After pm discussions with another forum member about hunting vaal rhebuck, it got me thinking about how many other species are available to hunt in Africa that don't get the notoriety that they probably deserve.

My African hunting is limited to three separate trips to the Eastern Cape of South Africa. During the 32 days I have hunted the EC, I have been fortunate in taking 46 big game animals of 23 species. Of those, the previosly mentioned vaal rhebuck would get my vote for an underated big game animal as their elusiveness, habitat, and tremendous vision make them an extremely challenging animal to hunt.

Since my experiences are so limited, I thought it would be interesting to hear the opinions of other more experienced huntes in regards an African animal that may not get the press they deserve.

SDSpink,

I agree the Vallie is one of the most elusive of the PG species and I don't think a lot of hunters even think about them. For bigger game I think the Nile crocodile and the lowly spotted hyena don't receive the notoriety they deserve. Both species are extremely switched on and wary as Hell. I've taken a couple of each and consider the hunts for them to be some of my most memorable African experiences.

Mark

There is zero doubt what is on the top of that list for me..A veteran croc who has been hunted before.

Leopard on a spot and stalk no vehicle

In all honesty, I think that the impala is the most underrated. But for their widespread availability, they'd be highly sought-after. I've taken at least one on each of my safaris and hope that trend continues.

I'm with Woodhits... I really like Impala.

They are beautiful animals that are underated because they are so widespread. Most everyone that wants one has the oppurtunity to kill one on every safari... I know I have. Hope to hunt them again, and again!

Having hunted the Vallie for many days unsucessfully they get my vote as one of the toughest, that said I went loonie for Suni for about 5 yrs.

Bushpig, Hyena, Suni, Blue Duiker....and not on a game farm.

Another vote for crocodile. To the inexperienced, it seems boring and easy. It is anything but that.

Also worth considering is the zebra, at least under true wild conditions. They have strong senses and are tough to get close to, and they certainly call for good shot placement. A zebra rug is a must have trophy for any African hunter, and the trophy fee is always relatively reasonable. On top of that, a zebra makes four fantastic leopard baits.

Big bushbuck of every species. Not necessarily totally underrated, but my favorite.
Jim

quote:

Originally posted by Dave Fulson:
There is zero doubt what is on the top of that list for me..A veteran croc who has been hunted before.

absolutely. a big(14-15 foot) croc will be 60 plus years old and know every rock, bush, tree, and sandbank of his territory. plus he has all 3 senses in high gear- smell, sight and hearing.small crocs are easy but a big one is a whole different beast... not to mention absolute precise shot placement on a walnut size target at varying distances.

I have only done planes game, zebra have real great eye sight and are real smart.

Jd

My Vaal Rhebok is by far one of my most cherished trophies.

I think all of the members of the Tiny 10 are underrated.

I think a Blue Wildbeest could be considered. Yes, they are everywhere but a really really big one is hard to come by.

Impala. People are spoiled. Here is an animal that is gorgeous in horn and hide and just screams "Africa". In spite of all that, their numbers dictate a very low trophy fee. If they were a rare species, they would cost more than kudu.

Bushpig and Hippo
Shot a bushpig in the face at under a foot this week. It had been turning off its spoor at 90 degrees and then hitting the dogs from the side in a flag charge as they blow bye on the scent.

We pushed it for three hours until it finally came for me. My shot from the hip missed the brain but turned the pig across our front. Client on my right shoulder put two ssg shells into it as it turned.
Two more shots from my rifle as it turned to come back put an end to it.

The pig had a scar around its chest from a snare. That explains the super aggression to humans and dogs etc.

I agree that if Impala were rarer, they'd be right up there.

My undervalued animal is the Black wildebeest. He's a beauty. The colours are fantastic, the eyelashes contrast to the eyebrows to the lashes, to the tail to the hide .....

If you've never seen one close-up he's a kaleidoscope ....

I can't really say how trophy animals are rated, or under-rated, but there are some that have limited range and numbers and are as good looking as any: Niassa Wildebeest, Western Harnessed Bushbuck, Roan Antelope. Those would be my favorites for under-rated.

An Impala at less than 50 yards.

Vaalrhebok. Drove me nuts. People come over and say "oh look you shot a baby" Makes me want to smack them.

I always enjoy hunting wildebeest in the bush. Much underrated game.

Impala -- so common they don't even merit curio/jewelry status. (The vendors look at you like you'd just requested pottery/ear rings/etc. with hamburgers on it.) If rare, a 28" impala would rank with a 200-class whitetail, 10# largemouth bass, grander marlin, ...

I vote on Eland. Done right it is a super tracking hunt. Much cheaper than buffalo but almost just as fun.

quote:

Originally posted by Dave Fulson:
There is zero doubt what is on the top of that list for me..A veteran croc who has been hunted before.

Took the words right out of my mouth!!!!

Wildebeest. They won't let you make a marginal shot.

I think an epic PG hunt would be a couple of weeks shooting 3-5 eland behind bushmen trackers with a DR.

I think that warthogs are beautifully ugly. Like impala, they're ubiquitous. If they

were rare, they'd be on many "must have" lists. Hunting purposefully for a 15 or 16 incher- -there's a challenge, epecially since most are shot incidentally.

Also, hyena & bushpig, no bait & no dogs. Calling hyena is my favorite, especially when the lions or a leopard show up first!

I think warthogs are majorly overrated and everyone should stop shooting them So there is more left for me because they are a waste of a trophy fee.

K

Impala, Bushpig, Wildebeest, giraffe....each can be a really hard but cool hunt!!!

Ed

I think I've outlined an underrated list for my hunt next year:

Vaal rhebuck, blue duiker, cape grysbok, bontebok, bushpig, cape bushbuck, and zebra. And, if the chance is given, a big old boss baboon!!!

I've been over twice now and both the bushbuck and zebra have eluded me so far. I hope the third time is the charm!!

quote:

Originally posted by joester:
I think that warthogs are beautifully ugly. Like impala, they're ubiquitous. If they

were rare, they'd be on many "must have" lists. Hunting purposefully for a 15 or 16 incher- -there's a challenge, epecially since most are shot incidentally.

Also, hyena & bushpig, no bait & no dogs. Calling hyena is my favorite, especially when the lions or a leopard show up first!

When I was in Masailand in Jan 12 my PH spotted what he called a "huge" warthog. He put up the sticks and told me to shoot it. I had previously told him I had no desire to shoot a warthog unless it was bigger than my biggest. He told me this one was exceptional. I took a look through the scope and hemmed and hawed, then declined. The PH insisted I shoot it, so I whispered, "Everybody got their ears on?"

With that the tail went straight up and he took off running around the water hole, which was huge.

The next day I wanted to go a nearby park, but time was pretty tight, so we agreed we should see if we could find that warthog again. It was my last day hunting.

We looked for that pig all day, but just before dusk we turned off a dirt road to park the truck to scout the water hole. I caught movement to me left and damned if it wasn't two pigs. They were running parallel to us, but within 100 or so yards we got up on them. Sticks went up and whacked it with a .300 RUM from about 80 yards. Pig takes off running. No blood. We made every widening circles and then found a gusher. Pig ran about 80 yards.

I walked up the pig and said, "Tom, he isn't bigger than the one I have already shot."

He said, "That is not what a PH wants to hear." He was bumming.

I slapped him on the back and smiled and said, "But it was cool as hell how we deliberately went after that specific warthog."

The next day we drove to Arusha, showered, and hung out at some kind of private club (I think owned by TGT?), then we both flew out together.

I don't remember many last days of any hunts, but I do remember that one.

Klipspringer

Impala, to my thinking.

I have not been to Africa yet - but I am dreaming of a caracal in daylight!

The itty bitties are a real challenge. They can be tought to spot, set up, and they all run like hell when alarmed.
I have not hunted crocodile, but from everything I have heard the big guys are quite wary. BTW I did observe what I thought were big Crocs in Lake Kariba.

Impala all the way. I love them.

bushpig

I have to opt for warthog. I love impala, it's not a proper African hunt if I don't shoot an impala, but warty doesn't get the love he deserves.

quote:

Originally posted by BNagel:
If rare, a 28" impala would rank with a 200-class whitetail, 10# largemouth bass, grander marlin, ...

A 28" impala DOES rank with a 200" whitetail!

Like Terry I love the wart hog, and take one every chance I get. However, to me one animal that is taken by most as a simple add-on to the hunting of something else, like Cape buffalo, is the wildebeest. A grand slam of all the subspecies of wildebeest is a real trophy room addition, and will take hunting in several different places to acquire.

......................................................................

I see no one has mentioned the mountain reedbuck. I took mine from one mountain and the reedbuck was on the next mountain, closest we could get.

And the bushpig has evaded me on 6 safaris so far.

Springhares