Ospery, the bird of the Selous Scouts.Selous Scouts "Pamwe Chete" title block.Ospery, the bird of the Selous Scouts.

 

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BIG GAME BUSHCRAFT TIPS

FOR SCOUTS

  The "BIG FIVE"

            There is no doubt that big game in the Rhodesian bush is a more apparent danger than Terrs or guerrillas to the inexperienced scout. If the following simple facts are borne in mind, however the apprehension of new scouts to the bush will be relieved;

  • Elephant, Lion and Buffalo have excellent senses of hearing and smell. They will usually move away if humans are about the area.
  • All big game usually keep to game trails/tracks and therefore, provided the camp is made off the game tail and in thick bush, there is relatively little danger.

Elephant, Buffalo, Lion and Rhino are however, particularly dangerous in areas which have been recently bombed. In these circumstances they frequently charge on sight and particular precautions are necessary.

A knowledge of the reactions of certain game animals upon scenting or encountering human beings will be of value to the scout from the operational aspect. Elephants, Buffalo, Lion and Rhino should they suddenly stampede when you have not caused them to do so, the wind being in your favorer, may well mean that they have seen or scented terrorist/guerrillas in the area.

Baboon, Bushbuck, Sykes Monkey, Colobus Monkey and Laurie Birds give off distinctive warning cries if they scent or see humans. Be on the watch for circling vultures, as they may well indicate a hideout/camp were food or scraps our left about. Hyenas calling repeatedly at night or many hyena tracks concentrating in one direction may also mean a hideout or camp.

Do not attempt to shoot game. Current service rifles are not made to kill large animals, the round is not designed to penetrate through the heavy bone, hide and flesh of large game.

Should a patrol be charged by a big game animal it should get off the path upwind of the beast as quickly and as quietly as possible without panic. Animals, being normally more frightened of humans than humans are frightened of them, seldom charge meaninglessly. More often than not, so-called charges are only animals making off in all directions in blind panic.

Herds of cow elephants with calves and rhino and buffalo with calves should however be avoided at all times by moving round them upwind.

            These big game bushcraft tips for scouts were taught to all scouts as a minimum, this list of tips is not all-inclusive but provided a good basic knowledge for that big game encounter. These skills were more relevant to the small sticks or patrols operating in the vast bush, were there signature was minimal and a chance contact with game more likely, then compared to a conventional unit operating in large numbers in the bush.   

(END)

 

 

The "BIG FIVE" of Rhodesia

 

The Elephant

The Lion

The Rhino

The Leopard

The Buffalo

 

***NOTE*** In some circles and other locations on the "Dark Continent"  the "BIG FIVE" includes the Hippo; usually substituting the Leopard, as is the case in Malawi. Incidentally the Hippo is responsible for more deaths yearly then any of the aforementioned.

 

 

 

 

 

THIS SITE LAST UPDATED: Sunday, September 16, 2007 06:43:38 PM

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