Judging Elephant

[CAustin]

Would it be possible to create us a tutorial on how one would judge Elephant tusk weight. I ask this question as the weight is how the hunts seem to be priced through most outfitters and I am sure this has to do with what the authorities have decided should be taken from various herds. An Elephant hunt is on my bucket list but I have no real reference to understand what is a 30 pound tusk vs what is a 40 or 50 pound tusk. The shot placement guide is very informative so I feel confident I could make the right shot. However, I need to understand this weight thing better. Thank you in advance everyone for your comments and your effort to educate the uninformed.

 

[KWALATA SAFARIS]

This is allot easier said than done, as you probably know by now, and something that comes with time.
The formula is simple enough, but has certain variables which are virtually impossible to judge.

Ivory wall thickness and root depth, in my experience older Elle grow thicker (wall thickness) and shallower(root depth) respectivly but thats just my thought on it...and once again not a guarantee but rather an incentive to utelize older Elle.

Formula: take the circumfrence of the tusk at the lip and multiply it by the vissible tusk (in foot)

16" on the lip x 2'of tusk = 32lbs of tusk.

i was taught this many years ago and it has served me well, i am unaware of any other formula.

hope this nelps.

my best always

 

[BRICKBURN]

That's it Jaco. The only one I have ever found.

Different populations are known for different tusk structure as well. That can throw out the formula.
Tanzania, Botswana, Mozambique, Zim;North south, valley, etc.
This is where the experienced PH makes his money.

No estimating system is perfect. (Go judge a Kudu horn, you'll see)

 

[KWALATA SAFARIS]

That's it Jaco. The only one I have ever found.

Different populations are known for different tusk structure as well. That can throw out the formula.
Tanzania, Botswana, Mozambique, Zim;North south, valley, etc.
This is where the experienced PH makes his money.

No estimating system is perfect. (Go judge a Kudu horn, you'll see)

correct botswana and kruger as well as zim and southern moz is well known for heavy thick tusks, this however refers to circumfrence and not wall thickness, ....well in certain instances it could.

Selous is known for slender long tusks..

As mentioned above like anything else the more you judge the better you get at it... IMO not any more difficult than judging Kudu, difference is most Professional hunters don't get the opportunity to hunt Elle that much and therefore they are not that great at judging them, if you're patient as a PH your time will come though... ...... Just like everything else in life....

The most enjoyable part for me is getting CLOSE enough to check in under the lip... to get a good idea of circumfrence...

my best always

 

[ActionBob]

Very helpful Jaco. In addition, can you give us a rough idea of how much tusk would be expected to be in the lip.... on your 32# example, what would total length be?

For a thick tusked bull, what total length and circumference would be expected at 30#, 40#, and 50#?

Same question for a bull from the Selous?

Bob

 

[ActionBob]

A somewhat related question... and if the moderator s want to move this, that is fine..... Does anyone do replica elephant tusks? With the closure by usfw, a lot of deals have shown up on elephant not exportable to the US. I watched an elephant hunting show I had recorded and the tusks were shipped off to a warehouse where every so often that government auctioned them off as fund raising.

I am fortunate enough to have a weekend place on a Musky lake... it is very common to have replica mounts done on fish... Of course catch and release is not normally practiced in hunting , other than withh rhino. But wondering if replica tusks of an elephant hunted in one of the non exportable places could be an economical option for guys who want to take advantage of a deal on a hunt for a nice bull and still have a nice memento.

Bob

 

[KWALATA SAFARIS]

Bob the variables are to much....I have personally hunted 50lb Elle that had total tusk of around 5 foot and then have also taken a 33lb'er with 4.5" tusk.

What I look for on the lip is circumference which varies from each animal to the next.

The "heavier" more the circumference at the lip and the more exposed tusk you see the heavier (as a norm the ivory)

I would refrain from attaching a weight label to Length.

In the Selous a 6 foot tusk can be 35lbs. In tsolotso and in Kruger it could be an 80 pounder.

These where 48 and 56 respectively

My best always

 

[KWALATA SAFARIS]

Almost any taxidermist can do replicas to your taste I recently had one of my Authentic skulls fitted with replica 100lbs for my BBQ area at my house...

Will upload pics.

My best always

 

[ActionBob]

Jaco,
More great info for a novice like myself. Thanks...

What would they typically make replicas out of? Fiberglass, graphite, or something else?

How do they look close up? Cracks and character or do they tend to look too perfect?

Thanks again!
Bob

 

[KWALATA SAFARIS]

Bob, I believe it's fibre glass, I would not say that they are cracked but they do have some good character (depending on how good your taxidermist is of course )

I'll upload some pics of my replicas tomorrow or so... Most taxidermists should make them quite nicely I believe.

My best always

 

[CAustin]

Thank you Jaco. Perhaps other PH members will have pictures to share.

 

[AfricaHunting.com]

In pictures…

72 pound Elephant

40 and 42 pound Elephant

60 and 70 pound Elephant

72 pound Elephant

88 pound Elephant

57 pound Elephant

57 pound Elephant

92.4 and 91 pound Elephant

92.4 and 91 pound Elephant

92.4 and 91 pound Elephant

62 pound Elephant

62 pound Elephant

62 pound Elephant

52 pound Elephant

52 pound Elephant

40 pound Elephant

50 pound Elephant

82 pound Elephant

70 and 85 pound Elephant

85 pound Elephant

 

[AfricaHunting.com]

70 pound Elephant

64 and 67 pound Elephant

67 and 71 pound Elephant

69 and 72 pound Elephant

54 and 57 pound Elephant

63 and 64 pound Elephant

65 and 67 pound Elephant

62 and 65 pound Elephant

75 pound Elephant

55 pound Elephant

80 and 84 pound Elephant

40 and 41 pound Elephant

37 pound Elephant

78 pound Elephant

63 pound Elephant

71 pound Elephant

56 pound Elephant

41 pound Elephant

55 pound Elephant

54 pound Elephant

 

[AfricaHunting.com]

53 pound Elephant

53 pound Elephant

50 pound Elephant

40 pound Elephant

43 pound Elephant

41 pound Elephant

78 and 76 pound Elephant

78 and 76 pound Elephant

60 pound Elephant

78 pound Elephant

70 and 80 pound Elephant

100 pound Elephant

100 pound Elephant

64 pound Elephant

62 pound Elephant

61 pound Elephant

78 pound Elephant

83 pound Elephant

83 pound Elephant

62 and 63 pound Elephant

 

[AfricaHunting.com]

62 and 63 pound Elephant

100 pound Elephant

87 and 92 pound Elephant

50 pound Elephant

50 pound Elephant

67 pound Elephant

44 pound Elephant

In picture…

72 pound Elephant

40 and 42 pound Elephant

60 and 70 pound Elephant

72 pound Elephant

88 pound Elephant

57 pound Elephant

57 pound Elephant

92.4 and 91 pound Elephant

92.4 and 91 pound Elephant

92.4 and 91 pound Elephant

62 pound Elephant

62 pound Elephant

62 pound Elephant

 

[AfricaHunting.com]

52 pound Elephant

52 pound Elephant

40 pound Elephant

50 pound Elephant

82 pound Elephant

70 and 85 pound Elephant

85 pound Elephant

70 pound Elephant

64 and 67 pound Elephant

67 and 71 pound Elephant

69 and 72 pound Elephant

54 and 57 pound Elephant

63 and 64 pound Elephant

65 and 67 pound Elephant

62 and 65 pound Elephant

75 pound Elephant

55 pound Elephant

80 and 84 pound Elephant

40 and 41 pound Elephant

37 pound Elephant

 

[AfricaHunting.com]

78 pound Elephant

63 pound Elephant

71 pound Elephant

56 pound Elephant

41 pound Elephant

55 pound Elephant

54 pound Elephant

53 pound Elephant

53 pound Elephant

50 pound Elephant

40 pound Elephant

43 pound Elephant

41 pound Elephant

78 and 76 pound Elephant

78 and 76 pound Elephant

60 pound Elephant

78 pound Elephant

70 and 80 pound Elephant

100 pound Elephant

100 pound Elephant

 

[AfricaHunting.com]

64 pound Elephant

62 pound Elephant

61 pound Elephant

78 pound Elephant

83 pound Elephant

83 pound Elephant

62 and 63 pound Elephant

62 and 63 pound Elephant

100 pound Elephant

87 and 92 pound Elephant

50 pound Elephant

50 pound Elephant

67 pound Elephant

44 pound Elephant

 

[ActionBob]

Thanks Jerome! Obvious how variable they can be. I think I get it that one needs a good expierianced PH who knows his elephants.... But these pictures do help a lot.

I think I could be content with a 44 pounder leaning agaist a tree.... That one is begging for some more creative photo poses

 

[ROCKET]

It could not be done better than this.......now I guess that must to takes lot of time and experiencie to learn properly and accuratelly tusk´s weight......many variables between length, diameters, and the most important......internal mass..........!!!!!

Thank you Jerome.....great post......!!!!