Recognizing all the issues with TZ right now and the unknowns I leave for a 21 day Selous hunt on August 10th. I am planning to proceed and assume all of this gets sorted out beforehand. Question is when I was looking for information on the hunting report I noticed that the US F&W has not yet completed the surveys of TZ and thus no CITES are available. I was under the impression that there was no CITES required for Elephant in TZ. Can someone that knows more about this comment please?

Thanks,

Larry

CITES export and, for US hunters, import permits from USFWS, are required for elephant in Tanzania. It is up to the hunter to obtain the import permit from USFWS. This year for whatever reason they seem to be behind schedule.

Thanks, I know what I need now. I still assume that CITES can be obtained after harvest but before export from TZ. Is this still the same or must I have CITES before hunt and harvest. Of course, it might be foolish to shoot first and then find out CITES are not available. Any advice and guidance is appreciated.

Thanks,

Larry

If I were you, I would apply now and get the ball rolling. At least you will be in line for one when they are ready to issue them.

You can kill your elephant without a permit. You just can't import the trophy until you get one.

Larry,

I think Mike is correct and you should get things started now. My taxidermist says an after the fact application can get complicated. Perhaps a call directly to US,F&W to confirm the steps you need to take would be appropriate.

Good luck,

Mark

Thanks MRLexma and Mark. I will proceed to get application started. Do you happen to know website, etc. that will connect me for application?

Thanks again,

Larry

Go here and click on the application for "African Elephant." There is a fact sheet there as well.

Note: I am just supplying the link as I have not gone through the process -- good luck with your hunt.

The Tanzania Game Department requires you to have permit in hand before placing Elephant on your license. They want a copy of it.

That said, I have had them do it without the permit. If your operator has a good relationship with the game department, they will allow it.

But, on the other hand, the game dept has been acting a bit strange lately.

Wendell is correct! Apply now it is safer...

Larry,

I spoke with Tom Hardesty of Atcheson Taxidermy this AM. He said that as The Hunitng Report stated there are no elephant CITES being issued at this time for Tanzania so your application may be rejected. Also for after the fact applications you will need a copy of your hunitng license and a letter from your PH confirming you hunted, where etc. US,F&W may voluntarily give you the specific language that needs to be on the application and in the letter but if they don't you'll need to ask as the language needs to be specific.

Mark

quote:

Originally posted by Charles_Helm:
Go here and click on the application for "African Elephant." There is a fact sheet there as well.

Charles, that fact sheet is very helpful, thanks for the link.

Thanks for input and especially Mark and Charles. The real question is the chicken or the egg here. I leave on August 10 and the elephant is really an opportunity animal on this hunt as it was for Retreiver. You just never know. I will only shoot a good bull as I have killed a couple already. That being said, do I apply now, possibly get a rejection due to lag in overall Tanzania, or do I wait. Seems I should apply now and even if rejected, did it in good faith. Do you guys agree?

Also, I hope all of the negative news on fees, etc. clears up before I leave.

Thanks,

Larry

You will not get your permity by August 10, even if they were issuing permits.

You must count on them putting Elephant on license without the permit.

Permits should be issued by the USF&W once they review the sensus provided by Tanzania.

You are rolling the dice to shoot an Elephant based on an assumption that USF&W will issue the permit later.

If it were me, I would just shoot the Elephant and roll the dice. But, you should understand and contemplate the risk.