The Elephant Hunt

We found out from some locals about elephant bulls that were frequenting the crops areas about 1-1/2 hours from our camp. We spent one day looking unsuccessfully. We found much elephant sign and then encouraged the bushmen to do a little advance scouting for us before we arrive the following day. Upon arrival Fixon and Michael claimed the found the bulls nearby. We crossed the river and walked about a mile when we engaged three elephant bulls. The grass they were in was 10 - 12 feet tall. We stalked closely off and on for the next 3-1/2 hours. Through several observations with good optics we determined two were shootable with 3 foot of ivory from the lip (35 - 40 lbs.) with one better than the other. The team included Lou Hallamore (PH), Alfred and Clemence (Trackers), Mike Forzley (buffalo killer), Makrone (game scout), Phillip (apprentice PH with a video camera), Fixon and Michael (local bushmen), and yours truly. We could hear them in the tall grass most of the time as we were always within 100 yards. We were within 20 - 30 yards on several occasions, but could not see the bulls. We could see the tops of the grass shake as they fed. Several times our trackers would climb 30 -40 feet into a tree to check out the size and direction of the bulls. We had a possible chance when we caught them in an opening at about 35 yards. Lou gave me the ok for a side brain shot to the bigger guy, just when they disappeared. We were around 2 hours into the chase at that point. This entire time we were within a kilometer of our starting point. At one point we were face to face with the third non-target at about 20 yards visible thru a small isle of the grass. We were able to back out quickly. They knew we were around obviously. Finally, the elephant were on the edge of the grass and quite visible on the elevated river bank and we slid down the sand to the mostly dry river and hoped to sneak behind and under them and get a shot up from the sand. They went back into the grass about 25 to 30 yards. We climbed back up the bank (not easy) and were between the bulls and the river bank. We had two, somewhat visible on our left at 15 yards and another ahead and right closer, but obscured by the grass. The wind was good. Alfred our lead tracker went forward by himself 3 or 4 yards to get a look as Lou (PH) was wondering if he should pull us back and out of the situation. Alfred motioned us forward urgently, as he saw the one on the right was our guy. Lou and I went up to ten yards and the bull raised his head up over the top of the grass looking at us. His body was mostly hidden, his ears were spread, trunk down out of the way, perfect. Frontal brain shot at 10 yards and he went straight down and fell where he stood with only a rear leg moving slightly. As he fell he made a clearing of grass we were able to stand in as we moved up and I put 3 more anchor shots in him at 3 yards. Lou said in 28 years of hunting, it was the best and most dangerous elephant hunt he had experienced. If I was not carrying my 470 double we would not have been there. A bolt gun would not do according to Lou and he would have left much earlier. We were feeling quite high at the moment. It was 5:00 pm so we got a few pictures, cut the tail, and left, with a full elephant recovery, tribal style, in the morning. When we arrived at 7:00 there were 100-150 people waiting patiently in the river with another 100 showing up as things went on. It was a happy time for them, with expectations of a big hunk of meat, as food is a little short at the moment. I observed people in this area digging ad catching for mice for food (picture included).

I am now spoiled, as most seasoned elephant hunters do not have this type of ultimate experience under their belts. Along with watching Mike hunt and kill three cape buffalo in four days along with his Big 3 (Kudu, baboon, warthog), the leopard, and being with my buddy Lou this turned out to be quite a trip. I have now hunted lion 88 days on various hunts and have not been able to get a male to step up to the plate. So next time...