I just got home from South Africa today and one of the best experiences I had was the darting of a Rhino. I also gave it the shot to stand again.

Here is a photo, more photos and stories will follow.

Very nice rhino! I am glad to see that you darted. What part Of R.S.A. was this?

Congratulations, Christer! How exciting! I was wondering if anyone else may have noticed the slight resemblance between hunter and prey?

Welcome back. I look forward to more pictures and stories.

That must have been a Rush!!!!!

That is the only way to hunt rhino!

I hope I can experience that same rush some day.

Will you have a fiberglass trophy made?? I hear they take all the measurements for you while he is down.

Welcome back home Christer! I am as sober as a judge, as the saying goes, but I still think I see two rhinos in that picture...

Congratulations, he is a real beauty (the one in front that is)!

Regards,
Martin

Christer! What a trip! I look forward to more pics and your story very much. Beautiful animal, by the way.

Is it me, or does that look like a Handi-rifle dart gun??

Looks like a miniature rhino next to you Christer!!!

Congrats on your experience. I bet it was a real hoot!

Cheers,
Canuck

bra gjort---chris

The Big Viking and his trusty steed?

Nice animal, what a brute!
By the way, how long does it take for the sedative to take effect?

Christer,congratulations on your new pet! how come they don't use a double barrel S/S dart gun?

What guage was this dart gun, and is it a regular shotgun, or a speciality chambered item?

That is a nice bull. How long was he out, and how long before he was on his feet and mobile, again, and were any vetrenary treatments administered while he was down?

The reason for all these question is, I've been thinking about doing one of these, and I want to build a double for the darts, with quarter rib, and express sights! Finally, who did you do this hunt with, and did they take a lot of measurements, and pictures from all angles for the fibergalss mount ?

Thanks for all your comments, here are some facts about the darting!

It took place outside Ellisras in Limpopo Provinvce, South Africa the 2:nd of september in the afternoon.

Outfitter was Tracks in Africa.

We started the hunt by foot and was about ten to feften yards away from him a couple of times but never got the right angle to shoot ( You need 90 degrees angle otherwise the dart will deflect).

Since we also had the need to datr this specific Rhino because he needed treatment to his eyse we decided after some time when we were not able to come close to hime without branches to dart him from the bakkie.

We had him close and comming to us but not the direct angle so the last chance before they needed to use a chopper was from behind and the warning I had was that dont hit the tail. As he was walkink, tail swinging and I was nerwous I hit dead center of the tail and we could only wait some minutes to see what would happen.

Five minutes later he started to slow down and lift his feets and then the vet ran took his tail and pulled him backwards before the trackers came with ropes. five minutes later I was able to approach and we could start take pictures and measurements, longest horn 28 inches, then after another five minutes when his eyes were treated I could give hime the shot to wake up again.

I will now make a piedestal mount in fibreglass to look about as below.

The hun was a (i think) 32 gauge shotgun which was the same size as the dart and behind that an adapter for .22 ammunition was used, ammo chosen after distance. So making a s/s would definently work.

I hope this gave answers to the most questions.

The full darting procedure will be a part of the DVD production Tracks in Africa that will be released next year, cameraman is Frederik Cocquyt.

Some more pictures

Thanks Christer, that was exactly the things I needed to know! Again, congratulations!

Excellent pictures!! When I saw how big you are I was expecting a picture of you with the rhino thrown over your shoulder carrying him to the truck like Walter did with his impala.

Lhook7

The Vets main concern was the healt of the Rhino so when I asked if it was ok to carry it he refused due to the risk of giving the animal a chock

OK here is some more info.
Seen on the first photo clearly is the white stuff around the Rhino's eye that gentleman and ladies is the Antibiotics that the vet gave the rhino to fix the infection in his eye.

Then the dart gun was super and with the adapter and a .22 blank worked wonders. Interestingly as well the dart gun is grooved as well. and quite accurate up to 45 yards from there the dart drops very quickly.

The amount of drugs that were used for the rhino would not have knocked out a blue wildebeest.

As we started tyhe stalk the wind started to swirl in all directions we could have shot him in the hindquarters but we hoped at first to try upper neck arae which the Vet said he favoured. After failed stalking and the rhino being the no.1 priority the Vet said we should try from the vehicle. Even then it was difficult to get the right angle and the rhino being close enough.

On the shot all one could hear from the PH OUtfitter was "F#CK youve hit the tail !!" This could have turned out bad as we didn't know if the dart worked or not usually on a shot like that the dart detonates before entering the skin and you can see the drugs spray but it didn't so there was hope. Then if it did wqork how much did go in ??? Double dose could kill the Rhino if the antitode is not given quickly which would have meant no time for photos or poses. Luckily after a few minutes he picked up his legs and teh Vet reasurred us that all was well.

What an experience to hold live rhino bull like that and not just anyone as well but quite a monster let me reassure you he was big but with Christer in the frame it doens't look like it. I'm 5' 11" and weigh 210 lbs.

What a great experience it was.