are times that is busier and for us to run a viable business we have to be able to employ professional hunters. I have been in this situation before and I have made mistakes and regret it but one person can only do that much and cannot be in 20 places at one time. My daughter will be born in the next couple of weeks and I can assure you with me flying to Zimbabwe for almost a month only 9 days after she is born will put a strain on my family, but this is the industry we chose and I have to take care of my clients to make a living. I have a group in South Africa at that time as well but they will be taken care off through Ockert that has been with me for 9 years, so I know they will be in great hands. I am already training another PH this year, he is currently hunting with Ockert so we can see if he is able to do the job and obviously take care of our clients. I do not send a PH with my clients if I do not know exactly what he is able to do in the bush and obviously he needs to know how to take care of my clients!

With that being said, I really believe that your outfitter will give you a professional hunter that can do the job and that would hunt as well as the outfitter does or even better. In my experience a young ph that want's to make his mark in the industry will work extra hard to find you good trophies and make sure you have a good time. A outfitter will be taking a big chance if he send you with a ph that does not have enough experience as he will in the long run loose valuable customers like I did before by making mistakes similar to this when I started out! So in short, I would suggest to call your outfitter and talk to him, find out how long the ph has been working for him and what kind of experience the PH has. If this does not put you at ease then you should discuss it in further detail with the outfitter.

I hope this help to shed a little more light on the subject for you.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

@BeeMaa : TJ is young, guessing 25 but definitely under 30. CH is in his mid-30's and has guided on DG hunts for several years, so you can see there is a drastic difference.

This may or may not be as drastic of a difference as you think. Depends on both individuals. I have done a PG hunt with a young apprentice PH in Namibia and had a wonderful hunt. I've also had a so-so hunt with an older, "well respected" PH that was living off of his reputation and seemed more interested in sundowners before, during and after dinner.

 

[Tally-Ho HUNTING SAFARIS]

hi All

as an outfitter i will add my 5 cents worth
you may be lucky and be assigned to hunt with the best young PH in the bush. he may turn out to be fantastic and make all your dreams come true, could be the next famous ph
young PH's are always a gamble for an outfitter but if I think about the future of my business I am very careful. I usually have them under my wing or my best ph at least for a season or two and make sure they can handle clients correctly and well before sending them into the bush alone(unsupervised) with a client

i really think you are worrying too much

must say generally the younger PH's will work very hard for you and tend to all your needs

enjoy the safari

 

[dobber]

I don't want a young PH, them old buggers are tough enough to keep up with