I will be hunting Livingstone Eland later this year and was wondering what length, etc is considered a good trophy for that eland?

Blair,

I suggest you forget the measuring tape. Go and enjoy your hunt. YOU are the only one who should decide what constitutes a good hunt and hopefully a great trophy.

For me, I would rather have an old animal that shows character any day, rather than pure measurement size.

Saeed,

Agree virtually 100%. I was just wondering what size Livingstones were being taken lately.

My PH was quoting mature bulls in the 36"-38" range, which I thought was pretty good and wondered what was being taken elsewhere?

Imo, the darker blue the body is the better for a trophy Eland.
I'm still after a worn down tipped old Blue Bull.

Yep, colour, ruff, dewlap all part of the consideration as to what is a trophy.

Friend of mine that shoots at Silverdale has one that colour, Adam. He passed on numerous, bigger horned bulls for the deeper colour.

A lot of bulls with long horns are younger animals - the horns wear down over time.

- mike

In 2005 my outfitter wouldn't let me shoot a big old blue warrior he was full livingstone. He wanted me to shoot a youngers with longer horns on his own ranch.

This constitues an outstanding trophy for Livingstone eland.

Dave

quote:

Originally posted by David Hulme:
This constitues an outstanding trophy for Livingstone eland.

Dave

He is a bloody beaut, Dave.

Congratulations on a fine animal.

eland bulls as they age loose alot of their brown color and the skin turns a shade of blue (like davids picture, it is an outstanding animal) also their horns wear down and become shorter and thicker. Thus a blue bull with say 34" horns is a better trophy than is a 38" young bull. The real trophy part is the hunt. Eland are wary, hide is thick cover, and run forever. when i shot mine, the PH at the time was a lover of eland and insisted that we walk one down. It took 15 days to find the right one. the memory of that hunt is more trophy than the mounted head ever could be.

Saeed nailed it. I never evenm easured mine until my taxidermist told me and he wasn't very long. Old bull with worn tips, nice "blue jean" look and a big red carrot top. jorge

Davids bull is indeed a nice old blue bull. The pictures below give an idea of how the younger bulls differ in colour.

Younger than Dave's bull.



39.75" typical of the the description butchloc gives.



Youngest of these three.



These Eland were taken for meat but it was a pleasant bonus to have the horns on the middle one.

Saeed gave great advice. I have never shot an eland, and only been to africa once (so far anyway). Do some local hunting in upstate NY.

I think we could all just learn to enjoy the actual experience and not worry about trophy "level" or "quality" Yes, if you bag a big one all the better, but the memories are what make the hunt most memorable, especially if you do it with good friends, the kids, or whomever.

IMHO.

Blair,

If your safari operator can find you an old bull that is still in the 36"-38" category you indeed will have a great trophy. The bull I shot in Zim this year is a perfect example of full maturity with long horns that had just started to wear down at 39". That bull would have meant just as much to me if he was shorter horned but had the maturity.

Mark

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
Blair,

I suggest you forget the measuring tape. Go and enjoy your hunt. YOU are the only one who should decide what constitutes a good hunt and hopefully a great trophy.

For me, I would rather have an old animal that shows character any day, rather than pure measurement size.

This a man who obviously and truly enjoys hunting!

I share your philosophy on the subject.

Tape hunters can at times be a bit annoying to me. I hunt for the total experience of the hunt. The place, the sights, the sounds, the smells, the culture, the hardships, the humor. Making a kill is secondary and a fine trophy is one that I've worked for and hunted the right way. Whatever that may be.

BTW awesome looking beats these eland are! I have one on my most wanted list, maybe soon...

I've been very lucky with eland. The first one is a great old blue bull taken in Namibia with Vaughan Fulton; the next could be the best trophy I will ever take. He measured 40.5" and saved me lots of money, because I doubt I go after a Lord Derby after taking this guy.

Yes - old, shaggy faced and blue bodied is the way to go. The bull in that photo David Hulme posted is just about perfect, IMHO.

I have hunted eland and had more than one immature or young bull in my sights. We always passed and I have not yet killed one despite many days of trying.

I have a bit of an obssession with eland that stems from never really having hunted them as my primary quarry. We've always considered them targets of opportunity and they have always given us the slip. Now, as a result of missing out a few times, I really want one!

We've seen and then spooked big, shaggy faced bull eland in two different African nations and then watched them run until out of sight in that steady, hoof clicking, pacing gait of theirs that covers more ground than a race horse on amphetamines.

Of course, we then walked miles after them through thickets, thorns, across rivers, over mountainous koppies, through gullies, across dry river beds where the sand sucks your boots down and it takes two trackers to pull you out, constantly and without let up for hours and hours until we've drunk all of our water, we're drenched with sweat and my bum left knee is about to explode.

And every time so far I've come up empty handed, only to have to walk all the way back to the truck before dark carrying a twenty pound rifle that only weighed ten when all of this started . . .

Bottom line is that horn length is secondary, IMHO. It's funny how often the traditional or official "measure" of a trophy animal bears no relation to what's really important.

I envy you Blair. Good luck!

Great description of the the hunt and what is important to the hunter, MR.

quote:

Originally posted by Lhook7:
I've been very lucky with eland. The first one is a great old blue bull taken in Namibia with Vaughan Fulton; the next could be the best trophy I will ever take. He measured 40.5" and saved me lots of money, because I doubt I go after a Lord Derby after taking this guy.

Lhook7,

You have been lucky mate!!

I can see why you arn't interested in a LD......that second bull is a veritable freak

quote:

Originally posted by MARK H. YOUNG:
Blair,

If your safari operator can find you an old bull that is still in the 36"-38" category you indeed will have a great trophy. The bull I shot in Zim this year is a perfect example of full maturity with long horns that had just started to wear down at 39". That bull would have meant just as much to me if he was shorter horned but had the maturity.

Mark

Mark,

Once again thanks for some pragmatic advice!

After the hunt in Nam' this year a friend and I are interested in hunting Moz. You have good concessions there I believe?

quote:

Originally posted by Gerard:
Davids bull is indeed a nice old blue bull. The pictures below give an idea of how the younger bulls differ in colour.

Younger than Dave's bull.



39.75" typical of the the description butchloc gives.



Youngest of these three.



These Eland were taken for meat but it was a pleasant bonus to have the horns on the middle one.

Gerard,

Thanks for the pics of three bulls; that gives me more to work with.

Without a doubt my best stalk was for the eland in Zimbabwe. I worked hard for it for a couple of hours and then the old boy walked to within 20 yards of us. The longest horn was 40". He was simply a magnificent animal; the size was incredible.

quote:

Originally posted by PSmith:
Without a doubt my best stalk was for the eland in Zimbabwe. I worked hard for it for a couple of hours and then the old boy walked to within 20 yards of us. The longest horn was 40". He was simply a magnificent animal; the size was incredible.

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That bull has it ALL

Thanks for posting it up, mate.

Thanks Blair.

While we were stalking him, as I was crawling on my hands and knees for what seemed forever, I was thinking that it was the greatest hunt I'd ever been on. Long story but as I waited for him to come out from behind a bush at over 200 yards, he instead reversed course and disappeared. About a half hour later as we tried to out flank the herd a cow walked up within 10 yards of us; right behind her was that bull and I shot him at 20 yards. He looked like a big blue billboard in the scope. He was absolutely magnificent in the height of the rut. He is the first and last eland I will ever shoot.