Meet Your Guide: Johan Petzer
Ever wonder what it takes to become a hunting guide in Africa? For Johan Petzer, it started with R2,350 (about $120), no gear, and a whole lot of grit.
Growing up in East London, Johan spent his childhood tagging along on hunting trips with his dad and uncle in the Eastern Cape. His first animal? A springbuck at age ten. By 16, he was guiding his first international client - a German hunter who had no idea he was being led by a teenager.
At 22, Johan left home with almost nothing. To survive, he hunted, processed, and sold meat himself. In an industry where experience is everything, earning trust as a young guide meant proving ourself every single day.
Why Hunting Matters
Johan's passionate about clearing up misconceptions: African hunting isn't about shooting
captive animals from a truck. "These are real hunts on wild ground fair chase, challenging, and rooted in respect."
More importantly, hunting here is conservation. The revenue funds anti-poaching units, protects
habitats, and employs local communities. When Kenya banned hunting in 1977, wildlife populations plummeted. When animals lose their economic value, they lose their protection.
The Hunts That Sticks With You
Johan's guided hunters from all over the world, but one hunt stands above the rest: helping Joel
Tavera, a 100% blind veteran, complete his Tiny Ten. "To this day, I don't know of another outfitter who's achieved that. It was humbling and inspiring-a hunt I'll never forget."
His personal favorites to hunt? Cape bushbuck (elusive, hunted in deep shadows) and hippo (pure danger). His go-to weapons? A bow for that "one with nature" feeling and a CZ.416 Rigby for when things get serious.
Best campfire story? A honey badger that crashed a hide and turned the hunter into the hunted.
Another favorite: his team placed a mounted animal in a tree for a client to stalk. After shot after shot went wide, the tracker finally burst out laughing-and the whole bush erupted.
Faith, Family, and the Future
For Johan, the bush is where he first encountered God's presence while guiding. Now a father of five, he's raising his kids in the same wild classroom that shaped him, teaching them that hunting is stewardship, not just sport.
Your turn:
What's the one African animal you've always dreamed of hunting and what draws you to it?
Or if you've already been, what's your best campfire story from the bush?
https://www.hookandbullet.co.za/tex-ags
Ever wonder what it takes to become a hunting guide in Africa? For Johan Petzer, it started with R2,350 (about $120), no gear, and a whole lot of grit.
Growing up in East London, Johan spent his childhood tagging along on hunting trips with his dad and uncle in the Eastern Cape. His first animal? A springbuck at age ten. By 16, he was guiding his first international client - a German hunter who had no idea he was being led by a teenager.
At 22, Johan left home with almost nothing. To survive, he hunted, processed, and sold meat himself. In an industry where experience is everything, earning trust as a young guide meant proving ourself every single day.
Why Hunting Matters
Johan's passionate about clearing up misconceptions: African hunting isn't about shooting
captive animals from a truck. "These are real hunts on wild ground fair chase, challenging, and rooted in respect."
More importantly, hunting here is conservation. The revenue funds anti-poaching units, protects
habitats, and employs local communities. When Kenya banned hunting in 1977, wildlife populations plummeted. When animals lose their economic value, they lose their protection.
The Hunts That Sticks With You
Johan's guided hunters from all over the world, but one hunt stands above the rest: helping Joel
Tavera, a 100% blind veteran, complete his Tiny Ten. "To this day, I don't know of another outfitter who's achieved that. It was humbling and inspiring-a hunt I'll never forget."
His personal favorites to hunt? Cape bushbuck (elusive, hunted in deep shadows) and hippo (pure danger). His go-to weapons? A bow for that "one with nature" feeling and a CZ.416 Rigby for when things get serious.
Best campfire story? A honey badger that crashed a hide and turned the hunter into the hunted.
Another favorite: his team placed a mounted animal in a tree for a client to stalk. After shot after shot went wide, the tracker finally burst out laughing-and the whole bush erupted.
Faith, Family, and the Future
For Johan, the bush is where he first encountered God's presence while guiding. Now a father of five, he's raising his kids in the same wild classroom that shaped him, teaching them that hunting is stewardship, not just sport.
Your turn:
What's the one African animal you've always dreamed of hunting and what draws you to it?
Or if you've already been, what's your best campfire story from the bush?
https://www.hookandbullet.co.za/tex-ags