SF Chronicle : Shooting with dart guns would revolutionize big-game hunting

sfgate.com ^ | 3-14-2004 | Tom Stienstra

[Trailer Trash]

The world's oldest and now most controversial sport -- big-game hunting -- could be transformed into a provocative quest acceptable to most anyone if a new sport were created: catch-and-release hunting.

Imagine the thrill of tracking, spotting, stalking and hunting the world's greatest game animals at close range in Africa -- lion, Cape buffalo, leopard, elephant and rhinoceros -- without killing any of them.

[Trailer Trash]

This coming from the land of 'Pet Guardians'.

Hmmm.......

[M. Dodge Thomas]

"JUST SAY NO TO DRUGS"

[cripplecreek]

It's called incrementalism.

Start small with solutions then call the solutions a detriment.

There was also a time when the animal rights crowd didnt have a problem with my fishing habits.

[Pikamax]

I am sure the health of the big 5 would not be harmed after getting multipler traquilizers shot into their bodies over and over again.

[Socratic]

Just use paint balls to destroy the value of the hide, and it would put the PETA people in Heaven.

[cripplecreek]

"I am sure the health of the big 5 would not be harmed after getting multipler traquilizers shot into their bodies over and over again."


Thats what i mean. they find a solution to killing the animal with every intent of attacking thier first solution at a later date.

[nwrep]

Why release them? What if you want to eat the game you hunt? I sure do like elk meat.

[Socratic]

"I sure do like elk meat."

Good point. Let Freedom Ring.

[BradyLS]

Zackly! Before long, particular elephants, lions, and rhinos (a hippo might drown) will just walk up to hunters looking for a fix!

You'll see it in their feral eyes: "Just shoot me. Shoot me! SHOOT ME G*DD*AMN YOU! Whateryawaitin' for?!? YOU want to do it! and I want you to do it! Do it! DO IT OR I'LL KILL YA!!!"

[E. Pluribus Unum]

The administration of anesthesia is a very delicate endeavor.

It would be very easy to unintentionally kill the animal, or have it regain complete consciousness while you are standing over it getting your trophy picture taken.

Neither situation would have desirable consequences.

[aomagrat]

[Jack Armstrong]

OK I got it!
Let's elaborate a bit shall we?
John Kerry, Al Franken and a bunch of limp wristed liberals from Frisco -(in order to be politically correct!)- all load up and head over to Africa to demonstrate this new sport of blow dart therapy!

They are immediately over taken by terrorists with real rifles and guns but some how the PC "good guys" (libs) try to influence the terrorists into using the antique out moded weapons of the socialist elite left! Once in compete domination by third world terrorists, John,Al and the libs break down and blame their situation on the narrow minded conservatives for not "saving" them fast enough! DID I LEAVE ANYTHING OUT?

[Houmatt]

I think dart guns do indeed have a real purpose.

Shooting animal rights wackos who attempt to interfere with a person's right to hunt.

[tcuoohjohn]

Not gonna work... Big Game Hunters ain't got the balls for it. Most big game hunters like the illusion of danger but not the reality. To use a dart gun requires that you get very close. Under 60 yards. Screw it up and the distinction between the hunter and the hunted gets reversed.

Our very distant ancestors knew what hunting really was. They went after big game with spears and rocks. It was no game to them wearing fru-fru hats and using high velocity rifles. For them the prize was life not ego. Failure didn't mean low self esteem it mean't death.

[Lexington Green]

Bumpersticker: I'D RATHER BE HUNTING TERRORISTS

[nightdriver]

"Yet with no big-game hunters in the country, no money is available for wildlife protection, and local poachers are destroying the animals."

Seems like Tom Stienstra should be convincing the native poachers more than the "rich" hunters that take a trophy once in a while.

'Course, that naively assumes that he's really interested in preserving wild animals more than being jealous of wealthy safari hunters.

[Centurion2000]

The world's oldest and now most controversial sport -- big-game hunting -- could be transformed into a provocative quest acceptable to most anyone if a new sport were created: catch-and-release hunting.

Imagine the thrill of tracking, spotting, stalking and hunting the world's greatest game animals at close range in Africa -- lion, Cape buffalo, leopard, elephant and rhinoceros -- without killing any of them.

Imagine being able to stalk and hunt a buffalo on the Great Plains and have the story end when the animal walks away unharmed. A grizzly bear in Alaska. A musk ox in the Arctic. A bighorn sheep in the Canadian Rockies.

Catch-and-release hunting is now possible by converting a high-powered rifle to a tranquilizer dart gun.

As far as I know, nobody has ever hunted the Big 5 of Africa with a dart gun. But I would consider joining an American hunter in this quest to tell the story of inventing a new sport that could change the world of the great outdoors and how the mainstream public regards big-game hunting.

This is incredibly stupid and likely to start getting hunters killed. We go to hunt to EAT it ... and take the trophy.

[umgud]

The author's do-gooder thoughts cancel out his apparent lack of knowledge about the sport.

There is a reason God created the 600 Nito Express. Ya don't do close range battle with a large dangerous animal with anything that ain't gonna stop it before it kills you.

[Centurion2000]

Not gonna work... Big Game Hunters ain't got the balls for it. Most big game hunters like the illusion of danger but not the reality. To use a dart gun requires that you get very close. Under 60 yards. Screw it up and the distinction between the hunter and the hunted gets reversed.

Try hunting an elephant with a pistol. No balls ? You pait with too broad a brush there slick.

[Prodigal Son]

am sure the health of the big 5 would not be harmed after getting multipler traquilizers shot into their bodies over and over again.

LOL. It might turn 'em into junkies though.