What's it like hunting elephants?

[K-man]

most people (including hunters) find hunting elephants to be either morally reprehensible or just strange.

I would ask how you came to this conclusion? Through the media or from another source?

 

[Pondoro]

Elephant hunting is very addictive....I have been fortunate to take a few PAC animals...had a couple of hairy moments that I will remember as long as I live..hope to hunt more in the future..

It is however not without danger, a known PH, Phillip Smythe, was mauled by an elephant while taking clients on a safari at Save Valley Conservancy in the South Eastern lowveld of Zimbabwe yesterday...he is critically injured..

 

[IdaRam]

Elephant hunting is very addictive....I have been fortunate to take a few PAC animals...had a couple of hairy moments that I will remember as long as I live..hope to hunt more in the future..

It is however not without danger, a known PH, Phillip Smythe, was mauled by an elephant while taking clients on a safari at Save Valley Conservancy in the South Eastern lowveld of Zimbabwe yesterday...he is critically injured..

I’m saddened to hear about this incident with Phillip. I hope he pulls through, prayers for his recovery.

 

[IdaRam]

How does it compare to other dangerous game in terms of challenge, danger, and the overall experience? I ask this as most people (including hunters) find hunting elephants to be either morally reprehensible or just strange. I find it fascinating, however. So, any elephant hunters out there, feel free to respond!

Hello and welcome Wilhelm. Elephant hunting is like nothing else, at least in my opinion.
You may find this hunt report (below) interesting. It is the experience of a first-time elephant hunter. You may not find much wisdom from experience there, but it is a first hand experience that might give you some insight into what it is like to hunt tuskless cow elephant in Zimbabwe. Elephant are indeed hunted with one’s boots!
Here’s a link

ZIMBABWE: Mokore Safaris Sengwa Research Tuskless Elephant & Plains Game

Fall is knocking at our door and with it comes excitement for bird and big game hunting seasons. Like most everyone else around here, I find myself short on time (and money) but long on enthusiasm :D I know if I don’t get this hunt report started now it will be long overdue by the time I get...

www.africahunting.com

 

[IvW]

Elephant hunting is very addictive....I have been fortunate to take a few PAC animals...had a couple of hairy moments that I will remember as long as I live..hope to hunt more in the future..

It is however not without danger, a known PH, Phillip Smythe, was mauled by an elephant while taking clients on a safari at Save Valley Conservancy in the South Eastern lowveld of Zimbabwe yesterday...he is critically injured..

Sad to hear I sincerly hope he will recovered experienced guide and hunter.
Elephant in some areas are more agressive than others.

 

[WilhelmM]

I would ask how you came to this conclusion? Through the media or from another source?

Common interaction with other people, outside of the forums I mean. I hope you don't think I'm bashing elephant hunting, I was just curious what the experience of hunting them is like.

 

[WAB]

Sad to hear I sincerly hope he will recovered experienced guide and hunter.
Elephant in some areas are more agressive than others.

Very sad indeed. We had an unprovoked attack in the Save that resulted in a bashed PH and a dead elephant. Miraculously the PH sustained only minor injuries.

 

[Luvthunt]

Pondoro,
Best wishes to P Smythe. Is he any relation to Jerome (Zoom) Smythe?

 

[Nhoro]

Phil appears to be stable. I understand that his arm is badly broken but it does not seem to be life threatening.

One of the examiners for Zim proficiency says he takes prospective PH's close up to elephant. He reckons that it sorts the men from the boys. Personally, I love being close to ele's, especially on foot. They are more intimidating than buffalo. Elephant hunting takes determination and shoe leather but then so can buff. I remember a hunt in Makwichi area, we did 30-40 km of walking everyday only to be rained out before we closed with the buffalo. After about a week of that, throw in getting stuck in mud,I can tell you, it was a relief to put two decent trophies in the salt.

 

[Philip Glass]

How does it compare to other dangerous game in terms of challenge, danger, and the overall experience? I ask this as most people (including hunters) find hunting elephants to be either morally reprehensible or just strange. I find it fascinating, however. So, any elephant hunters out there, feel free to respond!

Wilhilm,
I have only hunted one elephant. I have been amongst elephants on all of my Big 5/Dangerous 7 safaris. Your post suggests something very true but has an underlying fact that needs to be uncovered. There are those who say they could never hunt an elephant but most all of those could not afford it anyway. I hear the same about lions. “Oh I’ve hunted my whole life but I’d never hunt........”. Code for I’m afraid to travel to XYZ country and I don’t have the money.
Now to your question:
It is the most exciting hunt one could imagine. Getting in close to the biggest animal on the planet is quite an experience. The tracking and the strategy are incredible parts of the hunt. Other than buffalo the elephant is one of the Big 5 accomplished hunters pursue over and over. This is due to the danger, challenge, and love of the hunt. I can not wait until I am able to go after a big tusker!
Regards,
Philip

 

[WilhelmM]

Wilhilm,
I have only hunted one elephant. I have been amongst elephants on all of my Big 5/Dangerous 7 safaris. Your post suggests something very true but has an underlying fact that needs to be uncovered. There are those who say they could never hunt an elephant but most all of those could not afford it anyway. I hear the same about lions. “Oh I’ve hunted my whole life but I’d never hunt........”. Code for I’m afraid to travel to XYZ country and I don’t have the money.
Now to your question:
It is the most exciting hunt one could imagine. Getting in close to the biggest animal on the planet is quite an experience. The tracking and the strategy are incredible parts of the hunt. Other than buffalo the elephant is one of the Big 5 accomplished hunters pursue over and over. This is due to the danger, challenge, and love of the hunt. I can not wait until I am able to go after a big tusker!
Regards,
Philip

Thank you for your reply, Philip. Honestly, the price for elephant hunting, though expensive, is well worth the money considering a trophy hunt for Marco Polo in Tajikistan will cost you a little more. I'd much rather spend 2-3 weeks in the remote bush hunting for Africa's largest quarry, rather than spend only 7-10 days in the mountains of Central Asia where most of the guides don't speak English. Nothing against Tajikistan or people who have hunted there, but honestly, hunting in the bush can't be beaten. A hunt for a trophy tusker in the forests of Cameroon is a dream of mine, though it'll be a while before I'm able to fulfill it. Either that or a 21-day full bag safari in the Selous. I sincerely hope you'll be able to go after another tusker

 

[Safari1]

Thank you for your reply, Philip. Honestly, the price for elephant hunting, though expensive, is well worth the money considering a trophy hunt for Marco Polo in Tajikistan will cost you a little more. I'd much rather spend 2-3 weeks in the remote bush hunting for Africa's largest quarry, rather than spend only 7-10 days in the mountains of Central Asia where most of the guides don't speak English. Nothing against Tajikistan or people who have hunted there, but honestly, hunting in the bush can't be beaten. A hunt for a trophy tusker in the forests of Cameroon is a dream of mine, though it'll be a while before I'm able to fulfill it. Either that or a 21-day full bag safari in the Selous. I sincerely hope you'll be able to go after another tusker

You will need to wait 10 years for elephant hunting in the Selous to be viable again provided current protections remain in place in my opinion

 

[IvW]

Gonna be some great elephants coming out of Botswana soon....

 

[WilhelmM]

You will need to wait 10 years for elephant hunting in the Selous to be viable again provided current protections remain in place in my opinion

Agreed, it's sad how much of the elephant population was decimated there considering it was once a safe-haven for them. Hopefully, the small population increase will continue.

 

[Tanks]

Want a bit more adrenaline? Try hunting them at night.

 

[Nhoro]

Phil appears to be stable. I understand that his arm is badly broken but it does not seem to be life threatening.

Further update-Phil is in Harare in hospital. I understand he has cracked vertebra as well as the broken arm. Havent heard what happened to him.