Poachers bits

Freddy · 19th March 2005, 06:21 PM

Tim, I think these harpoons were also used to hunt the bigger animals, like the African buffalo.
The idea is that the point enters the body of the animal. The harpoon point then gets loose from the shaft, but remains attached to it with the cord. In this way, an animal running into the bush gets entangled in the shrubs. It slows the animal down, making it possible for the hunter to follow it much easier. It also weakens the animal through blood loss and so the final blow will be easier to make.

19th March 2005, 06:21 PM	#9
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	Other targets Tim, I think these harpoons were also used to hunt the bigger animals, like the African buffalo. The idea is that the point enters the body of the animal. The harpoon point then gets loose from the shaft, but remains attached to it with the cord. In this way, an animal running into the bush gets entangled in the shrubs. It slows the animal down, making it possible for the hunter to follow it much easier. It also weakens the animal through blood loss and so the final blow will be easier to make.