Elephant, In search of 80+ pounds

For sure one of the NG’s near the delta (like 34) would give you a better chance?

I have never been to bots or hunted eles, so major disclaimer!

But those NG’s around the delta are legendary for a reason - in terms on modern day 80lbs + bulls.

Good luck. I hope some people with actual experience can chime in and give you the answers you are looking for. Mine is just a guess, so take it with a grain of salt.

Cheers
 
I don't believe there is any one name or one area to answer this question. This is rare air...holy ground...big bucks plus some good hunting luck. There are hunters with virtually unlimited funds who are chasing this and you would be competing with them for best dates, areas and operators. 70+ is reasonable in several areas. 80+ is another level. You will get various responses but if it were my money, I would take a serious look at areas bordering Gonarezhou National Park in Zim and on the Moz side as well. The ele can come in and out of the park borders freely. The old ones may never come out but they have seen some real monsters on the edges of the park and of course, rivers are no obstacle to an ele. I don't know who has the best access and experience currently but there was a 90+ pounder taken last season. Some of the areas include Sengwe 1 and 2...Malipati...Mahenye...and Naivasha. I obviously defer to the local knowledge and operators there.
 
There are several areas around the delta that have produced 80+ pounders and even bigger. I went in 2021 when Botswana reopened and I chose NG41 and got a 76 and they killed one bigger than mine in the 80s. The next year they got a 90+. A friend in NG13 took a giant well over 100 per side in 2021. It has slowed down a bit now across the board but anything can happen.

The Nyae Nyae Conservancy in Namibia is doing well and averaging in the 70s. I’m headed there with a friend later this year.

The areas around Gonarezhou can be great but ivory not importable from Mozambique at the moment unless something has changed.

Maswa North Game Reserve in Tanzania produces some giants and even a couple over 100 here and there. Can get a 70+ there if you spend some time. Elephant ivory from several Tanzania areas are now being approved and imported to the USA.
 
Another vote for Tanzania. Their super tuskers make for the ultimate hunting trophy. It’s not cheap, but well worth it. If I ever manage to hunt my third elephant (and I certainly have plans to in the near future), it will be in Tanzania hands down.
 
I don’t believe Kazuma has produced any 80 lb bulls recently. 55-65 lbs. CMS has produced several 80 lb bulls further south from maitengwe, however I think Botswana is your only real option for an 80+ lb. Northern Tanzania produces some huge bulls but there is a lot of discussion around whether they should be hunting those bulls or not.
 
375Fox said:
I don’t believe Kazuma has produced any 80 lb bulls recently. 55-65 lbs. CMS has produced several 80 lb bulls further south from maitengwe, however I think Botswana is your only real option for an 80+ lb. Northern Tanzania produces some huge bulls but there is a lot of discussion around whether they should be hunting those bulls or not.
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Yes, lots of discussion about those eastern areas in the north of TZ but the west side bordering Serengeti NP on the west is something to consider. When I was there we looked for a bull we had on trail cam that was over 100# but didn’t find it. The next guy there killed an 85#. If I had seen the 100# bull, I would have shot it and went home and sold some stocks. Lol.
 
Hunter-Habib said:
Another vote for Tanzania. Their super tuskers make for the ultimate hunting trophy. It’s not cheap, but well worth it. If I ever manage to hunt my third elephant (and I certainly have plans to in the near future), it will be in Tanzania hands down.
Click to expand...
A lot of Tanzania suffered heavy poaching 2010 - 2015 so it is spotty for age class now.
 
Safari1 said:
Yes, the worst hit area was Selous
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Yes, such a shame and it spilled over into the Niassa Reserve in Mozambique. My late friend/PH, Jamie Wilson, took some giants in R3 beforehand.
 
For anyone interested, there are two donated auction hunts available in NG11 with a good operator. One is at DSC and the most recent bid I saw was $40k. The other one is at SCI and has not had any bids yet!? This area directly borders the Okavango Delta on the north side. They are taking some good bulls and a giant could come out of the delta at any time.

Another thing I am watching/waiting for is where will the lions on quota be offered? Very interesting, indeed.
IMG_2192.jpeg
 
Scott CWO said:
For anyone interested, there are two donated auction hunts available in NG11 with a good operator. One is at DSC and the most recent bid I saw was $40k. The other one is at SCI and has not had any bids yet!? This area directly borders the Okavango Delta on the north side. They are taking some good bulls and a giant could come out of the delta at any time.

Another thing I am watching/waiting for is where will the lions on quota be offered? Very interesting, indeed.
View attachment 744258
Click to expand...
They killed a 102 pounder just north in ng13!

I’m sure ng11 is just more of the same!!!
 
How the world has changed! Was just reading "Under the African Sun" wherein the author opined that a certain elephant he shot during a stampede was "only 80 lbs."
 
Scott CWO said:
For anyone interested, there are two donated auction hunts available in NG11 with a good operator. One is at DSC and the most recent bid I saw was $40k. The other one is at SCI and has not had any bids yet!? This area directly borders the Okavango Delta on the north side. They are taking some good bulls and a giant could come out of the delta at any time.

Another thing I am watching/waiting for is where will the lions on quota be offered? Very interesting, indeed.
View attachment 744258
Click to expand...
Scott you take a bull of a lifetime my friend!!! Congratulations again!!!! Outstanding job with both your ivory and your faux tusks. can’t tell them apart visually!
 
dchum, thanks, I did take your grain of salt, added a thousand more grains sprinkled over the top of a can of beer, wow, this sort of hunt indeed demands investigative due diligence.

MLindsay, many Thanks for that info Sir.

GreenChile, you are correct Sir, the further I get into this discovery proves that without a doubt, am starting to concentrate more on the big bulls and maybe go after Lion later, finding truly great examples of both species on the same hunt will be near impossible.

Scott CWO, spoke with my guy again this morning via whatsapp, hearing more and more about NG34/35, I should really devote all time to finding a giant bull.

Hunter-Habib, Thank you as well, the guy that's working on putting together my hunt also spoke of his area in Southeast Tanzania, it is a good bit south of what was once called The Selous [Nyerere?], he did say it needed some work.

375 Fox, Thanks for the info on Kazuma, much obliged, looking more and more like Botswana for a shot at truly large tuskers.

Jason Miller, Thanks, is Namibian ivory exportable to the US?

Thanks again all for the information,
G50
 
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