Once you have successfully completed your hunt, the Ph will extract the Ivory in one of two ways, ether by cutting and chopping it free or by burying the skull in the ground for several days. When chopping the Ivory out, great care must be given as to not cut into the Ivory. This method is only used when the recovery location is unapproachable by vehicle or they do not have time to let the Ivory “slip”. Taking the head with the Ivory still attached back to camp is Ideal. Once in camp a large hole is dug and the Elephants head is placed vertically in so that the Ivory is pointed up. Only the Ivory that is not touching flesh sticks out of the ground. After several days, usually after the hunter has left the camp, the ivory is easily “slipped” out of the skull, clean as a whistle.
Now, the utmost care of the end, thin side, of the Ivory must be taken. Most Ph’s have the end wrapped in Duct Tape, both inside and out. This method works right up until some bloke bumps it while crating the Ivory for shipment. This damage is irreversible, and the end result is a little shorter Ivory. The way that I mount the Ivory into my bronzes only covers up 1/8th of an inch of the Ivory. If it has a big chunk out of it, it can’t be replaced, I only can show what good Ivory is left. Most Taxidermists are not too concerned with this because they just cut the Ivory perpendicular to the axis above the longest crack. This typically results in the net loss of 1 ½” to 3” inches.
Because the hunter is typically on their way home when the Ivory is wrapped, it is left up to the Ph and his staff. Do not let the status quo suffice. Make sure that they protect it properly. Here is how: In the old days the Ivory nerve plug was stuffed with straw. I found this out when I mounted a pair of tusks shot in 1963 and stored in a barn until I mounted it. Just a small Hairline crack ¾” long on each side. They did not have Duct tape, just stuffed it with straw and wrapped the end with a lot of canvas. Today with all of the importation controls I find it best to use plastic and duct tape instead of the burlap and straw. So bring a very thick, approximately 1/8” piece of dense plastic to Africa. Thin enough to just be bent around by hand into a cone shape 6” in diameter and about 10” long. Wrap the end of the Ivory with Duct tape inside and out, just one layer wide but two or three layers thick. Then role up the plastic into the cone shape smaller than the Ivory’s inside diameter and place it into the nerve cavity. Allow about two or three inches to stick out of the end of the tusk. Now open the plastic and fit it as best as you can to the inside wall of the Ivory and tape in place. Now do the same for the outer edge of the Ivory. Now you can tape it all together, that is to say tape the two pieces of plastic to each other at the very end and then tape the other end of the outer plastic to the Ivory. This should protect about 8” of the Ivory. So in all you will need to bring 4 pieces of stiff plastic 1/8” X 10” X 24” and a little roll of Duct Tape approximately 28’ in all. These items only need to get to the main camp; there is no need to take them to other camps that you may have to move to. The best approach is to leave it with your airline travel gun case. If by chance you do not get your Trophy please leave the plastic and Duct tape with your Ph for the next hunter. Also please leave any extra Ammo, it will mean a great deal to your Ph
