I see DOC has put down the Humpback Whale up on the Westcoast. What calibre do they use? An old .303 with military FMJ would do the job I suppose.
Printable View
I see DOC has put down the Humpback Whale up on the Westcoast. What calibre do they use? An old .303 with military FMJ would do the job I suppose.
@40mm :D
This was being discussed at the smoko table yesterday, the propersition was put forth they used a bloody big needle and a drum pump on a 44gallon of some chemical to put it to sleep :D
Actually I doubt it, the whales brain is very small compared to the head size and shooting it is actually asking for trouble in terms of humane killing. If I had to use a rifle I would want as big a calibre as possible to ensure maximum temporary cavity.
Explosives is the preferred method of instantaneous euthanasia with whales.
From the TV news report, sounds like they just shot it. " ..heard several gunshots.."
An old boy used to get this job back in the day. He was a Napier resident.
He used a .303 with solids for the big ones and a steel lance for the smaller ones.
I was at a whale rescue here on Stewart Island years ago.
About 20 to 30 pilot whales had stranded or were trying to.
At the end of the day one of the DOC team had to shoot a few that were beyond hope.
On the last one as the chap pulled the trigger [.303] a small wave rolled up and over the whale and obviously filled part of the barrel just as the shot went off.
The rifle barrel split like a banana peel and said chap looked rather red in the face.
I heard they used a borrowed 416 of some description
45/70
Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk
There really is no other viable optionQuote:
Originally Posted by BRADS
Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk
My mate does it for doc. Uses a short barreled 14.5x114, same Calibre they shoot tanks with in WW2.
His 50 BMG wasn't getting it done.
Apparently whale skulls are really thick.
Naaa. They do a blood test and take their sweet time looking fora vein. That will sort it.....Quote:
Originally Posted by veitnamcam
That sounds like the business!Quote:
Originally Posted by 300_BLK
The 14.5x114 was what I heard off, as I have a mate who is one of the lucky few to own one as well and I believe he knows the Whale culler.
I know you light a fire in them if they swallow you and you want out!
Just take some dry firewood with ya [emoji14]Quote:
Originally Posted by Maca49
Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk
Bring in 2/1 battalion and hit it with a few mag58's the more holes the better
Just get dundee on the job with his 22 :)
Attachment 92605
He'll need all these as well.
35 Whalen?
yup, explosives are the one, iv had to put down a few dozen in my years on the whale board.Quote:
Originally Posted by terryf
Also best to administer said explosives from a distance with a field gun. Everybody should have one handy.
.270Quote:
Originally Posted by BRADS
Was actually my brother in law who put the whale down and he just used his .22 mag
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Must have a very good understanding of whale anatomy.
Bullshit Dave's in Alaska.Quote:
Originally Posted by Smiddy
Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk
His mp5 isnt 22mag tho 22lr all the wayQuote:
Originally Posted by BRADS
Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk
@timattalonQuote:
Originally Posted by timattalon
That only works on kea's doesn't it?
Am I missing something with this stranded whale business ?? I can never fathom why a line is not run in to the beach from a fishing boat and used to just drag the bastard back out. Sort of the opposite of dragging a cattle beast out of a deep creek. Why all the fiddling around waiting and praying, night vigiling etc while it gets weak using its energy struggling and stress hormones elevating in it's system. It's a mammal so just like a mud stuck horse or downer cow you have to get it back on its feet or in this case fins quick fast or else call the pet food man. Just put a big single grapple hook through the flesh in behind the bottom jaw onto a chain to line setup with a remote release hook and drag it out. Leave the whale to get rid of the hook and chain setup - might even change it's mind about coming near the beach again.
call in the japanese whale towing service
they said on the radio is was like 40tonQuote:
Originally Posted by Moa Hunter
So they'll tow it off the beach and then invoice it for the tow?Quote:
Originally Posted by 40mm
maybe, I was thinking they would cut it up and research how it tastes
I'd say if you would just rip it in half it's too heavyQuote:
Originally Posted by Moa Hunter
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
id probably give it a whirl if it was in front of me, but id also probably torpedo a whaling boat if the opportunity presented itself.Quote:
Originally Posted by 7mmwsm
So keen. Big delicious sea cow thing, of course I want one as schnitzel.Quote:
Originally Posted by 7mmwsm
Question is probably why they strand in the first instance? I'm way too dumb to figure that out. My pick Saboted AP Carl Gustav.
Also if it's already gotta get put down I wouldn't say no to having a wee sample on some whale meat.
For the record I detest the idea of "scientific" whaling but if it's already fucked....
about 1988 or so din collings was asked by doc to get in a 458 winchester to cull whales, he got two in and i got the other one.
I think my 338 Win Mag would do the trick …..not sure though never shot one .
Whales can't be towed off the beach. Their bodies are used to being supported by water and they have very little skeletal structure to support their weight when stranded
Yup. Only thing I imagine might relieve (?prolong) a whale's suffering until tide is back in would be some kind of barrier erected around it and a lot of seawater continually pumped inside the barrier.Quote:
Originally Posted by Backcountry Bob
I suspect though that the right thing to do is, when such strandings happen all the whales get immediately euthanised. Candle vigils and unrealistic hopes are just cruel. Too few make it off beaches in a survivable state to justify the rest of them suffering.
And eat them, make them into spacecraft oil (urban myth, I know), skirt hoops, belts, Maori carvings or whatever.
