Who is going Elephant Hunting

The Non-Trophy elephant hunt over on the 24hr Campfire is going for $11,900 for 10 days of hunting with buffalo and plains game available on the side. That is a pretty damn good value in elephant hunting. Besides, there is an overabundance of elephant in many areas and recently South Africa has repealed the laws prohibiting culling. Personally I would rather see people sell sport hunts for elephant to keep the numbers in check than to have professional hunters paid to cull the beasts. I'm not real hot to shoot an elephant, but I have no quarrel with people that do.

Who knows, I might decide that I want to shoot an elephant one day, or I might decide that, if they're going to be shot in a cull, I might as well shoot one man to man in the thick jess.
 
capp325 said:
I agree with IM_Lugger. Trophy hunting is stupid.
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So is owning a dog good for nothing but killing;).

Trophy hunting is the only thing saving wildlife in Africa right now. In Tanzania that elephant is worth at least $25,000 to the local economy, plus they get all the meat from the kill. That makes them want to keep elephants around and some of the money is used to go after the ivory poachers and keep their numbers down.

Contrast with Kenya where the elephants are a drain on resources. Photo tourism requires 20-30 times the visitors bumping and banging all over the place in Land Rovers for hours on end and disrupting the wildlife in order to make the same money. Hunting is illegal so it up to the government to control elephant numbers -- drain on the economy. The local farmers get nothing from the situation other than elephants eating their crops and actually curse the existence of the creatures. Poaching is much more prevalent in Kenya as a result since the locals can get a few bucks for the ivory at least. But they have no respect for the animals and think nothing of wiping out whole herd for a few pounds of teeth.
 
I will be going on the 24hr campfire hunt this July that B.U.M. mentioned.I remember reading in a Peter Capstick book that people who have never seen a wild Ele. can not understand why anyone would want to hunt them.When I was in Zim. last July I encounterd a Bull at about 25m at one point he spread his ears out and they cracked like pistol shots.He was giving us a warning at that point I realized that I was a distance from the truck,not to worry the tracker was standing at my shoulder with both my and the P.H.s rifle.A tracking hunt for the smartest animal in the bushveldt sounds like a challenge to me.Oh and if you screw it up you could be killed.Trophy hunting vs. meat hunting?whats the difference if the animal is consumed and the game laws followed.Costs to much to go? well if you really want to go what are you willing to go without, or do to make the money needed.I work a second job and I postponed my retirement for another year.Now my second job is more of an adventure then work I have been guiding for Caribou in the N.W.T. for the last 5 yrs. When I get back I,ll let you know if if was worth it.
 
liberty said:
Who is going Elephant Hunting...

Not me, can't afford to.
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If I could I would!

A chance for this!!

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Old Loxodonta Africana would be an impressive sight at rock throwing distance. After this trip I will probably get the bug for an elephant as well. It alway sseems to work that way for me. Either way, I'd sure love to see one in the wild.
 
grinrgrn said:
BTW Lugger and Capp,some folks regard "wasting" thousands of rounds at a range striving for sub-MOA is foolish and boring?
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Or to use the term Capp used....some folks regard "wasting" thousands of rounds at a range striving for sub-MOA as STUPID;)

I for one don't think either is stupid. But I'm with you and Boomer. I hunt because I love it, not solely for the meat, although I do thoroughly enjoy it, and not solely for a trophy, but I love to hang them on my wall.;) As well I love to throw plenty of lead down range, be it rifle, or shotgun :D
 
While we weren't elephant hunting we had some contact with them.

Elephants on a sand river
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What hunting elephants in heavy cover might look like
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Impressive, but not legal, Tanzania requires 4' out of the lip
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Elephant habitat, even these juveniles pose a real danger when you are hunting on foot.
Tanzania147.jpg
 
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Originally Posted by capp325
I agree with IM_Lugger. Trophy hunting is stupid.

IMHO, To each their own. Elephant populations are out of control in some areas, so the endangered species argument is irrelevant. If some guys want to pay $$$$$ to shoot one, I'd say that that places a high price on what would be previously considered a nuisance. When you make something valuable people have this habit of taking care of it.

I view it like elk farming. When people viewed elk velvet as valuable, everybody wanted a piece of the action and the population boomed. Unfortunately, ###### came along and put an abrupt end to that industry.

You want people to take care of something? Make it very valuable!
 
Do you hunt?

If so, why do you hunt?

When you hunt, do you value the experience?

Can you explain to the PETA minded individual why hunting is important?

Do you want to see the hunting you care about continue to be available?

Do you think that it is important that valuable land, land that could be used for agriculture in the 3rd world, remain protected for wildlife habitat?

If so, how do poor countries generate the revenue and political will be make that happen?

etc, etc, etc.
 
Knowing that elephants are highly intelligent animals that can live up to 60 years or so and living in close family units, I personally have no desire to shoot one. It's just not for me.
However, I can understand the financial and food benefits to a village. Also, I can appreciate the culling of a few from an overpopulating group of animals. The only way I might be interested could be going after a loaner, rogue elephant.

Although not my cup of tea, I certainly wouldn't judge anyone desiring an elephant hunt.
 
Boomer said:
Can you explain to the PETA minded individual why hunting is important?
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No one can do that. They are not interested in your reasons. They just want to stop you. Why? Because they hate you. You are free.
 
Good point, and few animals have been Bambised to the extent that the elephant has. Well, Dumbo is a legitimate quarry for those who can afford it. If hunted properly, and if you are fortunate enough to sign on with a good PH who has a good tracker, these guys will give you an experience to remember. Other than being in the middle of a herd of buffalo in the long grass, our tensest moments involved elephants.

Lets consider for a moment the "rogue" elephant. So often this is portrayed as a lone bull; long of memory, short of temper, and often cited for the destruction of crops on farms in populated areas. These days, any elephant can be a rogue elephant. Poachers injure many and leave many orphaned. Poorly executed culling operations have allowed many to escape. Done properly, when a group of elephants is culled nothing gets away. Culling is the job for expert rather than the sport hunter. Survivors carry a hate for man the rest of their lives, and are very dangerous. Many elephants are injured by unexploded ordinance, in the worn torn areas of Africa. Those elephants that survive any of these misfortunes are very dangerous elephants. Without any apparent provocation, elephants attack more and more people; therefore all elephants should be considered rogue elephants.
 
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Cool pics Boomer.:)

I enjoy reading old books about elephant hunting (and any other "Big Five" hunting tales) from way back when. But, I don't think I'll ever be doing that myself. I'm not against it... if I ever won one of those huge lotto jackpots, I just might go. If I did, it would be 99% for the romance and adventure of it, and about 1% for shooting a tusker. I would love to do a safari for plains game, just to say I have been the the greatest big-game hunting land on earth.

If I were going, I'd buy a nice bolt gun in boring old .458 win. I've always had an interest in that cartridge for some inexplicable reason.
 
Originally posted by Dogleg
I am, assuming Zimbabwe doesn't melt down before July.
I find the old meat/trophy hunting argument tedious. Trophy animals are made out of meat too, who eats it is really beside the point. Many hunters are a blend of both
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Good luck on your hunt. Hopefully one day I will make it there too.

I don't know much of the individual countries in Africa, but is Zimbabwe still safe due to the government there, if you want to call it that.

And especially for a white person.

Boomer: Awesome pictures!
 
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