Elephant ivory legal once again in Canada?

[Iwannahunt]

As I understand it, legally hunted and taken ivory is not allowed to be imported into Canada due to the insane government that keeps getting re-elected by the many Canadians that are completely removed from reality.
My question to my fellow Canadian hunters who may have information or just a feel for this situation is, would a change in federal government (to the PC Party obviously) likely lead to ivory imports being made legal again here in Canada? or, would the PC Party be too afraid to make this change because, it might look bad to the non-hunting uninformed voters who are sadly still the majority in Canada?

Thanks for your input

Canada implements stricter measures for elephant ivory and rhinoceros horn trade - Canada.ca

the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, announced a stricter approach to trade for Canada that will further limit the ability to transport all elephant ivory and rhinoceros horn across Canadian borders.

www.canada.ca

 

[Northern Shooter]

I'd like to think we would see a full reversal but I can already see the headlines now if they did it.

Side note, in addition to ivory wasn't it any trophy from elephant/Rhino was prohibited from entry into Canada?

I'd love to hunt elephant one day but removing the ability to come home with a trophy really makes that unappealing...but that's probably why they did it.

 

[Iwannahunt]

If the average voter was informed just a little they would know that although elephant numbers in the world are lower than they one were, there are areas where their numbers are high enough that they are destroying the habitat for both themselves and humans. Add to that fact that in areas where elephants are hunted legally populations do better not worse.
Problem is of course, do people want to hear and acknowledge this, the truth that they may find inconvenient to what makes them feel warm and fuzzy?
"These days" it seems that warm and fuzzy wins out most of the time over objective truth.

 

[RLD]

I would guess that kind of issue would be so low down the Tories’ list of priorities that it would be a number of years before any change would be made.

 

[Frederik Badenhorst]

I read somewhere that on average there was only 14 elephant trophies imported into Canada per year over the last 10 years prior to the ban…..

We really need to thank the Liberal government for coming to the rescue of the African Elephant……..

 

[Iwannahunt]

I think

I read somewhere that on average there was only 14 elephant trophies imported into Canada per year over the last 10 years prior to the ban…..

We really need to thank the Liberal government for coming to the rescue of the African Elephant……..

I think it was an average of 14 tusks per year to Canada. Your point is well taken though. The outfitter that I would like to hunt with has many elephants and they are always a problem for the locals. They are experiencing substantial crop losses and I don't think that the farmers get compensated for their losses.

 

[Hank2211]

I can’t see a change of government having any impact on the current ban. Going back is very hard.

Firstly, there aren’t enough voters who hunt Africa or elephants to make this issue one which would deliver votes. Secondly, what hunters there are, tend to be in areas which vote conservative anyway, so doing nothing wouldn’t bring in any more votes.

Thirdly and more importantly, the conservation benefits of hunting just won’t be obvious to most people, and since likely a significant majority of voters and potential voters are against elephant hunting, you would lose votes without gaining any on the pro hunting side..

Lastly, you’d be giving the animal rights lobby an issue to use in their fundraising, so you could expect to see this get significant play.

The only practical way to deal with these issues is to get ahead of them and stop them from being implemented in the first place. Once bans are in, they tend to stay in (Africa is an exception to this, since the issue is one of local importance).

 

[Iwannahunt]

I (sadly and inconveniently) think that all of you are correct. The "wokeness" in Canada both by our leadership and most of our citizenship has generally destroyed what was once a country whose leaders made decisions based on facts and reason, not just based on greed and complete lack of integrity, which is the standard with this Liberal government. That being the case this is just another very good reason for certain provinces to seriously consider and move towards independence. If independence is somehow forbidden by federal law hopefully there could be a way to become an American State without also becoming their red-headed stepchild. I'm really tired of the poitical BS in this country and the halfwits that keep them in power even while our country visibly declines in every way.
The madness we are living in (in Canada) is bought and paid for by special interest groups and powerful corrupt countries who are trying to influence Canada to its detriment by greasing our whore politicians. "They" pay the politicians and the politicians pay the government run media with taxpayer money, then the flakes and many immigrants lap up the lies and keep voting these shills back in. I'd like to see it backfire on these reptile oligarchs and see the reasonable provinces like Alberta and Saskatchewan (only those) join forces with a country whose leaders aren't constantly under the influence of hard drugs. This goes far far from this relatively small issue but it is another "log on the fire". I've never before felt like such a loser due to being a Canadian citizen.

 

[mark-hunter]

I'd love to hunt elephant one day but removing the ability to come home with a trophy really makes that unappealing...but that's probably why they did it.

May I suggest reconsideration?
If trophy is must, then there is option for replica tusks. I saw them in real, and they look the same. Unless you touch them and see how light they are, you would not see the difference.

Then, next question is experience.
How many times, an average hunter has hunted in africa?
First time hunters want to have everything, and take all home.
But at least in my case, the more you hunt, less you become motivated by trophy, and more motivated by sheer experience.

Many people go this route. I am one of them. Before I hunted my first elephant, (to be honest, exportable elephant), and buffalo (also exportable), yes I was partially motivated by trophy, and partially motivated by experience.
But now, being spoiled by dangerous game hunt thrill, and realizing I dont need dozens of horns and tusks at home, I will be happy to hunt DG as non trophy, or non exportable animals, significantly reducing overall costs. This means motivated by experience, and looking for cheaper hunts.

When I say spoiled by DG, I must explain - now is hard for me to imagine future hunts, without some DG on the list.
On my last hunt, among other things, I shot a zebra. Fine. But I dont have place for another zebra at home. So this one I donated to camp, hopefully to be displayed in messroom, for other future clients to enjoy. And Zebra was great shot, and good hunt. But bottom line is trophy is not everything.

Finally, a photo is a trophy. Grandchildren dont need dead animals heads and bones from granpa. But they will appreciate photo album of grandpa on big game safari in Africa.
On the end of the day, it is experience and memory and stories that matter. Not the physical evidence of the hunt.

 

[Iwannahunt]

I understand and appreciate your points. That being said, this issue goes beyond ownership and possession of animal parts.
In my opinion you're absolutely right when you say that one shouldn't deny themselves the experience of a lifetime just because one won't be able to enjoy touching/holding your trophy while reminiscing about the hunt. Photos are a must, fibreglass tusks would do less than nothing for me. You are right again when you say no one cares about ones taxidermied trophies. If I decide not to hunt an elephant or elephants it certainly would be the loss of a great experience.
Your point considered I'm still torn. I'm in my late fifties and have been hunting for forty years. I'm also principled and get VERY pissed off when political BS incited from politicians like a mentally challenged Steven Guilbeault and the puppet masters behind him are objectively retarded (I'm not trying to be funny, he is capital S Slow to say the least, and, was placed in his position for exactly that reason) AND blatent liars change laws to control what productive Canadian citizens are allowed to do just because it benifits them in some way to do so. This is the very definition of "no integrity" and political corruption. There has to be push back and rebellion, not quiet compliance and compromise. Where does that end? What I'm saying is, if I just go along to get along I may have a great single experience but also feel like I've allowed lies and corruption to dictate what I can possess.

 

[mark-hunter]

If I decide not to hunt an elephant or elephants it certainly would be the loss of a great experience.

Also consider this: 100 years ago entire Africa was huntable.
Today, maybe 50% of Africa is Huntable.
Moreover, with Cites regulation only 4 countries in Africa have exportable ivory (exportable at least to EU): Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa.
So, we are loosing grounds rapidly.

Having all this in mind, we are maybe the last generation of hunters able to hunt in Africa famous DG species.
And we are maybe the first generation of hunters in history able to hunt Africa, on budget, if you consider non-trophy or non exportable options.
This chance is not to be lost. At least this is my way of thinking.

 

[grand veneur]

I understand and appreciate your points. That being said, this issue goes beyond ownership and possession of animal parts.
In my opinion you're absolutely right when you say that one shouldn't deny themselves the experience of a lifetime just because one won't be able to enjoy touching/holding your trophy while reminiscing about the hunt. Photos are a must, fibreglass tusks would do less than nothing for me. You are right again when you say no one cares about ones taxidermied trophies. If I decide not to hunt an elephant or elephants it certainly would be the loss of a great experience.
Your point considered I'm still torn. I'm in my late fifties and have been hunting for forty years. I'm also principled and get VERY pissed off when political BS incited from politicians like a mentally challenged Steven Guilbeault and the puppet masters behind him are objectively retarded (I'm not trying to be funny, he is capital S Slow to say the least, and, was placed in his position for exactly that reason) AND blatent liars change laws to control what productive Canadian citizens are allowed to do just because it benifits them in some way to do so. This is the very definition of "no integrity" and political corruption. There has to be push back and rebellion, not quiet compliance and compromise. Where does that end? What I'm saying is, if I just go along to get along I may have a great single experience but also feel like I've allowed lies and corruption to dictate what I can possess.

I agree with you, it is a special feeling when you have real tusks at home as a reminder of an elephant hunt. But I have to point out that nowadays beautiful tusks that you can take home are often associated with an elephant trophy hunt. Such hunts are unfortunately not very cheap. But an elephant trophy hunt is an experience because you spend days and long walking distances searching for the right old elephant with acceptable tusks.

 

[grand veneur]

May I suggest reconsideration?
If trophy is must, then there is option for replica tusks. I saw them in real, and they look the same. Unless you touch them and see how light they are, you would not see the difference.

Then, next question is experience.
How many times, an average hunter has hunted in africa?
First time hunters want to have everything, and take all home.
But at least in my case, the more you hunt, less you become motivated by trophy, and more motivated by sheer experience.

Many people go this route. I am one of them. Before I hunted my first elephant, (to be honest, exportable elephant), and buffalo (also exportable), yes I was partially motivated by trophy, and partially motivated by experience.
But now, being spoiled by dangerous game hunt thrill, and realizing I dont need dozens of horns and tusks at home, I will be happy to hunt DG as non trophy, or non exportable animals, significantly reducing overall costs. This means motivated by experience, and looking for cheaper hunts.

When I say spoiled by DG, I must explain - now is hard for me to imagine future hunts, without some DG on the list.
On my last hunt, among other things, I shot a zebra. Fine. But I dont have place for another zebra at home. So this one I donated to camp, hopefully to be displayed in messroom, for other future clients to enjoy. And Zebra was great shot, and good hunt. But bottom line is trophy is not everything.

Finally, a photo is a trophy. Grandchildren dont need dead animals heads and bones from granpa. But they will appreciate photo album of grandpa on big game safari in Africa.
On the end of the day, it is experience and memory and stories that matter. Not the physical evidence of the hunt.

I partly agree with you, but elephant tusks are something special and since hardly any of us can shot many elephants in a lifetime, it is understandable that some place value on the trophy. I would not import any tusks either, unless I shoot a 100 pounder and there is a risk that it want not be for many reasons exportable. No matter, it is true that nice photos are also a good memory. The value of replica tusks can be debated.

 

[grand veneur]

I have a few others at home, but these are the nicest. My visitors are always surprised by the weight distribution when they lift a tusk. It is hard to achieve something like that with replica.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Note how PC party pussed out at election time re repealing the latest round of gun control foolishness. The leader is a crackpot nincompoop ... like the rest of them. That guy can't take a stand on anything and stick with it for more than five minutes.

 

[Adam Stevens]

Look no further then at the newest released world happiness chart. Canada has fallen down to 18th from its low single digits.

Getting tired of it really. If it was for family I would have looked south where my job is better paid and in demand.

I wrote multiple entries when the Ivory import ban was being considered. And since learned that's basically the gov going through the motions. The choice was already made. It gutted me seeing it. That's one thing I hoped to hunt and bring home. I picked up a broken off tusk in Zim and it felt magical. The abnormally heavy for size surprised me. And the texture or grain of it too.

I haven't been too fond our where our Canada has been going for quite a few years now.

 

[mark-hunter]

It is hard to achieve something like that with replica.

It is impossible to achieve the weight in replica!
But keep them out of touch, like you would do for Mona Lisa painting in the Louvre, and guests would never know.

Congrats on this ivory! Truly wonderful trophy!

With tusks, everything is challenge, from hunting to importation.
I ordered mine as replica, plus ivory - to be on safe side. Will be two pairs. God willing.

 

[grand veneur]

It is impossible to achieve the weight in replica!
But keep them out of touch, like you would do for Mona Lisa painting in the Louvre, and guests would never know.

Congrats on this ivory! Truly wonderful trophy!

With tusks, everything is challenge, from hunting to importation.
I ordered mine as replica, plus ivory - to be on safe side. Will be two pairs. God willing.

I agree as far the optic is concerned, but you also want to have the tactile sensation when you touch your trophy. It is interesting to observe the reaction of people who hold an elephant tusk in their hands for the first time. Ultimately, it is up to each individual. I would only ordered a replica for non-exportable bigger trophies.