I like hunting each evening until its just too dark see anymore. Over my career I have found that the majority of my hunters and myself have taken most game in the last 30 minutes of daylight. Put another way If I was somehow confined to hunting 30 minutes a day it would be that last 30 minutes of light. Even with that limitation I would still have good success I'm sure!

Because we are usually hunting many miles from the camp or lodge when darkness has set in we usually have a long drive back. I like to try and continue hunting by calling in predators or whatever will respond. Often times we see them first and sometimes we just give it a shot in places where I have had luck in the past or frequently see jackals or other huntable critters.

This year we had some luck with this and some unusual visitors. Here are a few pictures of these events that we managed to collect.

Roger shot this Sivet cat one evening. I'm quite confident he was unsure of what this animal was at the moment but just as a well trained and experienced Safari hunter should(with me) When I said "shoot" he shot and the game dropped. Although with his 375HH I did not expect this little bugger to scurry off too far. Actually even with the 375 bullet this will be mounted lifesize!

Unfortunately this next critter will not be mounted lifesize. The 375 took it's toll on his hide. However even a blown up jackal is better then no jackal at all!


There were others we harvested too but this next couple photos was the most interesting animal we called in. The somewhat rare and very elusive ardwolf. I was within 25-30 feet of this guy before he figured out we we not what he thought we were. But a nice couple pictures of an unusual animal.




Here are a couple from other hunts as well.

An African Lynx I shot


spotted Genet I bonked on the noggin with a long stick after sneaking in on him. Thought we was finished until I reached to pick him up and he jumped and grabbed the cuff of my jacket and began shaking his head. That is the reason for the stunned look on my face and the death grip on his neck! This guy was so preoccupied with his stalk on a bushbaby that I was able to take advantage of his lack of attention to my stalk.

Many PH's don't have a strong desire or lots of experience with calling these small game species or animal oddities. I look forward to this as much as just about anything else on the trip. Its always nice when I have a hunter that also has this interest. There is a lot of things to see and hunt besides the typical big game we chase during daylight!

Most foreign hunters will never see a Ardwolf much less at a close 30 foot distance! I think these little adventures add a lot to the trip.

were these all hunted using a spot light??

You being a qualified PH(are you??) and all that should really know your animals, its a civet and not a sivet

Last year I was returning from the days hunt when my PH hit the breaks and yelled get your gun. We backed the truck up and put the pointed the lights into a field on the side of the road. "Would you like to shoot a South African Wild Cat"? "Hell yes" I said with visions of a leopard like animal in my mind. I jumped in back of the truck with rifle ready to fire and waited for him to locate the animal with his hand held spot light. Seconds passed and soon I saw a set of eyes in the long grass. "Shoot him" he yelled. Bang! Dead cat! The trackers quickly ran to the spot and returned with my trophy. "Holy shit" I said in disbelief, "That is a House Cat"! "No" said Louis, "this is a South African Wild Cat"! Needless to say it did not make it to the taxidermy!

In English it's spelled with a "C" in Afrikaans it's spelled with an "S" In the PH log books we use the spelling with the "S"

I suppose in your world all English words meanings and spellings follow the same rules for you regardless of country or origin? You of all people from the UK should know that English on one side of the water does not match very well with the English on the other side.
Simple words like "colour" on your side or "color" on the otherside for example.

whatever turns your crank!

I think I could make an entire safari just off the odd stuff.

Great pictures!

JJ,

I think you are so right in saying that it is these little diversions that make a complete hunting experience. One night last May, my PH and I called in jackal. Though it was only one night, in the 2 week hunt, it really was special and remembered fondly today. Other items such as horse back riding, bird watching, fishing and side trips sightseeing all add to complete the successfull hunt. Sometimes on a 7 day hunt, you get so caught up in the hunting of specific game on your wish list, that you don't have the time to stop and smell the roses.

When I talk to folks about hunting in Africa, I always recommend a minimum of 10 days if they can swing it, so they may take time to experience a more complete experience.

BigBullet

quote:

Originally posted by JJHACK:

I suppose in your world all English words meanings and spellings follow the same rules for you regardless of country or origin? You of all people from the UK should know that English on one side of the water does not match very well with the English on the other side.
Simple words like "colour" on your side or "color" on the otherside for example.

Jim,

Kind of like trying to translate the word "nipple" into English, eh?

Regards,

Pete

What were they called in with?

i was just pointing out the common english name, if you want to use the Afrikaans names then go for it.

so do you hunt these species from a vehicle using spotlights?

Please tell us more on how you normally hunt them.. I`m very interested in the small cats. Is it possible to shoot them without flashlights or from cars? No offense.. Just curious..

Caracal( African Lynx) and Jackal are frequently called and shot without lights or from vehicles. Both shown here were killed without vehicles and spotlights. Sivets/Civets and genets are mostly shot spotlighting as they are not frequently seen during daylight. I did shoot one about 5 years ago at a small pan right at dark. I also saw a huge Sivet at that same waterhole a few weeks later and called him within 50 yards but the bush was to thick, and getting dark to quick for my hunter to see him with the thin standard crosshairs in his scope.

I see Jackals during the day so frequenlty that It's considered normal. I have rarely seen Small cats during the day but it happens now and then. I use lip squeeks to call these animals or to at least stop them long enough to get a shot. Learning to do a good lip squeak is critical as you never forget the plastic call in your other jacket pocket!

I also use a "foxpro" remote caller which is quite a nice unit with the remote control that works about 100 yards from where you sit.

Hey JJ, where did you get the dung beetle?


As to the difference in how things are spelled, or named, in different places, the word "DAGGABOY" is pronounced as "DUG-A-BOY",hence the spelling in most American writeings as "DUGABOY". Also we have dung beetles in Texas, but they're not called "DUNG BEETLES",as in Africa, but are called TUMBLE BUGS! Texas has two different dung beetles, the desert one is very small, while the ones from South central Texas are as large as a June Bug!

I agree with you the little animals in Africa, are fun to hunt, and make fine full mount trophies. Like you I have a thing for Warthog, or any swine anyplace,for that matter. I hunt big Russians in Texas all the time!

JJ

That's wonderful "stuff" you've been posting. It shows a variety of wildlife that most of us will never see except while watching NGC or APL. Keep posting.

quote:

Originally posted by MacD37:
As to the difference in how things are spelled, or named, in different places, the word "DAGGABOY" is pronounced as "DUG-A-BOY",hence the spelling in most American writeings as "DUGABOY".

I think there was a discussion on AR a year or two ago when the great Afrikaaner linguists worked out "Dugaboy" is in fact the correct spelling and "Daggaboy" means "druggie-boy'.

Certainly 'dagga' means nothing but marijuana.

quote:

Kind of like trying to translate the word "nipple" into English, eh?

Or as difficult for some as saying "Fanny Pack" with a straight face.

Nice to see you have picked up some proper english, eh?

Cheers,
Canuck

Now back to the small Critter Safaris,

I've taken a bunch of critters night hunting with a spot light, you never know what you may see, some of the critters include Civet, Serval, many Genets, Porcupines, Duikers, Grysboks, Black Backed Jackals, Side Stripe Jackals, African Wildcat, and a few Hares.

Lots of fun going for all this small critters that alot of hunters don't even think about taking. they add alot to a trophy room.