Tuskless Cow Hunt

Question. When in RSA recently we were talking about the most exciting, scary, adrenaline filled hunts in Africa. What fits the bill the most. I was surprised that my PH, cameraman, other hunters in camp, etc all said without a shadow of a doubt it was Tuskless Cow Elephant hunting. They said it was much more intense than leopard, or buff, etc. Just wanting thoughts from anyone that has been there done that. I had never really given much thought to a tuskless cow hunt but you never know after talking with those guys they all lit up when talking about it.

I mentioned on another thread that tuskless cow hunting is the most exciting thing I have ever tried. It can also be terrifying, and a lot of people never do it again, after the first time. If you want an addicting hunt, this is it. You will be in really close trying to identify a legal cow with no dependant calf, the rest of the herd is watching out for all the little ones, suddenly the wind changes and every trunk goes up in the air and then the trumpeting and screaming starts! Wow, if you haven't heard an elephant get really pissed at about 30 feet, you are missing something. When it gets serious, every eye and ear on the hunter and tracker is focused 360 degrees around you and you really feel alive! If the PH yells run, and everyone takes off across the wind, you better believe it is scary sh!t.

I saw 165 eles in the 10 days it took to kill mine, and 6 were tuskless. Saw another 45 after shooting mine in the course of hunting PG. One just flat got away and disappeared into Mana Pools park, the others had one and four year old calves. When I did get the opportunity it was tremendous. Creeping around buffalo herds trying to get in on cows was something else. We were so quiet and stealthy, we actually snuck up on a leopard sleeping in a dry riverbed!

The daily rate is normally the same or less as buffalo, and makes a good combo hunt in most areas. Just tuskless alone can usually be done a little cheaper and may even be available on a 7 or 10 day hunt. Trophy fee is low and affordable. The memory of the hunt is the real trophy anyway, and having a real elephant hair bracelet that your tracker made for you from your ele is really special. Take lots of pics, and video of the whole skinning and cutting up is something to behold later. Not one thing is wasted.

Greatest hunt in the world. Go for it!

Tuskless cow is a bit like buffalo hunting on steroids. It can be a true adrenaline rush. You spend a lot of time in close quarters with animals that don't like being messed with. After the shot, there is almost a guarantee of other pissed off cows looking to "sort out" the problem. Things get very exciting, very fast. It is not a hunt for the faint of heart.
Bill

Unique conversation piece on the wall. Not much of a trophy to most people, but those who have done it really can appreciate the effort that went into it. An elephant tail is a symbol most won't recognize. I have a beautiful 4-knot bracelet made by a very special tracker, and plenty more if needed!

For those who have not done it (yet) just know that once you've hunted elephants, you'll realize why so many consider them to be the ultimate hunt and game animal of all. I've never hunted tuskless cows, only a couple different bulls (I'm looking at their tusks as I type this) but I can say from experience that hunting around cow herds is a unique and incredibly exciting experience. You really don't know how fast you can run until you've been chased by a pissed off elephant. I've never had greater motivation to run like an olympic sprinter.

Blank, who did you hunt with and do they offer Buff as well? I think a Buff/Tuskless hunt would be quite the trip.

LAST EDITED ON Aug-14-11 AT 10:20PM (MST)[p]We hunted with Chifuti Safaris in the Chewore South area of the Zambezi Valley. Buff/tuskless is one of their most popular hunts, and runs 14 days. I shot my ele, buff, bushbuck, and impala. Had many more opportunities at other animals. Got run off my hyena bait by cheeky lionesses!

My hunting partner shot 2 bull buff, a really wide cow, bushbuck, waterbuck, impala, and baboon. Marked up and lost a hyena. He hunted 10 days and went to a fishing camp for tigers for 4 days also

I believe that either Len Taylor with Chifuti, or Buzz Charlton with C-M Safaris would be highly recommended for this type of hunt.

LAST EDITED ON Aug-16-11 AT 09:29AM (MST)[p]I will second that both Chifuti and CM Safaris are well regarded by many who frequent AR, for this type of hunt. The Zambezi Valley is definitely the hot spot for this type of safari. There are a few other operators who are well regarded and who can offer this type of hunt as well, Martin Pieters comes to mind as one who is well regarded in addition to those mentioned above.