Poachers take elephant with AK's.

[slink]

It's just not that hard to hit a 2 ft diameter lung. They sneak up to within 10 yds, fire a full auto burst into the lung, and another as the creature flees. All they need is a for a very few rds to reach a few inches into one lung.  The critter coughs up blood, aspirates it into the other lung, drowns in its own blood.  The poachers merely have to wait a day, then watch for circling vultures.  

So those who insist that one "needs" a heavy rifle, in order to be able to deal with big critters, are simply not aware of how such things are done. It has nothing to do with "fair chase", sportsmanship", etc.  It's just done by knowing the animal's weaknesses, and how to properly take advantage of those weaknesses. You can be in a tree stand, in a group of rocks, in a pit, etc, unreachable by the animal, as it bleeds out (in the actually rare event that it does try to kill you, instead of just fleeing at your shot).

Pygmies used to take elephants with spears to the guts, by hiding in pits, thrusting up into the creature from underneath. Those guys had heart, unlike today's "men".

[Graybeard]

And your point is :?:

Would you mind explaining to me just what it is that you are trying to establish with this and several other controversial posts that seems to have upset so many GBO members todate? Is there some agenda you have that is at work here? If so, just come on out with it, don't keep us in suspense.  :roll:

[Dusty Miller]

GB, I think it is entirely appropriate to discuss poaching and how it is done, the ramifications, etc.  A clear distinction was made between poaching and genuine sport hunting, that's important for people who hunt to understand.  However, it might be more appropriate to discuss this in the General Hunting forum.

[corbanzo]

Yeah, I have an AK-47, and a 75 round clip.  I'm pretty sure I could kill anything in the world with it, no problems.  Supposed to impress?

[JJHACK]

You might be right?

I would like to have the video of you crapping your pants when you were within 30 yards and then watch you close that next 20 to be within the 10 yards you assume is no big deal.

A post clearly written by someone who has never been within a few hundred  yards of a wild elephant, on it's terms. I'm endlessly stunned at all the posts and opinions about what works and why it should work from people who have never been around a lion, buffalo, elephant, hippo, etc. on a good day much less when they are upset, stressed, or wounded.

I may as well start posting about my technique for brain surgery or the best way to handle an F15 fighter plane, or the way to adjust the fuel injection of a formula 1 race car.  My opinions on those topics would have as much meaning!

[corbanzo]

I would crap my pants within 30 yards of a buff if i had a rocket launcher!!   :-D  :-D  :-D  :-D

[dave hall]

JJHACK I do think most of us find what you say to be informative,and interresting.I know I do.This forum is for African hunting I would rather read about a cape buffalo hunt than this thrash. Why would anyone give these criminals  forum space.Glorifing criminals has nothing to do with hunting.   :evil:

[killdeer]

Slink,
There is a big difference between wounding an animal and waiting for it to die and using the proper equipment/technique to hunt an animal and have the ability to stop it in a charge.
  The ak weilding poachers are mostly dispensible hired hands and are likely valued less than the elephant.
  This relates to appropriate hunting rifles how?.................... :noway:

[K.K]

I only hope that some of those poachers got the chop from one of these wounded elephants before they died.  Only through sport hunting will the game of Africa continue to thrive, and help control, and hopefully  eliminate poachers for good.

[Qaz]

JJ- your not only a big game guide, but a brain surgeon, a fighter pilot and a formula one mechanic. You sir are one of a kind.  

 Not only are some people unfamilar with the animals that they discuss, but they don't use even a gram of common sense to think about what they are posting. Although I have never been to Africa,  I know that an animal the size of a freight train has little to fear from me. If the elephant  winds you and decides you are too close and doesn't want you there, it just runs you down and crushes you. Common sense tells me I am pretty close on that one. Am I wrong?

Qaz

[GEMSBUCK]

Archers have been killing elephants and buffalo since time began. Poachers are indeed using almost any firearm to kill them both as well for a long time now.
 Oaz yes you are correct if you are stupid enough to approach so near without a good stopping rifle around. Can a 7.39x62 drop a elephant sure it can, but i wouldn't rely on it to do it post haste. Poachers don't care if a ele travels miles before it dies or even if it takes a few days. Bell is a splendid example of that as well as Taylor.

[Syncerus]

One cannot equate methodical destruction with sport hunting; they are fundamentally different actions.

Consider this: you have a week to hunt a forested piece of land for an elephant. You have two choices on how to "hunt".

1). You can fly over the forest in a B52 and napalm the entire forest.
2). You can spot and stalk the elephant on foot with a professional guide and try to bag him with your double Westley Richards.

Obviously method #1 vastly increases the odds of "bagging" your elephant, but I don't think there's a man on this board who would select option #1.  It's simply not hunting and it certainly isn't sport hunting. There's nothing sporting about it, and there's darn little hunting either.

Most of us would ask "what's the point?" It's exciting to match one's wits with a great game animal in his element; that's the challenge and the excitement of hunting. It's also why we spend astronomical amounts for a **chance** to hunt big game.

Have you ever bagged an animal within the first 5 minutes of opening day? Weren't you just a teensy-weensy bit disappointed that your hunt was over so soon? Wasn't it just a little too easy?

The most memorable hunt is the one where you **outwit** your quarry when he has the odds in his favor and has every opportunity to escape.

It's about the hunt, not the kill.

Syncerus

[nasem]

Umm..... I think everyone here misunderestood him.  I REALLY think he was just joking around lol.  I dont' think he meant for this thread to be serious.

Slink--  you were kidding around... right ?

Well anyways, I can give you a much better way to hunt an elephant, you'll like it even more than the Ak-47 or the speers.  Why not buy a semi (I dunno 30,000 - 40,000 dollars, which is much cheaper than a double rifle) and drive that sucker over 60 MPH and run it into an elephants A$$...... that will DEFENETLY break a bone or two.

And if you can't afford a 30,000 dolloar semi, I have a solution for that too.... why not trying to fist fight with an elephant.  Don't go vs the much older / larger once, but rather a younger one, around 7000-8000 pounds.  Forget the guns and the loud explositions they make, be a real "man" and fight with your fist.  If your worried about getting stumped to hell, do this, get some sand and throw it in the elephants eye, when its blind go for the "knock out" punch to the nuts (bellow the belt but hey, its a street fight)....... When you get him down, put a submission move on his arms or legs and..... wait U don't want him to tap out, ok nevermind.