Been some great discussions lately so adding another fun one.

What species have you seen on safari and NOT hunted for one reason or another and in hindsight you regret?

Mine is easy, Bushpig and White Blesbok when I was at Blaauwkrantz.

Neither species on the next safari I took and not on my upcoming safari in July. Should have definitely pursued them and let some of the other more common species go for another trip.

Kudu. We didn't see one mature enough.

When I was hunting in Makuti we came upon a huge tuskless just standing there alone.She stood there for quite a while as we looked at her and my PH asked me if I wanted to take her.I said no.I am not sure if I regret not taking her but the opportunity was there.Another on the same hunt was I believe a very nice Klipspringer-that I regret not taking.Most of all was again in Makuti a wonderful trophy sable we saw walking off into the hills.I don't think any were left on quota and even if there were I thought they were too expensive.

A Steenbok. I passed on a 5 1/2 incher and later decided I should shoot one. We never saw it again.

Warthog.

I first got the Africa "bug" back in the mid-'70s when I visited a fellow officer's home and he had a warthog shoulder mount on the wall (among other animals).

I only was able to take two safaris, one to RSA and another to Zimbabwe, but was never able to connect with a good wartie.

Had I collected one, I was going to do a full body mount.

quote:

Originally posted by Nitro Express:
Warthog.

I first got the Africa "bug" back in the mid-'70s when I visited a fellow officer's home and he had a warthog shoulder mount on the wall (among other animals).

I only was able to take two safaris, one to RSA and another to Zimbabwe, but was never able to connect with a good wartie.

Had I collected one, I was going to do a full body mount.

If you go to Moz coutada 9 you will be in warthog heaven.

I regret missing a couple of blue duiker when I pulled the trigger, but I've never actually not pulled the trigger on an animal I wanted.

Sable

Hippo and a big warthog.

Eland and Klipspringer in Namibia in 2011. But, had I taken them, I wouldn't have taken anything else, so always a toss up because I am always on a budget.

I had a dandy Nyala feeding at just under 50 yards late in my 2014 safari but my budget was tapped out so all I have is his memory.

I've never regretted not pulling the trigger, but I do often wonder if the lion we tracked was six or more.
Given that he was not over bait and we had little time to evaluate, my PH just couldn't be sure. He made the right decision.

quote:

Originally posted by Slider:
A Steenbok. I passed on a 5 1/2 incher and later decided I should shoot one. We never saw it again.

Opportunity only knocks once.

It gives me a reason to go back.

Maybe this guy.

Nice! Where was that, Robert?

Grysbok in Binga. Hunting buffalo and as a 2nd DG hunt and first buffalo hunt I hadn't learnt to see the trophy list for both prices and availability; irrespective of why you are there. It was probably 4pm one afternoon and he walked right up to us. Seemed quite inquisitive. He stopped at about 7m and looked us for at least 20 seconds before bounding off. He looked massive. I asked the PH and he smiled and said, "the biggest I've seen. I'd guess he'd make top five".

Vaalrhebuck... we left a big one because it was day one and the area had better. Shot a far poorer ons some days later. Similar story with a 27" nyala... I now shoot them if they meet my expectations amd know what's on quota when I'm out there.

An Eland in Namibia...

quote:

Originally posted by Slider:
It gives me a reason to go back.

Zebra.....only saw the fleeting glimmer of the arse end of one that Dylan pointed out to me through the grass. Ah but that's hunting

I wish I had hunted bushbuck at Blaauwkrantz, but I was too ignorant on that first trip and barely knew what they were.

I'm also haunted by the memory of a marvellous kudu that I missed there, a fact which my brother enjoys reminding me of!

Tyrannosaurus Rex

Definitely Warthog. I saw a brute on the first day of my safari, attempted a stalk, and he gave us the slip. Never saw that one again. The same thing happened on the last day with a slightly smaller one. Don't know what it is about those ugly buggers, but a wartie with big tusks gets me charged up. Also wished I had a bit more time to chase Bushbuck. I took a representative specimen on the 4th day of my safari, but was in an area that held lots of them. I didn't want to take any time away from chasing Kudu, and that took up the bulk of my days.

Namibia, first hunt. Hartmin Zebra, Klippie.
Wife said no zebra

Roan in Cameroon. Price was very high but should have bought an extra full bag.

A lesser kudu in Tanzania. Passed on several mature bulls, In hindsight...

One what and one where.

The where was Okavango Delta.

The what was trophy elephant with importable ivory in Zimbabwe.

Both instances were going to be next year and when next year rolled around they were closed.

I wish I could have bagged a Gerenuk. They are one of the few I regret not having the opportunity to take.

A representative size Cookson Wildebeest bull while on buff tracks in Zambia. Never saw another on that hunt... and that area of Zambia is the only place to hunt them.

bongo and mt nyala -- oops i haven't hunted them yet

Mountain Reedbuck. First safari. Didnt know how good he was.

Interestingly, I've been to southern Africa twice and have failed to take what might be the two most common species - impala and warthog. I tried both times, it just didn't work out. Sure would like one or more of each.

As far as regret for passing up an animal, I'd have to say giraffe. At first, I thought they were kinda dumb, slow, lumbering creatures. Early in my first hunt, an opportunity arose at a nice dark bull, but I passed. But after observing them for several days, I realized how challenging it would be to actually hunt them specifically. Of course, another opportunity did not arise.

I think there is a learning curve on that first safari or two and it takes some time to realize the value of some species thus we may turn down good opportunities. I know on my first safari that I turned down a good Klipspringer, grysbok and common duiker because they meant nothing to me at that time and "Why would I want to shoot tiny animals". What a dumb ass! Now many years later I have about a dozen of the little guys and consider them some of my most favorite trophies. So to answer the question I do regret not taking those species on my first hunt and I most regret not being tuned into what great trophies they were.

Mark

I've stalked past Eland a number of times on safari when pursuing other game, but they didn't interest me as a trophy. I now regret that...I have a "hole" in my collection :-(

A RSA leopard when it was still fairly inexpensive.

BH63

Bush pig. I had one come to a waterhole that I was watching in Zimbabwe. The PH encouraged me to take it, but I at the time was not interested. I guess seeing them in broad day light is not that common. The PH was sure surprised that I did not arrow it.
That was my first safari.

I would have to say Gerenuk. I saw quite a few nice one but wasent interested. I wish I could rewind time, because I don't think I will ever get another chance.

In 2011 I had a NG 42 Botswana bull elephant (70-80# tusk) at 15 yards. My quota called for a less than 45# broken tusk management bull. The fee escalation was very steep. When we returned to camp my wife said we can take out a home equity loan so go shoot it! Never saw it again but on day 7 I shot a nice representative 40# management bull. To this day, that huge bull is permanently fixed in my memory. The bull never knew we were there as PH Andy Hunter backed us out of the thorn brush.

Klipsinger, Mountain Reedbuck, Lepoard in Namibia when hounds were allowed and I was young enough to chase them.

It isn't so much a species as it is a hunting trip, but for some reason I never got around to going to Argentina to hunt water buffalo. I always wanted to do that, and throw in a spot of trout fishing as well. I regret it because I'm now 75, and can't do the rough stuff anymore. Shoulda, woulda, coulda.

Yes there were three that I have always been sorry I didn't take!

One I tried for but came up empty! That was a Sitatunga in the Bangualu swamp. Just never saw one big enough. The other two were a PUKU that I just passed on because I had taken all I could afford on that Safari, and other is a leopard as I took early retirement and decided to pass on a Leopard hunt I had planed for the next year.

Kept thinking I would take them all later but the opportunity just seemed to never come about again for those three.
....................................................................... Too late now!