A real elephant hunt with the company I represent in Botswana will run you $50,000 to $75,000, but you will kill a real big bull...Two last year went near 100, several in the 80, more in the 70s and a few at 65 or so...I book for Johan Calitz and I believe him to be among the best...

In Tanzania an elephant hunt on a 21 day safari runs about $36,000 plus trophy fees...Bulls there run 40 to perhaps 65 lbs. with an ocassional big boy at maybe 75 or 80 lbs..We have been seeing a 80 pounder, Judge Gilbert saw him with two 50 or 60 pounders year before last, and we saw him this year...I heard someone shot a big bull in that area, maybe it was him....

Tanzania elephants have very long thin tusks and a 65 pounder may have 7 ft. tusks..they are normally smaller in body size also...but I like those long thin tusks, they display well....

Cow elephant hunts in Zim and RSA run $9000 to $15000 as a rule..

When I say this, I mean the whole hunt, getting ivory imported into the US, etc. Eveyrthing but tips and airfare. I am saving for a Marc Polo hunt, but elephants are creeping in my thoughts more and more. Don't see putting one before a Marco, but but it could happen. I would appreciate any experiences here.

Also, I am pretty flexible, so what is possible with elephant cancellation hunts?

Marc
I know less than nothing about ele' hunting.But I do know
I would sheep hunt way before I went for ele's.
But that's JMO.

Merry Christmas

Marc,
assuming you researched the best Marco polo opportunities
Where does one go. I thought we couldn't import that sheep into the Us of A?

thanks for sharing your insights

There are a whole lot of variables, such as where, when, how, with or without export licences and with which PH.

Our Elephant hunts range in price from around US$13000 including the trophy fee on the Elephant in Mozambique to around US$45000 including the trophy fee on a big tusker in Botswana. Tanzania is slightly less but has a lower success rate.

You would possibly get a slightly cheaper hunt in Zim, but we don't operate there, but I'm sure one of the agents who post here will give you Zim prices........if you were content with a cow you would also make a saving......but we don't hunt cows.

None of the prices I've quoted include airfare or shipping your trophies home etc. Also the prices are from memory, but you'll find exact details on my website.

Email sent

Kyler

it si no problem importing the argalis. USDA had a ruling on this last Summer and did not cancel the import program. THis was the right move, as they are enjoying very healthy poplulations in almost every area. This is not just for the poli, but all argalis. There are still countries where US citizens are not supposed to go, so you can't import anything from there. But in general, you can impoert argalis if you have th eproper permits.

As for where I would go, I would only go to Kazakstahn. DOn't want to go into all of the reasons here, but you know it is really a Marco in Kazakstahn.

I will all likelyhood go after the Marco Polo first when I get that much play money saved. Thought about going iin '05, but I have a set of self-imposed rules on how I allocate money for my hunts, and I need to stick to that plan. So I will just wait another year or so. People always ask me why I spend so much on one sheep and live under very rough conditions when I could go to Africa and shoot over a dozen animals and live in ease and relative no physical effort for the same price. No offense meant to any one here, but I always tell them I know a lot of old fat men who go to Africa and kill everything they go after. But I have never seen an old fat man on top of a sheep or goat mountain. I'll likely stay in th eAlpine while I am relatively young

Hi Marc,
I have to differ with you. You can be asured it is NOT a Marco Polo in Kazakhstan! Kyrgyzstan has Marco Polo and Karelini. You can be assured in Tadjekistan you have a Marco Polo.
Jim

I'd have to side with Jim. Tajikistan, Afganistan, China, Pakistan and (perhaps) Kirghistan is where you find Poli Poli. The further north you get in that area, the more questionable it gets whether the populations are true Poli. But hey who cares?? Great sheep in any event.

- mike

Good catch jahaney! I meant Tajikistan. Too much Dimmeral and too little sleep makes both the computer screen and my brain a little fuzzy this morning. Personally, the Kyrgystan sheep are too "grey" at times for me. That's why I personally would only hunt Tajik argalis. I guess it would take some serious DNA studies to truely be sure which argali you have, but you are safe in Tajikistan

The least expensive elephant hunt would probably be a late season hunt in Zimbabwe. The safari companies buy a certain number of elephant licenses each year. Many years they do not sell them all. If your time is flexible, you can contact them in about Sept or Oct and see where they stand. Most years they will have an unbooked hunt that they will sell very cheap just to get something for their purchase, rather than let it slip away for nothing. The downside is that you have to be flexible with the timing of your hunt, you'll be going at the end of the season when it is hot, and you likely will not be going to one of their best concessions that offer the biggest bulls. But if you want a fun hunt with the least cost, this is the way to go.

one of the most reasonable ele hunts I can think of is a spring crop raider hunt in zim. I believe these are running at 10-12000 at the moment. Withe the right outfitter you stand a pretty good chance of a fair sized bull, but they do sell these off early.