Operator - Mokore Safaris
Area - Save Valley Conservancy
PH - Doug Duckworth
Hunter - Mark
Date - 2017




A knock on the roof, I knew the trackers had spotted something, stopping the car I hopped out and we back tracked a little ways up the road. It was indeed a fine looking track with deep fissures running through it. I started my usual routine of putting my feet toe to heel in the track, two feet and an inch to spare. The heel of the track was smooth and not just a few inches at the back but a good enough portion to get me really excited. It was fresh too, over the animal traffic from the night. I walked back to the car and gave Mark the nod, we geared up and set off on the track, we had followed this pattern for the last 10 days covering some serious ground and seeing parts of Africa that would only be viewed whilst hunting. What I mean by this is on Photographic outings, guides usually follow their favorite routes which look great but the way to see an area properly is to hunt it! Following the animals will take you to places people wouldn’t go otherwise and you will see some fantastic things. Back to the hunt, we were on the track and moving at speed, it was in the soft sand which was child's play for Solomon (My Head Tracker) up ahead I spotted some dung, bright green and warm we were not far behind this bull. We settled back on the track ears straining for any sound that might give him away, we were still flying on the track with a few signs of the bull stopping briefly to feed, I gave another squeeze to the ash bottle and the wind was constant, coming from my left. I knew this would change as the day heated up but for now this was perfect. Coming to a small water hole in the Mopane which was still brimming, reminiscent of the good rains we had this year. The bull had a good time with mud it was literally everywhere, what excited me though was that everything was still very wet, with mud still dripping off the surrounding trees, this was not that long ago, a few minutes at the most! We pressed on at pace, a pace that only ELEPHANT hunting warrants. Was that a stick breaking! I give a low pitched whistle and the group freezes, all of our ears straining, CRACK, the sound is coming from up ahead. I press forward with Mark and there he is. Though I have seen this time and time again, how a 6 tonne + animal blends in and disappears is unreal. The bull lifts his head and snaps off a human size branch with ease, this does not go unnoticed by us but its the ivory he has just displayed which really intrigued us, easily in the 50-60lbs range. I whisper to Mark that we should get closer as I want to make sure the second tusk Is just as impressive. We close the gap till we are thirty yards from the bull not yet shooting distance but close enough for me to get a look at the second tusk. The bull raises his head again, there is no second tusk! I tell Mark expecting to see the disappointment in his eyes. Its not there. We go through a few shot placement angles with the bull and then back out. The bull never knew we were there. A couple of hundred meters away I turn to Mark and shrug apologetically, he’s smiling, I ask what is it he says that was just Fantastic, one of the greatest experiences of my life and hunting at its very best, the best part, we get to do it again on the next track we follow.




After covering many miles everyday on Mokore Safaris area in the Save Valley Conservancy, Mark eventually shot a great bull, we looked at 50+ Bulls in the process turning Mark into an avid Elephant hunter… The bull in question we followed it till late in the afternoon, and through a herd of close on a hundred cows which had our adrenalin peaking. At 20 yards Mark shot his Elephant, it dropped without taking a step dead before it fell. All our hard work rewarded and Mark showed the due respect to this fine animal and the experience it rewarded us with through the entire hunt. There is nothing quite like Elephant hunting, and the countless hunting books written about this by some of the greatest hunters that have lived is testament to this. The meat from this bull which was over 3 tonnes (Of meat alone) was processed and then transported by Mokore Safaris to the local school where it was distributed to the community. Mark had his hunted filmed by Double D’ Productions and I have had feedback from him saying that been able to show people on the video where the meat was going has changed a few minds for the better!!!




This is just a short snippet from a Elephant hunt last year, by reading this you may suspect that I love Elephant and love Elephant hunting wether it be Tuskless cow or a trophy bull there is just something about these great animals. All the pressure that is being put on Elephant hunting saddens me as the facts don’t seem to matter. Im sure everyone has seen these before but ill add a few of them on here and give a insight as to how an Elephant hunted is utilized by Zimbabwe and Mokore Safaris.






FACTS

Zimbabwes Elephant population stands around 83000 animals this is up from 5000 animals in 1900, it is 20% higher than it was when FWS made there enhancement findings in 1997 and is the second largest Elephant population in the world. Zimbabwe’s Elephant population is larger than Western and Central Africa combined. Southern Africas population stands around 293,477 animals



Hunting offtakes are a fraction of a percent, between 2010-2013 hunting accounted for 0.2% of the population. most of this is old bulls that are past breeding age.




Elephant habitat in Zimbabwes National Parks cover an area of roughly 27000 km2, hunting areas (Elephant Habitat) cover three times this size, the majority of this is wholly funded by hunting revenues. These areas are often so remote that they are not practical or favored by photographic tourists. Therefor as is the case in Africa if it wasn’t for the revenues that hunting brought in, these area would be turned to livestock or an alternative revenue source!




Poaching in Zimbabwe has generally been kept under control so as not to have a national effect. Hunting operators are largely responsible for this as big portion of there revenues are funneled into Anti poaching efforts. For example Mokore Safaris employs over 50 fully equipped anti poaching personnel, 3 vehicles dedicated to Anti Poaching and support funding for the Zimbabwe National Parks personnel, along with a dozen hidden costs that are part and parcel of anti poaching, all these have created effective anti poaching units. These costs are significantly North of US$100000/year ….this is wholly funded from hunting.






Regulated hunting incentivizes greater tolerance amongst rural communities who live side by Side with the wildlife and benefit from the food and funding that trophy hunting provides. Dangerous animals namely Elephant that destroy the local crops (Approx 7000 Hectares between 2010 - 2015 and claiming the lives of 50 people). Hunting provided $2.2 million prior to FWS suspension of Elephant imports. These funds were channeled into the community projects from boreholes and classrooms to clinics and food. It is estimated that approximately 800 000 families benefited directly and indirectly from these revenues.




Zimbabwe's National Elephant management plan is the most up to date in Africa.







———————————————————-
All Facts are from reputable sources,
IUCN African elephant Specialist Group status report 2016.
ZPWMA
CAMPFIRE Association of Zimbabwe Press Statement
Mokore Safaris

Thanks for sharing


Morten

Awesome report.

I agree, there is nothing like hunting elephant. What is the percent increase of the population each year, 3 to 5 % ? The .2% taken by hunters won't even dent the population growth. This is the info we have to get out to the non-hunting public. You can't change the radicals, but there is a large number of people out there that we have to present the FACTS to and educate them.

I couldn't agree more Bama15, the radicals are unteachable, the facts may interest the rest!! -In Elephant populations where there are more than 50% of the Elephant aged 11 or more (11 being first reproductive years) the growth rate can theoretically be as high as 7%. 3-5% is more realistic though. Meaning in a place like Zimbabwe where there is chronic Elephant overpopulation in some areas. we could expect another 2500+ Elephant by the end of the year!!

Great piece of prose. Very informative and some good photography. A pleasure to read.

Is the second for last picture the big bodied bull we saw ? He looks familiar.

Good stuff.

Mike

Lovely pics...elephant hunting is the pinnacle of hunting IMHO..

quote:

Originally posted by Pondoro:
Lovely pics...elephant hunting is the pinnacle of hunting IMHO..

So Pondoro ( Andrë ),

when are we establishing the Norwegian Elephant Hunters and offer our services to the Zim Government to reduce the numbers of elephants ? We could ask Richard Harland to be our mentor ?

I am sure we could get 5-10 Hunters to join the party !


Morten

I am in..! Please contact NORAD ASAP for financial support..

P.S - The elephant overpopulation is even bigger in Botswana..have double rifle..will travel..

Great stuff Doug. Glad I got to be a part of that. Enjoyed hunting with you and getting up close and personal on a number of 35-45lb bulls.

Hear hear Doug!

Doesn't the U.S. have a ban on importing elephant parts from Zimbabwe and wasn't it just announced by Trump that it will be kept in place?

Has that reduced the number of U.S. sport hunters coming to Zimbabwe for elephant?

Those that come, what do they do with their elephants? Is the ivory salable by the outfitter to lower the cost of the hunt?

Have Zimbabwe outfitters lowered their prices to attract U.S. hunters?

Very well written report. Thanks for posting

Honest look at what elephant hunting really means to the populations in Zimbabwe. Thanks for sharing!

Thanks for all you and your family do.

quote:

Originally posted by postoak:
Doesn't the U.S. have a ban on importing elephant parts from Zimbabwe and wasn't it just announced by Trump that it will be kept in place?

Has that reduced the number of U.S. sport hunters coming to Zimbabwe for elephant?

Those that come, what do they do with their elephants? Is the ivory salable by the outfitter to lower the cost of the hunt?

Have Zimbabwe outfitters lowered their prices to attract U.S. hunters?

You are correct, ivory from Zimbabwe is not importable into the States

Yes it has reduced the number of Elephant Hunters to Zimbabwe which in turn has put massive strain on the anti poaching efforts of 70% of the elephant territory. If you look at the trend in African countries the ban on hunting is followed by massive decline in animal populations... let’s hope this is reversed soon as it will be the one of saddest, “We told you so’s”!!

Ivory is not sellable to lower the cost of the hunt!

The price of Elephant hunting has indeed lowered!


— thanks for the great feedback everyone

Impressive !