I am scheduled to leave for the Deka area, in Zim. on October 27th for 15 days. Has anyone hunted there? My PH said that late Oct. was a good time for elephant as they will be heading out of Hwange in search of water. We are booked for bull elephant and a buff. I did a search but there wasn't too much in terms of first hand experiances. Any information that someone might be able to share would be appreciated. Thanks!

the period seems good, in this season the area is very dry, but they need to pump water in the hunting area

I just came back from Deka in April and shot a 50 pound aside bull. Incredible concession for elephant and buff. If you would like more info email me at pjwolf@telusplnet.net

Everybody says Deka is a top ele concession, with a chance of a really big bull if the weather is right. And the price is pretty good as well.

Willie,

I'll be there from Sept. 22 to October 8. If you PM or email me after I get back, I'll let you know how it was.

Don't plan on coming back without 75 lb., no 80 lb., tusks!

This is what HHK's web site had to say:

"The quality of elephant hunting in Deka is largely dependent on the time of year the area is hunted, it can also be affected by the rainy season. If the season has been normal to dry, as in most years, then the elephant hunting becomes very good towards the end of the dry season in September/October. The reason being that the big bulls are drawn out of Hwange National Park and Botswana when the natural water dries up during the dry season. They then move into Dekawhere there is an abundance of springs and rivers and a regular water supply all year.

Early in the year, immediately after the rains can also be a very effective time to hunt as the big bulls also concentrate in Deka as they crop raid into the communal lands along the eastern boundary of the region. Bulls in excess of 60 pounds a side are regularly taken and the average size bull is between 45 and 50 pounds a side."

quote:

Don't plan on coming back without 75 lb., no 80 lb., tusks!

Now you've gone and revealed my cunning plan: I'll extend my trip indefinitely by shooting only 79 pounders!

Who are you hunting with. I hunted Deka in March this year. There had been so much rain, and it rained on us quite a bit that there was not much movement out of the park. No crop raiding was going on.
I did manage to shoot a 46 pounder with very pretty ivory, frontal brain at a little under 6 yards. I liked the area real well. I am going back in Oct this year.

I am hunting with Pete Barnard. I hunted with him in Chewore N. in April of 2005.