Well to begin firstly it is illegal to hunt Elephant with any sort of light other than real daylight, and then its also illegal to hunt Elephants in many parts of South Africa due to canned hunts or straight forward hunting because of the ivory trade etc, so i amagine that he is talking about hunting elephants in a place other than here. True you can hunt them here in many places, this is why I would like to know more.
The light thing is a concern of mine, this is why, we have these animals on our game farm and one thing that is very commonly known, ( maybe unknown again to the writer) is that elephants are one of the game on the African plains with the WORST eyesight, if not the worst.
Elephants have bad eyesight, but a good sense of smell. You can stand still 20-30 yards in front of an elephant that smelt you, he will throw his head left and right, trying to make that SMELL move to get a better idea, he cannot see you very well at all, very bad eyesight.
If he sets back his ears, then lowers his head and curls his trunk up, he is serious. If he charges, mock or otherwise, get up a tree and be mighty fast!
Aside from a Buffalo this chap is by no means a walk over.
Now if you are hunting, game viewing or whatever you pleasure to use a light on elephant is extremely unprofessional, due to the fact you are placing the animals in a very unfair situation, this is one method I would never use on that particular species.
I suggest people or guides change attitudes towards hunting or viewing animals if you are not properly advised.
To hunt an elephant at night is very unprofessional, I would like to know why you did this at night? Also if your hunt took place in South Africa I would love to know who he is, I have to say I find you story very interesting.
Hunting elephant in SA is a touchy subject, the ivory trade is evident, poaching night and day is bad, and these animals are protected species, we have helicopters, foot soldiers with FAL rifles walking on foot patrols, covering miles everyday seeking out poachers, elephants are very similar to Rhino, very protected species, and depending on your location hunting is very far from accepted.