I have been watching Buzz Charlton DVD and have started to read Will's book. I have not been to Africa yet and had no idea Elephant could be hunted for the prices i have seen on AR. What are your thought's on someone hunting tuskless cow Elephant on there first trip to Africa?? Could plains game be hunted on the same hunt?? Cheers James

Yes, it can, but normally the areas with tuskless cow elephant on quota, do not have large quotas of PG. Also, choice might be limited. You would most likely be allowed to hunt impala, maybe bushbuck, kudu and zebra. Contact me on karl@huntingsafaris.net if you are interested in such a hunt.

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Originally posted by TOP_PREDATOR:
I have been watching Buzz Charlton DVD and have started to read Will's book. I have not been to Africa yet and had no idea Elephant could be hunted for the prices i have seen on AR. What are your thought's on someone hunting tuskless cow Elephant on there first trip to Africa?? Could plains game be hunted on the same hunt?? Cheers James

By all means hunt the elephant, if there is some plains game so be it. Get that "cheap" elephant while you can and don't look back. A cow ain't a bull, but they can be very "testy" up close. I started on els in '72 and haven't got enough of it yet, but am about too old!

Watch Buzz´s chapter on hunting tuskless cows. It is the most dangerous hunt and I doubt, that it is a recommendation for the first hunt in africa. I would go for less dangerous animals and gathering some experience on hunting DG.

i took a elephant bull on my first safarie in fact it was my first african animal.....so hey why not..... my moto is go big or go home.

and as soon as my damn rifle comes in im gonna book a hunt for at least 2-3 tuskless cow elephant and a few buffalo.

My first African hunt was for tuskless cow ele and cape buffalo.

Can you legally import skins or other parts of tuskless cows to the US from Zim?

No, they are not within the CITIES quota. Only photos and memory go home with you, but its enough!

JPK

quote:

Originally posted by TOP_PREDATOR:
What are your thought's on someone hunting tuskless cow Elephant on there first trip to Africa?? Could plains game be hunted on the same hunt?? Cheers James

James

I would go for it if you have the urge. My own opinion is we are seeing tuskless cow elephants at prices that are very low and in a year or two may disappear. Then we will be saying, "why didn't I hunt then, or hunt more when I had the chance!" Too late.

As discussed that is why I am heading over this year for one, hopefully two elephant.

If it lasts, good for the future, but "strike while the iron is hot."

As for plains game, the area I am hunting seems to have low quotas, or perhaps they are reserved for the outfitter actually owning the concession. Being a campfire area I suspect poaching is an issue too. The outfitter I talked to does a very good deal, with a few days at a game ranch for plains game hunting. No charters they drive you to Omay and then to the ranch, back to Bulawayo.

I would have loved to hunt elephant on my first African trip.

Good to see you enjoyed the DVD and are enjoying Will's book.

Cow ele may not be on the cites list, but I imported a couple of gun cases made from my first cow ele, cites permit and all, although someone else handled all that so I really have no idea how it works.

In '96 I was blessed with the chance to do a "problem elephant" hunt in Namibia and got to whack an old bull. But it was the cow with him that charged within 15 yards and made things a bit dicey!

If you have the chance to do an elephant hunt of any fashion, then do so. It's money very well spent. If all you can do is take a lot of photos...then so be it. You can always say you've been amongst them and was there when one dropped!

Remember this; haven't seen a funeral hearse yet towing a U-Haul trailer. Nor a funeral smock that had pockets!

As a fellow kiwi that did a tuskless last year it's highly recommended - you'll never want to hunt plains game again, however. I'm still not sure that buff isn't more fun tho. Charlie, Akl.

500 Grains,

Your post will have me trying again to import enough for a gun case or two, or maybe a finished guncase or two. My efforts failed completely last year.

JPK

I agree with Nitrox. I see the days of hunting cows being numbered.

I also had 4 panels of a tuskless cow tanned in Zim and shipped home with no problems. Like 500 Gr.s, the PH took care of all that, all I had to decide was how much to tan and in what color.

I had custom made cowboy boots done up for myself, my bro, my two sons, and an amigo from a tuskless I shot way back in '89 in the Chete .. They are gorgeous and rather hard to wear out ..