The clients were way over gunned and were flinching like crazy. Dudes should have been armed with 375 H&Hs, but then that wouldn't look as cool on the show. Ivan really held the 577 down out of recoil. Of course he was properly motivated to do so. Great job cleaning up the mess.

Perry

I learned or should I say relearned several lessons from that video. The first was that as said in the thread with Viam, you will notice that the bull had his head up until he got through the trees and then dropped it to the classic low charge position after he got through the trees. From my experience they don't drop their heads until they have a clear view and path to their target. Second, the double is the weapon for close range charges. If Ivan had been using a bolt gun we would all be mourning him right now. Now let me hear a bolt gun user argue that fact! Third, you take an unnecessary risk if you get too close if you don't have to. Fourth, no matter how good a shot you are, how much experience you have or how powerful your rifle is you won't stop a charge every time with one shot. Fifth, I think even Ivan would admit he was a bit lucky in getting that second shot in the right place. Sixth, the more rifle skill, experience and power you have in your rifle the more luck you will have.

465H&H

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Third, you take an unnecessary risk if you get too close if you don't have to.

I was kind of unsettled by them almost teasing some of those bulls.

To my way of thinking, one should ease in un-noticed, get a good estimate on the ivory, and then ease out un-noticed. To me, the "art" of being a hunter is trying to never let the quarry know you are there until you pull the trigger.

That was a great show, nice work Ivan.

What does every one think about them being CLOSE to the elephants that are clearly agitated and the clients standing there with the rifles on their shoulders?

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Originally posted by larryshores:
What does every one think about them being CLOSE to the elephants that are clearly agitated and the clients standing there with the rifles on their shoulders?

My wife thought these guys were nuts for getting that close to a pissed off elephant. My only comment was this: "It might be fun, but I sure as hell wouldn't have my rifle over my shoulder!"

Does anyone know when the show will air again? I missed it this time around.

I think the Ivan episode has run its course on Outdoor Channel. TIVO says the next episode is crock and hippo ("River Monsters of the Zambezi"). This will be fairly booring compared to Ivan hitting elephants over the head with his 577 (many apologies to Dave Fulson who is in the next episode).

Typically all the eposides run again later in the season. If I see it coming around again, I will post accordingly.

IT would be nice if someone would post this on youtube so us non americans could get to see the charge

As great as Ivan whacking that elephant is the camera man who captured it on film is to be saluted as well. He a man with a lot of guts, right in the midst of the situation with nothing but a camera. Amazing courage!

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Originally posted by BigBullet:
As great as Ivan whacking that elephant is the camera man who captured it on film is to be saluted as well. He a man with a lot of guts, right in the midst of the situation with nothing but a camera. Amazing courage!

You cannot salute cameramen. They are so psychotic to willingly do that job unarmed that they wouldn't recognize a compliment if you tried to explain it to them.

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Originally posted by bearhunter762:
IT would be nice if someone would post this on youtube so us non americans could get to see the charge

Yeah, where is the youtube version?

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What does every one think about them being CLOSE to the elephants that are clearly agitated and the clients standing there with the rifles on their shoulders?

I think trying NOT to get them agitated in first place should be the goal.

But I do think Ivan did a tremendous job of shooting under pressure. Chink of the beer mug to him for that!