Why are Elephants so expensive to hunt?

[UKHunter]

Please excuse my lack of knowledge on the matter, however, as I have witnessed and understand elephants are a huge problem in areas of Africa. So why are they so expensive to hunt?

Surely if governments wanted to manage populations, provide more food to local people and perhaps jobs as a result, then elephant hunting should be cheaper? Then the knock on effects would lead to managed herds, reduce poaching through financial incentive and an increase in food source and help combat the ivory trade.

I understand a trophy bull is different, but for 'management' bulls it seems like a win win.

 

[BRICKBURN]

The place where Elephants are most seriously over populated has banned hunting. That explains that one.

Onto the other question. Fine question. I hope someone in the industry will take a stab at answering it for you.

 

[thriller]

when you look at it on a per Kilo/ pound basis they are quite a good deal actually.

 

[edward]

ive always thought elephants were quite expensive to hunt no matter where they came from.Kruger,as well as other parts of africa, has a vast over population problem but when they wanted to cull them back the antis raised hell.rather than go ahead they saw fit to let nature take its course. and nature is a very cruel dictator.culling cost are vast and the country foots the bill.if as suggested,the countries would lower the cost ,im sure more people would hunt elephants and the african areas involved would profit financially,government and the locals.not to mention the over population would be addressed.just my stupid opinion.this of course before the stupid decisions to ban elephant trophies from zim and everywhere else,probably coming up next.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Demand for Legally Huntable Elephants From Countries Where the Ivory Can Be Exported to the USA vs. Supply of Legally Huntable Elephants Where the Ivory Can Be Exported to the USA

 

[Hank2211]

Demand for Legally Huntable Elephants From Countries Where the Ivory Can Be Exported to the USA vs. Supply of Legally Huntable Elephants Where the Ivory Can Be Exported to the USA

Phil, I haven't found that the price in countries which are non-exportable to the US are any lower. For example, I haven't seen the costs of elephant hunting in Zimbabwe go down, even though these are now non-exportable to the US (but exportable to Canada).

 

[Buff-Buster]

Generally, I think there has been a gradual increase in costs for (trophy) elephant in SA and the Caprivi in Namibia over the last year. There have been some really good "cull" offers made in Zim so I think the price has subsided somewhat there for tuskless cows/cull bulls. Trophy bulls (40#+), on the other hand have not come down at all. I guess the demand from Europe is still strong enough to keep the prices up even with the loss of American hunters.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Phil, I haven't found that the price in countries which are non-exportable to the US are any lower. For example, I haven't seen the costs of elephant hunting in Zimbabwe go down, even though these are now non-exportable to the US (but exportable to Canada).

That wouldn't surprise me. But in the end the same, far more demand than supply and enough hunters willing to pay the price.

 

[Odinsraven]

I have thought about this and there are three points ...Please this is only my musings late in the night ......

There is a restricted market for those who wish to hunt the largest land animal ....given this there are a limited number of hunts that would ever take place ...if the price was 50 percent of current the number of hunts would not double ....so nett income would drop.....

Just my thoughts

 

[Royal27]

I would also say that it depends on what you call expensive. It is certainly expensive compared to an impala, but a tuskless can be had for the same or less than a buffalo in the same area. And cheaper than a wild lion for sure.

Also, don't forget that it is DG, so it is going to be more just for th a t reason alone. I'd also think that remote areas have to do with higher costs in many casesl although not all.

Supply and demand....

 

[Divernhunter]

Pure and simple----Because people are willing to pay the price.

 

[Bruce]

Years ago I could never afford to hunt elephant.. just way too expensive for a local South African.
As time went on and I managed to build myself up financially, this dream became a reality and ONLY because I could then afford these high prices... however, I still research every hunt extremely well and do NOT go for the excessive priced "deals "that are everywhere to be had.
On my current deals ( including a repeat hunt next year) I will pay between $16k and $20k for an elephant bull, depending on weight of tusks.. added onto this I have the opportunity of reasonably priced buffalo ( and PG should I desire).
I am dying to hunt Mozambique, BUT the total price there is just way over the top compared to what I can do in RSA/ Zimbabwe/ Zambia... govt fees in Moz just kill the idea stone dead... AND, I know of horrific incidents where tusks go missing in Moz,,.. most recent a client "lost " his 83lb tusks due to internal theft by govt dept officials...he has been offered a free return hunt, BUT WTF... IF I had lost 83lb tusks I would not be happy chappy and NO amount of free hunts could replace that loss!! If you gonna pay that HIGH price, then at least as a hunter, I would expect that my trophies are safe and protected??

At the end of the day, a serious hunter pays what he can afford and expects the BEST out of it.

 

[Foxi]

The place where Elephants are most seriously over populated has banned hunting. That explains that one.

.

No Sir,
I saw the most Elephants in countrys with strong hunting regulations and strict quotas.
Foxi

 

[Royal27]

Pure and simple----Because people are willing to pay the price.

Back to supply and demand

 

[redriver]

It is frustrating in general to see the cost of many hunts these days. When Botswana was open, I would read articles about the "exploding" elephant population yet the prices
were still very high. It is like that in other hunting countries except for the occasional "deal" that pops up. Trying to find a bull elephant hunt in the 30-40# range for under
$20k is very hard these days. I wonder how good of a management tool is elephant hunting if many above average income, would-be elephant hunters are economically left out of the equation.
The same goes for brown bear hunts in Alaska. The population is very high and some areas have become 2 bear areas yet the prices are thru the roof!
Fred Bear once said “If some of our teenage thrill seekers really want to go out and get a thrill, let them go up into the Northwest and tangle with the Grizzly Bear, the Polar Bear, and the Brown Bear. They will get their kicks, and it will cleanse their souls.” If you tell that to a young person today you better add that it will cost them $20K+, good luck getting that person involved with big game hunting. The same goes for moose, sheep, elk, leopard, cape buffalo etc.
my 2 cents...

 

[johnnyblues]

No matter how you shake it I will most likely never be able to afford a trophy bull.

 

[Bruce]

No matter how you shake it I will most likely never be able to afford a trophy bull.

Sorry about that. buddy... but you NEVER know!!!!!

 

[CAustin]

Demand for Legally Huntable Elephants From Countries Where the Ivory Can Be Exported to the USA vs. Supply of Legally Huntable Elephants Where the Ivory Can Be Exported to the USA

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That is so true. Supply and demand. It is my understanding that there was quota on a mere 30 bulls this year in the Kruger area. Yet the park has 10,000 excess elephant.

 

[spike.t]

No Sir,
I saw the most Elephants in countrys with strong hunting regulations and strict quotas.
Foxi

@Foxi wayne was talking about botswana

 

[gvincent]

"Supply and Demand" resulting from country closures (i.e. - Botswana) and strict CITES imposed quotas.