|
|
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 3,871
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 3,871 |
Great story.
The old line about you can run but you will only die tired. If you tried to run you would be a grease spot on the ground, so your only choice is to stand and fire is so true in this case. Cheers NC
don't judge until you have walked a mile in other persons' moccasins'
SUM QUOD SUM........HOMINEM TE ESSE MEMENTO
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,917
Campfire Tracker
|
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,917 |
It is funny how stories change over time, both over repeated telling as well as in our own minds.
I thought Don said he was teaching a group of aspiring PH's elephant behavior in a National Park when the incident happened. He was intentionally "pushing" the elephant to illustrate their behavior when it decided not to play and Don let it get close enough that when he finally decided he had to kill it the momentum of the charge brought it close enough that one of the tusks broke Don's arm.
And I understand the Park officials were none too pleased.
Phil Shoemaker Alaska Master Guide, Alaska Hunter Ed Instructor FAA Master pilot www.grizzlyskinsofalaska.comAnyone who claims the 30-06 is not effective has either not used one, or else is unwittingly commenting on their marksmanship.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,120
Campfire Regular
|
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,120 |
Someone who will remain unnamed because I can't remember who it was - REALLY - told me that the most effective thing to do if charged by an elephant was to wait until he/she was at twelve feet and if still coming jump behind the huge pile of feces behind you. Of course we all know the punch line - I ask4ed how he knew that there would be a LARGE pile of feces behind me. He assured me that if that circumstances were as described the feces would be there!
Terry
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 3,995
Campfire Tracker
|
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 3,995 |
Thanks for posting Jim in Idaho!
"Rhetoric is no substitute for reality." -Thomas Sowell
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 1,935
Campfire Regular
|
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 1,935 |
And I understand the Park officials were none too pleased.
Perhaps they would have preferred the elephant hammered a bunch or unarmed tourists? Seems you just can't please some people! Often these people are bureaucrats.
Clinging to guns & religion since 1959
Keyboards make people braver than alcohol
Election Integrity is more important than Election Convenience
Washington Post: "Democracy Dies in Darkness"
More correct: "Killing Democracy Faster Than Darkness"
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,058
Campfire Regular
|
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,058 |
I see he had a handgun on his hip. Does anyone know what make and caliber it was?
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,887
Campfire Regular
|
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,887 |
Having seen the photograph previously; learning that Heath used a .416 Rem. ruined several of my fantasies about me and my 9.3X62.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 2,926
Campfire Regular
|
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 2,926 |
I've been quietly enjoying this thread and the pictures for several days, but I have steadily begun to feel a great disturbance in the force. Something is very wrong here and apparently it's up to me to correct it:
WDM Bell killed a bunch of elephants with a 7x57...
There, balance has been restored. Carry on with the current discussion about Don Heath and his elephant...
David
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 4,083
Campfire Tracker
|
|
OP
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 4,083 |
Having seen the photograph previously; learning that Heath used a .416 Rem. ruined several of my fantasies about me and my 9.3X62. If you look at the post above with the email I received from him, he states that he used his 9.3X62 with Norma solids. Ted
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 18,158
Campfire Ranger
|
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 18,158 |
I heard the elephant was behind on child support and was none to keen to spend easter weekend in jail.
TRUMP- GABBARD 2024
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 9,189
Campfire Outfitter
|
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 9,189 |
This is the idea that first spawned and hatched in my mind while in my single-digits: that a man with the rifle was a courageous and competent man, and that he and his intimate tool would act as one to perform acts of necessary force. This story exemplifies that idea. For me, hunting is still about gathering food, and also fits the narrative.
I belong on eroding granite, among the pines.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,887
Campfire Regular
|
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,887 |
thank you, my faith in the gospel of the 9.3X62 has been restored.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,917
Campfire Tracker
|
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,917 |
I see he had a handgun on his hip. Does anyone know what make and caliber it was? I think Dan said he carries a properly stoked 357. I do know he is pretty handy with a pistol as well.
Phil Shoemaker Alaska Master Guide, Alaska Hunter Ed Instructor FAA Master pilot www.grizzlyskinsofalaska.comAnyone who claims the 30-06 is not effective has either not used one, or else is unwittingly commenting on their marksmanship.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,785
Campfire Regular
|
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,785 |
Having seen the photograph previously; learning that Heath used a .416 Rem. ruined several of my fantasies about me and my 9.3X62. I was about to ask why the rifle recoiled so hard if it was a 9.3x62...My 9.3x64 is more powerful than the 62mm version and I don't experience nearly that much recoil. A .416 would definitely explain the bent knee and high muzzle angle.
"I didn't realize we had so many snipers in this country." by J23
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 60,052
Campfire Kahuna
|
|
Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 60,052 |
As would shooting up at an elephant's head. The bent knee looks like he may be starting to try to step to the side as the bull starts falling.
Don also isn't a big man, and the angle of muzzle looks like its around the top of the elephant's head. A 9.3x62 doesn't kick a vast amount, but it kicks enough to raise the muzzle some, exactly how much depending on the stock, load, etc.
“Montana seems to me to be what a small boy would think Texas is like from hearing Texans.”
John Steinbeck
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,965
Campfire Regular
|
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,965 |
It is funny how stories change over time, both over repeated telling as well as in our own minds.
I thought Don said he was teaching a group of aspiring PH's elephant behavior in a National Park when the incident happened. He was intentionally "pushing" the elephant to illustrate their behavior when it decided not to play and Don let it get close enough that when he finally decided he had to kill it the momentum of the charge brought it close enough that one of the tusks broke Don's arm.
And I understand the Park officials were none too pleased. Versions of this intention action are floating around. The salient point is that shooting an Elephant wasn't the intent. It became a neccesity. At two meters I suspect that a head on Brain shot from a 9.3x62 or a forty caliber solid bullet would work equally well. But a forty caliber would be more comforting in any unexpected and unpredictable life and death situation.
Last edited by idahoguy101; 05/28/15.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 629
Campfire Regular
|
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 629 |
just learnt today that Don passed away.
Rest in Peace.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 28,605
Campfire Ranger
|
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 28,605 |
seriously? damn that sucks
A serious student of the "Armchair Safari" always looking for Africa/Asia hunting books
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 16,363
Campfire Ranger
|
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 16,363 |
I've always been a curmudgeon - now I'm an old curmudgeon.
~Molɔ̀ːn Labé Skýla~
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 60,052
Campfire Kahuna
|
|
Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 60,052 |
yukonphil,
That news is a real shocker. Any details?
Last saw Don at SCI maybe 2-3 years ago.
“Montana seems to me to be what a small boy would think Texas is like from hearing Texans.”
John Steinbeck
|
|
|
|
|
189 members (2ndwind, 17CalFan, 257_X_50, 44automag, 348srfun, 32 invisible),
1,998
guests, and
1,046
robots. |
|
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
|
Forums81
Topics1,190,599
Posts18,454,488
Members73,908
| |
Most Online11,491
Jul 7th, 2023
|
|
|
|
