Ryan-

Here is my opinion, but I could bewrong! Just from the books that I've read about Africa, the meat from the elephants usually goes to the local villagers, with the best probably going to the Proffessional Hunter and the Outfitter putting on the hunt. I would assume that you can tan the hide, but it would be very difficult I would guess. I have a couple of taxidermy books, and JUST THE FORM for an elephant mount (full body) can be around $20,000!!! Then labor on top of that, you're looking at $30-50,000!

These books are written by guys that hunted there in the late 60's, early 70's, so things may have changed by now. I've also watched an elephant hunt on t.v., and I was thinking "What a joke! That looks so easy!" But since then I've learned that hunting elephant is VERY dangerous and you could easily end up flat as a pancake. If you're interested in elephant/African hunting and you like to read- I'd suggest books written by Arthur Neumann and Peter Hathaway Capstick, etc. I've learned a lot about Africa just reading those, plus they have awesome stories.

Anyway, hope this helps. Good luck, man.