Hunt Dates: July 8-18, 2014
Travel Agent: STALKER (Moscow)\ Yuri Morozov
Country: Zimbabwe
Outfitter: Zambezi Hunters
PH: Pete Creighton
Area: Arda, Mahenye
Gun: Mauser M03 375 H&H, Unknown rifle 416 Rigby

My plan was to hunt good buffalo and a tuskless if I have a chance. I must say that I did not take buffalo, nor tuskless. But the story is still interesting.

I invited my father to this safari. He is 63 and he is not a hunter at all, but he is interested in photo. I thought it will be interesting for him to see wild Africa.

So, after fantastic flight by Emirates business class and quick charter flight to the camp we finally got to the Arda camp.









Every day we saw 2-3 herds. The problem was unusual: to many buffaloes We started chasing dagga boys, after couple hours they joined herd, that herd joined another herd and finally we could not find our dagga. Almost every day the same situation.







One day we left big herd before lunch and returned after lunch. Suddenly we almost stepped on lions herd which were looking at the same buffaloes. We shited, lions shited, buffaloes shited, all the bush in the shit

After long 5th day of hunt we chased herd with couple of good buffaloes. Few times we pushed them. Finally we stayed looking at each other in 70 meters. I choose very nice bull with beautiful solid and wide horns. I quickly mounted rifle on sticks, aimed and shoot.

But I made one big mistake: I tuned my 1.7-10x42 Swarovski scope on 10 power. So I had little field of view and did not see movement of herd in last moment. My shot was at the same time with little movement of my buff. I only hit meat on his neck.

The herd in few minutes to shot


On the next day we tried to find him. But the same problem happened: wounded bull come into huge herd and we lost him.

During those days we saw a lot of elephants. I don't know why but we were not allowed to hunt tuskless in Arda camp. For tuskless we should move to Mahenye camp. Actually it was bad surprise to me. What if I shot buffalo in 10th or 11 day? In that case we would not have any time to hunt in another camp. But daily rate was for buff and tuskless. And I booked buff+tuskless hunt in 2013. Piece of bad management. Now I know that I should fix it in the contract: one camp for all games, unless we agreed another.

Anyway, we got to Mahenye camp. Perfect dislocation for elephant hunter. I take words from Zambezi Hunters internet site:
"Mahenye is the original CAMPFIRE area in Zimbabwe and the community have been involved in the hunting industry for more than 30 years. The Save River forms its western and southern boundary of which 25km is a shared boundary with Gonarezhou National Park.
There are estimated to be more than 6000 elephant in the Gonarezhou National Park which is 5,500km2 in size. The elephant population has produced some extremely large tuskers in the recent past including Dhulamithi (‘taller than trees’) and Kambakwe, both well over 100lb.
The Park is also part of the Gazaland Transfrontier Park which includes Kruger National Park in South Africa and Limpopo National Park in Mozambique. This creates a contiguous wildlife area of over 40,000km2 and is one of the biggest conservation projects in Africa.
The Mahenye concession provides an opportunity to hunt from this large elephant population and for elephant hunters to try for an exceptional trophy bull."

And I had a very good proposal from Zambezi Hunters: because of US ban of zim ivory I had a chance to take a trophy ele bull only for trophy fee.

I told to Pete that I would like to have 50+ trophy.

The tactics was: in the morning trying to find herds with tusless in the depth of territory, in the evening on the riverside trying to catch trophy bull which came from conservancy.

On the second day of hunt we saw fresh tracks and followed herd. After few hours we caught eles. There were two tuskless in the herd. We prepared to take one but suddenly we saw a very good tusker! I said "Pete, I like him!"





There were about dozen of females with babies that's why we were afraid to get closer for brain shot. I decided to shoot in the heart. 400 grain solid from Norma pierced elephant like a butter. Cows started running around, tusker started running around too, I continued shooting, Pete started shooting, even game scout fired few times in the air A little war in the bush

Pete made perfect shot at the spinal from behind and I finished that hunt at the head.






That's how a fantastic combination of luck, mistakes, bad luck, preparation and something else become a fantastic surprise trophy. Actually I was going to hunt trophy ele in 2018-2019, but this year Christmas comes early



Few words about my father.


He stayed with us during all hunt except couple of days which he spent in the very beautiful photo lounge not far from Mahenye camp.



In his 63 he is strong enough to stalk buffs or ele 8-10 hours.



I proud of him! And he told me: I don't like hunt, but now I understand your passion.

There are few hundreds photos from my father, but they are not transfered in usual format. May be I show they later.


Sorry for my bad language

By the way, after Zimbabwe, hunt in Tanzania looks like road hunting

Congrats to you and your Dad on your Safari!

Thanks for posting.

No worries about "your bad language" your English is better than a majority of folks here in the states.

Nice bull! By the way, your father at 63 is YOUNG.

This is great hunt report!! One of the best in a while. Thanks for posting and i am happy you had such an event filled hunt!

That is a very nice Bull.

Nice bull! And I agree, 63 is not old! Especially as I get closer to it.

EXCELLENT hunt report and thanks for taking the time to share it!!!

Hunting with your father has got to be the BEST!!!

In my eyes this bull has a lot of character...absolutely beautiful!!!
Congratulations

A great looking bull, I love the stained and broken tusks. Congrats!

Well done on a magnificent elephant. Too bad on the buff. Bet you are glad you moved to Mahenye hey!! Pete is a fun guy to share a camp with and a good hunter too. Kudos to your father for keeping up.

Fantastic old bull and more than makes up for the wounded buff.

Thank you, gentlemen!

quote:

Originally posted by Thierry Labat:
Bet you are glad you moved to Mahenye hey!!

Oh yeah. That movement - one of the most disappointing and one of the luckiest thing of my life!

Congratulations.Nice big ele bull there! That place Gonarezhou is written about in some of the hunting books. It is a famous place for ele.Any idea of what those tusks weigh? I can understand the buff incident.

quote:

Originally posted by Fjold:
Nice bull! And I agree, 63 is not old! Especially as I get closer to it.

Congrats on a great hunt...thanks for sharing the photos and report...at 63 your father is clearly not an old man.............

Congratulations. Great report. Thanks for posting.

quote:

I told to Pete that I would like to have 50+ trophy.

Done with about 25 lbs to spare, I'd say.

Unless that is a very deceiving photo or a world record nerve, I'd say that big tusk is 70 plus, and might push 80.

Thank you, friends!

quote:

Originally posted by shootaway:
Any idea of what those tusks weigh?

quote:

Originally posted by safari-lawyer:
Done with about 25 lbs to spare, I'd say.

Unless that is a very deceiving photo or a world record nerve, I'd say that big tusk is 70 plus, and might push 80.

As I remember, the bis tusk is 72 inches long and 16 inches circle behind lip. There was some kind of council including Thierry Labat, Buzz Charlton and other PHs. The average opinion was 75 pounds. But... nonofficial measurement in Harare is 58 pounds. It is strange, because so many PHs were sure about 70+ But anyway I love this bull and those ivory

Most expensive men's jewelry



Bracelets from ele's feet.

If I ever shoot a bull ele I will get a metal ele hair bracelet and wear it all the time-they are too cool!

quote:

Originally posted by shootaway:
If I ever shoot a bull ele I will get a metal ele hair bracelet and wear it all the time-they are too cool!

Hair bracelets are cool, but they are removable. You can buy it in a duty free shop Bracelet from ele's feet not removable. The only way to get it - hunt elephant and make it while it fresh

quote:

Originally posted by safari-lawyer:
[QUOTE]

Unless that is a very deceiving photo or a world record nerve

SCI's newest category in waiting?

How to make bracelet from ele's feet:















After you get bracelet on your hand it becomes smaller and harder. During 3-5 days it will be completely hard and not removable.

That would make a great souvenir object for the trophy room Roman, but I doubt I would want to wear that all year round.Rich Tabor,my 2010 PH wears a metal ele bracelet.IMO,it is the thought that counts-fashion and real life too! Like I said I would like to wear one on my wrist.Up until now I did not want to wear anything on my wrist but times change and I think an ele bracelet would do the trick!

quote:

Originally posted by Roman BGH:
Thank you, friends!

quote:

Originally posted by shootaway:
Any idea of what those tusks weigh?

quote:

Originally posted by safari-lawyer:
Done with about 25 lbs to spare, I'd say.

Unless that is a very deceiving photo or a world record nerve, I'd say that big tusk is 70 plus, and might push 80.

As I remember, the bis tusk is 72 inches long and 16 inches circle behind lip. There was some kind of council including Thierry Labat, Buzz Charlton and other PHs. The average opinion was 75 pounds. But... nonofficial measurement in Harare is 58 pounds. It is strange, because so many PHs were sure about 70+ But anyway I love this bull and those ivory

Having shot a fair number of bulls in Zim, I would ignore the official weight. In my experience, they are pretty far off.

Congrats on the bull.

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:

quote:

Originally posted by Roman BGH:
Thank you, friends!

quote:

Originally posted by shootaway:
Any idea of what those tusks weigh?

quote:

Originally posted by safari-lawyer:
Done with about 25 lbs to spare, I'd say.

Unless that is a very deceiving photo or a world record nerve, I'd say that big tusk is 70 plus, and might push 80.

As I remember, the bis tusk is 72 inches long and 16 inches circle behind lip. There was some kind of council including Thierry Labat, Buzz Charlton and other PHs. The average opinion was 75 pounds. But... nonofficial measurement in Harare is 58 pounds. It is strange, because so many PHs were sure about 70+ But anyway I love this bull and those ivory

Having shot a fair number of bulls in Zim, I would ignore the official weight. In my experience, they are pretty far off.

Congrats on the bull.

Stunning tusks no matter what the weigh. My limited experience (3 elephants) along with the PH's I hunted with tell me it's all about how thick the tusk is.

Why would the official weights be off? Mine were weighed on a beam scale and stamped. I have weighed them on local US scales and the stamped numbers match.

No ground shrinkage there and the last photos show just how old the ivory is.

I must applaud all those who are still hunting trophy bulls considering the export restrictions and proves that the hunt is more important than the physical trophy.

Fantastic Bull , congratulations. Sharing it with your Father is awesome. That Bull sure looks bigger than 58 pounds.

Congrats to you and Pete on a beautiful tusker.

Thank you, gentlemen!

Enjoyed your report. Peter is a funny guy and is a blast to hunt with. I hunted non-trophy elephant with him last year and had a blast. Nice tusks, don't be concerned about the weight, the are OUTSTANDING!