Doug,
Will is fine...
If your were to participate in an archery only season here in the states, I'm pretty sure every state wouldconvict you for using afirearm to finish an animal. So the"I've never felt like I would need a rifle/pistol etc, for any deer or elk I went after"is a mute point isn't it? That's not the case elsewhere around the world. Especially, when drawing blood means drawing your wallet. My first effort would be to kill the elephant (or any game animal)with a bow-getting in as many arrows as needed. I guess that's what us bowhunters do. In the event things did go arwy, I would not hesitate to finish the job with whatever means-providing those means were legal.
but at what cost to the image of hunting are people doing it?????
So what you're say is that this lady who was more than capable, and proved it, is costing us? Gary Bogner was capable andproved it. Richardo Longloria... proved it. Howard Hill...proved it! The list is long! Each one is/was a "superior archer". They are/were all good indians! They all had the proper equipment. They all finished the task and more than a few benefited from it.
I would think a person like you (if your are truly a bow hunter) would look atindividuals like those listed abovefor the imageyou put forth to the public. Iwould also hope you give the individual the benefit of the doubt. I would hate to see your son or daughter, althought capable, void of the opportunity simply because you (among others) felt it couldn't be done.
500 yards is nothing for a animal with a slow heart rate. Heck, I've had elk run a mile after a perfect double lunger. So no, 500 yards is not a long way.
I sort ofcompare hunting elephants with a bow to driving an automobile on the highway. Both can be done. They both have their risks. If you're stupid, either you or someone else is going to get killed. Many of us are capable...
As for how much of a hunt, I'm just stating what I'd heard, as I've never hunted them myself.
That's the hearsay I despise!
Peace.