Just found this one FB.120+

That's one hell of a bull!!!
Being next to the "land of the elephants" definitely has it's advantages.

also with a blaser and scope

Guys - I've said this so many times about this area/SSG.

If you are willing to roll with the punches to a degree, and willing to go home empty - handed, you might just shoot the biggest elephant you could ever imagine. Areas like this are not for everyone, not for the guy who wants to see lots of bulls, or track lots of bulls. You must catch them when they come out of the park. Nixon has told me about this bull for several years now, I'm sure its the same one. He's seen him numerous times, but the bull always made it to safety before they could catch up to him, apparently not this time!?!? I also tell guys to go there in Sept - Nov if they want a chance at a big tusker.

I would go with a very open mind, but I would go again for sure! I had numerous guys this year hunt buffalo with SSG too, most did really well.

What a spectacular Bull!!!!

Bobby (Duxdog) had just shot a 90 pounder when I was there a few years ago.

Wow way to go

What a trophy, holy balls
Been there, hell of area with awesome potential
Hopefully, ivory poachers won't hit it hard.
I got lucky there with 84 lbs and got it home before that damn ban

quote:

I got lucky there with 84 lbs and got it home before that damn ban

Good on you! That's a tremendous trophy!

Too nice of an elephant to take,IMO.

Maybe I am not a elephant guy - one who likes to hunt/kill em.

But shooting an elephant like that is kind of like shooting the last tasmanian devil. This elephant will not be replaced for a long time given the terrible state of african elephants. By the time an average elephant grows to something like this the average AR member will be hunting in different grounds (hopefully heavenly).

The other side is this is africa and maybe poachers get it or will die and waste away in the wild instead of preserved in someones trophy room.

But I rather value a 50 pounder shot in the save more than 120 pounder shot outside a national park. I don't have the same compassion for lions as they are short lived animals. This applies mainly to elephants and crocs - something that has a life expectancy more than mine.

See I said something very politically incorrect by AR standards but I did not p*ss on anyones hunt report.

Biebs - too magnificent an animal to get shot with a Blaser - a old english double would be more appropriate. (This is just to pull Biebs chain I am not making fun of the hunter)

Mike

That's a special edition Blaser Selous...nice piece.

quote:

Originally posted by Biebs:
That's a special edition Blaser Selous...nice piece.

True - 15K high end

Mike

quote:

Originally posted by Beretta682E:
Maybe I am not a elephant guy - one who likes to hunt/kill em.

But shooting an elephant like that is kind of like shooting the last tasmanian devil. This elephant will not be replaced for a long time given the terrible state of african elephants. By the time an average elephant grows to something like this the average AR member will be hunting in different grounds (hopefully heavenly).

The other side is this is africa and maybe poachers get it or will die and waste away in the wild instead of preserved in someones trophy room.

But I rather value a 50 pounder shot in the save more than 120 pounder shot outside a national park. I don't have the same compassion for lions as they are short lived animals. This applies mainly to elephants and crocs - something that has a life expectancy more than mine.

See I said something very politically incorrect by AR standards but I did not p*ss on anyones hunt report.

Biebs - too magnificent an animal to get shot with a Blaser - a old english double would be more appropriate. (This is just to pull Biebs chain I am not making fun of the hunter)

Mike

I hear what you are saying Mike. If the world were a perfect place , I might agree . The unfortunate reality is that there is no assurance that this bull would last another day. The poachers have run rampant in that part of the world .

Maybe one day I will get a crack at a bull like that. If I ever do, I can only hope it is taken after a long hard walk tracking the bull and taken with something other than a Blaser. The last part was a joke.

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:

Maybe one day I will get a crack at a bull like that. If I ever do, I can only hope it is taken after a long hard walk tracking the bull . . .

My sentiments exactly . . . and up close with a double.

Yup

Never near that big in my wildest dreams.

Ditto what Larry and Mike wrote above, the doubles barrels would have a hint of patina.

Incredible

That is the one instance where I agree that the best tool is a large-caliber double rifle...hunting the majestic Elephant!

Awesome bull. Special beyond description in today's hunting environment.




Taken with a Blaser?

Phenomenal, simply phenomenal. I hope the hunter is from a country that allows importation. To shoot such a trophy and then not be able to enjoy those tusks and being able to pass them as heirlooms to other generations would be tough on me personally.

A Caldesi quality trophy if there ever was one.

I'm hearing the hunter is from Mexico, but I've heard Germany too. Not sure where to be honest? Either way, congrats to him!!

Fact is, this could be the best African Trophy taken in the past 20 years, maybe more?

Shoot him, I most certainly would! With a double at 10 yards, or a scoped rifle at a 100 yards. Quoting my favorite lying politician, "what difference does it make?"

well done those hunters
anything from a 9.3x62 - 700, bolt action or double will do the job there
fantastic well done

That is a Ele hunter's dream trophy right there, congratulations to everyone involved.

My god, this has to be the best elephant taken in africa in easily 30 years, I have never heard of a tusker breaking the 115 lbs barrier since the bull Kai Uwe Denker shot in namibia years ago, truly congratulations to the lucky hunter and to Nixon! Really hope this elephant did not had a name

quote:

Really hope this elephant did not had a name

+1

Beautiful ele!

Amazing trophy. Congratulations to all concerned.

Any confirmation on the ivory weight?

What an extraordinary tusker! The trophy of many lifetimes!!!

I agree that to be taken with a big bore double would be the proper thing, but if i had my blaser in hand when this old boy showed himself, i wouldn't hesitate one bit!!!!

Congrats to all involved with this trophy.

cheers

Nick

What an amazing trophy !! Not taking anything away from the hunter and the trophy but I am quite sure this bull wandered off from Kruger Park into Zim.( Im not saying Zim don't have big elephants ) Just good luck being at the right place at the right time !!

Congrats to the lucky hunter and Nixon and crew. Great bunch of guys in a great area.

quote:

Malapati

Wow. Would like to hear a report of the hunt. Seeing that bull moving through the bush and trying to get into a shooting position must have been a real heart stopper. Congratulations all round.

https://www.facebook.com/game.animals


There is another photo of the elephant on the "Game Animals of the Past and Present" site.

Fantastic animal. A very lucky hunter! A report would be very welcome

Regards

quote:

Originally posted by BaxterB:

quote:

Really hope this elephant did not had a name

+1

Only American liberals name wild animals, so if the hunter is from either Mexico or Germany, should be no problem.

I have never seen anything like it. It unreal. Congrats to the hunter. My experience in this area is these big ele very seldom come out of the park. I would like to know the average taken there in the last 24 months.
this is the first big one I have personally heard of in many many months.

Guys don't get trigger happy on this area, I have been there. Lots of the guys that shot big elephant with Nixion were buff hunting and one guy was even plains game hunting. If your with nixion and you see a big one and have the cash you are an elephant hunter. First hand experience and the advice from other PH's

I know I will get trashed for this but the above is very true. I don't have an agenda just thought some facts should come out. I think this is what this forum is all about. Good with the bad, then you decide.

that said this is a ele hunter dream...

We definitely need report and no name of the tusker
I love elephant hunting and being in right place at the right time is what's hunting is all about.
I hunted with Nixon and my hunt was tough with lot of walking/tracking.
My hunt was the other way around, I hunted elephants and shot couple of great Buffs
So Jeff, it goes all the way around

quote:

Originally posted by jeff h:
I have never seen anything like it. It unreal. Congrats to the hunter. My experience in this area is these big ele very seldom come out of the park. I would like to know the average taken there in the last 24 months.
this is the first big one I have personally heard of in many many months.

Guys don't get trigger happy on this area, I have been there. Lots of the guys that shot big elephant with Nixion were buff hunting and one guy was even plains game hunting. If your with nixion and you see a big one and have the cash you are an elephant hunter. First hand experience and the advice from other PH's

I know I will get trashed for this but the above is very true. I don't have an agenda just thought some facts should come out. I think this is what this forum is all about. Good with the bad, then you decide.

that said this is a ele hunter dream...

Jeff - Nothing you've said above is not pretty darn accurate, I can't imagine anyone trashing you for it at all?

Finding a huge jumbo is very seldom possible, true that! Here, or anywhere!! Rarely do the really big tuskers come out of the park, also true! Fact is, the average bull from this area is most likely in the high 40's. Are the odds long, and luck a huge factor - no doubt! Isn't that always the case on truly huge trophies?

Since 2011 - I am fairly certain this area as a whole (Ghonarzhou border areas) have produced more big tuskers than anywhere in Zim, by a bunch! In fact, since 2011 Nixon's areas have produced 4 bulls over 80lbs, mine included. Heck I shot my 84 pounder while I was out looking for a Kudu! At least one over 90lbs by another AR member, a single tusker that went 101lbs, and now this giant - that's right at 120 and 122 respectively. Not counting several in the 50's, 60's and one in the 70's as I recall. Is there anywhere in Africa that can say that over the past 4 years? Not to mention all of the huge buffalo they've killed too - but again, NOT BY EVERYONE!!! My clients alone have taken several bulls over 44", a 46", a 48", a 49" and one that broke 50". Heck, I passed one that I thought was roughly 47", cause I was at the truck and I didn't want to shoot him from the truck.

Your assessment is spot on, no doubt! But I've always said this, and it will continue to be true. This area is not for the first-timer, the outfitter is "rough around the edges" for sure, and one needs to be experienced - both in the field and around camp. Be able to judge your own trophy, and know how to hunt yourself. With that said, one's thing is for sure. If you want to catch a big fish, you must fish where the big fish are! Your odds of these big tuskers is low, very low, but most other places your odds are non-existent. Luck is a huge factor here, but isn't it most always when it comes to huge trophies? With all that said, if one is willing to understand all of this - one could get very lucky and shoot a buff or elephant of one's lifetime. Across most of Africa, and most of Zim now - trophies like these aren't even possible at all anymore.

Just my opinion / two cents worth, but you certainly shouldn't think you will get roasted for your opinion - its true!!

Aaron and Jeff H are spot on about Nixon.

The most recent elephants this one reminds me of are the big ones taken in Ethiopia in the 80's. Big ones taken since by Denker and in Bots have "stumpier" Ivory.

Check out the SCI record book and you will see the similarity in the tusks.

Congrats all!

part Mastodon?