Lord Derby Eland hunting
5 hunting trips from 2 outfitters starting from $30,339
Where to hunt Lord Derby Eland
Eland were formerly widely spread from Southern Sudan, Central and East Africa to Angola in the west, down to Southern Africa. The biggest of all, the Lord Derby (also known as the Giant) Eland makes the Cape and Livingstone Eland pale into insignificance. This giant, spiral-horned antelope is only available on specialised hunts in the Cameroon and Central African Republic.
Price distribution
This species specific dedicated hunt requires time and dedication. Owing to this fact, the minimum hunting period is 10 – 15 days. Outfitter operating conditions are very difficult and expensive to operate in countries which have very little infrastructure; however on the other side this makes for good wild free-range hunting conditions. In the Cameroon, a 10 – 15 day Lord Derby Eland hunt with trophy fee included will cost between $30,000 and $50,000, excluding any extras.
When to hunt Lord Derby Eland?
In some instances there is a slight variation on the hunting season dates, which run from 1 December to 31 May. These dates vary according to the onset of the rainy season and where in the country the outfitter is based. Lord Derby Eland are best hunted from January to March when they are in peak condition. Outfitters from the Cameroon offer a number of different options.
Hunting methods
Big bulls are difficult nomadic animals to find. They are shy, crafty and clever, requiring excellent tracking skills to find. This is best done by using a vehicle to drive the roads and tracks to check for fresh spoor and dung to assess how long ago the animal was in the area. Also check for any fresh signs around natural salt licks. Then the tracking and stalking begins, it may even take a few hard walking days before you even see your first bull. The success of this hunt depends entirely on your ability to concentrate and walk the animal down. If you are lucky and find a suitable trophy, your professional hunter will endeavour to position you in an area where you can take a clear shot.
Why hunt Lord Derby Eland?
There is no doubt that a Lord Derby Eland is probably the holy grail of all the African antelope species to hunt. Named in honour of Edward Smith-Stanley, the 13th Earl of Derby who first introduced these Giant Eland to England between 1835 and 1851. This epic hunt will take you through an emotional roller coaster of highs and lows, an experience you will never forget. This splendid trophy will definitely take pride of place in your trophy room and you will always remember the effort involved to shoot this magnificent beast.
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