I was wondering, has anyone ever heard of a Sitatunga being hunted in RSA? It seems like they would have them as "exotics" like the Lechwe and Scimitar Horned Oryx. Just curious.

ES

Sitatunga are kind of a specialty antelope that require some extra effort and are not usually a target of opportunity. I don't think they are available in RSA and if they were you would be cheating yourself if you took one there. Half of sitatunga hunting is the experience of slogging through the swamp in the dark to sit in a waving tree and watch the sunrise over the papyrus.

I have no problem with hunting in RSA. Have done it and will do it nor do I have an issue with well managed fenced proerties. I just think people that shoot non-indigenous game on fenced properties have stolen the full experince from themselves.

Hunts for animals like sitatunga, bongo etc. are somewhat unigue affairs and can't be matched behind a fence in RSA.

Sitatunga are avaialbe on ranch hunts in Zambia but at least there it is there home range.

Mark

I'm not interested in actually hunting them in RSA. I was just wondering if they were available. I've never heard of them being hunted there. They even have them here in Texas and they're actually a pretty good price. The ones I've seen here in Texas cost between $3,000-$7,500. But, like you said, it wouldn't even be close to the same as hunting them in the swamps.

If sitatunga are being sold in RSA, look for bongo, walia ibex and mountain nyala next.

BillQ

Really, I'm surprised they aren't already offering Bongo for hunting in RSA. They should do really well in areas like Zululand. They have them to hunt here in Texas ($15,000-$40,000), why not in RSA? The following are all the "exotic" species I've seen available for hunting in RSA:

American Bison
Aoudad
Blackbuck Antelope
Damara Mountain Sheep (never heard of it until this morning)
Yellow-Back Duiker
Fallow
Lichtenstein Hartebeest
Himalayan Tahr
Lechwe
Mouflon Sheep
Scimitar Horned Oryx
Arabian Oryx
Pere David Deer
Axis Deer
Sambar Deer
Addax
Nubian Ibex

I'm surprised they don't have more of the East African species in RSA.

...... I'm damn glad they don't! -The only thing worse than seeing an animal in an area that doesn't belong is seeing a fence......

Actually now that landowners are bound by law to eradicate alien species from their property, I guess they wouldn't be allowed to have EA species......

ES

If all a person wants to do is put animals on the wall without taking the time to hunt them where they live the Exotic hunt is fine. Heck I can arrange the Grand Slam of North American sheep on a high fenced operation in Canada if you want. Also it is an opportunity to take some species that don't occur in the wild anymore.

For me I need to pursue the animal in his natural habitat to feel like I hunted because the hunt and all it entails is what is really important regardless of the outcome.

Mark

I think I'm with you Mark.

Mark,

I'm also with you when it comes to animals in Africa. But, there are also lots of exotics here in Texas that offer great hunts. Things like Aoudad, Nilgai, Axis, and Blackbuck offer very challenging hunts and I also shot my Eland here in Texas and let me tell you, it was a hunt. It took 6 full days of hunting to get a shot at a good mature bull. Eland is probably the one African animal that I will definitely hunt again in Texas because of the simple fact that you get to keep the meat. I might hunt for one on our trip to Namibia next year, as well but I will most definitely shoot another one here in Texas for the meat. It is UNBELIEVABLE!