I am a weak man. And obviously easily impressionable... I have for some time now been brainwashed by the likes of Norbert, Will, Bill C, 500grains, JudgeG and others who have convinced me that a tuskless cow ele is necessary to achieve total, and complete happiness as a hunter, and a Zen like state of mind! So I blame my plan to go to Zim this year on them!

Actually, I have wanted to hunt elephant for many years, and even bought Ron Thompsons book, Mahohboh, back in 1998 although I knew it would be some years until I got the chance to hunt them. 2 hunting trips to africa (one in 1998, the next in 2000), and a year long drive thru africa convinced me even more that I wanted ele on the menu. I'm lucky enough to have a wife that even wants me to shoot elephant (she isn't very fond of them after quite a few close encounters...).

So this July I will meet Buzz Charlton in Harare, and drive up to Chewore North for a tuskless cow ele hunt. My plan is to arrive in Zim a week before, and most likely rent a car so I can see some sights I missed in Zim in the past. Political problems permitting of course.

My wife is now insanely jealous, since she loves travelling and hunting in africa too, but she has to stay at home with the baby. Luckily, her jealousy is overcome by her joy for me doing something I've wanted to do for a long time! I guess I'm blessed in the wife department!

For those who might want to know, I'll be using my Mag. Mauser in 375H&H. It's what I've got, and thus is what I'll be using (even though I know something larger can be of an advantage).

Any tips or advice are always appreciated!

Erik, I'm exited for you. Best of luck, have a fun and safe trip. And tell your wife, she is a swell lass!
- mike

quote:

Originally posted by ErikD:
My wife is now insanely jealous, since she loves travelling and hunting in africa too, but she has to stay at home with the baby.

Hey cool, getting to hunt elephant while wifee looks after the baby.

För fan i våld, Erik. I always figured that my hunting days will be crowned some day with a buffalo hunt, but this forum has the effect you describe, so my thoughts are wandering off to Africa and golden joys; the joy of wandering through lonely lands; the joy of hunting the mighty and terrible lords of the wilderness, the cunning, the wary, and the grim. As T. Roosevelt did put it. My best wishes.

Boha

quote:

Originally posted by NitroX:

quote:

Originally posted by ErikD:
My wife is now insanely jealous, since she loves travelling and hunting in africa too, but she has to stay at home with the baby.

Hey cool, getting to hunt elephant while wifee looks after the baby.

I could pretend, and say that she is well disciplined. But the truth is that I'm just as pussywhipped as the next guy! Well, almost, but not quite!

You will have a great hunt. Cow elephants are the most exciting hunt you can get. I can tell you now you will want to shoot at least two.
Study Thompsons book and use a good solid. Do a brain shot from up close. Practice working the bolt with the rifle at your shoulder.
Good luck on a great hunt.

Congratulations! You will really like the wilderness of Chewore.

How close would you like to be to the elephant before shooting?

quote:

Originally posted by 500grains:
How close would you like to be to the elephant before shooting?

500grains,

As close as possible. Or rather, as close as I will dare, which is hard to know while I'm sitting up here in the cold north! I'm planning on most likely using open sights.


NE450no2,

Thank you for your input. if there are any other things you might think is a good idea for me to know, please feel free to tell me.

How close have you gentlemen preferred to be when shooting tuskless cows? Although I am presuming that what one prefers, isn't always possible in reality.

Erik - That's great! It sounds like you will be sandwiched between me and Will. What dates are you hunting?

If you are going to be in Harare on the 23rd we'll probably cross paths. Let me know if you have any specific questions and I'll be happy to try to answer them.

Chewore is great, and you'll enjoy hunting with Buzz. The .375 w/a good solid will be fine, especially July on, just work on "the angles" as you will likely be taking a frontal brain shot. All the prep, practice and visualization comes down to a few seconds where anything can happen.

I was a bit "jumpy" in the beginning, as it just did not seem possible that one could get so close to a feeding herd of ele without them knowing you were there. We walked up on quite a few ele so that when it was time to shoot it seemed natural. Mine were shot at an honest 10 and 12-yards.

Buzz likes to get his animal on the ground, but don't worry if you go 5 or 6 days before pulling the trigger. I shot mine on days 7 and 8 of an 8 day hunt, and I would have missed a lot had I whacked them the first day or so.

It has been said that you really learn about an animal when you track it, and it is true. Subtle things, over time, allow you to start to get into their heads. Much more fun being a "student of the game" then just being along for the ride. And with Buzz and his trackers, you'll feel like you are involved at all times. And he's not one of these guys that will be barking in your ear all the time, or telling you to "shoot shoot".

The tuskless numbers are getting fewer, so you may have to work for them, which I'm sure you'll be ready for. Save the easy ones for the resident Pro, Will, he's earned his stripes already

Erik I too am booked for my first Ele. with Buzz for may 1, and ironically my wife is home with my new babies twins! I have been working real hard around the house to try and make it up to her. She is real understanding to let me go,but I always say she knew what she was getting into from our first date some 28 years ago. she was waitng for me at my apartment talking to my roomate and I walked in carrying 3 dead squirrels and proceeded to clean them in the kitchen before we went on our first date. Not exactlly what she was expecting from a nice jewish boy from NY.
I wish you best of luck on your hunt and I will contact you when I get back and before you leave on your trip..Dangerous Dave

You will darn sure have a great time with those cow els and Buzz, I know I sure did. I like ivory, but I have enough of it, I think at the moment at least.
I never used the .375 on els, but its got nearly a century of use on them.

ErikD
Does your rifle have iron sights? I shot my first ele cow at 6 yards, frontal brain, and my second at 12 yards side brain.
The closer the better for me. That is the fun and excitement.
Stalking into a herd of cows is very exciting.
I also recommend you have your hunt videoed. That was the best money I spent.
Study Thompsons book.

quote:

Originally posted by Bill C:
It sounds like you will be sandwiched between me and Will.

That sounds kind of kinky Bill!

We will drive up to Chewore on the 1st of July, and drive back down on the 9th. As I mentioned, I plan to arrive a bit earliy to see some other stuff in Zim, and it is likely that we might meet when you are in Harare. That would be nice.

DD,

It's good to hear that other wives are understanding too! I try to pay special attention to my wife everyday. And it seems to work, since I get to do what I want! I look forward to hearing about your hunt in May.

Africanhunter,

The 375 isn't optimal, but as you said, it's worked for a long time, and it's what I have!

NE450nr2,

My rifle has Express sights. And at 10-15 meters I'm guessing they will be good enough to use. I can see the reasoning behind a scope when the bush is denser, but I'm hoping that iron sights will be more than satisfactory in the beginning of july. I can take a scope, but I kind of have an itch to use the express sights. But maybe (having not shot an ele yet!) I'm thinking wrong, and a low powered scope would be better?

quote:

Originally posted by N E 450 No2:
I shot my first ele cow at 6 yards...

At 6 yards I don't think you even need sights. Nor does it matter if your double is regulated or not!

There is nothing wromg with having a scope for your 375 in QD mounts. Then you can have it both ways. I prefer iron sights for elephants since you will probably be fairly close.

500 Grains,
As you well know you must hit them in the right place, and at 6 yards it is a good thing to hit them right the first time.

quote:

That sounds kind of kinky Bill!

Errr...maybe we won't run into eachother...or maybe you should bring your wife afterall!

Edit: Just kiddin Erik Myles has an excellent following too, and Buzz says he's every bit the elephant hunter that he is. Where Buzz is "spontaneous", Myles is more detail oriented. I'll be right next door in Sapi, and am looking fwd to meeting Myles, so perhaps we'll meet up in the bush. PM sent...

quote:

Originally posted by Bill C:

quote:

That sounds kind of kinky Bill!

Errr...maybe we won't run into eachother...or maybe you should bring your wife afterall!

Actually, due to the flightplans it looks like we unfortunatly won't be meeting in Harare.

My flight arrives on the 25th of june. And the departure flight is now set at the 10th of July, so it'll be a fun couple of weeks. I'll try to leave Will an ele too, if he behaves nicely in the upcoming months!

The PH will be Myles on this trip, as Buzz is booked during those dates. I have heard very positive things about Myles, so I'm sure we'll have a good time.

quote:

I'll try to leave Will an ele too, if he behaves nicely in the upcoming months!

Leave him a grumpy old bull.

Sounds great, ErikD! I do envy your upcomming hunt. I also I have a girlfriend with great understanding of my NEED to hunt Africa. She actually can`t wait to my latest trophies arrive..
What`s the price for such a hunt? Good luck!

That's great Erik, congratulations. You are going to have a blast hunting with Buzz. I know I did last year on my first elephant hunt with him in the Dande. Morgan and Creighton's tracking skills have to be seen to be believed and old Crispin is quite a character! He has a fantastic team and hunts out of excellent camps. Good Hunting!