Some of you need to do a little research before forming opinions on certain subjects. I have been interested in African hunting since I was a little boy and my father would read me books written about hunting both dangerous game and plains game. Since that time I have gobbled up every bit of info. I could find about hunting the dark continent. I have written many papers and given many speeches on this subject both for high school and in college. It is unfortunate that many people trust the media and the Discovery channel to form their opinions on such an important subject. I don't want this to turn into a "marathon" post so I will just throw out a few tidbits of info. There is not a DNR or any state agency in this country that comes close to managing funds as well as Africas Game Dept. As much as we would like to belive that our hunting dollars go right where they should in regards to improving our states for the enjoyment of our sport, I think we all know better. Almost every dollar spent in Africa by hunters goes to purchase more ground for game preserves or for heard management. As far as the "Why shoot an elephant?" goes, because they need to be manged just as any species that has reached or exceeded carrying capacity for that specific region needs to be. Why do some states have more liberal limits on certain game species than other states? Because the population of the species is higher in that area than the other. While most T.V. shows want you to belive that elephants are tetering on extinction it simply is not true. Yes, in some areas they have been poached to dangerously low numbers, but in others they are thriving and hunting is used as a way to maintain a healthy heard just like deer. Whenever an elephant is harvested, the norm is to contact the nearest village and have them come and butcher the animal on the spot to provide themselves with meat, nothing goes to waste. If anyone thinks that they are not one of the most dangerous animals walking the earth do yourself a favor and read a book titled "Death in the Long Grass" by Peter Hathaway Capstick. If you don't know who he was or never read any of his books you are really missing out. It all boils down the hunting methods. We could all set up a feeder in an open area, sit back with a rifle, and shoot all of the deer we wanted to. Instead, a lot of us choose to bow hunt for the challenge. The same goes for hunting dangerous game. Stalk within 50 yds. of a large bull elephant when you are miles from your jeep and I think you will gain a new respect for the sport. We also need to try to get past the whole "This aniaml is more magnificent than this one." mentality. I have a good friend out west who shoots cow elk for meat just as do whitetail does. He spends his time during the rut chasing trophy bulls just as I do trophy bucks. He dreams of someday having the time to come to Illinois to hunt "monster" whitetails, as I do of chasing "monster" bulls. The point, an "every day" animal to you may not be to someone else. I have talke to professional hunters in Africa who dream of elk and deer, yet think it is no big deal to shoot an elephant, cape buffalo, etc. If you had grown up in Africa, I seriously doubt the elephant would hold the same "mystique" it does now. I have never been to Africa, but I will go someday. I used to spend a lot of time with an older gentleman who went every year. The days spent in his trophy room, listening to his stories combined with my dads readings have fueled a tremendous fire in me. Well, this did turn into a "marathon' post after all, but it is something I am passionate about and feel that, unfortunately, many hunters don't know enough about.