statjunk

Have you guys ever heard of someone hunting elephants with a bow? If so how would you go about that?

Tom

JeramyK

Yup, I watched on of the PSE shows last year when they went after an elephant. Basically the hunter shot the elephant and then the guides backed him up with some heavy weaponry.

I don't know the specs on the bow but I'd imagine it was probably a heavy KE setup and a good cut on contact broadhead.

Paul L Mohr

Yes there have a been few people that have taken elephant and other large african dangerous game with bow. I couldn't name them off the top of my head though. I know who they are, just can't think of the names.

I think we have someone that visits this site that has?

High poundage bow and heavy arrows, like custom ones is what I got out of it.

You could probably google it and find an answer.

Paul

ahankster

I have read a few articles on it as well, most attempts are not very successfull.

Geesh, it would be like shooting a deer w/ a bic shaver taped onto a soda straw.

Not my idea of a good thing to try.

R
Hank

Dubbya

I read something the other day about aguy shooting a 900 grain arrow out of a 88lb compound at a water buffalo. I'm assuming that the elephant would deserve some sort of the same setup.

bigbulls

Sure, people have been hunting elephants with bows and arrows since they were invented thousands of years ago.

With a bow of proper poundage (100+ pounds), an incredibly heavy arrow (1000+ grains), a very sharp and rugged fixed two blade broadhead (German Kinetics), and nerves of steel one could successfully harvest anything on this planet with a bow and arrow.

http://www.african-hunter.com/single_arrow_elephant.htm

BOWFANATIC

I watched a hunting show where the guy had a setup just like the one mentioned above. The elephant needed to be put down by the guides with high caliber rifles. I've read the same about a few other bow/elephant hunts that all ended the same way.
In my opinion ,if you care at all about making a clean ethical kill onthe animal your hunting , then the bow should stay home when hunting elephant. Should be illegal period!

Critr-Gitr

Interesting topic. Lots of folks have gotten killed trying to imitate W.D.M. Bell also. He probably shot as many elephant as anyone ever has except one other guy (brain farted and can't remember his name). Bell shot many of his with a 7mm Mauser or .256 Winchester. But then again he knew elephant anatomy like no one else ever has. Even went so far as to section an elephants skull with a crosscut logging saw to satisfy his curiosity. Walked his porters 15 miles each way to get the saw. Also the only person I know of that ever perfected the rear brain shot. Once again, many died trying. Which leads to the conclusion that what is possible for one man doesn't mean sh*% about what you or I can do. Not trying to be ugly but there is a big difference between probability and possibility.

MNpurple

Definitely possible.

I would think that a real good expandable is just the right head.

Brett/IL

Gary Bogner has a series of videos titled "Passport to Africa". Very well made, informative, and fun to watch. BOWFANATIC, Just out of curiosity, why should hunting elephants be illegal?