"catch & release" hunting

gznokes

Very Active Member
Messages
1,322
Hunters dart rhinos instead of killing them, chase cougars and bears without ever pulling the trigger. What would be the pro and con of doing something like this with big game animals like deer, elk, and moose? What methods would be ethical? What species would be best suited for different tactics.
 
Seems those guys have a big support crews to insure the animal doesn't hurt himself and recovers from the drugging. I'd think a animals in our far more rugged country would have more even troubles and who can afford the crew. I like the way you're thinking though, i play catch and release... that is until the animal reaches a certain size :)

I always thought a set of cross hairs on a camera would be cool. If the camera somehow showed the yardage and the cross hairs, it would be even more cool!

Joey
 
I love to pull the trigger but also really enjoy photography for the "catch and release" factor.

I guess paintball guns would be an option. At some point with any of this I guess you get into questions about regulations around wildlife harrassment
 
i'm not sure where to go with this post. I think a camera is a great way to "catch and release". As far as dartin and paintball, elk,deer, antelope,sheep,goat, i think 90% of them would die anyway after being released. Do to terrain, enviromental conditions and such. This post kind of took me back for a second. Weird. Maybe you could cut the horns off and then release. Would the point be to get a picture with you and the animal together. I can't for the life of me figure why guys would want to dart a rhino either though.
 
An acquaintance darted a Rhino for around $8,000 and said every second was worth it. Many pictures, unreal atmoshpere. took all the measurements and came home and had a replica made. He said it was one of the greatest experiences of his life.
 
I already heard of a place that does catch and release elk. Shoot em with a dart gun-cut the antlers off-turn em loose.
 
There is a great controversy regarding the drug's long term effects on darted animals.

Most tests are from griz, but almost all varieties of game animals have died from the drugs, either at the initial injection or shortly thereafter.

Elk are particularly stressed by these events and just simply have heart attacks and die.

There are other injuries also, from crashing to the ground at high speeds.

Some biologist have suggested that it can cause problems with reproduction also.

I doubt it will catch on.

I personnaly would miss the roasts...... and I don't own a dart gun.
 
I know a guy who did research on deer in college. They only darted deer in April. Any earlier then April the deer were still stressed from winter and after April it was to hot.
 
I like to "catch and release " with my camera. I also keep a book full of notes. It does not mean much to others, but I sure like to go back and look at it. I have quite a few pics of bucks that we have taken a year or two later, or ones from which we have found sheds. That's cool to me. too.
 
Darting is a little different than photographing wildlife. I take plenty of pictures. To me darting would be taking the magnificence away from the animals and the natural outoor experience. If some rich dude wants to go dart a rhino, I don't really care, but I say darting or paintballing deer and elk for "sport" is wrong.
 
Darting wildlife for a picture or to cut off the horns?

You call yourself hunters?

Unreal.
 
I have always considered putting the crosshairs on an animal then passing on a perfectly good shot to be "catch and release" hunting. I have done it more then once when the animal was too small - but still legal.

Mark
muledeer.jpg
 
Sign me up for high fence Grizz hunting.I can see it now! You dart a grizz and than he mauls your a$$. Than you snap some shots with your mutilated mug and the sleeping bear. Where do I sign up!

I wonder if you could charge a mauling fee!
 
I practice "Catch and Release" hunting almost every time out. It is called Bowhunting. I sneak in really close and watch the animal in its bed, then just before it gets up for a shot, the wind swirls and blows the animal out of its bed. All that is left is a memory!!

Seriously though, cameras are great for taking pic's of smaller bucks and bulls but during hunting season, I find much more excitement with a bow in my hand.
 
I have said it for a longtime and I will say it again...

"Fire up the grill..
Hunting ain't Catch and Release."
 
LAST EDITED ON Apr-04-09 AT 09:13AM (MST)[p]Amen, if you want to catch and release then go get your flyrod out and whip the water somewhere. Hunting is all about the challenge, and the reward is actually taking the animal home with you.
 
>LAST EDITED ON Apr-04-09
>AT 09:13?AM (MST)

>
>Amen, if you want to catch
>and release then go get
>your flyrod out and whip
>the water somewhere. Hunting is
>all about the challenge, and
>the reward is actually taking
>the animal home with you.
>

Kids.....ya' gotta love 'em.
 
I read an article recently in which a Jaguar was snared and darted in Arizona. It died about two weeks later due to kidney failure caused by the tranquilizer.
 
You got to be kidding i like to Hunt and kill.
I lion,Bear hunted for 25 Years. The only reason you chase and not kill is two reasons. If you killed every Lion or bear you treed ther wouldn't be any left. You chase to keep your HOUNDS in shape, practice!
This darting Rino is just anouther way to get money out of you with out you getting to hunt. Sounds like Utahs Fish and game!




MO FASTA MO BETTA
GO LONG OR GO HOME
 
I would imagine that all game animals are adaptive. meaning that once you shoot an animal witha dart gun, they will know not to make that mistake again. Geneticaly, the animals would get smarter and smarter and adapt to huntersover time...

Just a thought.
 
Darts and drugs ain't going to happen, at least not for the common guy on public ground. Passing up bucks though is nothing new. Some of you may not know what this is :) but i assure you it's almost as rewarding as pulling the trigger. I've been on multiple hunts where 20-30 bucks a day was not unusual. My last Non Resident hunt, we averaged seeing 4-5 bucks a day. Those that get passed up on = catch and release.

Joey
 

Click-a-Pic ... Details & Bigger Photos
Back
Top Bottom