Define non-trophy bull elephant

[Keelebilly]

Is there a legal definition of a non-trophy elephant or is the criteria defined by the outfitter/ concession?

 

[LimbNoMo]

Non-trophy generally means non-exportable.

You leave the hide, tusks, tail, etc.

 

[Keelebilly]

Are there legally defined age or tusk weight requirements on the type of bulls you hunt or is it arbitrarily defined by the PH?

 

[375Fox]

It means non-exportable. I don’t know of any legal requirements for non-trophy except in South Africa adjacent Kruger. It’s generally left up to concession holder and/or PH. Each area’s non-trophy will be different relative to what they produce for trophy bulls.

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

Outfitter dependent.
Typically you’re still hunting for an older mature bull but he might not measure up to what that area produces or he could be broken. It might also be the first mature old bull y’all come across.

I just hunted with an outfitter along the Botswana border. The area typically produces 40-60lb bulls on average, but can produce bigger. I didn’t have a max weight limit for a non-trophy bull and if an 80 pounder was at the end of the tracks could’ve shot him BUT I’d also have been paying the up charge to get that ivory home.

 

[DLSJR]

Historically, in Zimbabwe a non-trophy bull had to have 22 pounds or less weight ivory per side and was exportable. This meant you typically had to shoot a young bull to stay below the 22 lb restriction. I shot a non-trophy bull on Matetsi 3 back in 1986 and we got lucky. We found a huge bodied, old bull that had broken both tusks near the lip line. His ivory is about 16” at the lip and the tusks were both at or just under 22 pounds. I had no problem bringing them home back then.

Times have changed, perhaps the rules have changed but back in the day in Zimbabwe that was how it worked.

 

[grand veneur]

Good question, non-exportable bull elephant trophy is clear to me, but what is a non-trophy bull elephant or a trophy bull elephant, I am also not so sure about. Normally it must be like any trophy evaluation, regardless of game species, in comparison to the average of the trophies from an specific area. Therefore, the weight of the tusks is not necessarily the most important factor; it is also the size, shape, symmetry, whether the teeth are damaged or not, and so on, all in comparison to what occurs in the area. You cannot compare a Scottish trophy Red deer with a trophy Red deer from the Carpathians mounts, for example. The same applies to elephants, but I rather believe that the term non-trophy bull elephant in the practice is very subjectively defined and very dependent on the outfitter.

 

[Mark Biggerstaff]

I am doing a non exportable, non-trophy bull in June. I was told we will be looking for a bull not in herd, age is key oldest we can find, tusk broken, worn or just generic inferior for that area, not to exceed 40lbs usually for that area.

 

[Flipper Dude]

Hunted a non trophy elephant in Sengwa Research with Mokore. The government scout with us was the determining factor in trophy / non-trophy.

 

[Adam Stevens]

Every country you may find small variations of the terminology. most all depending on days run from 18-23k +/-

I'm sure most for a non trophy bull would want a broken tusk old bull. I myself have been searching the many outfitters that provide this type of hunt. From Zim to moz to SA to Namibia. Since canada banned ivory importation, a non export hunt is my next likely safari.

Most all outfitters will say if you can find an old bull with broken tusk(s) or small ivory due to poor genetics is obviously the choice we want. But if not it comes down to tusk size and age, a 20-25lb maybe a younger bull but if theyre trying to lower the numbers in an area thats whats taken.

Two outfits ive been in contact the most with, definitely relayed they wanted to meet the expectations or be upfront with what the hunter wants.

@DLSJR is correct, 22lbs is the threshold for cities tag for a exportable bull in Zim, or thats what ive been told in my talks with zim outfitters.

 

[kpoynter]

As stated above it clearly varies by Country, Area, Concession, or Outfitter
One thing for sure is Non Exportable….
But… it may be an area where the Communal area gives out several permits and that might be an old bull with broken tusks or non true trophy or a younger bull that doesn’t look like he has great genetics.
It may be a concession with Huge Trophy potential….but…they may sell 2-5 tags as Non Trophy to keep from shooting 60 pounders they hope to get to 80+
Think of it like Whitetail deer perhaps… a place may have Management 8 point Bucks… or want to take a few Non Trophy Or Culls off to manage herd
It’s really no different…it’s herd management and there is subjectivity and variability
Here is an example from the Caprivi….

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

Historically, in Zimbabwe a non-trophy bull had to have 22 pounds or less weight ivory per side and was exportable. This meant you typically had to shoot a young bull to stay below the 22 lb restriction. I shot a non-trophy bull on Matetsi 3 back in 1986 and we got lucky. We found a huge bodied, old bull that had broken both tusks near the lip line. His ivory is about 16” at the lip and the tusks were both at or just under 22 pounds. I had no problem bringing them home back then.

Times have changed, perhaps the rules have changed but back in the day in Zimbabwe that was how it worked.

My understanding is 22lbs is the minimum to export because that’s what the Cites permit required, not that a non trophy/non exportable bull needs to be under that amount or it’s considered a trophy. That falls to the outfitter to manage/determine and I’m sure some might have something along those lines.

Where i see the issue is weight is subjective based on nerve, but also how much ivory is in the head. What happens if the bull with broken tusks that are 16” at the lip has more than 2 feet of ivory inside the head instead of the usual 18” in that area? Because he’s broken the nerve will be short if it exists at all. Does your bull now become a trophy and you owe a higher trophy fee?

 

[375Fox]

Hunted a non trophy elephant in Sengwa Research with Mokore. The government scout with us was the determining factor in trophy / non-trophy.

That’s interesting. I’ve never seen a PH confer with a game scout before. I’ve only seen a few that had an ability to add any value. Were they looking for certain problem bulls?

 

[Adam Stevens]

My understanding is 22lbs is the minimum to export because that’s what the Cites permit required, not that a non trophy/non exportable bull needs to be under that amount or it’s considered a trophy. That falls to the outfitter to manage/determine and I’m sure some might have something along those lines.

Where i see the issue is weight is subjective based on nerve, but also how much ivory is in the head. What happens if the bull with broken tusks that are 16” at the lip has more than 2 feet of ivory inside the head instead of the usual 18” in that area? Because he’s broken the nerve will be short if it exists at all. Does your bull now become a trophy and you owe a higher trophy fee?

I've seen Lin state a few times, it's at best guess or discretion of the PH. Like you said. It could look <30lbs and even things like proportion of the body to tusks could be heavier, nerve etc. I've seen that a few times online where an ele is taken thinking it's a smaller 40 lb trophy, but the bull turns out to be bigger in body then normal. Resulting in bigger ivory then first thought.

All non export become property of the local government

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

I am doing a non exportable, non-trophy bull in June. I was told we will be looking for a bull not in herd, age is key oldest we can find, tusk broken, worn or just generic inferior for that area, not to exceed 40lbs usually for that area.

Unless something has changed very recently, the USFWS isn’t presently approving the import of Sport Hunted Elephants from Mozambique and any bull offered to a US Hunter in Mozambique should be marketed as a Non Trophy/Non Exportable hunt

 

[Adam Stevens]

Unless something has changed very recently, the USFWS isn’t presently approving the import of Sport Hunted Elephants from Mozambique and any bull offered to a US Hunter in Mozambique should be marketed as a Non Trophy/Non Exportable hunt

My understanding too. Was only open to Europe and Canada etc. but then Canada banned ivory in 2024. So you could import skins etc. but not the ivory from Moz

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

I've seen Lin state a few times, it's at best guess or discretion of the PH. Like you said. It could look <30lbs and even things like proportion of the body to tusks could be heavier, nerve etc. I've seen that a few times online where an ele is taken thinking it's a smaller 40 lb trophy, but the bull turns out to be bigger in body then normal. Resulting in bigger ivory then first thought.

All non export become property of the local government

Exactly, but body size alone should be something an experienced PH can see and judge. They don’t have X-Ray vision so they can’t see what’s inside the head or the nerve in the tusk. Thats part of the excitement of chasing bull elephants. Also, since we’re talking about Zimbabwe don’t forget how dodgy Parks scales are.

Other countries aside from Zim can and likely may have different laws/rules. Example, I don’t believe the government of Botswana has non trophy permits. I think they’re all trophies, but if an outfitter offers a non trophy hunt they might do so at reduced trophy fee rates.

 

[grand veneur]

I don't know how heavy this one is. It was non-exportable and, according to the contract, should not weigh more than 30Ibs. Compared to tuskers around 35Ibs I have already shots, it is maybe not far from. Therefore, don't ask yourself too many questions, book elephant hunts in the desired price range and let yourself be surprised by what you bagged in the field.

 

[Mark Biggerstaff]

Unless something has changed very recently, the USFWS isn’t presently approving the import of Sport Hunted Elephants from Mozambique and any bull offered to a US Hunter in Mozambique should be marketed as a Non Trophy/Non Exportable hunt

Correct. They are not importable to USA, but some other countries. Outfitter does also offer trophy hunts at higher pricing of course. PH decides what is Trophy vrs Non. I know they took an 80lb last year and do not expect that as a non exportable bull
The reason i choose Moz wasn’t based on price but the hunt itself, and a chance at a bull larger that what some of the Zim non export hunts at close to same price.

 

[Rare Breed]

Is there a legal definition of a non-trophy elephant or is the criteria defined by the outfitter/ concession?

In 2028 I have booked a non exportable bull NOT a non trophy with the average for my outfitter 50-60 pounds with their largest in 2025 at 70+