A range animal injection apparatus has a syringe, a pressure chamber, a needleand aself-removal system which may include a contact member positioned only on oneside of theneedle and projections extending from an end of the dart. When the apparatushits an animalthe contact member is pushed back opening a valve at the needle end of thesyringe. Pressurein the pressure chamber acts on the plunger of the syringe pushing medicationinto theanimal. The plunger eventually closes the valve and moves the contact memberforward toremove the apparatus from the animal. Pinching is reduced by the contactmember beingpositioned below and not around the needle. The projections help keep the dartrelativelyperpendicular to the hide reducing pinching and increasing leverage. Theprojections alsoreduce rotation of the apparatus, helping to keep the contact member below theneedle.
