Rituals, Traditions and Superstitions

[JustinC]

Hello Fellow Hunters,

Do you have any rituals, traditions or believe in certain superstitions during your safari - Either Cultural or Personal?

Thanks

 

[TokkieM]

Might be OCD I dont know, but once I have loaded the rifle the round that goes in the camber will always go back in the chamber if I dont shoot it. Every round in the mag is the same, if it was at the bottom yesterday, it goes at the bottom today, until a round is fired and every round then gets promoted one place up while a new round goes in the bottom. Never noticed it until a client pointed it out at the end of a 10 day safari, he was watching me load my rifle from the ammo holder on my hip every morning.

 

[spike.t]

Might be OCD I dont know, but once I have loaded the rifle the round that goes in the camber will always go back in the chamber if I dont shoot it. Every round in the mag is the same, if it was at the bottom yesterday, it goes at the bottom today, until a round is fired and every round then gets promoted one place up while a new round goes in the bottom. Never noticed it until a client pointed it out at the end of a 10 day safari, he was watching me load my rifle from the ammo holder on my hip every morning.

now what happens if you drop one or put it in a different loop on your belt....do you have numbers on them???

 

[TokkieM]

spike.t they come out the rifle in order,go in the belt in order and get taken from the belt in the opposite order in the morning, no numbers needed

 

[James.Grage]

Just hope i have enough money to pay for all the critters that show up.

The airplane land safe and my bags show up...

 

[Bsums]

Well I don't like using the same broad head twice until I've shot all my new ones. I take a sharpie and put a dot on the head to remember its been used and put the arrow at the back of the quiver. I don't really have any rituals, traditions, etc. Just to make sure to be appreciative and respectful of every animal.

 

[BnC 04]

My biggest "belief" is not carrying a camera on me while on the hunt. It can stay in the lodge, tent, truck or home just not in my pack or pocket. Figure it's like counting your chickens before they hatch senerio.

 

[spike.t]

spike.t they come out the rifle in order,go in the belt in order and get taken from the belt in the opposite order in the morning, no numbers needed

yup def OCD !!

 

[Sable123]

I keep the cartridges of animals I shoot and never have them reloaded. A job well done!

 

[JustinC]

I keep the cartridges of animals I shoot and never have them reloaded. A job well done!

Do you mark them or have a way of remembering what you shot with each?

 

[enysse]

If I see a huge mature animal, I usually shoot it. I never pass on an animal usually, even if I have 2+ of the same animal. If that animal is bigger than the rest, I usually kill it if the trophy fee is not out of line. That philosophy works well on plains game animals but the Big 5 not so much. I believe its bad luck to pass on something most people will never see on a hunt unless they get lucky.

 

[Bullthrower338]

I will not hunt without a knife that my Mom had custom made for me when I was 11 years old by a maker in Lolo, Montana. I have carried that knife with me on every hunt. It's blade is about half of what it used to be from repeated sharpening, she is on her second leather sheath. I now own many fine handcrafted knives, but this is my knife. I scrambled to find two similar knives by the same maker, one for each of my boys. Hopefully they will get the same enjoyment out of theirs that I have out of mine, then one day they can argue over who gets my old wore out huntin knife when I am gone.

 

[Bullthrower338]

If I see a huge mature animal, I usually shoot it. I never pass on an animal usually, even if I have 2+ of the same animal. If that animal is bigger than the rest, I usually kill it if the trophy fee is not out of line. That philosophy works well on plains game animals but the Big 5 not so much. I believe its bad luck to pass on something most people will never see on a hunt unless they get lucky.

Enysse,
"Don't pass the first day, what you would take the last day" comes to mind. I changed my philosophy to this and it dam sure fills the freezer better.LOL

 

[enysse]

Enysse,
"Don't pass the first day, what you would take the last day" comes to mind. I changed my philosophy to this and it dam sure fills the freezer better.LOL

I certainly feel that same way too

I have had a number hunters ask why I hunt an animal more than once. My reply is the same ever time, "Have you only ever eaten one potato chip?". Exactly!!!!

 

[Christina Nyczepir]

Honestly? I pray before I ever set up to take the shot. More in the best interest of the animal. I've never been disappointed. Except for this past buff hunt. But then, everything happens for a reason. As I learned even in that case.

 

[JustinC]

Honestly? I pray before I ever set up to take the shot. More in the best interest of the animal. I've never been disappointed. Except for this past buff hunt. But then, everything happens for a reason. As I learned even in that case.

I too believe that everything happens for a reason, If not to teach us then at least to make us stronger.

 

[JustinC]

I certainly feel that same way too

I have had a number hunters ask why I hunt an animal more than once. My reply is the same ever time, "Have you only ever eaten one potato chip?". Exactly!!!!

1 is lonely and 2 is company

 

[Sable123]

Do you mark them or have a way of remembering what you shot with each?

I do mark them and then usually have the bullet mounted on the photo frame or next to the mounting on the wall.

 

[Velo Dog]

Even though I've never needed a knife in Africa, I always bring one, along with a small sharpener.
Then, I often sit by the evening fire sharpening it, after yet another day of having not cut anything.

 

[Biddleman]

When I first enter the woods or trail, I always pick up some of the soil, leaves, snow, whatever is on the ground and rub it in my bare hands. If I'm water fowling than I rinse my hands in the water.

Archery hunting - my arrows are in a certain order in the quiver and if no luck with an arrow, it doesn't get knocked again until the other ones have their turn on the string.



And I never have sex the night before opening day.