in the lake kariba area of zim, what would be a guess at the length of say 50lb ivory?

surely someone here has shot an elephant in this part of the world?

I saw a pair of tusks from Zim just today that weighed 20 kg x 22 kg. However, I did not bother to put a tape on them. Nonetheless, my guess is that they measured 4 feet or just under 4 ft. from base to tip in a straight line (not across the curvature). Can't say how close that elephant might have lived to Kariba.

new_guy, On average you would be looking at 3-4 feet for a 50lb ele in this area as they are usually shorter and thicker. Sometimes though you can get one that is a little longer, but expect 3-4 foot on average.

I shot a 36 lb bull this year above Kariba. We could see the Lake from one area. Looking at a pic of me and the tusks shows the tusks with bases on the ground. The tips come to my belt level (37 inches) for one and a few inches above my belt for the other. They have a lot of curve to them so I estimate that they are a little ovewr 4 ft long. It seems that the bulls in this area and at Charisa are somewhat longer then other areas. I did see an old one tusked bull with only about 20 inches showing but very thick. That tusk weighed 62 lbs. when shot by another hunter. Seems that age, tusk thickness at the lip and amount of curve affect length. I suspect a 50 lb bull tusk length could vary from 2 ft to 5 or more ft depending on the above. Perhaps Ganyana can supply better info as I believe they have weighed and measured a huge number of tusks.

quote:

Originally posted by new_guy:
in the lake kariba area of zim, what would be a guess at the length of say 50lb ivory?

new _guy

Estimate the circumference of the tusk where it exits the lip in inches - ususlly around 20 inches .
Multiply this figure with the lngth of the tusk from the lip to the point . A protruding length of afound 2,5 feet will give you a figure of 50 lbs . If you then subtract 7% of the 50 lbs , you will end up with 46.5 lbls . This formula will have you within 3 lbs of the weight .

Brad

This bull was shot last year about 2 hours drive from L. Kariba with Russ Broom Safaris. The tusks weighed 57x60, measured a bit over 4 feet out of the gum (a little over 2 more feet were in the skull) and had a circumference of about 18 inches at the gum line.
Hope that helps,
Kyler

quote:

little over 2 more feet were in the skull) and had a circumference of about 18 inches at the gum line.
Hope that helps,
Kyler

yes, it does.

thanks,