There have definitely been some dodgy incidents involving bowhunters and elephant; two, that I can think of. It is part of bowhunting history, and bowhunters condemn these infamous happenings. Has anything dodgy ever happened with riflemen and elephants?

As a keen bowhunter and a keen big-bore rifleman, I understand and sympathise with the views held by both camps. Unfortunately, bowhunters exist who shouldn't be doing what they do. And the same is true among riflemen. Equally unfortunately, bowhunters exist who "snob" riflemen, recounting instances of trigger happy gentry sending buffalo away with numerous projectiles in the face and belly; and riflemen exist who condemn bowhunters as being cruel and inflicting lingering deaths. Neither view is fair, and both fail to account for what I believe to be the majority of both bowhunters and riflemen who actually respect their game and treat it appropriately, administering quick and clean deaths.

However, back to the bowhunting of elephant: if the arrow is put in the right place, it will kill the elephant as fast as a bullet or three. If it is not placed properly, per chance, then the client and the guide must and do realise that the wounded elephant needs to be shot with the back-up rifle, in which case no undue suffering results anyway.

Yours for unity among sportsmen and respect for the game,

Ben