Tips before going on your first elephant hunt

[VertigoBE]

One more bit of advice. Don’t do a trip report and don’t confirm/deny if you were successful on this forum. The anti’s monitor it and would relish the opportunity to Dox you and to harass your government while tossing out baseless accusations to prevent you from importing your trophy.

Ignoring that suggestion, at least wait until you receive your trophy to communicate anywhere that you successfully harvested a trophy. At that point, the anti’s power to ruin your day is less.

Thank you for the advice @rookhawk , it is very much appreciated. Honestly this is a plan for maybe 2024 or so, I’m too busy with our newly born daughter and house renovations for the moment I mostly wanted to do the mental exercise to it’s fullest, and at the very least this should help a lot of AH members thinking about their first elephant hunt to get thoroughly prepared .

 

[Elkbugling]

This has been a great thread to read and follow. I appreciate all the information that has been shared, this is perfect for those of us still in the “dreaming” stage!

 

[rookhawk]

This has been a great thread to read and follow. I appreciate all the information that has been shared, this is perfect for those of us still in the “dreaming” stage!

A reminder for those "Dreaming".

Next year's elephant hunt exists for only two groups:

1.) The insanely rich where long term planning is worth $100,000 to them, thus paying so much for the hunt that the Operators will take your booking figuring out no matter what, they can get quota somewhere in some distant future.

2.) The procrastinating dreamers.

Putting off an elephant hunt isn't going to save money waiting for a price drop, nor is it going to increase the odds a legal quota will exist in some distant future.

African dangerous game hunts are effectively having a "going out of business sale" in today's society. The anti's pressure is significant at many fronts.

By all means, feel free to put off a buffalo hunt for a decade because they will likely be huntable for many years to come. But elephant, lion, hyena, and giraffe are in the closing-call era where the opportunity may not present itself in the years to come.

 

[Rare Breed]

A reminder for those "Dreaming".

Next year's elephant hunt exists for only two groups:

1.) The insanely rich where long term planning is worth $100,000 to them, thus paying so much for the hunt that the Operators will take your booking figuring out no matter what, they can get quota somewhere in some distant future.

2.) The procrastinating dreamers.

Putting off an elephant hunt isn't going to save money waiting for a price drop, nor is it going to increase the odds a legal quota will exist in some distant future.

African dangerous game hunts are effectively having a "going out of business sale" in today's society. The anti's pressure is significant at many fronts.

By all means, feel free to put off a buffalo hunt for a decade because they will likely be huntable for many years to come. But elephant, lion, hyena, and giraffe are in the closing-call era where the opportunity may not present itself in the years to come.

Exactly why I am hunting both elephant and lion in 23 along with my second buffalo

 

[375Fox]

A reminder for those "Dreaming".

Next year's elephant hunt exists for only two groups:

1.) The insanely rich where long term planning is worth $100,000 to them, thus paying so much for the hunt that the Operators will take your booking figuring out no matter what, they can get quota somewhere in some distant future.

2.) The procrastinating dreamers.

Putting off an elephant hunt isn't going to save money waiting for a price drop, nor is it going to increase the odds a legal quota will exist in some distant future.

African dangerous game hunts are effectively having a "going out of business sale" in today's society. The anti's pressure is significant at many fronts.

By all means, feel free to put off a buffalo hunt for a decade because they will likely be huntable for many years to come. But elephant, lion, hyena, and giraffe are in the closing-call era where the opportunity may not present itself in the years to come.

I really want to argue with this because it’s so pessimistic, but I unfortunately think you are mostly correct. I honestly hate seeing all in bull elephant hunts advertised at $15k because it means the area has lost all value and just cleaning up what’s left, no future conservation value, “going out of business sale” as you described. I think your timeline is off though unless by next year you actually mean next decade. I don’t see Zimbabwe stopping elephant hunts anytime soon. The quality of still good areas is definitely at risk though.

 

[KTK458]

Opening myself up here, but it's important.
I've only been to Africa one time. I'm nobody here. I'll never make it back, but I swear Africa lives in my veins.
I hunted NG 47 Botswana in 2001, with Graeme Pollock, Safaris Botswana Bound.
I have not hunted nearly as many animals as most of you have in my life.
A couple of black bears, two American bison, tons of NY whitetails.
I was extremely fortunate that my Dad took me on an elephant hunt as a graduation gift. Didn't know it then, but I do now.
I studied elephants and elephant hunting for two years ahead of time. I read "The perfect shot" many times. Devoured most of Capstick's books. I even have an autographed copy of Ron Thomson's "Mahohboh" that I would say is a must read. That guy is still a hero of mine.
The safari was fantastic. The best days of my life, even to date. I can still see the stars, and smell the campfire.
I remember all of the emotions of the elephant hunt clearly. Joy, exhaustion, anticipation, frustration, sadness. There's one however, that stands out clearly above the rest. I'm not afraid to admit it.
It was fear.
Yes, I was excited. Full of adrenaline.
But man was I afraid to sneak up on that immense animal. Fear like I never knew before or since. Terrified that he would turn on us. That something somehow would go wrong. That I would mess up this thing I had anticipated for so long.
I can't describe the fear, but it was extreme. In those final moments, I had tunnel vision. My heart was screaming. My breath was ragged. I was shaking.
Graeme was a wonderful PH. He was patient with this stupid spoiled kid, but stern in his instructions.
He calmed me down enough somehow, put me on the sticks, and I was able to make a perfect broadside heart shot at 20yds.
That part is all a blur for me. Graeme didn't end up shooting. He said he could tell it was a good hit because the bull had a "wobble" as he ran away. I was able to make several good follow up shots, including a hip shot that anchored the bull.
Maybe that fear was just because I was 17, or because I was so green, and afraid to screw it up. I hope not though.
I hope everyone who hunts them has some of that fear, at least a little.

I mentioned sadness, too. Maybe I'm soft, but there was an immense sadness that came when it was over. When it was quiet.
I looked into that bull's eyes. I cried. I took time to touch him, talk to him, thank him and stroke his rough head.
I hope I never lose that sight of the value of life, and the gravity of death which I learned in that instant.
To this day, it's a somber moment to touch his tusks, my most beloved possessions in this life.

I think if you are lucky like me, you will have even a twinge of those two emotions.

Best of luck!

 

[Medicine]

@KTK458 - I'd like to buy you a drink if you ever make it to my neck of the woods. That was utmost beautiful. Impossible to follow. I, myself, had read every book in the English language on the hunting of the African elephant. Not only the books published in English but also the ones translated. The one thing I underestimated was the fear I would experience when cutting the tracks of multiple cows and calves in the thick stuff. Stalking a solitary bull was nothing compared to what I experienced in the jesse the day before. I can only describe it as, "I'm not sure I was cut out for this."
I will post my video below; however, even if unblurred, you would be unable to see a smile on my face. I couldn't even cut his tail as I didn't want to mutilate him as strange as that may seem and, although I didn't cry, I had to fight an overwhelming desire to throw up.
Would I do it again you ask? I would; however, I was offered another bull on the same trip and passed. Enough time has gone by; however, that I find myself secretly planning for a big Botswana tusker in the not so distant future and, maybe, if he is in his final days and if his tusks look like telephone poles, I'll see if I am one of the good ones after all.

 

[VertigoBE]

Opening myself up here, but it's important.
I've only been to Africa one time. I'm nobody here. I'll never make it back, but I swear Africa lives in my veins.
I hunted NG 47 Botswana in 2001, with Graeme Pollock, Safaris Botswana Bound.
I have not hunted nearly as many animals as most of you have in my life.
A couple of black bears, two American bison, tons of NY whitetails.
I was extremely fortunate that my Dad took me on an elephant hunt as a graduation gift. Didn't know it then, but I do now.
I studied elephants and elephant hunting for two years ahead of time. I read "The perfect shot" many times. Devoured most of Capstick's books. I even have an autographed copy of Ron Thomson's "Mahohboh" that I would say is a must read. That guy is still a hero of mine.
The safari was fantastic. The best days of my life, even to date. I can still see the stars, and smell the campfire.
I remember all of the emotions of the elephant hunt clearly. Joy, exhaustion, anticipation, frustration, sadness. There's one however, that stands out clearly above the rest. I'm not afraid to admit it.
It was fear.
Yes, I was excited. Full of adrenaline.
But man was I afraid to sneak up on that immense animal. Fear like I never knew before or since. Terrified that he would turn on us. That something somehow would go wrong. That I would mess up this thing I had anticipated for so long.
I can't describe the fear, but it was extreme. In those final moments, I had tunnel vision. My heart was screaming. My breath was ragged. I was shaking.
Graeme was a wonderful PH. He was patient with this stupid spoiled kid, but stern in his instructions.
He calmed me down enough somehow, put me on the sticks, and I was able to make a perfect broadside heart shot at 20yds.
That part is all a blur for me. Graeme didn't end up shooting. He said he could tell it was a good hit because the bull had a "wobble" as he ran away. I was able to make several good follow up shots, including a hip shot that anchored the bull.
Maybe that fear was just because I was 17, or because I was so green, and afraid to screw it up. I hope not though.
I hope everyone who hunts them has some of that fear, at least a little.

I mentioned sadness, too. Maybe I'm soft, but there was an immense sadness that came when it was over. When it was quiet.
I looked into that bull's eyes. I cried. I took time to touch him, talk to him, thank him and stroke his rough head.
I hope I never lose that sight of the value of life, and the gravity of death which I learned in that instant.
To this day, it's a somber moment to touch his tusks, my most beloved possessions in this life.

I think if you are lucky like me, you will have even a twinge of those two emotions.

Best of luck!

Thanks a lot for sharing, that was beautiful to read. I do not yet know how I would react, but that this would mark my life I’m sure.

 

[rookhawk]

I really want to argue with this because it’s so pessimistic, but I unfortunately think you are mostly correct. I honestly hate seeing all in bull elephant hunts advertised at $15k because it means the area has lost all value and just cleaning up what’s left, no future conservation value, “going out of business sale” as you described. I think your timeline is off though unless by next year you actually mean next decade. I don’t see Zimbabwe stopping elephant hunts anytime soon. The quality of still good areas is definitely at risk though.

My pessimism isn’t overstated, but I don’t necessarily agree with your conclusion as to “why” the hunting is coming to an end. A few reasons:

1.) The antis are working on their first world governments to ban sport hunted imports. As an example, the USFWS requires an import permit if you’re an American. They issued permits in 2016 and then held them for 6 years where there were many lawsuits and backlogs. A handful have been approved but they are not even caught up and may not be before Biden creates an executive order stopping the process.

2.) Every year in the annual US omnibus budget drafts, you’ll see leftists have inserted funding language “no funding in this bill shall be allocated to USFWS permits for elephant and lion”. So what they cannot due through democracy in legislature, they attempt to do by starving the needed staff to lawfully follow the duties of the USFWS.

3.) In the EU, various nations have banned import. Same for UK.

And this is all bad for elephants, lions, giraffe, and hyena (the 4 ambassador species the left is irrationally in love with for various reasons). The reasons it is bad are as follows:

A.) In storied hunting areas, for example the entirety of the Zambezi Valley, anti-hunting photo safaris bribed or colluded to get possession of the safari camps. While they turned them all non-hunting in about 2016, literally none of them have A.) Paid their bills, B.) Improved/maintained the camps for photo tourism, C.) Funded and operated anti-poaching patrols. Thus, 95%+ of all the Zambezi hunting areas have shuttered since 2016.

B.) Bribes for moratoriums. As was seen in Botswana, the left has figured out if they can suspend hunting they can erode long-term interest. The ten-year ban in Botswana destroyed the industry and thus facilities eroded, workers found other employment or moved, fewer Botswanans became licensed PHs, etc.

C.) Antis have won a change in policy via litigation to require “case by case” imports. So each harvested elephant requires a 70-100 page application with specific data about that elephant, the funding and uses of funds from that hunt, biological data for that concession, and studies as to the health of that specific “race and region” of elephant. So if you hunt in Binga, you need the Binga studies, not the Hwange Corridor studies nor the Zambezi Valley studies.

D.) C above has led to unscrupulous dealings by many Operators including the most prestigious and famous ones you can think of in your mind. If they swindled their way into allocations in the past 1-2 years for quota in a particular area by bribes and other corrupt methods, those “exportable CITES trophy bulls” they are selling are not importable to your home country more than likely, definitely in the USA. Why? Because the needed conditions to get an import approval would require them to open their financials to divulge their years of funding for the local community schools, bore holes, CAMPFIRE/Tribal counsels, their anti-poaching patrol data for 3 years to show how many arrests, snares seized, etc. Their game studies to show stable or increasing populations of the big-5 over the time of their operation in that area. Ultimately, a compelling argument that the death of one animal is overall a net-gain for the survival of the species. You can’t make that case if you just bribed your way into gaining quota from some other operator that was less connected or less funded than yourself but was doing all the needful for the last 3-5 years.

Then we can go into ancillary encumbrances that make it difficult to impossible including ITAR loss of approval to land on runways due to countries not paying for their certifications and inspections, lack of air routes, lack of ability to fly on certain carriers with guns, arms embargoes for sport hunting, inconvenient travel times to these remote destinations that may take 5 day in-out combined, etc, etc.


These are but some of the reasons.

That is why I tell everyone that is ready for their first plains game safari and is planning their second buffalo safari for next year to stop, reverse their thinking, and prioritize that which may not be possible in the future for right now.

Things you should be hunting right now If you’re ever going to hunt:

Elephant
Lion
Leopard
Hyena (brown and striped)
Giraffe
Oribi
Black Faced Impala
Bontebok
Rhino
African Waterfowl
Serval/Genet/Caracal
Cheetah
Aardwolf


Things that you can hunt in 20 years, no rush:

Everything else. Especially Buffalo/Kudu/Eland.

 

[Mark A Ouellette]

Things you should be hunting right now If you’re ever going to hunt:

Elephant
Lion

I fear that Roothawk is correct. The world is changing and not for the better. I hope the Bamni and Dumbo loving anti-hunters who never contribute to Africa conservation won't be successful for another decade. Much like the left wing political takeover in the USA, the rate of negative change will be directly linked to the amount of funding that billionaires provide.

The above is modern colonialism that the left is so critical of that happened in the past.

Last year my South African PH advised me that if I was going to hunt lion in SA, that I have better do it this year. I took his advice and am packing my bags.

 

[MarkB]

I am 100% sure @rookhawk is correct in every portion of his post. Any hunter in 2022 who is even the slightest bit aware or a member of SCI clearly sees all his points verified from every part of the current world. Todays world is a sad state for hunters.

At home here in BC we have lost grizzly hunting due to our Provincial Gov's management by emotion, lost caribou in EVERY region with road access and this year lost 3/4 of all Provincial GOS areas for moose, moose LEH permits have been reduced to near miniscule numbers. Moose and caribou reduction by non native hunters so that our First Nations rapists can get all they need/want.

Never thought I would see the day when my children cannot hunt our game at home and world hunting is becoming more difficult and for the financial elite yearly. That's not even speaking too how the SA Gov's plan for non wild born species will destroy us. Same reason I did CB lion last year.

So do as @rookhawk says, if you want to enjoy it do in NOW. Waiting jeopardizes your chances.

MB