Ladies and Gentlemen,

I will be going on my first elephant hunt in June of this year (Russ Broom Safaris, Binga Communal Lands, Zimbabwe).

I will be taking only my Biesen Winchester M70 in .416 Rem Mag. It's a 10 day hunt with only elephant, buffalo and bushbuck on the menu.

I'll be using factory ammo (Remington Safari Grade Swift A-Frames and Federal Safari Grade Trophy Bonded Sledgehammer Solids).

I have been studying Robertson's The Perfect Shot and watching all my elephant hunting videos.

Besides getting in shape, does anyone have any advice or suggestions when it comes to hunting elephant? I don't mind telling you that I find the elephant to be the most intimidating of all of Africa's big game.

Also, any taxidermy suggestions? I will probably do the tusks on small pedestals. What about elephant footstools, skin, etc.? I definitely want to bring back some hair and have a bracelet made with elephant hair and gold knots (Carol saw one at the Dallas Safari Show).

Thank you.

Regards,

Terry

I hunted elephant only once. I am a skinny guy in reasonable shape and when I hunt deer and elk I walk all day every day up and down. I like to backpack in the summer.

Tracking elephant I found to be a forced march. I had no idea I would have to move my legs so quick. I wish I had been skinnier for the hunt.

My suggestions would be:

1. eat a reasonably light breakfast

2. drink 1-2 quarts of water before you set out on a track

3. be prepared to sweat

4. be prepared to go 20 miles if the track merits it

5. get in real close for the shot

I had some skin made into gun cases.

[ 02-28-2003, 04:47: Message edited by: 500grains ]

you taking anyone as a guest or back up shooter?

T. Carr,

I hunted the area you are going for elephant with Russ Broom safaris the last two years.. I am not able to walk as far as most yet still got my elephant the first year. The trackers did some of the walking for me.

The second year I passed on a few 30 - 45 pound elephants and never did get the 50 pound + one as I spent most of my time waiting for a leopard.

Elephant hunting is the most walking I did so the better shape you are in the easier it will be.

An elephant can intimidate you that is for sure. Last year one particular cow loved to chase us as we headed down the road to camp. Those little diesel land rovers are not fast enough when an elephant is coming. I find more excitment hunting elephant than buffalo but both are great fun.

Have the skinner in camp make the bracelets for you. We made 8 and still brought hair home. I have small stands for the tusks that I made myself, foot stools and the ears done. I got a couple of panels tanned in the US. Turned out poor if you ask me and cost a lot of money. I would either have the skin and ears done in Zim or skip it.

I used a TBSH for my elephant but in a 470.

I have hunted out of all 3 of the camps in that area so if you want any specifics let me know.

We saw elephant almost every day both trips. You just have to find the big one. By the way I am jealous I have to wait until 2004 to go back, so leave a big elephant for me.

BigB

Terry, I was at Woodberry's In Kerrville today dropping off some skulls and Lisa showed me the around. They have one full mount elephant( I forgot how tall they are) and one that is cut off half way up that will have water at that level. There were so many mounts -crocs buff lion leopards ect.. it is hard to take it all in. I think they are going to build a party barn to house the ele. All it takes is money. Capmed

Terry,

I am glad you posted this thread as I will be in the Binga area on my first elephant hunt in early July and am interested in the same information.

Perry

Terry,I hunted the Chizarira,a Govt. concession in the Binga area in June 1998.We were hunting buffalo,but saw many elephant,every one of which charged us.It made no difference if we were afoot or in the Bakki,when an elephant saw us, it charged.The PH said it was probably because they were so heavily poached they had it in for any human they saw.Certainly made for an interesting time.Have a great hunt,but watch your back trail.

Bravo

Terry,

I generally have a light breakfast - a cup of coffee and a cup of tea, and may be a biscuit or two.

I put a few hard boiled sweets in my pockets, which not only I enjoy, but the whole hunting party does too.

On many occasions I've had someone calling for an "energy pill".

Depending on your luck, you might walk every day for miles on end and never catch up with the elephants, or do see them and find out they are not what you are looking for.

On the other hand, you might see one from the truck, and after a short stalk, you have your elephant.

Pedestal mounted tusks are great. I have several here. I have also used many of the feet for stools, and the skin we bring back and use as a "throw" over a seat or use some of the skin to make seat covers in our house.

You will enjoy elephant hunting, to me, nothing comes close to elephant and buffalo hunting.

Terry,

I can only add that when I hunted that area for Buffalo, I saw more blasted elephants than I cared too! By the way, they weren't very friendly.

A friend of mine has an elephant skull with the tuskes intact, sitting on the floor in his office. It seemed odd at first, but the more I looked at it, the more striking it became. Just a suggestion.

Terry,

Good action, Elephant hunting is great. The outfit that you are going with have been in bussiness a long time. You will probably stalk and leave Elephants a couple of times in an effort to get you accustomed to being around Elephants. I think that it does'nt matter how many times you have been around Elephants, they demand caution and respect. You can also use these opportunities to check on your shot placement, I dont't mean shoot , just imagine taking the shot whilst you have your rifle on the Elephant. This is all providing that the first Elephant you see is not shootable.

I'd have a good breakfast as you don't know how long you'll be on the track, your ph will probably pack some snacks just in case. Serious Elephant hunting is a whole day, every day deal, so being in reasonable shape with emphasis on walking is imporortant.

Taxidermy options beside the tusks are the
ears, feet, tail, trunk and belly skin.
The trunk can be skinned out and many hunters hang them on the wall. The belly skin makes for good leather and any one of the following items can be made from it, boots, briefcase, handbags, jacket or vest and guncases.

I hope that what I've said will help some. Good luck and have a great hunt.

Vaughan

See more on elephant hunting:
big game hunting
esp.:
shot placement

BTW: "Have the skinner in camp make the bracelets for you." That is the only authentic way to wear genuine bracelets.
Stools from the ele feet - some don�t like it.

Terry,

I forgot about Norbert's web page. It has a lot of good info. If you want, email me and I'll send you some sketches that shows how to brain an elephant.

Will

Terry,

Does Russ Broom have a tuskless cow hunt in this area?

Is it practical to book a tuskless cow and a buffalo on the same ten day hunt?

Andy

Andy,

I have an outfitter in Zim who will do a buff -elephant cow combo hunt for you at the following:

10 days 1X1 @ $595 per day
Buffalo bull @ $3000
Cow elephant @ $5000

The hunt is on communal land and the cow elephant will not be exportable.

Thanks everyone for all your advice.

BPBB,

My wife is going with me. She has been familiarizing herself with the .416 in order to, in her words, "clean up the mess in case you screw it up."

BigB,

I will contact you as soon as I find out who is our PH and what camp we are hunting from.

Andy,

I don't know about the tuskless cow, you might want to contact Keith Atcheson and see if he has any more of these 10 day buffalo and elephant specials. It is so cheap, $16,000 all inclusive, that you might forget about the cow and go for a bull elephant.

I don't see a problem with getting elephant and buffalo in a 10 day hunt, as long as you are not also trying to hunt plains game (I have added bushbuck, just because I don't have one, and won't spend any time on it until I get the elephant and buffalo). Given that most elephant in this area are in the 40-50 pound class, if you try and hold out for a 60+ pounder, you may not get your elephant in 10 days. If your elephant trophy expectations are in the 40-50 pound range, then 10 days should be enough.

Thanks again.

Regards,

Terry

[ 02-28-2003, 23:41: Message edited by: T.Carr ]

Good day,
This is going to sound stupid but some of you talked about elephant hair bracelets, what is elephant hair supposed to look like?
I ask because I bought one for a guy in Krugger but when I looked at it closely it looks like plastic??? I guess I didn't get burnt too badly if it's plastic because it only cost me about $10.00 Canadian.
Mike

Mikehjd,
It looks a LOT like plastic. If you want to check, heat up a needle until it's red hot and touch it to the hair. If it's plastic, it will melt, if it's hair (as it probably is), it will burn a bit.

sounds like your going to have a good time and i hope you do

now all you have to do is wait

T.Carr
I hope you get a 100 pounder and come back to
regale us with a story that keeps us on the
edge of our computer desks.
Jeff

Anyone, can I infer from the above discussions that different hunting techniques would be used for tuskless or cow elephants since you are not pursuing a trophy bull but now are hunting in a herd situation. Do you have to be as conditioned? Also, does your choice of caliber or rifle ( bolt vs. double )change, assuming you have choices??

Just interested for the future. pmm

Terry,

Lots of good advice here. From my own experience of having hunted this area twice for cow and bull elephant I can certainly advise that a good deal off walking may be in order. Or as Saeed says you may get lucky and get one with less effort. Elephant hunting is the greatest big game hunt there is IMO. I like quik energy foods like chocolate ...sweets etc... and lots of water. Use the solids ONLY on elephant and carry lots of rounds on your belt. I'll be talking to you more on this and try to leave a good bull for me and my wife Niki. We are going with Russ on the 14 day hunt in August. This hunt is all inclusive of everything as well but includes leopard and four more days for $20000. A few month ago I wrote about my Bull Elephant hunt in which I hunt where your going in March for 10 days. It was a very difficult hunt because of heat and heavy foliage. Got one on the last day. If I can find that story I'll provide a link if I can figure it out. Cut and paste I suppose.....................?

Broom usually has a few tuskless ele hunts. I'm waiting to hear from him on this. As far as different methods on Bulls versus Cows I'd use the same weapon. That being the biggest gun you own and a min. of .375. Cows are way more dangerous to hunt than bulls in most cases and can be very exciting. The last time I did this I remember shooting a cow and then running like hell as the whole herd came looking for us.

I know of one operator that is offering tuskless hunts at $500 per day for 7 - 10 days with the trophy fee at $2000 and will also allow cow buff at $900. I think 7 days is probably enough but longer is better.

Keith,

For the 20K do you get the elephant and leopard trophy fee, daily rate, charter air aand dip and pack.

BigB

T. Carr,

In '94 I shot an elephant the first hour of the first day of my first safari up in that area were you are going to hunt. No it wasn't a trophy. It was a game management situation to put down a previously wounded bull. Hell of way to start off my African hunting though.

Anyway we saw lots of elephant every day there and as others have said they weren't all that friendly.

Glad to see you are going to look for a bushbuck in that area. I saw one that the previous client to us had shot and it was an honest 19" plus. Good buffalo and kudu there also.

Let the camp guys make your bracelets. There just not the same if someone stateside makes them.

Since I'm going for elephant myself in '04 I have discussed with my taxidermist what elephant parts to bring back. It is his opinion that unless money is no object that you should leave the bulk of the skin in Africa. It literally can cost thousands to bring back. If you do want to bring the skin back I believe that the best way is to have it tanned in Africa. Also I understand they do a better job. The trunk makes lovely gun cases.

Good Luck

BigB,

Yes that is correct but apparentely these were 03 only specials that came to be just days ago due to some changes in Broom's booking scedule. I think some foreign hunters had some weak deposits paid and walked away, and in an effort to fill the spaces at such a late date, Russ opted to fill the gaps and get something rather than nothing. Zim needs our business.

My wife and I hunted Russ' camps for elephant in Binga area in 98. Lots od elephant and the odd large one coming out of the park. Shot mine with a 375, went just behind the front onside shoulder and broke the off shoulder. Bull didnt go far before he fell down and was dead when we got to him. Things got very scarry after that first shot as the five other bulls ran in all directions and werent very happy. You will most likely walk alot with some glassing in the Machesu hills if you hunt Kabuba. Our PH said that Wally Johnson tols him that a elephant shot through the shoulder is always recovered but head shots sometimes get away. I shot mine in the shoulder because i didnt relish paying the trophy fee for one that ran back into the park or being held liable for a wounded elephant that kills some of the locals. I must say the head shots are way cool for photos. Have your tracker knot your bracelets as the will mean more to you and will cost only a ten or so.

Keith,

Thanks for the update, Gavin did call me but I turned him down without asking prices. Would have been tough to go this year. But one hell of a deal.

Thanks

BigB