Professional Hunter Bush School

[JamesJ]

Just wondering what the response might be...

I have an outfitter that owns and runs a Professional Hunter school in RSA, he is considering doing an abbreviated course for non residents.

The course would focus on bush craft, species ID (flora and fauna) as well as field judging. I'm wondering if there is any interest in this?

Let me know your thoughts on a class like this.

 

[BRICKBURN]

Interesting idea for those folks with limited time.
Most people do not have two weeks to use on going to school.

 

[bluey]

is this a one off deasl , or is he looking at doing them regular....
and will it allow some one that has completed it to hunt unguided in Africa?

 

[Mekaniks]

How much $ and what do you get for accreditation? Could be a cool experience and a bonus if it applies towards becoming a PH?

 

[JamesJ]

I think to start it will be a one of class to judge interest.
It would be more informative and useful info. Using the hours towards a PH license would be doubtful.
Not sure on the cost yet or how long it will run, but i think 5 days max and keep the price reasonable.

 

[JamesJ]

How does this sound for pricing?
Sunday- Saturday 5 day class, meals lodging and course instruction, the area is about 3 hours by car from JNB, $1,200.
The owner has decided to allow students to self guide and choose a trophy of their choosing for the cost of the trophy fee.

Should we put together an AH Class?

 

[bwana ndege]

Have interest,
Will need some more info on when and where lodging etc.
Will candidates have some accreditation after completion?

 

[JamesJ]

At this point no. The class is going to be similar to the PH class but abbreviated focusing on marksmanship, bush craft, flora and fauna, tracking, judging and field prep. They offer the full course for a PH, but as a non resident of RSA it would be tough to get your license.

 

[JamesJ]

Here is the itinerary we came up with for the class. your thoughts? The outfitter is also thinking about doing a DG class.

I think for the money its actually a pretty good deal and would be a ton of fun.

African Hunting and Bush Craft Course


Topics and lectures to be covered in the course are as follows.

Ballistics: An in depth look at ballistics and rifle choice for different applications.

Animal identification: This covers all the plains game species as well as pygmy antelope, cats, and dangerous game in both sexes.

Tracking: How to read spoor and other in depth features of tracking.

Shooting: 100 meter and speed shooting at 30, 20 and 10 meters.

Photography: Do’s and don’ts, andhow to take the perfect trophy photograph.

Binoculars: How to choose the right one.

Bore sighting: How to bore sight your own rifle.

Horn judging: How to judge trophy horns at 100 meters.

Dangerous Game: How to approach dangerous game and what to be aware of.

Bush craft: Basic survival skills in the African bush.

Trophy Handling: How to skin/cape for different mounts and basic skills on trophy treatment/handling in the bush.

Shot placement: Uses an interactive hunting program to score you on shot placement from various quartering towards/away angles and distances.

Walk and stalk hunt: Get to walk and stalk, select/judge horns/shoot your own trophy animal. (Optional)

Caping: Each student gets to cape their own trophy.

 

[spike.t]

james seems a lot to shoehorn into 5 days..............................

 

[JamesJ]

It is but over the course of five days, I think its not too bad

 

[Johnny7604]

It might be an interesting experience if a guy could spin it into a hunt (other than the one critter that is part of the class) while there but speaking for myself I wouldn't be going over there just for a 5 day course.

Interesting concept though.

 

[JamesJ]

Maybe we could couple it with a small AH group hunt?

 

[ActionBob]

James;
You and/or your guy are to be commended for coming up with this. And impressive how quickly you followed up with an outline.

My initial thought would be that "if" it is too much, cut out ballistics and bore sighting if you need to cut something.... But allow practice shooting every day for fun... or before and after the main part of the day for those who want to put in extra time.

Another thought would be to cut out the trophy handling and caping and offer that and more as a follow up or add on. Personally I would be more interested as a starter course to concentrate on the animal and trophy identification, judging and spoor recognition and tracking.

Basic survival skills could be another add on or part of a follow up.
Bob

 

[ActionBob]

Might also prefer to hunt more than one trophy. The self guided idea is very interesting and sounds fun, or maybe pair up with another "student", possibly a local tracker.

Hunt the first half of the mornings?

 

[JamesJ]

ActionBob,

you may be correct I'm still working on this and really trying to gauge interest and get ideas. I was including ballistics and capeing as a lot of guys don't give their gun/caliber choice enough thought. As well most guys dont know how to handle a knife at all, let alone properly cape a trophy.

 

[Pheroze]

Something like this could be very cool.

Thinking it through further: if you could get some sort of accreditation - perhaps a certificate or diploma - I am wondering whether it could be written off as an educational expense? Set it up as an adult education course in conjunction with some college or university. Perhaps offered through a social science curriculum or economics curriculum? If you cut out the ballistics part and included a social sciences component of the local community or indigenous group you can set it up as study of the hunting industry in relationship to the geopolitical environment . If the course can be made to be tax deductible then you can write off part or all of your hunt.... Go on a two week "course" with a few hours of class a day and field trips. The final exam includes employing a local tracker, demonstrating knowledge of the flora and fauna, trophy prep, and an essay on how the local community benefited.

Ta daaaa

Hey, maybe we can get a student loan!!!!

 

[spike.t]

ActionBob,

. I was including ballistics and capeing as a lot of guys don't give their gun/caliber choice enough thought .

james from the questions on here i think people give too much thought to their calibre choice and end up in a tisswass about it. i would have thought bore sighting and bino choice could be left out. say you get a group of people from here signing up how many will be allowed per class?

 

[Mekaniks]

This is starting to sound like it has a lot of potential. It might be cool to include kids along with an adult. Like a father/son or daughter class?

 

[JamesJ]

OK Pheroze, that may be taking it a bit far, LOL.

On ballistics, Sorry i didn't make myself clear, average hunter, not the guys who frequent AH.com.

As far as group size I think 5-7 would be a fun group. but he said he would do as many as 10.