Recent "end of season deals" have got me thinking about elephant hunts, so, does anyone have pictures readily available of what, say, a 40 pound set of tusks looks like "on the hoof"? I know that the PH will estimate for you, before you shoot, but is there a noticeable difference between say 40 pound tusks and 60 pound tusks? T. Carr?!!
Thanks, Peter.

I think you will find that a 40lb tusk looks vastly different if the elephant has straight/thin tusks or short/curved tusks. But I too would appreciate some examples...

35 pounders, Zambezi Valley elephant (don't have them back from the taxi so I can't show what they look like when mounted).























Regards,



Terry



P.S.



Here are a couple from Kyler Hamman's hunt with the same PH and in the same area of the Zambezi Valley. A 57 pounder and a 60 pounder. [Kyler, I hope you don't mind me showing your pics].











P.P.S.



The PH I hunted with in Tanzania was a Botswana PH with numerous elephant to his credit. He said, when estimating elephant, that one should estimate the circumference at the lip, determine to what extent the circumference decreases toward the tip of the tusks (does the elephant "carry his weight toward to the tips") and then estimate the length.

No problem Terry, I hope they help.

If it matters, I believe they were about 19+" circumference at the lip and about 45-48" exposed.

I sure hope they make it home. That reminds me I better send Broom an email and check on the shipment progress.

I can't say I've seen many elephant on-the-hoof, but from what I can tell they are pretty hard to judge. My PH is quite experienced and after his first look at my bull he said it was around 30 pounds. Then he upped it to a possible 40 before I shot. After it was down he guessed them as maybe 50.

I think that just shows there are a lot of variables that can really be tough to estimate. Such as comparison to body size, how far they carry mass, wear and the always risky nerve size. And I'm sure regional differences in all those variables can make it even tougher.

Kyler

Please, more photos - I'm going to Madikwe in SA next year where I gather the 'average' is 30lbs. Charlie.

Here are 2 more from Tz which can be very different in weight than those from Zim or Bots, etc:

#1 estimated 30-35 pounds


#2 slightly more; estimated 45+lbs (the longer tusk)