Been dreaming of hunting elephantsince a very small boy and now looks like I may get to do it. Need as much info as possible on options. What countries have hunts with exportable ivory?
What are the price ranges and fees and how do I find a good PH for same? Any info will be appreciated.

If I were you, I'd spend more than a few hours using the search (or "find") function on this site.

Botswana and Mozambique probably are the best bets for heavy ivory (Mozambique ivory is non-exportable to the US). Tanzania produces some good bulls every year with long ivory that may not weigh as much as others, but looks really cool with the big upsweep. With the global economy, there were C.I.T.E.S elephants offered in Zim this year for $20.

I'm scheduled for two elephant hunts next year, both in Zimbabwe and neither exportable, but I find the joy more in the hunting than in stroking the ivory (which ain't bad, of course, but a p.a.c. bull cost about a fifth of what an exportable one will).

I think you can export from RSA, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Tanzania, Cameroon and probably a couple of more and you can dang well spend somewhere between $120K for a full bag safari in Tanzania to less than $10k for a cull elephant in Zimbabwe.

Different strokes, of course, but hunting elephants, be it for trophy or for the croc farm is about the best going IMHO.

I'd get Buzz Carlton's DVD on shot placement. It will give you something of an idea of what to expect.

There is a wealth of information here on AR, and I am sure you will get many replies and recommendations. I suggest that you go to the "Hunting Reports - Africa" forum, and spend a week or two reading the many member reports posted over the last few years. A link to mine are below in my signature.

A few questions which might help you narrow down your options... Perhaps the biggest question, what type of hunting experience are you interested in and capable of - the "classic" tracking hunt on foot, or spot/stalk with modest walking? Do you have any particular ivory size expectations? Are you looking to get close for a brain shot, or does it not matter? Is your budget somewhere between $20-$30K, or $30-40K, $40-50K, or unlimited? Or, are you not interested in the ivory/trophy, in which case looking for a non-export elephant (or perhaps multiple)?

I personally weight the experience more than the size of the tusks (within reason for the area), and look for an area where I can track several elephant a day on foot, then get close for a shot, with a PH who shares this passion and allows me to be an active member of the hunting party.

quote:

I think you can export from RSA, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Tanzania, Cameroon and probably a couple of more

I don't think Cameroon is open to Americans for exportation. So South African, Nambibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Tanzania if you are American. If you're from another country and there are no further ristrictions then add Mozambique, Zambia, and I believe CAR and Cameroon.

Brett

This might be of interest: http://www.shakariconnection.c...-shot-placement.html

There are some good bulls in the Caprivi that are exportable and prices are very reasonable if you shop around. I took a nice elephant with Fulton Classic Safaris although I decided to do the non-exportable in order to save money.

What are your expectations in terms of trophy and where do you want to hunt. Do you want a luxury lodge to stay in or a fly camp in the sticks.
There really is such a wide variety of experiences out there that you should try and explore as many of them as possible on the site before choosing your poison. Just search elephant hunting and you will get a lot of good info

If you are interested in hunting in SA on 25 000 hectares of Zululand Bush and would like to take a 55lbs a side bull then let me know. If you are looking for advice on hunting the Selous etc then speak to Steve Robinson (Shakari) and if you are wanting to hunt Moz then ask Bahati what he has on offer.

The same guys who have the 25000 ha concession here in SA opperate in Moz too and took a 96lb&90lb bull up there this season. One of them with a bow.

Good luck, but most importantly make sure you dont give your money to a crook. There is nothing wrong with asking out loud for references and you should be weary of people who have a bad reputation for whatever reason.