SOUTH AFRICA: Elephant Hunt With Paw Print Safaris 2015

[CAustin]

I used the Ruger Guide Gun in 416 for the elephant with the Ruger #1 in 458 Lott for my backup rifle.
Edward I know you used a 470 pistol and I think you told me that you had a 454 as back up. Wheels I think I remember you used a 404 Jeffery., with a 375 as backup. ActionBob, Big5 and Dolan what did you guys use on your hunts.
My PHs had Blaser 500 NE, and a Merkel 470.... Both side by side rifles.

 

[ActionBob]

I used my Model 70 Winchester in 416 Rem Mag with Federal Premium ammunition loaded with 400 grain Woodleigh hydro solids, with a Trijicon 1-4x24 30mm tube with the illuminated green triangle on post reticle. I took my M70 in 375 H&H along as a backup and used it on an impala. Also shot a buffalo with the 416. My experience was that it is much easier to drop an elephant than a buffalo! I think that Buffalo ended up with 6 bullets in him, some A Frames and some solids. The first shot was while he was walking and it was behind the shoulder but double lunged him,,,,, he did not seem to care!

My PH had his Merkel 500 NE double but was concentrating on the other elephant bull that was just to the left of us on the other side of a large bush... He had simply instructed me to shoot my bull in the ear hole when he cleared the brush he was feeding through. So I waited for him to clear some tall brush and then had to shoot offhand but it was only 19 steps (as measured later). The bull dropped and I wanted to run up and put in an insurance shot but the PH was worried about the other bull and we had to give him a minute to move off. So I shot into the grass where I thought I should hit vitals and that raked down through the top of the neck and went through the chest at an angle. We then were able to halve the distance so I could see the head (laying in tall grass and short bushes) and put one more in the top on the head. The first shot dropped the bull and he was out like a light but it was a bit back and had hit the vertebrae where it attached to the brain cavity. It blew straight through and the exit hole was about 2" behind the ear hole. The third went through the brain and lodged in the lower jaw. I have that bullet, it does have a very slight dent on one corner.

I should mention that elephant was shot on day 9, the buffalo day 11 of a 12 day hunt. We went to hell and back several times pursuing these critters... And I would not have it any other way! He had rain storms and trudged through the thorns getting soaked, in fact it soaked through my soft rain jacket. Ann insisted on a cheap light weight vinyl rain jacked which came out of the bushes in shreds! And we had tremendous heat and humidity. I remember freezing cold where I thought the shivers would never stop, and sweltering heat that sucked the breath out of me. I think on day 6 we had comfortable weather

The gun caught hell! I did not have any cleaning supplies with and even if I had, not sure how much attention it would have received as I was so exhausted by the end of each day all I wanted to do was have a cold beer and hot supper and go to sleep. When I got home I took the gun apart to clean it and there were leaves and thorns in the stock under the barrel and in the magazine, etc. It has a few rust spots that had started. At one point I dropped it on a big rock while climbing a steep cliff. So a nasty dent in the wood and scratch on the scope. It did retain zero! The gun performed flawlessly but it is worse for the wear. Badges of honor though!

That was the greatest adventure I have ever been on and I cannot wait to go another as epic!

 

[ActionBob]

Looking at it closer, the bullet did slightly mushroom on the front 1/4th.

 

[CAustin]

Bob thanks so much for sharing the memory of your hunt! Good job!

 

[Bernard de Lange]

Congrats, Nice photo's

 

[Big5]

Wheels I think I remember you used a 404 Jeffery., with a 375 as backup. ActionBob, Big5 and Dolan what did you guys use on your hunts.

To answer your question my elephant hunt took place in the S/E of Zimbabwe near Ghonarezhou Nat'l Park and the Mahenye village back in '93. I used a .375 H&H with a 300gr solid to take the bull with a frontal brain shot. The shot was taken with the bull facing me at a distance of not greater that 10-12 paces. The bull dropped to that single shot.

Although I would likely use one of the larger caliber rifles I've acquired since the time of that hunt, including a vintage Rigby .470NE double, .460 WBY and a .416RM, my trusty .375 H&H performed just as well in that particular hunt situation as it has so many other times. There is nothing I've aimed and squeezed my .375 H&H off at that has not dropped to the shot so I would not hesitate to use it on elephant once again. Maybe it is not the most preferred round, but a .375 H&H will certainly work just fine.

The below photo shows the shot impact point that dropped him. There is a slight seepage visible from the impact wound located between the eyes. The bull was found to be on his last set of teeth which were noticeably worn. Certainly he must have been quite old. The tusks were 50/52 lbs.

 

[Wheels]

On this bull when they removed enough meat from the left hip the intestines uncoiled in a pop and every one ran. They worked a little more delicately after that.

My father shot an elephant years ago in an area with pastoralists. I don't remember if they had knives but if they did they chose not to use them. They all butchered the elephant with their spears. Two or three guys might be inside the rib cage cutting outward while people on the outside were cutting inward. Maybe a dozen people were cutting on the elephant at the same time. It looked like an accident waiting to happen. It would be interesting to know how many people get cut while butchering an elephant.

 

[Big5]

'Wheels' . . . I would have enjoyed being there and sitting back with a beer in hand to see the butt puckering surprise of the intestines popping out and the wide-eyed mad dash of those trying to get away. I also would have enjoyed watching a butchering with the use of spears.

Both instances are what great memories are made of.

 

[Wheels]

'Wheels' . . . I would have enjoyed being there and sitting back with a beer in hand to see the butt puckering surprise of the intestines popping out and the wide-eyed mad dash of those trying to get away. .

I was 25 yards away and was one of the people trying to get away. You could have had a great laugh at my expense.

I also would have enjoyed watching a butchering with the use of spears.
.

Wish I had photos. We were ready to leave but stayed around. Dad was afraid someone was going to get cut and he could sew them up or if hurt bad could take them to the hospital.

Both instances are what great memories are made of.

 

[ActionBob]

Two or three guys might be inside the rib cage cutting outward while people on the outside were cutting inward. Maybe a dozen people were cutting on the elephant at the same time. It looked like an accident waiting to happen. It would be interesting to know how many people get cut while butchering an elephant.

They used anything even semi-sharp on mine, from paring knives up to and including several machetes. The PH told me he had heard a story that a guy was inside the body cavity when a machete came through from the outside and killed him.... So they drug him out and laid him in shade while they continued cutting meat! From the may lay we witnessed, I completely believe that story to be probable.

I never got to see the intestines. We were hauling the trophy parts and meat away and stopped at camp to have lunch... When we got back, the backbone was still there, the penis, the stomach contents and half the leg bones... and a relatively small blood stain... nothing else! Not only did they take the intestines, but someone was having elephant ass for dinner!

 

[CAustin]

When the butchering was complete on my animal the rib cage was intact and the intestines had not popped out. Vulchers were working on the mess the next day when we drove back to check on it. There must have been 50 in the surrounding trees.

 

[Wheels]

... When we got back, the backbone was still there, the penis.......!

I was told that not even the hyenas can eat an elephant penis.

A couple of one liners are coming to mind but you guys know I am much to dignified to make a comment like that.

 

[CAustin]

This picture just arrived today from my taxidermist in South Africa. My tusks are going to look very cool on each side of the fireplace in my den.

 

[BRICKBURN]

Hurry up and get them shipped and home.

Looks good.

 

[edward]

beautiful charlie,keep an eye on the heat,they can get brittle.

 

[Royal27]

Oh man....

Congrats again Charlie!!!!

 

[CAustin]

Mike at Capricon Taxidermy says soon!

 

[Warbird782]

That looks great Charlie!

 

[Art Lambart II]

Wow!!!! Those look great

 

[hunting4sanity]

Those tusks look great, what an adventure, congratulations!