If one wanted the experience of elephant hunting on somewhat of a budget is cow elephant hunting possible and importation of their ivory into the US permissable? Is this dependable on CITES permits with individual African countries?
Thanks so much. I've just now considering an elephant hunt.

About the only cow ele hunting you will find is in Zimbabwe, and that is for tuskless cows, so forget about ivory. However, your outfitter can get you a cites tag for importing the hide. Since no American tannery is equipped to tan ele hide, get it tanned in Zim. You can also have it made into gun cases in Zim, or you can have the hide shipped home and built into 50 pairs of hunting boots, or a fine sofa.

500 Grains. Is it the same quota involved in trophy bulls? Have you ever had a hide from a cow tanned and shipped back, and how complecated was it?

As to having elephant leather tanned in the US, Specialty Leather Processors did a good job for me. They stuck to their quoted price and got it done on the time line they promised. The quality seems good to me but I haven't had anything made from it yet. (Meanwhile, my wife got a hold of it and has it draped around the house.)

They also said they could tan the feet for me but I haven't sent them yet.

Kyler

Kyler, what were the shipping costs of an untanned hide?

Bwana,

I had gun cases made from an ele hide and the outfiter got the cites tag and sent me the cases. I also had ele hide boots imported and the boot maker got the cites tag. In both cases I did not have to do a thing.

There are some tusked cows available on quota in Zimbabwe on some of the communal lands. I've taken four in the past three years but they were non-trophy and non-exportable. In the last year, I did see one advert for a exportable tusked cow in Zim but I don't remember the details.

465H&H

i've just had the whole hide tanned in zim for a friend who was willing to part with $2520 for the tanning. shipping is yet to come

Zimbabwe has a CITES approved export quota of 400 elephant. AQpplication has been made for an increase to 500.

Tags are allocated to bulls as a priority. Only if there are left over tags will any be issued for cow elephants.

Several communal lands and one safari area (Doma) get quotas for tusked cows as part of the management plan for the area. - for instance Doma has 12 on quota. One to be shot each month in the forest on the top of the escarpment to keep the eles out as much as possible. (whether the incumbent operator sticks to this is a different story...but that was the plan)

Ganayna, what is the ususal per square foot charge for tanning ele hide in Zim? - if you know.

Ganyana,
Thank you. Will keep this on the burner.

Bwanna - Haven't a clue!

Email taxient@mweb.co.zw for a quote. They do all the ele hide tanning for Courteney boots as well as their own clients - do a good job.

quote:

Originally posted by Bwanna:
Ganayna, what is the ususal per square foot charge for tanning ele hide in Zim? - if you know.

Their website said US$10 per sqaure foot for elephant hide as far as I recall.