My safari is a mere 25 days away! Anyhow, one of the animals on my list is the bushbuck (limpopo). I've done quite a bit of reading on hunting subject animal, but I'd like to get some first hand accounts ( time of day, ranges, etc) from those of you who've taken them in the past. I'll either be shooting a 300 Weatherby (what else!) with 180 Partitions or a 300 H&H with same. jorge

Limpopo Bushbuck taken along the Limpopo River
South Africa; Sept. 2, 2002
Ruger M77 MkII in .30-06 with 220 gr Woodleigh RN soft points loaded to 2460 fps.
Leupold 1.5-5x Vari-X III scope set at 3x.
Time of day: approximately 1:45pm
Hunted in the riverine growth along the banks of the river.

Range approximately 70 yards (PH's estimate). Shot taken off hand; no sticks. Bushbuck was standing behind a pile of brush (to the right in the photo). Only the tips of his horns and top of his back were visible. I had trouble seeing him until I saw his horn tips move. Lots of shadows in the bush as can be seen in the photo.



I've never had him officially scored/measured. PH did a field measurement and said it was 14 inches.

Some shots of the river to show the terrain:






-Bob F.

Jorge,

Bushbuck have a couple of traits the hunter can use to advantage.

First the bucks are very territorial. Each will have a small territory, and is almost always found in it.

Second when jumped the run a short distance and stop. If the buck stops still in your sight, you will have the opportunity for a standing still (ie. not running) shot.

Good hunting and have a good trip too...jim

Hi Jorge,

Here's a photo of my Limpopo bushbuck from '99.


I shot him with my LH M-70 .375 at around 10yds. in thick, thick, thick riverine bush. It was so dark in there, we had to drag the ram out before we could photograph him.

If I remember correctly, he had 15 1/2" horns.

George

jorge,

You will need your "game eyes", my PH spotted two I could not make out the brush concealed them so well. THey are tough little animals, took two shots from my .300 Win Mag. before he was finished. Horns are very sharp, be careful.



This one measured 15 1/2 inches and was taken in the Save Conservancy.

CFA

Lowveld zim, and specially the area Humani (Save), Triangle, Nuanetsi ranch, is the best for the Bushbick. Look on the banks of the rivers. Is plenty! Dont shoot the first, look for a godd trophy buck.

Jorge,

I have shot both of mine in the Limpopo Province of RSA. They were both taken within 50 yards of the Limpopo River in heavy cover. The first one I shot in 2000 late in the afternoon at a range of 12 yards with a 375 H&H loaded with 270 grain Barnes X. The shot was a just above the tail and exited the chest. All I could see was the buck's head and neck looking at me over some tall stinging nettles. He was dead instantly. The second one was in 2002 in the same area, but very early in the morning. The shot was about 70 yards through a small lane as the buck was walking directly away up an incline. I was shooting a Win M-70 in 300 Win Mag loaded with Hornady 190 Interlocks. The first shot hit exactly between the shoulders and knocked the buck down. As the tracker was approaching the buck jumped up and gave a short chase. As the tracker flew past me, I hit the buck again on the run low in the chest and he again went down. As we approached the buck raised his head and I shot him in the neck from about 10 feet finally killing him. The first shot was well placed, but blew up on impact and failed to break the back bone. Fragments of the first bullet were found imbedded in the back of the buck's skull. The second shot knocked a huge hole in the buck on both the entrance and exit but the little guy just wouldn't give up. My father shot a very nice one in the same area late one evening with a 30-06 loaded with Hornady 180 grain Interlocks. It was a perfect heart shot and his buck ran about 50 yards into some very thick cover. I nearly stepped on it during the recovery as it was laying dead on its belly facing down the trail it took into the brush. I nearly crapped myself when I realized how close I got before I saw it.

Trackers and PHs seem to be very careful when approaching downed bushbuck, especially when they can't see exactly where they have fallen.

I will hunt them every time I have the chance as they are reasonably priced, are a very challenging hunt, make beautiful mounts and are very good eating.

Perry

quote:

( time of day, ranges, etc)

My app. 65 bushbuck I shot either early in the morning or late in the afternoon. Maybe 10 were shot around noon. Range seldom more than 100 m. Louis Trichardt and Tzaneen area.

www.kapstadt.de/lemberg

jorge,

I have 3 of the other subspecies but the Limpopo has given me the slip so far. Hunting methods for bushbuck seem to be about the same though. If you hunt in hilly country where you can watch hillsides they seem to move much like deer early in the AM and late PM. When they step into openings in the bush you can get a shot. Otherwise you can stalk them in riverine bush and as stated before if you don't get the one you like you will find him again because they are very territorial.

I personally think they are one of the great prizes of the African bush and quite challenging to hunt.

Regards,

Mark

I find the best way to hunt them is firstly to get the time right and then just before they start moving to get yourself laid out on a suitable riverbank overlooking a "bushbucky" area on the opposite bank. I like to look for thick overhanging vegetation with a small game trail all the way to the river.....assuming the wind and everything else is right then all you have to do is wait......usually you'll see movement within about 20 or 30 minutes......they're great creatures of habit which works to the hunters advantage.....

If for some reason this method isn't possible it's also sometimes possible to call them in.

Thank you all, great replies so far and I hope there are more. From the tactics and ranges involved, it sounds like I would be better off with my 3006 Featherweight, but alas there are other bigger game on the menu, so I have to take a 300. Fortunately, I have a lot of time to devote to the bushbuck. jorge

Jorge
I took a limpopo bush buck last year in
Alldays on the Limpopo river near the border of Botwana. the buck made SCI 14 plus. There were
11 of us and I think 9 or 10 took Limpopos.
The Outfitter is Ingogo Safari.

jorge:

I took a nice limpopo bushbuck in Aug 2004. Great hunt, 3 days of stalking in the river bottoms.

Finally got a shot at about 85 yards with 9.3x62 loaded with 250 gr Swift A-frames. Took it off hand as these guys usually don't give you much time. Only bullet I ever recovered as when I hit him he rolled over backwards and the slug lodged in his hind quarter.

Much fun - the PH joked that I owed him for a Nyala. Good luckhttp://www.opticstalk.com/Photoserver/photoDetail.aspx?photo=466

Jorge,

I have a Cape and my son has a Chobe bushbuck..They are alot like whitetails...I shot mine at 300yds. my sons was 200 the trackers will not go near them till they are stone cold dead...That 300 Weatherby will work nicely any way he stands you will send the bullet clear thru....Just like the camp you could see one all the way across the field to the woods line...


Mike

I believe that bushbuck are high on the list of the most challenging animals you can hunt in Africa. The day after I killed a running Vaal Rhebok at about 450yds, I shot nearly a box of shells at a bushbuck on the side of a mountain, and would have failed to take him except that he ran down the hill toward me being pursued by to trackers that really trusted my shooting.

That buck would run into a clumb of bushes, wait a bit, then come out. Never twice in the same direction and a couple of times, back tracking. As he got lower, I put my scope on lower power, and he finally go into a clump small enough that I could see all of it. It was all captured on film, and humbling, but a worthwhile trophy.

My brother's experience was as interesting. We were hunting in Zim, and going to camp one evening, our tracker spotted this bushbuck they had seen the week before in the area (they are territorial), and rapped on the cab. He explained his sighting, and the ph, Louie Mueller, explained that they had seen this animal the week before and it was gigantic. I had taken one on the prior trip, so my brother took on the challenge.

We had driven 75 yards up the track before stopping, and my brother, Louie and Funny collected Greg's Sako 7mmRM and walked back up the track. I stayed at the truck and unlimbered the video camera, expecting to get some prime pics this close to the action. They walk back to this small patch of trees and brush, and set up the shooting sticks. Funny points the animal out to Louie, and Louie starts trying to point him out to my brother. It was a great silent movie action, with everything greatly animated and quietly exaggerated. Greg could not see it.

Five minutes, ten minutes, nothing; and at about fifteen minutes,Funny came back and got my CZ602 in 375HH for Bro' who had decided he needed more rifle. After Funny got back to Louie and my brother, they continued their efforts to put my brother on the target for another five to ten minutes.

In my brother's defense, Funny had taken a while, granted a short while, to put Louie on the buck, and not only were Louie's eyes much younger, but sharp for the sign of an animal.

Finally, mr. bushbuck had had all of this attention he could stand, and he took the back door out of the copse of trees and ran out into the field. He went straight away, and the trees masked any fire until they ran to the fence line and could see out into the field. Bro' took a shot, but did not connect well. The bushbuck ran across the field moving like a well trained infantryman, rushing and then going to ground, with Louie and Bro' close behind, but not close enough to shoot.

On the far side of the field, about 400 yds away, there was another pointing drill, and finally a killing shot. I have never seen a more spent, used up crew by the time they got that buck back across the field.

It seems the middle of the field hid a very boggy, wet section, which all the participants had run through. The buck looked like he'd sh!t at and hit, and shot at and hit several times. Louie and Bro' looked the same, only not hit, just shot! It is an absolutely killer trophy, and one my brother will never forget.

I just find a dry bed river and walk one side while checking the other side riverine forrest with binocs, This method has netted me many a nice Bushbuck, one of my favorite plainsgame animals to hunt, next to the Val Rhebok and Mt. Reedbuck...

I shot this bushbuck about a year ago in Russ Broom's Binga concession. We found him in the late afternoon while sneaking through the thick stuff looking for either waterbuck (found the him the next day ) or bushbuck around a lake. The leading tracker spotted him feeding ahead of us. He was 40 yards away by the time we got in a position to shoot. I shot him walking almost straight away through a bunch of really thick stuff. The 300 grain Swift came out of his brisket and he hopped a few times and collapsed.





Fun hunting and a beautiful trophy (I just got the cape and horns 2 weeks ago). Have a great hunt.

Kyler

Well it sounds like hunting the little bugger can be quite challenging and ranges run the whole spectrum out to 400 yards plus. Guess the 300s aren't a bad idea after all. Getting closer! jorge

I love to hunt bushbuck. I have taken Chobe, Limpopo and Cape. All were within 50 yards of the river and in thick nasty brush. My Chobe was the most fun. We were drifting the river in an Avon 14' rubber raft and shot from the raft. Very challenging not to mention the hippos and crocs. I would think a heavy bullet in a 35 Whelen or 9.3x62 would be ideal. Good luck!

I will be hunting in RSA in a couple of weeks time and I am really looking forward to trying for a Bushbuck..I am not sure why, but they have always seemed kind of special..

Regards,

Pete

I don't know what a limpopo bushbuck is, but I shot a bushbuck that flushed from under a bush. I popped it at about 20 yards with a snap shot from my double. It was like rabbit hunting.

Well there I three types I think, Limpopo, Chobe and harnessed, the latter being the most colorful as far as the hide is concerned. Learn something new every day. jorge

Isn't there 5 or 6 types, including Menelik's and Abyssinian Bushbuck in Ethiopia?

According to Rowland Ward & SCI there are eight different subspecies - but each organisation uses different names for those eight subspecies.

Whether this is just a case of using different common names or a case of lumpers & groupers I'm not sure - I'll try to check over the weekend if I have time.

It took me three safaris, all into what was supposed to be good bushbuck country, before I finally scored. Had kudu and eland long before but as soon as I had the bushbuck (a Chobe) I naturally had to go for nyala. Next year I'll try for the Cape subspecies.

Jorge,

Bushbuck is territorial and is living in dense cover, often along a river.
Why not looking for a competent African capable of calling it out of the brush or the riverine jungle. The caller is usign a split appropriate rigid straw and miawing like any youg antelops.
It’s a 4 seconds long E and then a not short C. Often the other blacks along (trackers and gunbearers ) are chanting with a low voice along : Mummmmmmmmmmmmy, I aaaaaaaaaaam scared.
This moan is bringing bushbuck and duiker (and sometimes bushpig and leopard) right in your lap.
When bow hunting, the guide and the gunb. only coaxed bushbuck females.



I wish You an oustanding Bushbuck, take care they are pests when wounded. A Wby will be the only cure.
Good luck.

I just use an ordinary predator call - don't know why it works but it does. - Red duiker run into the call and then bounce around looking confused if they spot you. Bushbuck are more cautious in their approach. The one I use is like a magnet for bushbuck & the duikers. .
.....But for me the best way to get a bushbuck is simply to spot the right area and then wait quietly. Assuming the wind's right etc they don't take long to come out. I learnt this trick some years ago when I was in a camp on the Limpopo and used to watch the hunters on the opposite bank unsuccessfully stalk the bushbuck every day........within 20 minutes of the hunters passing the bushbuck were always out in force again.

Bushbuck sub-species:

Harnessed
Nile
Giant or Barker - Not recoginized by SCI or RW currently
Abyssinian
Arusi or Menelik
Shoan Only reconized by RW not SCI
Masssi or East Africian
Chobe
Limpopo
Cape - Roland Ward combines the Cape and Limpopo as Southern African Bushbuck.

All the above from CB's Search for the Spiral Horn.

This is a good example of the problem that occurs when using common names rather than scientific names....

In my SCI measurers handbook no scientific names are used and they quote the following common names:

Harnessed
Nile
Abyssinian
Menelik
East African
Chobe
Limpopo
Cape

Rowland Ward onthe other hand split their catagories as

Harnessed (tragalaphus Scriptus Scriptus)
Nile (tragalaphus Scriptus Bor)
Abyssinian (tragalaphus Scriptus Decula)
Masai (tragalaphus Scriptus Massaicus)
Arusi (tragalaphus Scriptus Meneliki)
Chobe (tragalaphus Scriptus Ornatus)
South African (tragalaphus Scriptus Sylvaticus)
Shoan (tragalaphus Scriptus Powelli)

Personally I'd like to see considerably more use of scientific names. I don't remember if SCI use scientific names in their "big book" - but if they don't I think they should.

Steve, I don't understand your comment re: scientific names. If you review your post and my post the are exactly the same.

Look at the times. You guys posted on top of each other.


My Bushbuck was taken at the same time as Bob F's and from the looks of the river ,at about the same general terrain. I was hunting with David Thomas and he said "Shoot Him". It was about a 160 yd shot with a 9.3x62-286 gr Nosler pt. He went down with one shot. 16 1/2"male.

DOJ,

I added the scientific names and the Rowland Ward classifications to make the point that if the scientific names are not used it can cause confusion.

An example of this is made in your post (no criticism intended!) of how RW combine Cape & Limpopo and yet SCI seperate them. Either it's the same sub species or it's not. If it is the same sub species I don't understand why there are two catagories for the same animal.......so one of the two organisations is right and one is wrong. If both organisations used the scientific names then this wouldn't occur.

jorge,

Good luck on your bushbuck hunt. I go to the Limpopo province in August for two weeks with a good bushbuck on the top of my list. Last year I chaised them abou the ranch, though never saw one. Knew they were there, saw fresh tracks every day, but just could not catch up with them.

I will be taking my 35 Whelen again, I get the feeling most shots are fairly close affairs in that area, other then shooting straight down the river.

BigBullet

Jorge, Of all plains game hunting bushbuck is my favorite! I love the slow walk and stalk throught the really thick stuff along the rivers.

Mike: Well I am certainly looking forward to it. After the buff, which I expect to take in 3 days or so, the balance of the safari I'll concnetrate on bushbuck so we'll see what happens. I'm probably going to make a life size mount of it. jorge

Nice Bushbuck are where you find them. A friend and I shot two RW bushbuck in less than half an hour in Zim a few years ago. The area was not "known" for bushbuck at the time.

Best,

JohnTheGreek

I just shot my first bushbuck, on my first trip to Africa!

Early morning we sat on a hillside and glassed the opposite hillside, waiting for them to warm up and move out of the heavy bush. Late evening hunting was similar, except that in my case, the bushbuck were already out when we started hunting, so it was more a spot and stalk, but in the same context as above.

He was feeding down at the bottom of a valley in mostly open terrain, that was surrounded by heavy brush. I set up to take the shot at 175 yards (about that range anyway) and unfortunately, I made a poor shot, with my 375 H&H. First shot was at 3:00 pm. He retreated back into the bush and it was on our hands and knees tracking him because the bush was so thick. Eventually, we set up back in the clearring of the valley and the trackers were able to push him back out into the open, where I made a perfect running shot at about 50 yards, to finish it off. Unfortunately, I screwed the first shot up... Thankfully, I made the last one. Finished it up minutes before dark.

Mine was a Cape bushbuck, just off the Indian Ocean coast of South Africa near Alexandria.

Early morning and late afternoon glassing seemed to be the way they hunted them in the area where we were.