OK, my turn to rant.. LOL
 

So I was watching golf... and during breaks flip over to the Outdoor Channel to check on the hunting. So there's Greg Boddington, not a bad sort at all. Obviously well heeled and has been around, and presents a gentlemanly hunt. Doesn't try to be a comedian, or know it all. He hunts, he kills and he tells a story. Well today he's hunting elephants. I've had this feeling for a LONG LONG time. Why would anyone feel a need to shoot an elephant. Certainly it's not the meat or the challange. They park the landrover and walk up to some elephants lounging in some water. I mean they're standing there 30 yards away talking about them, scoring their tusk and all that crap. Ok, let's pass we can do better. Now tell me, how sporting is walking up(or driving up)and whacking some dumb elephant while he takes a drink. I honestly see no valid reason for shooting an elephant unless maybe it's population control. In that case... shoot you a baby factory... a female. That way you take out a couple with one shot. Honestly Greg, not much of a chore to shoot an elephant. Don't try to make it some glorious adventure. It's target shooting at close range on a big bullseye. If I were given a free trip to shoot an elephant I'd try to trade it in for a pheasant hunt or elk hunt or something. I just don't find anything enticing about elephant hunting. I'm done.[&:][:'(][:'(]

RE: OK, my turn to rant.. LOL
 

I agree. I almost lost a VERY good client after a conversion at his home about his Tusk archway in his home, He shot his with a rifle, but from no further away. I told him he must be proud, and asked if he wanted to go to my parent's place and shoot a cow??? Not very impressed......

RE: OK, my turn to rant.. LOL
 

because all the giraffe tags were sold out:D
Sorry va:D

RE: OK, my turn to rant.. LOL
 

i completely agree

RE: OK, my turn to rant.. LOL
 

If someone wants/needs a reason to rant, all I have to say is take a look at the "Trapping Forum". There's a thread about trapping pics. Take a look see at that mess!!! I know this post belongs elsewhere, but I didn't want togo on there with my thoughts, and open up a hornets nest!! I just happened on toit, not knowing what I was about to see.
All I can say is, I know where those anti's get their ammo from! Nobody loves hunting more than me, at least I haven't met that person yet, but that stuff was asbad as it gets. Honestly, take a quick look, I can't wait to hear what folks have to say.[:@]That's if this doesn't get blocked somehow.

RE: OK, my turn to rant.. LOL
 

I totally agree, should leave that kind of "killing" to the girls (and sissy's)............

RE: OK, my turn to rant.. LOL
 

Watching golf????????

RE: OK, my turn to rant.. LOL
 

I hear ya and felt the same way until I watched some elephant hunts

In many areas they are overpopulated and are destroying the landscape/habitat.

I think simply being the largest land mammal on earth gives many reason....but after seeing some big bulls charge a man....it was intense....

I think we should cull the tuskless bulls.....

RE: OK, my turn to rant.. LOL
 

Now that's funny. I had to smirk on that one Magic.[8D]

RE: OK, my turn to rant.. LOL
 

His name is Craig Boddington. I usually skip his show, because Its not that good. Elephants are over populated in many parts of the continent and are devastating to food sources. They clear out strips of vegetation and snap trees in half like tooth picks just for the hell of it.

It may be a huge dumb animal (2nd pt. simply not true...) but its still an animal, which means it needs to be managed.

RE: OK, my turn to rant.. LOL
 

Completely agree!

RE: OK, my turn to rant.. LOL
 

Why does it matter to you?Seriously though, why?I don't understand...

We talk about having no challenge to walk up to an elephant and shoot one. From what I have seen, you can't just "walk up on one". Every elephant hunt I have seen they had to stalk and were busted several times before they were successful. Sure some areas will hold more tame elephants, heck maybe you can even walk up on em, who knows. But I know of a few places where I can walk up within bow range of a deer any given day, which are technically in an area legal to hunt. Challenge can vary from area to area regardless what animal you hunt is what I am getting at.
Maybe the African Safari Hunters have a forum where they sit around talking about what cowards we are for perching ourselves 20 feet off the ground to hunt a little helpless deer. I dont know, but who cares what others hunt. I dont care how powerful you are with your bow, I'm betting in real life it takes a serious pair to walk up within bowrange of a herd of wild elephants. The things are the size of garbage trucks!

An elephant is just another animal to hunt, why NOT hunt one? The meat isn't wasted, local villagers pick a carcass clean within hours from what I have read. They aren't endangered in the areas they are hunted, in fact, they are sometimes overpopulated.


Who cares. Who are we to say that elephant hunting is wrong yet defend deer hunting to the death. Picking and choosing which hunting is ok is a slippery slope. Let all hunters enjoy their sport, whatever it may be.

RE: OK, my turn to rant.. LOL
 

If I was rich....I'd go after an elephant.....I've seen some craziness on the cable channel...But we're all different and have our own mind set....me...I'd go for it....

Aren't they like $35,000 ??? Crazy.

RE: OK, my turn to rant.. LOL
 

That makes 2 of us Michigan!!

RE: OK, my turn to rant.. LOL
 

Hmm, I looked at the trapping pictures. Didn't see anything rant worthy. Nice picture of a yote with full blown mangein there. (Couldn't resistadding some of my own pictures while I was there.)

Oh, and if I could, I'd shoot an elephant. :)

RE: OK, my turn to rant.. LOL
 

Jeff

I must be missing something.

The only picture that was disturbing to me wasthe coyote with mange.Very sad to say the least. With wild animals you need to remember without man's intervention... nature's way of balancingrunsin a cycle to keep things in order. Inother words... the popualtion for a species builds to over populationuntil starvation or disease thins them out to almost nothing. Then it starts over.

Mange effects coon, coyote and fox. It is a very slow death once they get it.The animals eventuallyweaken from it and diefrom starvation or hypothermia. Once mange gets in an area, it can take 20 years for it to run it's course. The fox got mange here in the mid 90's when the coyotes moved in and brought it. I am lucky to see 20 fox a year to this day. I use to see 5 - 6 daily just on my drive to and from work before mange hit this area. The drive is 6 miles one way.A year after it hit I was lucky to see one fox a year!!!


Coon get distemper.

Muskrat get TB.

Most can getrabies including skunks.

Trapping is the most efficent way of controlling this to keep population at a stable level instead of cyclic to prevent disease and starvation.

Look at benefits of keeping the populations stable by trapping...

Muskrat and beaver cause much damage when left uncontrolled. Roads, parks, shelterbelts for wind breaks ( wind erosion ) and flooding by damming water ways ( beavers ) are some of them.

Heavy predation on nesting birds such as ducks and your small game birds ( pheasants, grouse and ect... ).

There is more but this should give you an idea that trapping is a good thing. What if we left the deer alone like the antis wanted and quit hunting them. You darn well know what a disaster that would be. Trapping animalsis no different.

What have the anti's done for the animals especially the coyote with mange. They have banned trapping in a few states to " SEALTHE DOOM"for animals of a cruel, long death when natures thins them out. Yep they really care as most have no idea what happens to the wildanimals they supposely love to " death ". Sadly some hunters also don't have a clue and they should KNOW BETTER. A night in a trap is much better then dieing from mange.

Tim

RE: OK, my turn to rant.. LOL
 

I would have to say; pot, meet kettle. I'm quite sure any anti-hunter PETA type would take one look at your avatar and say look at that mess. Where do they get their ammo? Are you kidding? Look below you screen name. Antis are not only apposed to trapping, they don't approve of poking sharp sticks through the sides of deer.

I will say that the more self rightous threads that pop up the less ammo the antis need. Why should they fight us when we fight ourselves? United we stand divided we fall.

I've looked at the thread several times and I don't find the pictures offensive. I'm a trapper and I like seeing the pictures. If you feel so strongly about the thread go post in the actual thread. Don't want to open a hornets nest so just go bash the guys where they won't see it.

As for those thinking you just walk up and shoot and elephant and it is just a big bullseye. Go into an elephant hunt with that attitude and you'd likely come home in a 5 gallon bucket. Do some research into hunting Jumbo. Still one of the toughest, most dangerous hunts on the Dark Continent.

RE: OK, my turn to rant.. LOL
 

Oh and to respond to the original poster.You watched golf on TV??Dave you need to get a life !! [8D] Now if there were stampeding elephants on the golf course, I would watch that!! :D

Tim

RE: OK, my turn to rant.. LOL
 

And if you need to control numbers... shoot the cows or girls or does or whatever the female sex is callled.

RE: OK, my turn to rant.. LOL
 

No, you're not missing anything, except you forgot to mention very painful!This is actually how traps kill these animals.;)

RE: OK, my turn to rant.. LOL
 

First of all, the buck in my avatar, the one that's dead, and not being held by his foot until he dies of starvation/hypothermia (sp), and suffering,was hit with myarrow and dropped dead (60 seconds)within 60yrds as I watched.
Secondly, voicing "my opinion" on the actual thread wouldaccomplishnothing but, as I said, opening a hornets nest.Those same folks are free tolook atother forums, much like I looked at theirs. It would be like me going to the CB forum and telling them how I think CB's have an unfair advantage over more conventional bows.Think about it.:D
And lastly, this thread was about "ranting", and that's EXACTLYwhat I've done here. I would expect another trapper to come to the defense of such practices. That doesn't mean I need to believe in them.;)I'm done ranting.

RE: OK, my turn to rant.. LOL
 

Since when do animals deserve a fair trial? [&:]

RE: OK, my turn to rant.. LOL
 

My turn, my turn!

1. If this message board has taught me ANYTHING, it is to be open minded about other people’s choices and LEGAL pursuit of ANY animal they see fit to hunt. I am saddened by the overwhelmingly popular mindset that many people hold, that if it ain’t on the list of something that THEY would like to hunt, then they bash it and ask why would ANYONE want to hunt it. Elephants, giraffe’s etc.

2. I am not currently a trapper, but I grew up in a trapping household where I followed my Dad along the trap line YEARS before I was even close to old enough to be able to hunt. Animals caught in a trap do not die of starvation/hypothermia. Pretty much every state has a minimum frequency in which traps must be checked and a trapper wants to check those traps well under that minimum, to avoid animals being stolen. Dispatching the animal is typically done by a 22 shot to the head, or the animal is first rendered unconscious and then quickly killed. After the fall of fur prices back in the 80’s furbearer & predator numbers soared. I’m sure MANY of you get large numbers of coons at your corn piles, and they are hit on the roads quite regularly. The diseases that mother nature uses to control their pops are FAR worse than being held in a trap for a couple hours.

RE: OK, my turn to rant.. LOL
 

Brilliant post Rybo, I feel the same way! Live and let live!

RE: OK, my turn to rant.. LOL
 

I understand that these critters need to be kept in check, with the rabies, mange ect. I just looked at those pics of numerous animals looking back at the persontaking the pics, and you could tell they were in pain. That's just what got me. I realize I won't change this way of taking animals, nor am I trying to do that. But, don't they have head traps or something that makes for a quick kill?
I also understand that I'm fueling the fire of the anti's by even questioning this process. So I'll leave it go.:)I'm also a believer in "together we stand, divided we fall"!;)

RE: OK, my turn to rant.. LOL
 

Just read Peter Hathaway Chapsticks "Death in the Long Grass." It has a whole chapter devoted to the incredibaly intelegent elephant and the conservation and managment that the countrys in Africa are participating in. Granted this was 20 yrs ago but the same principles are still around today.

I dont agree with walking up to it and shooting it but I think an honorable way to kill and elephant is stalk them for a long way and then draw a charge from them so that when you shoot you must be very precise. This way its either you or them and that is the appeal, comming back knowing that you have defeated a charging 4 ton animal and you are alive.

Why do people jump out of airplanes??

RE: OK, my turn to rant.. LOL
 

They do make conibears…which are body grip traps that kill the animal, but at least here in PA, they can only be used in water sets…beaver muskrat etc. Don’t quote but me, but I’m pretty sure of that.

The reason they aren’t used on land is to avoid killing non-target animals. It is quite common to catch a loose roaming dog or cat. If a person is using a properly sized trap, nearly always the animal can be released relatively unharmed. One of my more memorable outings, a VERY large German shepard was caught, but he was very docile. My dad opened up the trap and he came loping right over to me to be petted. I don’t even think he even hesitated to put his paw down or limp in the slightest bit. I’ve stuck my hands in traps and yea at first it’s a little sting, but it shortly just turns to more of a discomfort level, rather than a true “pain”. They say, eventually the paw just kind of numbs up, and like I said, if released, usually is back to fine within no time.
I know everyone has their feelings, and as an animal lover, you don’t like to see them suffer, I’m the same way. But there are a lot of half-truths out there about trapping that can easily be taken the wrong way.
I’m not here to try and convince anybody of anything, I just want to try and give a decently accurate picture of true life circumstance.

RE: OK, my turn to rant.. LOL
 

Thank god for opinions:D about bowhunting.

Do yourselves a favor and go ..........................................shoot an elephant or trap a raccoon;)

RE: OK, my turn to rant.. LOL
 

No one is asking you to believe in the process.

And your first statement is absolutely false. Traps in most all states have a 24 hour check limit. They need to be checked once every 24 hours. No animals starve or die of hypothermia in traps. You think the guys are going back to the sets and taking pictures of the animals until they die? They get shot in the head with a .22. If you are going to bash the process please do not do so in an ignorant manner.

I would like to hear your justification for killing animals with a sharp stick preseneted to an anti. As I said, to them, your deer is still dead, you are proud of that and they are offended by that.

RE: OK, my turn to rant.. LOL
 

Rybo is spot on. David's choice would be not to shoot elephants. He doesn't see the point. I wouldn't shoot one either, but my reasoning is different. Elephants are highly intelligent animals that do feel emotion and grieve over their lost herd members. I wouldn't want to cause emotional pain fora trophy animal or not. However, that's my viewpoint. I don't expect everyone else to feel the same way and don't frown upon them if they don't. As long as they are legally pursuing the animal and helping to control the population, go for it.

RE: OK, my turn to rant.. LOL
 

GREAT post, Ryan!

Some of you need to get off your high horse ..... YOU give PETA ammo by crying about others that don't hunt the way, or the animals that YOU do ....:eek:

RE: OK, my turn to rant.. LOL
 

I'm all about hunting whatever you want w/in the law. Heck, this time of year I find myself focused on the crease behind the front shoulder of my neighbors cat.:DI've shot deer that didn't present much of challenge, if an elephant wants to do the same, I'm up for it.

RE: OK, my turn to rant.. LOL
 

PETAphobia duly noted, Preacher Tony. Not that I give a rat's butt about PETA because in their eyes we're all monsters, whether we use a gun, bow or traps. I could care less about what they can make of what we say to each other in these forums.

What worries me more is television video where a wounded animal has made it's way onto a suburban lawn with an arrow sticking out of it, merely because someone made improper choices with their equipment or bad shot selection. That 30 seconds of TV time does more damage to our image with the public at large than a year's worth of PETA propaganda. And I see it every fall on our local NBC affiliate channel.

I want better than that from my fellow bowhunters. In fact I DEMAND it. And if that's being 'on a high horse' then that's too freakin' bad.

RE: OK, my turn to rant.. LOL
 

X2

And by the way I trap also;) I just got paid a large some of money from a subdivsion to trap yotes. Their kitty's were mighty tasty to those yotes:DA few dragging kids off in CAhelp out also.

I keep my trapping to myself, simply because I do not want to hear it. Yes I take pictures. To me there is great excitement whenI come on to one of my sets and see what is there.

As for you DaveMill I suggest you cancel your hunting shows and go play golf. The last we heard you were a tad bit out of shape;)

RE: OK, my turn to rant.. LOL
 

WOW!!!! This is why anti's are growing stronger, ignorant people..

early in- to say that trapped animals die very slow deaths from eventually weaking and dieing from starvation or hypothermia!!!!!!!!!!! WOW did you read that on the Peta website??????
I check my traps everyday, I use off set jaws which dont break the animals legs, I do use body grip traps on coons and in the water..

davidmil- If you dont want to hunt an elephant, cool, more for the rest of us who do..
But dont bash people who do or want to, there are alot of people out there who think Golf is stupid..

RE: OK, my turn to rant.. LOL
 

Quote:

---

davidmil- If you dont want to hunt an elephant, cool, more for the rest of us who do..
But dont bash people who do or want to, there are alot of people out there who think Golf is stupid..

---

And you take every opportunity to tell us too. I didn't bash him. In fact I said he was pretty cool and presented a gentlemanly show with class. I was simply stating I see no big skill involved in shooting a half blind/deft beast half the size of a barn from 30 yards with a canon.

RE: OK, my turn to rant.. LOL
 

No, I didn't learn that from PETA. I saw plenty of pics showing them suffering though, even if it is ONLY for24 hours. Which isSUPPOSED to be theamount of time in whichtraps get checked.If you're going to tell me they don't suffer, I'm going to call you a lier!
Now, I thought I said what I wanted to say before. But you seem to want to keep the ball rolling, for what ever reason. I was told by others how that sport works, and am willing to accept it. Do you want to keep rambling for PETA's sake?:eek:

RE: OK, my turn to rant.. LOL
 

Guy is well respected. If it's good enough for him, I'd say there'a more to it. Kind of know there is more to it.

I don't see what all the fuss is about chasing a little white ball around either, but it's your rant.:Djk

RE: OK, my turn to rant.. LOL
 

Shooting Elephants isno moreSissythan playing Golf. So this thread makes perfect sense to me!