How (un-)common are tuskless elephant bulls? I have read of them but very rarely. Can one be shot on a tuskless cow hunt? Are they more common (relatively) in some areas than others? Just had me wondering...

I have seen one in the company with five other bulls. He was very large in body size and located in the Binga area of Zim.

quote:

Originally posted by joester:
How (un-)common are tuskless elephant bulls? I have read of them but very rarely. Can one be shot on a tuskless cow hunt? Are they more common (relatively) in some areas than others? Just had me wondering...

Very uncommon. Yes, I understand that a tuskless bull is fair game when "tuskless" is on quota. Not sure about whether there are areas where they are more common.

Tuskless bulls in India are more common in Assam & virtually unknown in the south. They are called "Makhna".

They are much bigger in size and are more aggressive.

Uncommon, but fair game on a "tuskless" hunt. One had supposedly been seen in Dande when I was there last October. We chased a group of bulls one day thinking it might have been with them but we never caught up to the group. If we had caught them, and the tuskless bull was present, I was informed he was fair game.

Saw one once on the Zambia side of the Zambezi while hunting out of Chewore North. I got some video of him, but nothing compelling.

In 2011 while hunting tuskless in Chifuti South, I had one in the boundary riverbed. Unfortunately our game ranger wanted a bribe to allow me to shoot him in the riverbed. Generally shooting game on/in the natural boundary between two areas is allowed. However, Neither PH Len Taylor nor I play the bribe game. So we watched until the three bulls winded us and took off at high speed. They crossed back into our area, but it was by then coming on dusk and we could not locate them.

They are rare and I really wanted to take him, but africa won again.

I took one in Chete a few years ago. Only one I have ever seen in over 2,000 elephants.

465H&H

I saw one this past May in a park in Namibia called Nambwa. It's along the Chobe river. Spent a day there sight seeing after taking my elephant bull with Karl Stumpfe.

I took one in August in Dande South. Of the PHs in camp they had seen about 5 of them in all their combined years (probably 75 years hunting).

From the posts above, it sounds like there might be a (relative) concentration in that Dande/Chewore area.

My first ele bull was a tuskless bull commonly called "bigfoot" in Dande East. Buzz, etc. know of him. I shot him on a trophy and cow elephant (in 2005 Zim changed the law from no cows and gave me a tuskless tag as well as a trophy tag). If someone can help me post I will send you a photo. Skull is at a well known PH's house and in his opinion one of the biggest skulls he has seen. I was also almost on one in Dande South in 2009 while hunting lion but we did not see him. Maybe that one was the one TrademarkTexan managed to get.

saw several in zambia

Over the years I can only recall our company taking 2 tuskless bulls ,we just copleted 2 managment hunts in Rifa both bulls we shot had tusks on one side and where tuskless on the other side .

I shot one in Makuti in 2011, large body and tall.
Regards
Stu

This will probably be my next hunt in Zimbabwe. Talked about it at SCI show with Chifuti and the guy (sorry escapes me at the moment) who lost his arm due to a ND by a client. Awesome guy my wife really liked him and want to give it a go. With Buffalo. Heard it was "exciting" hunt

Be like looking for a needle in haystack. Have at it.

Agree with Mike on that,I would be very surprised if anyone would book you on a tuskless bull hunt?

A tuskless hunt , and if you see one then go for it yes , but a specific tuskless bull hunt I think not.

Cheers

Nick

I meant tuskless COW. Sorry

I'v only seen 3 or 4. Very rare and should never be the goal of a tuskless hunter. Kind of like looking for a grizzly with a drop tine!

quote:

Originally posted by Dave Fulson:
I'v only seen 3 or 4. Very rare and should never be the goal of a tuskless hunter. Kind of like looking for a grizzly with a drop tine!