It works until the elephants arm themselves

Put your logic to work and think how big game hunting in Africa would benefit some of the species being hunted. Amazingly, it seems to work.

The slaughter of thousands of animals in Africa by big game hunters is supported by conservationists who maintain that the sport protects wildlife.

Lions, leopards, elephants and crocodiles are among the trophy species being shot by hunters from Europe and the US. Even the critically endangered black rhino finds itself in the crosshairs.
However, a study concludes, the overall toll on big game is more than matched by the benefits.

Hunters are prepared to pay thousands of pounds for the chance to shoot trophy species. The money they bring in to the 23 African nations that permit trophy hunting provides jobs and encourages people to preserve the landscape rather than turn it into farmland. According to a report in New Scientist, a proportion of the money reaches conservation organisations, who use it to promote wildlife and protect the natural habitat.

The study, published in the journal Biological Conservation, concludes that where game areas are well managed, the death toll from hunters is outweighed by increases in animal populations made possible by conservation initiatives.

Hunting money was directly responsible for the recovery of at least three rare species in South Africa — the bontebok, Damaliscus dorcas, black wildebeest, Connochaetes gnu, and Cape mountain zebra, Equus zebra — and assisted the recovery of southern white rhino numbers.

And, believe it or not, even in areas where eco-tourism isn't a big thing, trophy hunting actually causes the local population to take action.

... in many areas where there was no eco-tourism, it provided a source of income far less damaging than the alternative of illegal and uncontrolled poaching.

Not everyone is happy though. Kenya has outlawed trophy hunting and still maintains a strong eco-tourism sector.

Personally, I'd rather use a camera. It's not as messy and you don't have to hire a gun bearer. And then there's always drinking for conservation.