Elephant tusk weight- your goal for a “big” one

[wildwilderness]

The 80# thread is exciting for big Tuskers, but not realistic for most!

This is NOT about a first elephant or “experience” hunt but trying to get at where a “Good” or “big” or “mature representative” may be-


For the Elephant hunters out there, where is the size that you feel is a good combo of price, size, and realistic expectations of killing one? What would you actually book a hunt for? For a second or third Ele….

A “trophy” elephant may be another level (and cost) and as suggested would be easier to lie about it

I know SCI min is 90# combined (60# for archery) so about a 45# tusk would do-

Rowland Ward is 70# single or 120# combined!!

 

[Adam Stevens]

I would be happy with anything north of 40. I've had that thought for 10 years or more.

unfortunately canada has banned ivory importation so now ill think about non trophy bulls

but ive always enjoyed the longer thinner ivory, zambezi valley type, even forest ele. but i know how impressive thick ivory like botswana can be.

 

[Russ16]

Your title said “big one” so I voted 50-60.

But your post said combo of price, size, realistic expection. For that I would vote anything over 35. Which is probably the hunt I’m going to book.

In my research I’ve been really noticing the difference in shape of different areas. For instance the Zambezi valley seems to have much lighter averages but they tend to be longer and thinner than some of the areas with more weight. I’ve seen some from southwest Zimbabwe that were over 60 that were much shorter than lighter tusks from the valley.

For me personally I prefer the longer tusk even if lighter. Obviously long and heavy is the best of all.

At the end of the day my plan is to book a hunt where I can do a tracking hunt and get as old a bull as I can find.

 

[grand veneur]

The days when you could bag whatever came your way for a fixed price are over. Nowadays, it is all first and foremost a question of the price you are willing to pay, then you have to choose an area where there is a chance of bagging a bigger tusker, and finally the time you are willing to invest to find it. I fear, however, that some have paid a very high price only to end up with something they could have gotten much cheaper elsewhere. In short, nowadays you choose the maximum tusk size/weight you can afford, unfortunately without any guarantees.

You can be satisfied with around 50 lbs, but you still have to find one.

 

[Adam Stevens]

The days when you could bag whatever came your way for a fixed price are over. Nowadays, it is all first and foremost a question of the price you are willing to pay, then you have to choose an area where there is a chance of bagging a bigger tusker, and finally the time you are willing to invest to find it. I fear, however, that some have paid a very high price only to end up with something they could have gotten much cheaper elsewhere. In short, nowadays you choose the maximum tusk size/weight you can afford, unfortunately without any guarantees.

You can be satisfied with around 50 lbs, but you still have to find one.

View attachment 745625

I would never hunt under such conditions. That's not wild Africa to me. Pick up the tracks. And see what awaits at the end. No sliding scale prices for this guy.

 

[grand veneur]

One should consider not only the weight but also the length and the shape of a tusk. I have seen very different tusks depending on the country where they were shot. Nowadays, the focus is primarily on elephants of the Okavango / Zambezi area and somewhat further south in the triangle formed by Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and South Africa. Elephants were hunted in many other parts of Africa in the past and therefore the difference in the tusk shape and weight.

 

[grand veneur]

I would never hunt under such conditions. That's not wild Africa to me. Pick up the tracks. And see what awaits at the end. No sliding scale prices for this guy.

Regardless of size, you have to track and find the elephants. It is certainly faster and easer to shoot one under 40 lbs than one of 80 lbs or more.

This tusks weigh between 30 lbs and 40 lbs, but I also needed several hours a day and several days before I could shoot them.

 

[Tundra Tiger]

I can appreciate you folks for whom size goals are realistic. That's not my lot in life. I may never get to hunt elephant - but I hope to. I am planning to. But for me it will be the hunting itself, combined with doing it with my choice/style weapon. Not unlike, I suppose, hunting a fork forkhorn whitetail with a longbow.

I enjoy threads like this one. They help me to dream, which will push me farther, irrespective of what I actually achieve.

 

[grand veneur]

In all the areas where I have hunted elephants and/or buffalo, I have never seen a very big tusker. The biggest one I have seen was in the Caprivi Strip on the Kavango River during a buffalo hunt, and it was estimated by the PH at around 60 lbs. It is in my opinion not easy to find a record tusker, you also need chance. I never hunted in the Okavango Delta. The situation might be perhaps different in Botswana.

 

[Russ16]

Regardless of size, you have to track and find the elephants. It is certainly faster and easer to shoot one under 40 lbs than one of 80 lbs or more.

This tusks weigh between 30 lbs and 40 lbs, but I also needed several hours a day and several days before I could shoot them.

View attachment 745628

I think those are beautiful and anyone should be proud of them.

 

[BnC 04]

My Zim bull from our trip in 2024, 48/54lbs.

 

[MacJenkins]

Only shot two bulls. Biggest was Dande East. Would need to confirm with Buzz but think they were 67 and 62. Doubt I’ll ever shoot bigger as I don’t think I could pull the trigger on the more expensive areas.

 

[kpoynter]

I would never hunt under such conditions. That's not wild Africa to me. Pick up the tracks. And see what awaits at the end. No sliding scale prices for this guy.

He didn’t suggest a sliding scale…only that the areas that have a significant chance at a Big tusker are priced higher

 

[kpoynter]

Only shot two bulls. Biggest was Dande East. Would need to confirm with Buzz but think they were 67 and 62. Doubt I’ll ever shoot bigger as I don’t think I could pull the trigger on the more expensive areas.

Well Mac
You are one of the guys tied for his biggest ever out of Zim until just this year

 

[MacJenkins]

Well Mac
You are one of the guys tied for his biggest ever out of Zim until just this year

Was not this year. Sorry must have misread. I took that bull a decade (ish) ago.

I could have sworn some 80’s and 90’s are shot every year out of Zim in the better areas?

 

[sgt_zim]

Big tusks would be cool, but they won't likely work into my budget. I'll be happy with any really old bull. 20 - 30 lbs is fine, or single 40 - 50 and a broken one on the other side. Taxidermists can do wonderful things with broken tusks.

 

[kpoynter]

Was not this year. Sorry must have misread. I took that bull a decade (ish) ago.

I could have sworn some 80’s and 90’s are shot every year out of Zim in the better areas?

Yeah..no I meant he killed his new biggest this year… he had two (maybe three) that were the same weight as yours as his largest for all these years of hunting.
He never had hit 70 till this year….
Which also shows you how hard 80 is to hit

 

[MacJenkins]

Yeah..no I meant he killed his new biggest this year… he had two (maybe three) that were the same weight as yours as his largest for all these years of hunting.
He never had hit 70 till this year….
Which also shows you how hard 80 is to hit

Wow! I didn’t not know that. He always has said mine was one of the best Valley bulls. I just assumed they killed much bigger in the other premium areas.

 

[Mark Biggerstaff]

This year will be my first and most likely only one. I’m hoping for over 30 will be fine. I’m doing non export hunt and just working on my big five before I get to health and age that can’t go anymore. I will be happy with what ever we get.

 

[Rare Breed]

The 80# thread is exciting for big Tuskers, but not realistic for most!

This is NOT about a first elephant or “experience” hunt but trying to get at where a “Good” or “big” or “mature representative” may be-


For the Elephant hunters out there, where is the size that you feel is a good combo of price, size, and realistic expectations of killing one? What would you actually book a hunt for? For a second or third Ele….

A “trophy” elephant may be another level (and cost) and as suggested would be easier to lie about it

I know SCI min is 90# combined (60# for archery) so about a 45# tusk would do-

Rowland Ward is 70# single or 120# combined!!

I have taken a 20 pounder. I will be looking to take a 50 pounder in my future. Anything larger would be a bonus