If you want to shoot dangerous game..

[farmer_john]

You have a family can you still not see the selfishness of the potentiality in that statement?

I wouldn't be surprised if your family all unanimously THOUGHT the same THOUGHT after you tell them you're off to go risk your life over something you CHOSE to risk your life over..... "Then don't do it Dad please! To us you are worth more than all the Buffalo in that land!".... But there's a reason they don't (you'll probably argue / fight them over it, because this is what YOU want to do & you're the king of the castle)?

"We are a family, I need you, you need me, we need each other..... So I booked a Dangerous Game hunt with the potential to end my life....................okcoolbyecya!!!"

I would next to guarantee that if you did (I hope it never happens, I wouldn't wish it upon ANYONE) lose your life in a hunt and if I had the ""powers"" to temporarily bring you back for a little chat the FIRST thing you would say are "IT WASN'T WORTH IT! I'M A F'ING IDIOT! MY WIFE!... MY KIDS!... I...<turns back to dust>"

My mate died behind a boat in a BridgeToBridge Skiing race, he died about 100m from the finish line when the driver hit the straight at max speed but there was a little turbulence in the water that sent my mate cartwheeling and shattering his entire spine landing face down in the water not dead, but a vegetable, 4 days later life support was turned off he was 26.

The actual saddest part (aside my mates death) about it was he ..."HAD"... a family (Pregnant Wife & 2yr old son), EVERYONE (my deceased mates own parents included) unanimously agree that he had NO BUSINESS getting behind a boat to race whilst he had a family that NEEDED him (as all families need each other) and I'll bet my bottom dollar that if I could rip his soul back from where ever it is and slap his ragged decaying corpse across the face with it to bring back life in him the first words, the FIRST words he would say/scream are "I'M SORRY! I'M AN IDIOT!!! I'M SO F'ING SORRY!!!! I'M SO F'ING DUMB!!! TELL MY KIDS!!!! TELL MY WIFE!!!!" (aka nothing but regret).

Very rarely do I ever think of my life being some sort of singular thing, my life effects COUNTLESS of individuals around me.

I am NOT saying do not hunt dangerous game, (too me it's the pinnacle of the hunt!)
I AM saying that you do not need to put yourself in harms way to hunt dangerous game!

#FAMILY

Well.
1. were all going to die. And go to that great and undiscovered country where once bourn no traveler returns.

2. Why should someone worry so much about dying that they dont do what they love?

The whole rant you posted just reeks of being afraid to live.

 

[Kharn]

Well.
1. were all going to die. And go to that great and undiscovered country where once bourn no traveler returns.

2. Why should someone worry so much about dying that they dont do what they love?

The whole rant you posted just reeks of being afraid to live.

"I am NOT saying do not hunt dangerous game, (too me it's the pinnacle of the hunt!)"

You are ignorant.

Edit: Deliberately.

 

[farmer_john]

"I am NOT saying do not hunt dangerous game, (too me it's the pinnacle of the hunt!)"

You are ignorant.

Edit: Deliberately.

Hard to not be when someone has to decode a entire book thats pretty incoherent.

But please if you could condense the prior post to be a little more concise would be great.

 

[Kharn]

Hard to not be when someone has to decode a entire book thats pretty incoherent.

But please if you could condense the prior post to be a little more concise would be great.

 

[Foxi]

I don't need to shoot dangerous animals to put myself in danger. We often stalk through dense vegetation only to retreat out of fear and caution (during Adolf's time, the former Wehrmacht radio announcer called this a “strategic retreat to deeply staggered catching lines” ).

Rhinoceroses, lions, and elephants that have retired to the thick bush for their midday rest have a different view of things, even if I don't want to hunt them.

No one can say whether a buffalo is waiting for you in a bad mood, having been caught in a snare yesterday and broken free, with a Kalashnikov bullet in its stomach or painful, festering scars from a lion attack on its back.

I get thrills at home every week too, when a truck suddenly thunders past on a road I want to cross and I'm sitting on a nervous horse.
That's enough danger for me.

We retreated from this dry creek.
Rhinoceroses were everywhere.
You don't have to shoot anything there to feel “unsafe.”

 

[Kharn]

Don't need to shoot dangerous animals to put myself in danger.

Has been my entire point, in contrast to the POV of the OP when hunting DG specifically.

 

[grand veneur]

I don't need to shoot dangerous animals to put myself in danger. We often stalk through dense vegetation only to retreat out of fear and caution (during Adolf's time, the former Wehrmacht radio announcer called this a “strategic retreat to deeply staggered catching lines” ).

Rhinoceroses, lions, and elephants that have retired to the thick bush for their midday rest have a different view of things, even if I don't want to hunt them.

No one can say whether a buffalo is waiting for you in a bad mood, having been caught in a snare yesterday and broken free, with a Kalashnikov bullet in its stomach or painful, festering scars from a lion attack on its back.

I get thrills at home every week too, when a truck suddenly thunders past on a road I want to cross and I'm sitting on a nervous horse.
That's enough danger for me.
View attachment 731321
We retreated from this dry creek.
Rhinoceroses were everywhere.
You don't have to shoot anything there to feel “unsafe.”

To stay on the topic of hunting in Africa, you don't have to hunt DG to expose yourself to danger. Lions were hunted every year in Burkina Faso, but I have never heard of a serious incident. However, many small game hunts were also conducted in the border areas where buffalo and lions were hunted, that by hunters who only books such hunts for shooting birds and certainly not for looking for danger. Ironically, one of these groups, armed only with shotguns and bird shot shells, was attacked by a lion. Luckily, only one person was injured, not too serious and he was able to leave the hospital after few days.

 

[VertigoBE]

You have a family can you still not see the selfishness of the potentiality in that statement?

I wouldn't be surprised if your family all unanimously THOUGHT the same THOUGHT after you tell them you're off to go risk your life over something you CHOSE to risk your life over..... "Then don't do it Dad please! To us you are worth more than all the Buffalo in that land!".... But there's a reason they don't (you'll probably argue / fight them over it, because this is what YOU want to do & you're the king of the castle)?

"We are a family, I need you, you need me, we need each other..... So I booked a Dangerous Game hunt with the potential to end my life....................okcoolbyecya!!!"

I would next to guarantee that if you did (I hope it never happens, I wouldn't wish it upon ANYONE) lose your life in a hunt and if I had the ""powers"" to temporarily bring you back for a little chat the FIRST thing you would say are "IT WASN'T WORTH IT! I'M A F'ING IDIOT! MY WIFE!... MY KIDS!... I...<turns back to dust>"

My mate died behind a boat in a BridgeToBridge Skiing race, he died about 100m from the finish line when the driver hit the straight at max speed but there was a little turbulence in the water that sent my mate cartwheeling and shattering his entire spine landing face down in the water not dead, but a vegetable, 4 days later life support was turned off he was 26.

The actual saddest part (aside my mates death) about it was he ..."HAD"... a family (Pregnant Wife & 2yr old son), EVERYONE (my deceased mates own parents included) unanimously agree that he had NO BUSINESS getting behind a boat to race whilst he had a family that NEEDED him (as all families need each other) and I'll bet my bottom dollar that if I could rip his soul back from where ever it is and slap his ragged decaying corpse across the face with it to bring back life in him the first words, the FIRST words he would say/scream are "I'M SORRY! I'M AN IDIOT!!! I'M SO F'ING SORRY!!!! I'M SO F'ING DUMB!!! TELL MY KIDS!!!! TELL MY WIFE!!!!" (aka nothing but regret).

Very rarely do I ever think of my life being some sort of singular thing, my life effects COUNTLESS of individuals around me.

I am NOT saying do not hunt dangerous game, (too me it's the pinnacle of the hunt!)
I AM saying that you do not need to put yourself in harms way to hunt dangerous game!

#FAMILY

I can maybe give an additional viewpoint on this:

You posit that losing your life while doing something (potentially) dangerous is not worth it, as it would impact not only yourself (death) but also those around you (partner children) who would want nothing more than to have their father/husband back.

I fully feel for this point of view. Now let’s look at it the other way: this 26 year old friend of yours, who was fully loving life, living on the edge with his passion for waterskiing. Imagine he said upon meeting his wife, “ok well I’ll stop my passion and it’s associated risk, and will not expose myself to danger for the sake of my wife and future kids” this man will likely loose his spirit, become resentful over time which will be impacting his family as well. Next to showing this behaviour to his wife (who likely fell in love with his on the edge spirit in the first place) he would have a bad influence on his kids too.

Throughout history, time after time, philosophers have pointed out that a short but life well filled is better than a long life of comfortable blandness. I believe this is even more true for society at large, than for a specific individual, despite the loss that might take place with the death of the individual. In other words, a society of men living life at its fullest, on the edge, is preferable than a society of men seeking only the safest, most comfortable life.

That does not mean one should do dangerous things lightly or ignorantly. Prepare well, train, be surrounded with the right people, but do take risk.

 

[farmer_john]

I can maybe give an additional viewpoint on this:

You posit that losing your life while doing something (potentially) dangerous is not worth it, as it would impact not only yourself (death) but also those around you (partner children) who would want nothing more than to have their father/husband back.

I fully feel for this point of view. Now let’s look at it the other way: this 26 year old friend of yours, who was fully loving life, living on the edge with his passion for waterskiing. Imagine he said upon meeting his wife, “ok well I’ll stop my passion and it’s associated risk, and will not expose myself to danger for the sake of my wife and future kids” this man will likely loose his spirit, become resentful over time which will be impacting his family as well. Next to showing this behaviour to his wife (who likely fell in love with his on the edge spirit in the first place) he would have a bad influence on his kids too.

Throughout history, time after time, philosophers have pointed out that a short but life well filled is better than a long life of comfortable blandness. I believe this is even more true for society at large, than for a specific individual, despite the loss that might take place with the death of the individual. In other words, a society of men living life at its fullest, on the edge, is preferable than a society of men seeking only the safest, most comfortable life.

That does not mean one should do dangerous things lightly or ignorantly. Prepare well, train, be surrounded with the right people, but do take risk.

Nevermind were more likely do die driving to work in a car accident than a hunting accident. Maybe shoukd just stay home so my wife wont have to worry.

 

[Kharn]

You posit that losing your life while doing something (potentially) dangerous is not worth it.

This is an ongoing misunderstanding...

What I am saying is "Do not INCREASE the risk for personal ENTERTAINMENT."

I read some hunters on here as willingly passing up a potentially legitimate shot on DG just to "get closer" to the DG (putting themselves at greater risk & others with them).

Prior to his death my mate & I would water ski (casually & locally) as frequently as possible (& I still do today, albeit alone now & not as frequently but I like to maintain my ability to ski proficiently).

 

[Ontario Hunter]

@Kharn - there are worse ways to die. Having hunted DG a couple times I told my Family (in advance) that in the highly unlikely event I “die” - I died doing something I loved. The older I get the more I appreciate that ‘Living Longer is Not always living better’…. Now, that might sound very Brave and its easier for me to write about then actually experiencing (I might be screaming like a baby if it ever happens).

Yeah. Anyway, who wants to live to be a hundred years-old? That would be the guy who's ninety-nine!

 

[double rifle newbie]

i think there are points on all sides. i think we can all agree that the element of danger is definitely part of the experience when hunting DG. it doesnt mean charging an elephant with a knife, but getting as close as reasonably possible for practical reasons: 1) more accurate, 2) more speed/hydrostatic energy so hits harder.

my humble 2 cents gents

when i took my alaska griz 100 miles north of Kotzebue, he was on the east side of a wide dry river drainage headed south. i was 250 yards away on the other side of the riverbed with my 416 rem mag. i wanted to get closer so i bent over and moved as low as i could since i was moving over wide open river bed with no cover. i would stop when he stopped and looked around. i got to right at 100 yards and took the shot. a day i will absolutely never forget. could i have shot from 250? yes. i wanted my first shot on that old boy to count. everything worked out. i didnt want to wound a that thing and have to go sort it out in the willow thickets, 550 miles away from the nearest proper hospital. pics of this griz are in my africahunting photos.

getting closer increased my chances of a more accurate, harder hitting shot and decreased my chances of getting the business end of a wounded griz. simple as that.

 

[farmer_john]

Yeah. Anyway, who wants to live to be a hundred years-old? That would be the guy who's ninety-nine!

99 with denentia and doesnt know whos changing his diapers.
Or 99 and lucid and still doing most normal things with a semblance of independence?

Because id rather die before becoming useless.

 

[farmer_john]

This is an ongoing misunderstanding...

What I am saying is "Do not INCREASE the risk for personal ENTERTAINMENT."

I read some hunters on here as willingly passing up a potentially legitimate shot on DG just to "get closer" to the DG (putting themselves at greater risk & others with them).

Prior to his death my mate & I would water ski (casually & locally) as frequently as possible (& I still do today, albeit alone now & not as frequently but I like to maintain my ability to ski proficiently).

Why not tho.
And also what is risk. Thats a nebulus term. A f1 drivers level of risk driving a super car would be different than your average 25 year old.
Training and experience mitigate risk.
So what you may be batshit crazy from your perspective may be another day in the office for someone else.
And if its a risk everyone involved with is coo with why not

 

[Altitude sickness]

99 with denentia and doesnt know whos changing his diapers.
Or 99 and lucid and still doing most normal things with a semblance of independence?

Because id rather die before becoming useless.

This reminds me of an old family story. My Grandmother’s uncle at 99 yrs old was taking his much younger girlfriend on her first trip to France.
He was so spry no one questioned the trip.

He passed away suddenly just before the trip. We joke about the much younger girlfriend may have “over tasked “ his vitality.

 

[Flipper Dude]

This reminds me of an old family story. My Grandmother’s uncle at 99 yrs old was taking his much younger girlfriend on her first trip to France.
He was so spry no one questioned the trip.

He passed away suddenly just before the trip. We joke about the much younger girlfriend may have “over tasked “ his vitality.

Hell yes. That’s the way to go.

 

[Kharn]

A f1 drivers level of risk driving a super car would be...

The most micro-managed area in the entire sport, why?

Because Human life is more important than <insert literally anything here>.

The entire car is designed around decreasing risk & increasing safety for the driver whilst simultaneously being competitive on the race track.

EDIT: When someone dies in an F1 race after all is done and dusted the engineers immediately reverse engineer the "How" and then re-engineer the "Cause" so that it doesn't fail again or if it does, fails in a 'safer for the driver' way that doesn't lead to injury / loss of life.

EDIT EDIT: You either have a very black & white POV on life or you're being deliberately ignorant.

 

[Flipper Dude]

Bet you’re the life of the party.

 

[Kharn]

Bet you’re the life of the party.

<laughs in aerospace & defense manufacturing>

 

[LWPhunt]

I appreciate the banter on this, I follow the opinion, whose to judge. I have shot two buff's, at close range with a bow (less than 20yds) and also some with the 375 at less than 80, but I don't make judgement on someone with a 500 at 30 yds. To each his own, I like sweat on my palms, and elevated heart rate and the fact that I am climbing a damn tree faster than anyone else around me at that time. Whatever flips your switch. Amazing to hear the grunts and feel the ground shake, judgement for the sake of conversation, will get old. Carry on all and go hunting.