Hartebeest are the Rodney Dangerfields of safaris - they never get any respect. As I watch various African shows, like Under Wild Skies, I keep hearing how "rare" the Lichtenstein's hartebeest is. However, they seem to be all over the Selous and many parts of Moz.

One reference cites Coke's hartbeest as the most common variety, yet, when it comes to hunting, you have to go to northern Tanz to hunt them.

The first hartebeest many hunters shoot is the red hartebeest; I am no different. With the exception of a jackal, it was the first animal I shot in Africa and remains my favorite. The reddish coat is pretty neat, and horns are actually pretty impressive.

I have two Lichtenstein's skull mounts in my trophy room mounted below a gemsbok. My red hartebeest is a shoulder mount looking to its right and sits under a Dall sheep. I am thinking of doing a shoulder mount on my Coke's.

A lot of hunters look down on the more "pedestrian" plains game, esp if it doesn't have huge headgear like the kudu or gemsbok. My taxidermist showed me an absolute monster red hartebeest that his client didn't even want to mount. To that guy, a hartebeest wasn't simply something to shoot. But if you ask me, since they are so common, I often think of them when I close my eyes and remember Africa.

A big western hartebeest aint nothing to sneeze at either. Beautiful hints of gold in his otherwise reddish coat.

Bicyclists should also avoid any proximity to red harts.

One of my favorites too. Love to watch them move.

They taste great too.

They are a bit goofy looking verses the elegents of some other species so that may be the problem.

Hartebeest only seem ugly from first glance.

I thought the same thing too, back in 2008 on my firtst safari to Africa. That is, until I saw the cape red hartebeast my son shot.





Now, it's one of the critters I'd really like to have.


Mad Dog

Maddog, Dan told me he brought some real ammo and not those squib loads, you made for him.
Dan great shooting.

Mike

quote:

Originally posted by AnotherAZWriter:
... I keep hearing how "rare" the Lichtenstein's hartebeest is. However, they seem to be all over the Selous and many parts of Moz.

My first hartebeest was the Lichtenstein variety, which I shot in Zambia. Shot red hartebeest in South Africa and Namibia since then. Both types are nifty, but the color and sheen on the coat on the Lichtenstein is absolutely beautiful.

Bill Quimby

I agree with AZ... hartebeest are so ugly they are cool and I have all of mine mounted. A red from Namibia, Coke's from Tanzania, and a western Bubal from Benin. I am waiting on a tsessebe from Zim that is in the process of being shipped... I know it is not a true hartebeest but a close cousin that looks like a dark red version of the Coke's Hartebeest. I am chasing a Lichenstein's this September in Mozambique. Can't wait for an opportunity at that variety!

On the second day of my hunt in Northern Cape last year (Hunt the Sun Safaris) my PH urged me to try for a big red hartebeest bull we could see in the distance. The afternoon sun caught his coat and was just brilliant. I declined, not being interested in the animal. The hartebeest's image was burned into my mind, though and about an hour later I said to the PH "I really screwed up by not trying for the hartebeest, didn't I?". He didn't take his eye from the road, he just said "Un-huh...". I stalked and took mine the next day after three stalks on different bulls and I think it is the most stunning hide I have. And the skull and horns always elicit positive comments from folks.

A good L.Hartebeest taken in the Kafue. The skull itself makes for a very interesting mount.



Hartebeest can be tough to hunt and for the most they prefer open country where visibility is good.

I am just discovering this ugly little sisters to other stuff. I have not yet taken one but hope too soon.

Red Hartebeest is one of the animals on the top of my list of the anmials I hope to get this year.
I hope to get one while stalking with my bow

While we are on this thread, how many species of hartebeest can be hunted, excluding Damaliscs?

We have mentioned the

1. Red Hartebeest
2. Lichensteins Hartebeest
3. Coke's Hartebeest
3. Western Bubal Hartebeest
then there is the:
4. Lelwel Hartebeest in CAR and Cameroon
5. Jackson Hartebeest in Uganda

???? Others?

Are the Topi and Tiang considered Damaliscs not true hartebeest?

My Bubal Hartebeest...

I think Cameroon only has Western. That's what I was told when I hunted it.

Russell,

I believe there is also the Western, Neumann, tora, Kenya Highlands and Swayne but I think the Western in Cameroon and Neumann in Ethiopia are the only currently huntable varieties.

Mark

quote:

Originally posted by bwanamrm:
While we are on this thread, how many species of hartebeest can be hunted, excluding Damaliscs?

We have mentioned the

1. Red Hartebeest
2. Lichensteins Hartebeest
3. Coke's Hartebeest
3. Western Bubal Hartebeest
then there is the:
4. Lelwel Hartebeest in CAR and Cameroon
5. Jackson Hartebeest in Uganda

???? Others?

Are the Topi and Tiang considered Damaliscs not true hartebeest?

My Bubal Hartebeest...

That is a cool animal. Where did you shoot that?

I am no expert but I understand topi are not true hartebeest. However, that is another interesting animal IMO. I have a shoulder mount of one and it makes me think of Western Tanz whenever I look at it. Wish I had shot another and taken a full skin.

AZ... Benin in 2008 with Club Faune. I would love a topi... one day!

I thought there were two variety of Western the Western Bubal and the Lewel... the only real difference being a white chevron on one vs. the other.

A Western shot in Cameroon in my pre-AR days . . .

Jackson's Hartebeeste - Karamoja, Uganda

quote:

Originally posted by ledvm:




Jackson's Hartebeeste - Karamoja, Uganda

Well done and great looking animal.

I hear that SCI is going to recognise Jacksons hartebeest as a separate species now!

What about these guys?

quote:

Originally posted by Matt Graham:
I hear that SCI is going to recognise Jacksons hartebeest as a separate species now!

I have not heard for sure on the verdict...but there was definitly discussin going on about it a couple of years ago.

What is that Ann? Looks like a cross between impala and hartebeast.

It's the Hunter's Hartebeest, AKA the Hirola.

quote:

Originally posted by impala#03:
What is that Ann?

That is a jail term in Kenya. IIRC, the hirola isn't actually a hartebeeste.

Dean

A red hartebeest is tops on my list for the next trip as it is one of the plains game species I have not hunted yet. I think I will also go with the european mount and tan the full skin.

quote:

Originally posted by lavaca:
Hartebeest only seem ugly from first glance.

and they are just as ugly on second glance- although i must admit i have shot a red and Lichenstein one.

I may have a chance at a Cokes. A nice addition to my Western and Red.

quote:

Originally posted by ledvm:

quote:

Originally posted by Matt Graham:
I hear that SCI is going to recognise Jacksons hartebeest as a separate species now!

I have not heard for sure on the verdict...but there was definitly discussin going on about it a couple of years ago.

A guy I know at SCI told me that it had been given the OK by the record committee at this last convention .... havent seen it in writing yet though!

HARTEBEEST Family, Alcelaphus buselaphus includes ;
A b major
A b lelwel
A b tora
A b swanei
A b cokei
A b caama
Then there is the Lichtenstein's Hartebeest who some classify as Sigmoceros lichtensteini
Further, there is the Damalicus family.
D hunteri Hunters hartebeest or Hirola
D lunatus which includes Tsessebi, Topi, Korrigum, Tiang, Bontebok and Blesbok. I hope that helps a little.

I think the hartebeest is a little tank. The red hartebeest I got in 2003 just did not know to die. I shot it in the chest and when we wlaked up one it, it jumped up and starting running again so I shot it in the chest again and damn if it not jump up again when we wlaked up on it.

quote:

Originally posted by David Culpepper:
I think the hartebeest is a little tank. The red hartebeest I got in 2003 just did not know to die. I shot it in the chest and when we wlaked up one it, it jumped up and starting running again so I shot it in the chest again and damn if it not jump up again when we wlaked up on it.

dont you hate it when they are uncooperative like that??