RE: Elephants w/ a Bow?
 

Don't really understand why someone would doubt the ethics or effectiveness of taking elephants with a bow. It has been done many times, and while some animals have been shot by backup rifles most expire quickly, and all expire quickly that have been hit well in the vitals. Part of the challenge/attraction of the experience is the risk associated with an animal that could crush you in a blink in those moments before death. I think for some people, it is a perfectly acceptable and challenging thing to do. For most hunters though, the risk/cost/challenge would be far to great and they would never think twice of trying. Knocking a fellow bowhunter for attempting to harvest ANY animal, especially animals that are outside their own abilities to chase is childish. That would be like squirrel hunters telling deer hunters they were foolish or unethical to hunt deer! Sure, if you chased deer with squirrel gear... but there are bows, arrows and broadheads designed to take elephanst and other large dangerous game that makes that type of hunting just another facet of our great sport.

RE: Elephants w/ a Bow?
 

The elf in Lord of the Rings didn't have a problem killing the elephant with a bow, but he use like 3 arrows in one shot. :D

RE: Elephants w/ a Bow?
 

Really? This was the first site I came accross and I don't even know how outdated it is but it does reiterate what I've heard firsthand from a guy who just got back (last week) from a 21 day safari , and yes , elephant was one of his trophys. He's also got the inside scoop on a few of todays archery celebs who failed to mention the backup shots required to put their elephants down. By this time next year , you and probably alot of others here will be able to talk to him about it in person if your interested in coming to the fox valley to visit one of only three wildlife museums of it's kind. ;)
Scroll down to shot placement.....http://www.african-hunter.com/elephant_part_1.htm

I haven't "ignored" anything. A bow setup with 105 ftlbs of ke is sufficient for killing an elephant , if you place your arrow exactlywhere it needs to go. There's much more room for error on a whitetail kill zone than a elephant. What you seem to ignore is the fact that the overwhelming majority of bow shot elephants require a finishing shot from a high power rifle , most after a dangerous and sometimes long tracking job.

Totally agree! Using a rifle is still called "hunting" isn't it?:eek:

Really? What part of South Africa and for who? What type of game? Three months is a pretty short time to become a big game guide in South Africa.[&:]

RE: Elephants w/ a Bow?
 

I'd like to read what Chuck has to say about it also. Do you have any links or know where I can find it?

RE: Elephants w/ a Bow?
 

I don't think it would be that hard to kill an elephant with a bow. Personally, I would want an ATV, and then after I shot the elephant with the bow I would haul ass away lol. I would definitely practice speed shooting, so I could take my time on the first arrow, and then send another arrow zipping through the vitals real fast.

RE: Elephants w/ a Bow?
 

Wrong! The first thing an elephant does when shot is turn and run. The videos your watching are white washing this "bowhunting" video with the danger factor to justify finishing it off with a rifle.

RE: Elephants w/ a Bow?
 

What is the point of hunting dangerous game with a bow if you are going to take the danger out of it with a rifle or rifles? I feel the same way about people that hunt bear with a bow and have someone back them up with a rifle. If you are willing to use the rifle, just use it in the first place? Never made sense to me.

I'm not going to argue the ethics of hunting elephants though, I don't know enough about it to make an educated arguement.

Paul

RE: Elephants w/ a Bow?
 

Hate to chime in on peoples beliefs, can't say I really have any about elephant hunters. I would say I would be against it, but many a good point has been brought up on how the hunters fund the preservation... so I'm convinced, if I ever have a spare 60 g's, I'm there...[&:]
You say a whitetail has more room for error...agree but that is per animal size. An elephant still has a larger heart and lungs, so in theory a bigger target is an easier target.

Tim

RE: Elephants w/ a Bow?
 

BOWFANATIC, Chuck Adam's experience with elephant archery hunting was in an issue of the North American Hunter magazine about maybe one year ago. It was a very interesting article and it discussed taking dangerous game with a bow. I was rather surprised by his view of shooting elephants with a bow given archery is what he is known for. I don't know if you can search the archives of the magazine to find it or not.

RE: Elephants w/ a Bow?
 

Hey rdy2hnt, I was not making any judgements on, or as bigbulls put it, codeming anyone. Did'nt mean to upset you butcan't I have my opinion on this? The last thing I look for is contriversy (SP) when I'm on this site so let's not let this get out of wack.By the way I've learned much from reading these posts on this subject. Before I forget, at least a Whitetail has sense enough to run!;)

RE: Elephants w/ a Bow?
 

I'd say if you have the balls to try and kill an elephant with a bow, please video tape it! I watched a show on the Outdoor channel last winter, can't remember if it was jack brittinghams show or world of berretta, but they tracked a huge elephant and shot it a half dozen times in the brain as it was trying to kill them after the first shot.

So if your up for an adventure, I think that taking an elephant with a bow would be it!

RE: Elephants w/ a Bow?
 

Every time without fail they turn and run huh? Must be a whole lot more predictable than most other game animals.

RE: Elephants w/ a Bow?
 

Okay, I'll ask again just in case anyone wants to answer. What is the difference in a PH putting down your bowshot elephant vs your gunshot elephant? It happens with amazing regularity even with a rifle.

RE: Elephants w/ a Bow?
 

I read the same story by Chuck Adams where he said "Elephants should not be hunted with a bow" He went to some country in that I can't remember for the sole purpose of determining the effectiveness or viability of bow hunting Elephants. After a bad hunting experance and a autopsy herecommended that Bow hunting Elephants should not be allowed. I am not saying I aggree I'm just passing on what Chuck said.

As for "Early in"He is on the hary edge of being a "Anti". Polar bears ?? What other animals do you think should not be hunted??

RE: Elephants w/ a Bow?
 

Hey JimBow, far from "Anti" but I simply think there are some animals we should'nt hunt! The only sport in shooting an Elephant is trying not to get killed. As far as Polar bears go why would anyonekill such a beautiful animal in such a pristine enviornment. As usual man is encroching on these bears. Also we are the main reason there are problems with ice melt over a large area. Polar bears are'nt over populated either. This is how I feel and you don't have to agree so let's drop ok?