Kiwakwe Posted June 20 Posted June 20 36 minutes ago, hvhart said: Norseman, How will you retrieve a dart from a Bigfoot? It's not a whale. I gather a set-up akin to a bowfishing rig on a crossbow with low power draw and tipped bolt that has a stop, like the business end of a ski pole or somesuch. I'm sure it's doable, it's getting it into the hands of a prepared individual, in the right place, at the right time--the usual wrench in the works... 1
norseman Posted June 20 Admin Posted June 20 4 hours ago, hvhart said: Norseman, How will you retrieve a dart from a Bigfoot? It's not a whale. As a hunter, and a bow hunter as well? I would back off and give it some space for a few hours and then I would track it. The dart will be a bright color and it might be possible to place a AirTag or other tracking device to help locate it. In a forest environment the dart is either going to fall out. Or the creature may pull it out, or the brush and limbs may pull it out as it walks. I was a hounds-man 20 years ago. We used to track our dogs with Marshall collars and a Yaggi antenna. I bet that technology is better and smaller now. I have not kept abreast in that field and would have to research further. I think they use satellites now instead of radio telemetry. Anyhow I still say shoot the first one with a gun and be done with it. But being a member of these forums I understand that most researchers are just not willing to do that. So option B is we still need a chunk of the animal, real physical evidence. So how do we do that with minimal harm to the target species? Anyhow I am talking out loud right now. But I may buy a crossbow and start playing and testing with the idea. It doesn’t have to be the latest greatest crossbow. Just an old style recurve would be plenty powerful enough to get a one inch sample core from the creature. It reminds me of a bow hunting trip we were on in northern Washington. We never saw an Elk but we were killing Grouse for dinner with our judo points. We had this bull moose come through and we of course didn’t have a tag. It’s a once in a lifetime draw. So my buddy loads a judo point and we called it in and he smacked it right in the heart lung area. It ran off and we collected his arrow. Just an aluminum arrow with a big rubber tip. Didn’t hurt the Moose at all. But probably wouldn’t have impressed a game warden. But we basically called in and shot a bull moose. It was a sense of accomplishment. Any bow hunting is….very challenging. Anyhow it gave me the idea and so I started researching the idea and found they do use this in biology. 1
norseman Posted June 20 Admin Posted June 20 Canadian polar bears biopsy darting. He is using a blank fired dart gun instead of a pneumatic one.
guyzonthropus Posted 14 hours ago Author Posted 14 hours ago That polar bear darting is one context where you won't be following your subject around asking for your dart back! "Hey! Yeah, you, Bear! Gimme that back! ...oh dang...." 1
norseman Posted 13 hours ago Admin Posted 13 hours ago 1 hour ago, guyzonthropus said: That polar bear darting is one context where you won't be following your subject around asking for your dart back! "Hey! Yeah, you, Bear! Gimme that back! ...oh dang...." Very germane to our subject for sure!
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