| 9.3x57 |
| (.450 member) |
| 01/09/08 07:35 AM |
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Re: Bowhunting Elephant?
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Quote:Quote:
For that matter, has anyone seen a verified affect of an arrow squarely hitting an elephant's rib and going on?
Like you, I am curious.
I just asked a bowhunter from Zim. From what I can gather, a dead-centre rib hit stops the arrow in its tracks. The edges of the ribs, from one fellow's testing, allow the heavy, two-bladed arrow through. The most famous modern bowhunter, Chuck Adams, tried and failed. His elephant charged and was shot down by the PH. He shot the ribs after that, and came to the conclusion that it is wrong to hunt elephant with bow and arrow. A fellow might be able to arrive at a theoretical approximate percentage chance of success. The equipment he used seemed to be lighter in draw weight and arrow weight than what other successful elephant hunters use. As the Bible says, somewhere, "Let each man be convinced in his own mind." One chap says yes, one chap says no; anecdotal evidence for and against.
Regards,
Ben
Thanks very much, Ben.
IF the info given to you is in fact correct, then I sit squarely in Bramble's camp. A rib presents the least bone obstacle any projectile can encounter on its way to vitals. If an arrow cannot be guaranteed to hole or break a rib and continue in straight enough a line to reach the vitals, then the kill constitutes a stunt that IMO should at least be ethically questionable. In my mind there isn't any question if your info is accurate.
It would amaze me to hear fellows get agitated about this heavy bullet or that, its penetrative abilities or lack thereof, and then with a wave of the hand accept the use of a tool that cannot even be guaranteed to kill cleanly when give one of the easiest routes that can be taken to the vitals. How many rifle hunters would accept the use of a cartridge/bullet that was not capable of holing a rib and continuing on to make a clean kill?
VERY informative thread. Quite fascinating.