Elephant hunting

[Tanks]

Do you believe that a tuskless is not worth the risk in your opinion?
Is there any particular way you would vet a PH on hunting tuskless or elephant I guess in general?

For me, well worth it. I have shot two with CM Safaris, a top-rated outfit in Zimbabwe.

 

[rookhawk]

Hello everyone,

For those of you who have hunted elephants is there any real difference in the experience between a tuskless bull or cow hunt and a tusked bull?
I am considering in the next 3 to 5 years making an elephant hunt a priority I’ve considered three hunts 1. A non export tuskless bull or cow ( I remember reading that they are naturally more aggressive because they have to be to steal food.. not sure if it’s true but it makes sense to me)
2. A non exportable bull with tusk do they restrict you on size or are you chasing old bulls If not seems like a great way to chase a big one or at least an old bull for a reduced cost.
3. A exportable bull under 30lbs.

A member on here I read took photos and video of his trophies rather then bring them back and I believe is going to have replicas made of a bull he will be hunting if he is successful. That philosophy resonates with me because I can do more hunts with the same resources. So non exportable is perfectly fine with me if it’s tuskless or if say the non exportable bull with tusk is a old bull or a bull that would otherwise be vastly more expensive then say a exportable bull under 25-30lbs.

Non exportable draws me because it seems like I could probably do two hunts for the price of 1 smaller exportable.

So from those of you who have done one or both types was the excitement and experience the same regardless or did you find more challenge in a particular hunt. And heck if you did the hunt and found a elephant not worth it I’d be glad to hear that experience as well.

Thank you for your responses and time in advance

Yes. Danger. I do not like being around cow elephants. It's the most precarious hunting situations I've been in and I didn't like the scenarios of either dying or killing 8 elephants bowling towards me on a blocked trail in a thicket with nowhere to go.

Trophy Bull usually have 1 or 2 Askari. When the shot goes off, they usually run away and rarely "accidentally" towards you. I have more ammo than there are elephants in that incredibly rare scenario.

 

[Flipper Dude]

My everyday keychain. Is it too big to carry comfortably? Yeah. What’s your point?

 

[Tanks]

Yes. Danger. I do not like being around cow elephants. It's the most precarious hunting situations I've been in and I didn't like the scenarios of either dying or killing 8 elephants bowling towards me on a blocked trail in a thicket with nowhere to go.

They are not always in the middle of a herd though. Here is one where we were able to isolate it.

 

[Houston Bill]

I have been on both a bull elephant hunt (non exportable) and a tuskless hunt. Both are great hunts, my favorite animal to hunt, but if you want the most adrenaline then go on a tuskless hunt. You may be lucky and run into an isolated, edge of the herd, tuskless cow as @Tanks did but often you must get in and amongst the cow heard to try and find a tuskless and then if you find one you often have to stay in the "danger zone" for a while to try and make sure the tuskless cow does not have a dependent calf.

 

[VertigoBE]

Yes. Danger. I do not like being around cow elephants. It's the most precarious hunting situations I've been in and I didn't like the scenarios of either dying or killing 8 elephants bowling towards me on a blocked trail in a thicket with nowhere to go.

Trophy Bull usually have 1 or 2 Askari. When the shot goes off, they usually run away and rarely "accidentally" towards you. I have more ammo than there are elephants in that incredibly rare scenario.

Only been on one elephant hunt so far. In my case we approached a group of about 40, only bull, elephants, to pick out the oldest from between his two Askari. Although having elephants left, right and in front of us, some only 15-20m away, not one made a move towards us after my initial shot. In fact, by the time I fired my insurance shots, the whole group was over a km away in haste.

Showing only a part of the group in this picture, there were more out of frame to the left.

As you can see, after the shot, elephants were erupting from all around, but all running as fast as they can away from us:

 

[Killingtime]

They are not always in the middle of a herd though. Here is one where we were able to isolate it.

That shot was perfect. It amazing how well those big bodies blend into the brush.

 

[Green Chile]

On my last ele hunt, we took a bull out of a group of bulls between 10-40 yards from us. At the shot, all turned and went away from us together. None stayed to fight whereas if they were cows, they would have flattened the place.

 

[Killingtime]

Only been on one elephant hunt so far. In my case we approached a group of about 40, only bull, elephants, to pick out the oldest from between his two Askari. Although having elephants left, right and in front of us, some only 15-20m away, not one made a move towards us after my initial shot. In fact, by the time I fired my insurance shots, the whole group was over a km away in haste.

View attachment 751782
Showing only a part of the group in this picture, there were more out of frame to the left.

As you can see, after the shot, elephants were erupting from all around, but all running as fast as they can away from us:

Is Matabele considered a good are to hunt in Zimbabwe?

 

[375Fox]

On my tuskless hunt I told the PH that I wanted a large mature animal.

I turned down a smaller one on day 1, then turned down another the morning of day 2 and ended up killing a big one around 3:30pm that day.

By the time I killed my tuskless I had been within 30yds of 30+ elephant; getting up close to the herd and looking them over was my favorite part of the hunt.

You really had a lot of opportunity. I’ve heard more stories about difficult tuskless hunts than difficult bull hunts. Problem seems finding the tuskless without dependent calf.

 

[Flipper Dude]

Is Matabele considered a good are to hunt in Zimbabwe?

I’m guessing that the Matetsi units would be good for elephant. A great percentage of Matabeleland is communal or forest area. Elephants there but not big ivory, although it is probably the least expensive place in all of Africa to kill a bull elephant. Not a lot of plains game, although we took elephant, buffalo, kudu, numerous bushbuck and impala along the Gwayi river a couple of years back.

Someone would know more about it than me

 

[Green Chile]

You really had a lot of opportunity. I’ve heard more stories about difficult tuskless hunts than difficult bull hunts. Problem seems finding the tuskless without dependent calf.

I was thinking the very same thing. To see 3 tuskless by day 2 is pretty impressive. I hunted a week to find 1 in Makuti that was legal.

 

[375Fox]

A great percentage of Matabeleland is communal or forest area. Elephants there but not big ivory, although it is probably the least expensive place in all of Africa to kill a bull elephant. Not a lot of plains game, although we took elephant, buffalo, kudu, numerous bushbuck and impala along the Gwayi river a couple of years back.

Someone would know more about it than me

They get some monster bulls along the Botswana border including those forestry and community areas. They are priced very high at the best times of the year.

 

[Green Chile]

Matetsi has a lot of ele coming from Hwange Park. You will see a lot of 30+ pounders, some 40+ and the occasional 50. Hwange is loaded with ele.

 

[VertigoBE]

Is Matabele considered a good are to hunt in Zimbabwe?

I took mine there, 48x44 pounds both tusks broken off

 

[Killingtime]

I took mine there, 48x44 pounds both tusks broken off

When they are that big but broken is he still a trophy bull or is that a management bull.

 

[deewayne2003]

You really had a lot of opportunity. I’ve heard more stories about difficult tuskless hunts than difficult bull hunts. Problem seems finding the tuskless without dependent calf.

I’ve heard the same from others; but we had several reports of other tuskless around from the PH’s in camp that we never laid eyes on.

Also had several opportunities at buffalo that got the PH Bruce excited “wish you had a buff on license”…. Heard that 3 times in 10days

 

[kpoynter]

Lots of good replies and information from experienced and knowledgeable folks as always…
Part of your question and thought process I’m sure is centered around budget.
I’ve hunted elephant in multiple areas and Countries now.. including Tuskless, management Bull and Trophy Bulls.
Tuskless cows are no doubt a great budget hunt, great experience and probably the most dangerous for sure. I also saw the question back as to whether they are “too dangerous”? No but danger is part of it for sure
One thing I haven’t seen mentioned in context however is the difference of experience being among Mature/ Big Bulls. Having experienced “all of the above” I would tell you to hunt a big bodied management Bull. Honestly I’d say trophy but…budget is likely prohibitive.
I would also highly recommend a hunt that gets you amongst many elephant. This will also greatly enhance your experience. Some hunts you may be in or around literally hundreds….
Some you may be in the thick bush and see far less… time of year greatly impacts this.
Early season…Green and Thick..later season (October) dry and open and more water is confined.

 

[Andrew62]

I forgot to add, your mountain lion hunt sounds like a great adventure! Awesome pricing too. I like the hunt fee then trophy fee, outfitter will work harder. What gun will you use on that hunt?

 

[Killingtime]

Andrew probably gonna be the 38-55