quote:

The moment you take things for granted, so ething bad is gonna happen

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
On many occasions, one would get an idea that it is better to give them a bit of space, or something is going to happen.

quote:

"...

The family followed the guide on a long circular route around the waterhole to get closer, always keeping a fair distance between them
and the bull. The group stopped behind a large termite mound to observe the bull. At this stage the bull was still some distance away
and was lazily feeding along a common elephant path, walking right to left to the waterhole (the elephant path ran in front and across
the group some 100m away). The elephant left the path coming towards the termite mound still feeding and unaware of the group,
nevertheless gaining ground slowly. At this point the guide noticed that the elephant bull was in musth (A periodic condition characterized
by aggressive behaviour and an increase in the reproductive hormone testosterone.) He advised the Parkers that it was time to leave
and they started backing away from the termite mound to some bush cover, keeping the termite mound between themselves and the elephant.

The bull must have picked up movement or a scent even though the wind direction was in the groups favour.
The bull then mock charged toward the termite mound (a mock charge is easily distinguished from a full charge because the ears
are kept open and forward. A full charge is when the elephant tucks its ears back, drops its head with the trunk between its legs).
The guide stepped out and shouted, which stopped the bull, it mock charged again and he shouted again stopping the elephant, the bull
then continued with its charge. The guide fired a warning shot above the bulls head but the shot did not deter the bull. The guide did
not manage to discharge another shot as the elephant ran him over. The bull went onto to knock Charlotte over as she was not far behind
the guide, killing her instantly. The bull then chased Kelvin for some distance as he ran away in a zig zag fashion. Kelvin noticed the
bull gaining ground on him but for some reason the bull stopped and went back towards Veronica who must have stopped running. The bull
charged Veronica, killing her instantly. The elephant then moved off disappearing into the bush. Kelvin was not injured during this
incident and Andy, the guide had no major physical injuries."

quote:

Originally posted by Dave Fulson:

However it appears that Ian and his client had been on the tracks of an elephant bull for approximately 5 hours when they decided to take a break
and allow the client to rest. Feeling he was quite close to the elephant, Ian and his tracker Robert continued to follow the tracks in hopes of
getting a look at the ivory as the client stayed with the game scout to rest. Robert indicated the bull was in musk. They eventually caught up to
the bull, spotting him at about 50-100 meters. The bull instantly turned and began a full charge. Ian and Robert began shouting in order to stop
the charge. At very close range, Ian was able to get off one shot before the bull killed him.

Ian Gibson was a fine man and one of the most experienced professional hunters on the African continent.

quote:

Originally posted by lavaca:
It takes a fraction of a second to deploy a double rifle from the traditional "African carry" to "in battery" so to speak.

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:
In the mid-90's, we went to Zim. This area had a high fenced area in it for game viewing . They took my wife. She thought it was great fun to feed these young elephants peppermints. I warned her about it. She laughed it off. The next week the same elephant killed someone.

I do not trust them ever.

quote:

Originally posted by Buzz Charlton:
Standing 20 yards away from an elephant bull or cow with your rifle on your shoulder is simply stupid and irresponsible. Worse still is when someone does it with a "mock charge"with the ele stopping mere meters away. I dont care if it was Bell, Harland or any of the old greats- no one can read elephant behavior 100% every time.

I have seen lately on Face book a well respected group involved in training students doing the same thing and the bull turns at 5 yards and the instructor has not lifted his rifle off his shoulder. He will certainly in time become a statistic but worse then that is his young students may also. At worst his students will leave the coarse thinking they can "read" elephant behavior only to put others at risk.

This time last year I shot an ele bull in self defense -it covered 40 yards in seconds and had I not been ready I would have been squashed! Get rid of the "ego" rubbish and simply be ready for all situations!

quote:

Originally posted by Buzz Charlton:
Standing 20 yards away from an elephant bull or cow with your rifle on your shoulder is simply stupid and irresponsible. Worse still is when someone does it with a "mock charge"with the ele stopping mere meters away. I dont care if it was Bell, Harland or any of the old greats- no one can read elephant behavior 100% every time.....

This time last year I shot an ele bull in self defense -it covered 40 yards in seconds and had I not been ready I would have been squashed!
Get rid of the "ego" rubbish and simply be ready for all situations!

quote:

Originally posted by ivan carter:
..spend enough time out there and around elephants and stuff will happen ....i would hazard a guess that between us buzz and me
rank highest in number of elephants killed in self defence , both of us have in the last two and half decades spent thousands of days
around elephant - a TZ ph who guides two ele hunts a year probably will never shoot one in self defence - the most elephant i have
taken in a single year with clients is 28 - of that over half were cows.

the scenarios (all 6 of them) where i have shot in self defence are actually the scenarios that taught me the most and what the overall
lesson that came through from those experiences is that you cant trust what you "think" you know ..to that end

Saeed , you nailed it ...NOBODY knows what an animal especially a wild animal is going to do next ...every single safari i see and learn
something or experience something i didnt expect and no matter what you have to be ready for that.

quote:

Originally posted by Buzz Charlton:
Standing 20 yards away from an elephant bull or cow with your rifle on your shoulder is simply stupid and irresponsible. Worse still is when someone does it with a "mock charge"with the ele stopping mere meters away. I dont care if it was Bell, Harland or any of the old greats- no one can read elephant behavior 100% every time.

I have seen lately on Face book a well respected group involved in training students doing the same thing and the bull turns at 5 yards and the instructor has not lifted his rifle off his shoulder. He will certainly in time become a statistic but worse then that is his young students may also. At worst his students will leave the coarse thinking they can "read" elephant behavior only to put others at risk.

This time last year I shot an ele bull in self defense -it covered 40 yards in seconds and had I not been ready I would have been squashed! Get rid of the "ego" rubbish and simply be ready for all situations!