I'll start with an experience of my own.

On my last safari when sighting in for some reason I developed a mental block. Note I had already done all of this before in South Africa - no problems - and on previous safaris and hunts. In New Zealand I put two bullets through the same hole (slight figure 8 from behind the target to prove it wasn't a miss) from a field position.

Also while I don't like being "tested" in front of other people it doesn't bother me much at all.

But on this time, I took up postion on an angle Landcruiser bonnet. Aimed at the target maybe 90 metres away. Got a steady hold, held the reticle on the square drawn on the target. My heartbeat was making the reticle move up and down, up and down from several inches above the mark to several below. I tried to pick the point on the up and down to shoot at the right time. Squuezing the trigger. Squeeszing the trigger. The damned thing won't go off! Check the safety. Its off. Do it again. Shift positions a bit so my pulse is in a different postion. Still my heartbeat moves it up and down.

This was getting embarassing as I was taking too long. The PH asks "Is there anything wrong?". "No" I reply.

Shift again. Eventually that damned trigger which feels really heavy goes off. About an inch high. Within a few seconds fire another shot. Less than an inch from the first.

Rifle is sighted in OK.

For no reason I think I developed a mental block. The trigger pull is OK and not heavy. It must have been "stage fright".

Normally I shoot off in 3 seconds of taking postion and shoot a second shot reloading the rifle from the shoulder very quickly.

So to illustrate my question above.

If the PH thought this bloke is scared of his rifle or can't shoot or flinches (I don't else the bullets don't go in the right place

), what does he do? Or what have you heard other PHs doing?