Big game hunter crushed to death

[Al Bundy]

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-n...nter--10469997

A professional big game hunter is dead after he was crushed by a wounded elephant as it was fatally shot.

Theunis Botha, 51, was on a hunt in Gwai, Zimbabwe, when his gro[/URL]up was charged by four breeding elephants.

A female elephant picked up Botha in her trunk after he fired at the others and collapsed on top of him - crushing him to death - after she was shot by another hunter.

Heartbroken friends described the married father-of-five as a "legend", while opponents of big game hunting offered little sympathy following his passing.


Theunis Botha was killed by an elephant when he was on a hunt in Zimbabwe (Photo: Facebook)

Botha often took wealthy foreigners on hunts for leopards and other animals (Photo: Theunis Botha/Youtube)

Botha and two other men pose with the giant tusks of an elephant
Botha, from the South African town of Tzaneen, and the rest of the group were out for a walk on Friday afternoon when they came across the herd.

A source told Netwerk24 that Botha shot at three elephant cows as they stormed the hunters.

A fourth cow stormed from the side, lifted Botha with her trunk and was fatally shot by another hunter. The elephant then collapsed onto Botha.


Elephants and lions were among the animals hunted during Botha's safaris

Botha came from a family of cattle ranchers and big game hunters

Botha and another man pose with a crocodile that was killed during a hunt
The South African specialised in big game safaris and often took wealthy foreigners on hunts for lions, leopards and other animals after founding his own company in the 1980s.

Friends paid tribute to him on Facebook, where one wrote: "RIP Theunis Botha. Our heartfelt condolences to Carike and family. He was a great man! So sad!"


Botha's company was called Theunis Botha Big Game Safaris and Hounds

One of Botha's friends (not pictured) was recently killed by a crocodile during a hunt

Another friend added: "A legend has fallen but will never be forgotten... It's with a sad heart that we say goodbye to you Oom Theunis Botha. Our deepest condolences to the family. May God be with you all in this difficult time."

Critics of big game hunting responded with little sympathy.

One person wrote: "You should be crying for the innocent elephant that was senselessly murdered not this idiot hunter who deserved what he got."

Heartbroken friends described Botha as a "legend" of big game hunting (Photo: Facebook)

The married father-of-five ran his own safari company out of South Africa (Photo: Theunis Botha/Youtube)
Botha's friend, Scott van Zyl, 44, was killed by crocodiles during a hunt in Zimbabwe last month, Netwerk24 reported.

Botha's company, called Theunis Botha Big Game Safaris and Hounds, as he was known to hunt with dogs, is a family operation run with his wife Carike.

In 1878 his ancestors moved into a wild and rugged region of South Africa, becoming cattle ranchers and hunters, the firm's website states.

It adds: "In the year of ’66 Theunis became the latest addition to his family, and was privileged to be raised in the ways of the bush and its people."

He served in the South African infantry during the Angolan War and left the Army after reaching the rank of sergeant.

After returning home he started offering hunting safaris in 1989 to pay for his studies, and completed a degree in psychology and anthropology in 1991.

His first client, Bill Reynolds, from the US state of Montana, hunted a leopard on the family's game ranch bordering Kruger National Park after his hounds picked up the animal's scent, the website states.

It added that Botha pioneered traditional European-style Monteria hunts, where game are driven with dogs, in South Africa.

[Iowanian]

I saw today Texas changed a law so that you can shoot wild hogs from a hot air balloon. If a boar can't shoot one of those down that might be a peaceful way to spend an afternoon.

[HonestChieffan]

http://boone-crockett.org
http://www.nwtf.org
http://www.wildsheepfoundation.org
http://www.rmef.org
https://www.nraila.org/issues/hunting-and-conservation/
https://www.safariclub.org


For those who are interested in helping conserve wild animals and animal habitat, these organizations will gladly accept any donations you want to give.

For those who just want to bitch, carry on. Losers.

[BigRichard]

Anyone that eats meat and then bitches about this is a huge hypocrite. How many chickens/cows/fish have you killed you murdering SOBs. Just because you might put them on a higher pedestal than other animals doesn't make you right.

As others have said hunting is not for me but if others want to do it go for it. Killing a cow or deer is no different than killing an elephant they are just a little bit bigger. They all have beating hearts and blood flowing through their veins.

[ping2000]

Originally Posted by Iowanian

I saw today Texas changed a law so that you can shoot wild hogs from a hot air balloon. If a boar can't shoot one of those down that might be a peaceful way to spend an afternoon.

Question. I know the pork we buy at the stores these days sucks balls because breeders have bred most of the fat out making the meat like shoe leather. (Thanks anti fat health nut shitholes) Anyway, is wild hog meat fattier, i.e. taste better? If so, where can someone buy it? Searching for tastier chops!

[Fish]

Originally Posted by ping2000

Question. I know the pork we buy at the stores these days sucks balls because breeders have bred most of the fat out making the meat like shoe leather. (Thanks anti fat health nut shitholes) Anyway, is wild hog meat fattier, i.e. taste better? If so, where can someone buy it? Searching for tastier chops!

The **** are you talking about? Bred most of the fat out? No.

Wild hog meat doesn't taste better, because wild hogs live on the run. Their incredibly active lifestyle compared to much less active farm hogs produces considerably less fat content in the meat, along with a huge buildup of lactic acid in the active muscles. Which gives the meat the wild gamey taste people don't like.

[gblowfish]

Sometimes you're the windshield.
Sometimes you're the bug.

[Iowanian]

Originally Posted by ping2000

Question. I know the pork we buy at the stores these days sucks balls because breeders have bred most of the fat out making the meat like shoe leather. (Thanks anti fat health nut shitholes) Anyway, is wild hog meat fattier, i.e. taste better? If so, where can someone buy it? Searching for tastier chops!

There are a lot of factors in both ends of that argument.

Wild hog is gamier for sure, and larger/older hogs are worse and boars are worse than older sows. Because they aren't vaccinated, you have to cut around some things like puss pockets.

If you give me a choice I'd prefer 1. Outdoor, farm raised 2. production hog 3. wild pig


Back on topic. What's more fun than hunting house cats with Potato guns blowfish?

[MIAdragon]

Where's the video or victory kill pics of this hunt?

[ping2000]

Originally Posted by Fish

The **** are you talking about? Bred most of the fat out? No.

Wild hog meat doesn't taste better, because wild hogs live on the run. Their incredibly active lifestyle compared to much less active farm hogs produces considerably less fat content in the meat, along with a huge buildup of lactic acid in the active muscles. Which gives the meat the wild gamey taste people don't like.

http://modernfarmer.com/2013/08/the-...-american-hog/