Model29-26.5
Well-known member
Yes. That’s what I’m doing here.
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An issue… help me out with this. Elephant hunting?
- Thread starter Model29-26.5
- Start date
Yes. That’s what I’m doing here.
As others have mentioned, hunting offers recreational activity, puts food on the table and generates money for conservation and habitat acquisition/improvement. It's also the best way to scientifically manage wildlife populations.
Kensington is a large metro park here in SE Michigan. Because hunting isn't allowed, deer flocked to the area and the population skyrocketed. They basically ate all the forage they could reach and many were malnourished. Car deer accidents were also a big issue. Because of anti-hunting sentiment, the metro park authority paid professional "sharpshooters" to thin the herd. They could have generated a lot of cash by offering limited hunting opportunities for residents, but they chose to spend money instead.
Kensington is a large metro park here in SE Michigan. Because hunting isn't allowed, deer flocked to the area and the population skyrocketed. They basically ate all the forage they could reach and many were malnourished. Car deer accidents were also a big issue. Because of anti-hunting sentiment, the metro park authority paid professional "sharpshooters" to thin the herd. They could have generated a lot of cash by offering limited hunting opportunities for residents, but they chose to spend money instead.
The fools have done the same thing here in Indiana. It’s obvious to me our various levels of government have far too much money and far too little respect for the taxpayer. The regulation of wildlife and hunting should be left to those who actually understand it and can act without political strings attached, but that must be an impossible goal.
How do you count wild elephants? You count the legs and divide by four. 
Dad joke from the 1950's; probably from before then too, but I'm not.
Elephants are the only animals with four forward facing knees.
Dad joke from the 1950's; probably from before then too, but I'm not.Elephants are the only animals with four forward facing knees.
Elephant hunts cost between $30,000 and $65,000 depending on the length of the hunt and the size of the trophy. Nothing is wasted on trophy hunts, and most hunters of that class also make donations of other items to local communities. I personally have no interest in such a hunt, but am ok with those who do as it helps protect the resource.
Pisgah
Well-known member
Simple answer -- if there were no elephant sport hunters, there would be no elephants. It is the fees they pay to hunt that finance all of the elephant-conservation efforts. Otherwise, they'd have long since been shot out by ivory and bushmeat hunters.
Germany has recently proposed bans on the import of hunting trophies.
The President of Botswana, which is about the size of Texas, offered to send 20,000 spare wild elephants they had roaming around to Germany so they could match their caring words with action. So far, no takers.
Of the approximately 450,000 elephants currently living in Africa, Botswana has approximately 132,000.
Back in the 80's and 90's I hunted Botswana many times and the elephant damage to trees looked like a major forest fire. Especially the Chobe National park, hundreds of acres of dead blackened trees.
Ivan the Butcher
Well-known member
If you live in any farming community, you understand that varmints eat and damage the crops. The African Elephant does a real number on not only row crops but also tree farms. People have taken over a huge amount of the habitat and now it has become Us vs. Them. I would prefer to have more elephants than more people, but not my neighborhood!
Ivan
PS: I still have a elephant rifle in case The need arises. Westly Richards double in 450 3 1/4" Nitro Epress. None dared to invade my Ohio farm!
Ivan
PS: I still have a elephant rifle in case The need arises. Westly Richards double in 450 3 1/4" Nitro Epress. None dared to invade my Ohio farm!
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It's a bit ironic, but license fees and hunting fees were the answer in some countries for funding and implementing the conservation programs to save big game animals.
It seems there are generally more hunters willing to pony up the cash than there are wildlife lovers' donations...
It seems there are generally more hunters willing to pony up the cash than there are wildlife lovers' donations...
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A lot of dialog here that is truly spot on.... 
So, I'm curious - who has gone to Africa on Plains game or Dangerous game hunt ??
If you have not, you are missing a tremendous experience. It can be spendy but not as much as you would think.
Just curious.....
So, I'm curious - who has gone to Africa on Plains game or Dangerous game hunt ??
If you have not, you are missing a tremendous experience. It can be spendy but not as much as you would think.
Just curious.....
A lot of dialog here that is truly spot on....
So, I'm curious - who has gone to Africa on Plains game or Dangerous game hunt ??
If you have not, you are missing a tremendous experience. It can be spendy but not as much as you would think.
Just curious.....
I was a regular working guy; a mailman. Back in the pre-2008 economy, my retirement fund was gaining ground at a satisfying rate and I decided to take out a chunk to go on an African hunt. A once-in-a-lifetime kind of thing for me.
A buddy had just been on one that was surprisingly affordable. It sounded like he went afield each day equipped with a price list of game fees and when they saw various game, he would look up the price and decide whether or not he wanted to shoot. Interesting.
I started researching hunts and countries and went ahead and bought a 9.3 x 62 rifle.
The 2008 crash made me scratch the idea. I still have the rifle, just in case I win the lottery.
A lot of dialog here that is truly spot on....
So, I'm curious - who has gone to Africa on Plains game or Dangerous game hunt ??
If you have not, you are missing a tremendous experience. It can be spendy but not as much as you would think.
Just curious.....
I did a plains game hunt a few years ago. great experience. Planning another for 2026.
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I have not. But I once read a magazine article about one and the pictures are still in my head. They traveled across plains by train. Stopping to hunt. They hunted upland birds and various plains game. Then an outdoor meal complete with white table clothes and professional chefs. Then you’d board your travel car which looked very comfortable and headed for next stop. That’s a trip I could probably talk my wife into. Fine dining, sight seeing and I get to hunt .
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What country was your plains game hunt?
We did ours in 1996 in South Africa, up north of JoBerg at a ranch called Mafegini (sp?) Safari Lodge. It has about 700 hectares (approv 1730 acres) and a lot of animals.....
Good times....
My brother has done 2 safaris, one for plains game and one for cape buffalo. Hearing his experiences with the very long flights, the many insects, immense heat and overall discomfort kinda took the desire away from me. Being a softie I have always preferred a room at the Marriott to a tent.
An older friend of mine went on several hunts over the years and had a grand time.When she died her son was saddened (and his girlfriend laughed) when he learned she had been borrowing against her house to finance them and only had $40k in equity left lol. Lydia was one of a kind [emoji38]
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A lot of dialog here that is truly spot on....
So, I'm curious - who has gone to Africa on Plains game or Dangerous game hunt ??
If you have not, you are missing a tremendous experience. It can be spendy but not as much as you would think.
Just curious.....
From 1983 until about 15 years ago I did 36 African hunts, all included dangerous game although every hunt was not successful,I will not take an animal unless its a quality trophy. I have taken 5 elephants over the years but 2 were in self defense, I had no choice. Dozens of cape buffalo, 3 leopard, 1 lion. All were properly hunted in non fenced concessions, I despise fenced hunts (shoots). We walked and tracked and in a lot of cases with elephant, and avoiding rhino ran like hell. I hunted Tanzania, Zambia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique.
I owned a safari booking company for over 30 years. I was involved in culling operations in mid 1980's, not hunting but control shooting to reduce population.
Africa is an unbelievable experience, like a late friend told me its like having sex for the first time not quite sure what happened but a unquenchable desire to do it again.
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That's an impressive resume, thanks for sharing......
Only two trips for me, the plains game hunt mentioned above was in 1996, followed by a Tanzania dangerous game hunt in 2000, out in the Selous.
Very interesting country, lots of natural geography, lots of game (and tse-tse flies..
).Shot two cape buffalo there and a handful of plains game, even got to cull some Zebras as the head man in the camp was starting to shut down for the season, interesting- he was one of the trackers in the movie "In the blood".
.............SmithNut
