Giant eland hunts are physically demanding and generally take place during the short savanna season from January through March when bulls are in peak condition. Hunters and trackers drive along road networks at dawn to locate fresh spoor and then pursue on foot for hours through terminalia brush and open woodland. Success hinges on reading subtle signs—fresh dung, vegetation damage and even swarming sweat bees—that indicate a herd is close. Stealth is critical, as any sudden movement or change of wind can send these wary antelope bolting.

Giant eland populations are limited; the species is listed as vulnerable or critically endangered depending on the subspecies. Cameroon and the Central African Republic assign strict quotas and operate hunts in defined zones where fees support community development and conservation. Concessions generally allow only a handful of bulls to be taken each year, and some outfitters voluntarily cap harvests at seven or eight animals to maintain ageing herds. Regulated hunting generates funding for anti‑poaching patrols and encourages landowners and communities to preserve savanna habitats, making the Lord Derby eland a flagship species for community‑based conservation.