Bowhunter "Darting " a Rhino

[MIKEXRAY]

       I watched a hunting show that featured a bow hunter that was hunting in Africa.   He was hunting Rhino with a compound bow  but instead of a broadhead,  his arrow had a tranquilizer dart.  He darted the Rhino  , they followed it till it was out & then took pictures kneeled down next to the Rhino. It was not for any other purpose then for the hunter to pretend harvesting the Rhino. I thought it was incredibly stupid and wondered how many times a month this poor Rhino gets hunted & darted. It made wonder if bull elk or other animals in the US could ever come to the point that this is how they would be handled.  Your thoughts ?                                                                         
                                                                                                                                                                                                         I would be embarrassed to be featured in the show I watched, it was not even that challenging looking as the Rhino has pretty bad eye sight.  If an animal's numbers are to low for harvesting , then they should just leave it alone.    Mike

[johnnyaustin44]

No kidding and I'm sure its a really cheap picture. but I've heard most of the money spent on those "hunts " goes back to protecting the rhinos

[h20hunter]

Interesting....saw one just like that except the took dna, put a chip in it, health check, that sort of thing. The "fee" the hunter paid covered the expebse to track the critter and help fund research.

[Bean Counter]

I work with a guy fixing to spend $6,000 to go to Africa to kill an elephant. Yes it will be an actual kill, not a darting. I think its some what of a nuisance/population control hunt. No ivory to bring home, no meat either. Just going to shoot the thing eating someones fields.. For $6,000 

[carpsniperg2]

In order to complete some record books the rhino is needed to complete them. A green hunt/ darting a rhino is they way most do it now days. It is a great way to help fund research and give back. I am thankful people want to spend thousands of dollars to give back to the hunting community and help locals and research. There is nothing wrong with it and it really does a lot of good for the animals and the people.

[bearpaw]

I would love to shoot an elephant or dart a rhino. Those marauding elephants are going to be killed, they might as well let a hunter pay to do it, that helps the local farmers and the economy.

I'm pretty sure the Rhino darting is carefully regulated and you guys are correct, it aids in preserving the population. The income from hunting makes many species important to local people and economies, without the income from hunting poachers would proliferate. Hunting has saved a lot of species in Africa and around the world.

[MIKEXRAY]

I don't have a problem with shooting an elephant or even shooting rhino if it is legal.  What I found stupid was the pretending to harvest aspect of the whole thing,  shooting it with a dart or you could even just shoot it with a paint ball gun.

If Bull elk were endangered would everyone turn to hunting with drugged tip arrows just to get your picture with the bull elk ?  I myself would not hunt elk if that is the only way I was allowed to achieve it.

If your ego is so big that you have to walk up & dart a Rhino  to proclaim you took all all of Africa's big game on a list then you may be hunting for the wrong reasons.  I would be just as fulfilled harvesting all on the list that are legal to harvest. I understand the economic value to the local economies.        I would never of thought of darting as hunting till I saw this show  and as our regs get stupider & more restricted every year. I wondered if " Darting " is ever going to be added .      Mike