Saeed,What is your favorite 10 animals to hunt and in what order?I was also wondering if you had a absolute #1 Favorite?

Buffalo
Elephant
Crocodile
Sable
Eland
Kudu
Waterbuck
Zebra
Lion
Leopard

I enjoy hunting, whatever the animals is being hunted.

But, I find that I enjoy both buffalo and elephant more than anything else.

The rest of list is not realy in any sort of order, as I wnjoy hunting them all.

Saeed's list is very good. If it were mine (not that I was asked) I'd do some trading around. Buffalo would remain on top. I'd move leopard and lion to 2 and 3. The trades I would make would be giant eland for waterbuck, bushbuck for zebra. I'd leave crocodile on the list--haven't hunted them much, but what a great hunt. So my list (I think, at least this morning), would be:

Buffalo
Leopard
Lion
Elephant
Giant Eland
Eland
Kudu
Sable
Bushbuck
Crocodile

Temptation is to add bongo and mtn. nyala--but those hunts are very specialized, with little other game seen and LOTS OF PRESSURE. Sitatunga also tempting, but I don't like stand hunting--or wading in the swamp when it's dark and cold!
Cheers, Craig

Not that I was asked either . . .

Many of you know I spend a lot of time of the hunting forums trying to keep up-to-date on what’s going on in Africa and in the hunting world – because Jim hunts in Africa and works way too many hours to go online himself. I’ve been on numerous hunts, but have never hunted anything. I’ve considered it a time or two while trailing Jim through the bush with a video camera. Sometimes I get the urge to pull a trigger instead of press “record.” It’s kind of like standing on the line at a drag strip and watching the boys take off. It can make you want to get on the line and see what you can do.

I think if I was going to invest the money (and take away funds from Jim’s hunt), I’d go for something cheap, like a gemsbok in a gemsbok-thick area. If money was no object, I’d go for an elephant. (I actually can shoot, you know.)

This is a great question. Not to take away from Saeed's and Craig's list, my own list would be:
Buffalo
Leopard
Elephant
Lion
Crocodile
Bushbuck
Sable
Roan
Kudu
Hippo
I love matching my wits against a super cat, and leopard is right up there for that reason. Crocodile are very smart reptiles, have a reputation for death and present a very small target, making it exciting. I also like to hunt zebra, but they would come in as #11 on a list for me, followed by some of the smaller stuff like Sharpes Grysbok, Klipspringer, Livingstone's Suni, Vaal Rhebok and Red Duiker.

Saeed,
I sent you a PM.
Thanks!
Mims

Thank you Sue, I was a little nervous about ranking myself third on the AR famous personalities list, albeit the fact that I am closing in fast on a thousand posts. Gaining ground on Don and vapodog...

Anyway, to the topic. My list is also headed by buffalo. I shot a few buffalo for rations when I was younger, and I have accompanied many buffalo hunts as both appy and journalist, but I have never been on my own buffalo bull hunt, looking for the trophy that I want. I am currently saving to do just that and intend to achieve this particular objective before I'm 40.

I just canceled a post I was making in response to advice being given Karamojo Bill, regarding what to hunt on his next safari. I just can't understand why so many guys (whom I though I knew so well) are advising Bill to go blesbok and wilde plinking when he could hunt buffalo! When I found myself writing 'what is a blesbok anyway?', I deleted the post! Jokes aside, and kind of contradictorily insofar as the big game/plainsgame aspect is concerned, I personally rank each and every animal in the spiral-horned family above the cats. Elephant bull between buffalo and eland/bushbuck/nyala.
A fantasy is to one day hunt mountain nyala...

David

Drat, UEG beat me to the bronze!

Aferthought: But the greatest hunt that I ever went on? The most memorable? Elephant bull, without a doubt.

While I wasn't asked either, I'll throw in my 2 cents, for whatever it is worth. I'm surprised Craig left off the Vaal rhebuck.

1. PAC bull elephant
2. tuskless cow elephant
3. ration bull elephant (see a trend here?)
4. cape buffao
5. sable
6. vaal rhebuck
7. bushbuck
8. lion (haven't done it yet, but it would have to be a tracking hunt))
9. eland
10. hippo on land

Some may be surprised that I left off leopard. I took one over bait and hunting over bait bored me to tears. I can't see wasting expensive safari time sitting in one place day after day hoping a cat will show up when I could be out walking and enjoying seeing different habitats and game on a track or stalk.

465H&H

My choices would be;
No1 through No8 ELEPHANT.
No9 Tracking hunt for Lion
No10 Cape Buff.

ALL with Double Rifles, of course.

Mebbe I should have included Vaal rhebok--what a great mountain hunt. That could replace crocodile--I'd rather climb a mountain than crawl through mud making a stalk!

I wasn't asked either but this is a fun exercise. I've taken the liberty to make two lists. I actually prefer taking something new to repeating most species.

Species I've taken and would like to again:

1. Bull Elephant
2. Lion
3. Cape Buff
4. Croc
5. Leopard
6. Sable
7. Kudu
8. Suni
9. Blue Duiker
10. Eland

Species yet to come:

1. Cow Ele
2. Tuskless Ele
3. Forest Buff
4. Roan*
5. Bongo*
6. Dik Dik*
7. Mountain Nyala
8. Oryx
9. Gerenuk
10. Defassa Waterbuck

* Any one of these would complete my African 29

First, the top ten of the ones I have already hunted succesfully:

1) Lion
2) Buffalo
3) Kudu
4) Bushbuck
5) Zebra
6) Oryx
7) Grants Gazelle
8) Hippo
9) Dik-Dik
10) Warthog

Next up (hopefully):

1) Bull elephant (This Fall!)
2) Leopard
3) Bongo
4) Giant Lord Derby's Eland
5) Sable
6) Gerenuck
7) Roan
8) Mountain Nyala
9) Nyala
10)Giant Forest Hog

Thanks for all the answers,its very good info and its fine for anyone to put up there list,it makes it interesting for us all...
Saeed ...I figured your favorite was Cape Buff,I just didnt know where Elephant and Lion was on your list..
Thanks to all for the great replys,I enjoyed all the great info & everyones shareing there Great Hunt List of Favorites.Thanks a bunch for shareing ..sounds like a lot of fun & exciting hunts
Craig you made me laugh,I agree,I would rather climb a mountain than crawl thru mud anytime,thats funny & glad to see you posting here,we all are.Welcome & thanks for your list,it adds to the fun
and Sue ..your a very Brave Lady!

Saeed, You planning an ele hunt any time soon? Always enjoy the buffs (have 2007 and 2008 videos) but would love to see that 375/404 and Solid Walterhogs on Ele.

_Baxter

1. WOULD BE EITHER ELE. OR LEOPARD
2. BUFF.
WHO CARES AFTER THAT

I know this is hard to imagine, but I am currently experiencing "burn out" on Africa. The last couple of trips just have not really done it for me. I have been going for the last 12 yrs, sometimes as many as 4 times in 1 year. My wife is South African, and we have spent a lot of time there, hunted in Zim (my favorite), Moz, Tanzania, Namibia. We are going to lay off a couple of years, and hopefully get back some interest. It has a lot to do with the travel, the BS with the rifles, the aggravation with airlines and so forth. Of course that is not stopping me from doing some different things, Australia in September. Just need something different for a change maybe.

Anyway my favorites

1. Elephant
2. Buffalo
3. Hippo (dry land only)
4. Lion
5. Buffalo
6. Buffalo
7. Buffalo
8. Buffalo
9. Buffalo
10. Baboon shooting.

Pretty much sums it up for me. Leopard is not mentioned because after spending 70 some odd days over a very very long period of time for leopard I finally got mine in 2005. I HATE HUNTING LEOPARD---I HATE LEOPARD BLINDS--I HATE SITTING THERE--I don't give a damn if I ever in my life see another leopard!!! Leopard is out unless he walks across between me and a buffalo or something in the broad open daylight.

Michael

Hope it's OK to have two lists? Need more than one for additional animals!

First List:
1. LION
2. LION
3. LION
4. LION
5. LION
6. LION
7. LION
8. LION
9. LION
10. LION

Second List - Only when I cannot hunt List #1
1. Leopard
2. Elephant
3. Buffalo
4. Croc
5. Sable
6. Roan
7. Hippo
8. Bushbuck
9. Kudu
10. Eland

Aaron Neilson

The below have been the most fun for me or at least the most satisfying.

Leopard
Elephant (trophy bull)
Lord Derby eland
Lion
Buffalo (first bull)
Sitatunga
Sable
Livingstone's eland
Bushpig
Sharpe's Grysbok

If I were younger and richer I would say elephant. Otherwise buff offer all the excitement and challenge I could want. <I can't do stand hunting or walk forty miles a day>

I guess I better get some more hunts in as I've only taken four on Saeed's list.

I suck.

Well, since everyone else is providing their preferred hunts I'll add mine.

Buffalo
Elephant
Lion
Leopard
Kudu
Sable
Eland
Bushbuck
Zebra
Sitatunga

Michael, you'll hate me, but I've taken two big leopards on two different hunts....in two days of hunting! The first one was taken with Roy Vincent after sitting for perhaps two hours over a bait and the tom came in before sunset. The second was taken by tracking in the Kalahari with Cecil Riggs, and was a very interesting hunt in it's own right, even though we had the tom by mid-afternoon the first day.

On the other hand, it took two safaris and 37 days to finally shoot a lion, when I took him on the 22nd day of a 24 day hunt. Tracking the pride on foot for more than 5 hours before finally coming on them resting was a fantastic experience. My very first safari was a 24 day affair with Roy Vincent, then of Rosslyn Safaris, that included elephant, 2 buffalo and leopard, but not a lion. I was given the option of extending the hunt to 28 days and adding lion. I declined the offer, so as you can imagine, the very first animal we saw after arriving in camp mid-afternoon and going around for a short drive to get acclimated...was a spectacular lion at about 25 yards. That was the only mature lion I saw for the duration of that hunt and an entire 15 day hunt that followed a few years later. I was seriously starting to worry that I wasn't going to take a lion in Botswana, when it finally happened.

Buffalo and Elephants are the greatest, IMO. One of the best things about our bushbuck hunting was seeing three different Black Rhinos at very close range. We saw six Black Rhinos over two safaris in Charara and Deka, but I wonder if there are any left at all in those places these days.

Michael458,Thats funny when you said you dont give a damn if you "ever see another Leopard"!
You really had to put in your time on that one!
I havent really thought of stand hunting african game much.. but after reading stand & blind hunting here...it made me think... that would be the perfect hunt for someone thats handicapable or just cant get along very well for many reasons...We have some special areas on the local wildlife mangement areas where only Handicapable hunters are allowed,I wonder how many handicapable hunters hunt africa everyyear/never hear much of it?
That would be nice to see someone have a hunt of there dreams come true by useing a blind that normally would not be able to do the hunt for many reasons.Is this allowed or fairly common?I have really enjoyed all the shared lists,this has been a fun thread. Keep them coming..

Michael 458,

You can hate me too. I killed three leoaprds and set in the blind exactly 6 times total.

Blackbearhunter,

A physically challenged hunter with patience can take the majority the game offered in Africa. Hunting from blinds, at waterholes and good old diesel stalking can produce some great trophies.

Mark

One of my hunting buddies took a big Namibian leopard on his first morning on the continent. We were there hunting leopards with dogs. I really hated him! I spent another 15 days, baiting, checking baits, getting on tracks, baiting more, and no spots. This was my second dedicated leopard hunt.

Yes I hate each and every one of you that get your leopard in 1-10 days!!!!! ALL OF YOU!!!!!

Nah, kidding. But damn I hate that spotted devil! I am not kidding, any of my PH's know better than to even think leopard around me! Bait for lion, but forget leopard! Count me out, I want no part of it! I am not getting in a leopard blind again, no days like that for me!

Michael

Anyone notice that Eland made almost everyones list? (except SBT, now I am certain there is something wrong with him. AT least he has shown a desire to hunt a Lord Derby )

I love Buffalo, but Eland is one of the finest PG animals to hunt.

quote:

Originally posted by michael458:
Yes I hate each and every one of you that get your leopard in 1-10 days!!!!! ALL OF YOU!!!!!
Michael

Then your hatred for me is pretty strong. Try this on for size ....

First safari ever, first day of the safari the ph says, "You want to shoot a Leopard?"

"Sure, I guess."

Sit in blind that evening, shoot Leopard.

The Leopard was my first African trophy.

How ya like me now?

quote:

Originally posted by Wendell Reich:
Anyone notice that Eland made almost everyones list? (except SBT, now I am certain there is something wrong with him. AT least he has shown a desire to hunt a Lord Derby )

I love Buffalo, but Eland is one of the finest PG animals to hunt.

Wendell,

It also ranks WAY up on the lists of "best eating", which might be related

OK Wendell, you have shamed me into it. I WANT TO HUNT ELAND! And, lesser kudu and fringe eared oryx!

What I am suprised at is how high a crocodile is rated on so many lists. I turned them down in Zambia as it didn't seem like there was much to it. What am I missing?

Wendall

I swear I think you are "rubbing" this in! Yeah, I hate all of you that get leopards the easy way! But I will get over it one day. Don't worry, I really won't hold it against you, won't forget it, but won't hold it over you!

I did have a hard time with the spotted bastards! And I do hate them for real! I really hate leopards! IN fact I really don't want to talk about it anymore!

Michael

Michael, this should make you feel better. I've had Eland on my license twice, but have yet to shoot one.

Perhaps that is why they are the animal I'm really most interested in taking on my upcoming hunt.

CAelknuts

OK, yeah, that helps a little. Finally in 2005 my great endeavor was over, still 4 yrs later I hate leopards. It took 8 yrs for me to get my leopard, in the meantime I shot lions, elephants, bunch of buffalo, and nearly anything else I wanted--but leopard was giving me a hard time. I hunted leopard in Zimabawe, Mozambique, Namibia, and Tanzania. I spent many full nights in the blind, had leopards all around me, had them nearly in the blind, had them in the blind while I am not in the blind, and so many things I can't even remember. I had given up completely, then all the sudden finally one did the right thing and it was over.
I am not kidding, the biggest relief and a foremost thought was that I won't have to sit in a blind for leopard anymore!

I think that sometimes a particular animal gives us issues and problems for some reason??? I have good luck with nearly everything else, but just not leopard. Leopard was my nemesis!

Michael

We might have to change this threads name to

Michaels Hate List of Leopard Shooters the Easy Way!

Let's see now My hate list

1. CAelknuts
2. CAelknuts (have to hate you twice for two Leopards.
3 Mark
4. Mark
5. Mark (Damn, maybe you should be #1--#3)
6. Wendall
7. Wendall (Twice for rubbing it in)

I am up to seven now!!! Anyone else want on my list???



Michael

Mike,

You can hate every client that hunts leoaprd with John DuPlooy's Muchinga Adventures in Zambia. The leopard hunting is that good. Yes! I do realize this is a shameless plug.

Mark

Given my choice price being no problem my first ten choices, and next ten choices would be Cape Buffalo in tight bush.

Choices in order for the big five woulld be:

#1 Cape Buffalo
#2 leopard
#3 lion
#4 bull elephant
#5 Rhino

Plains game doesn't really interest me much:

#1 Sititunga
#2 Giant Eland
#3 Black wildebeast
#4 Gemsbok
#5 Heartebeast

I have several of the others but those five I don't have, mainly because they do not exist in any huntable amounts, or at all, where I have hunted Africa.

Mark

You are really working hard to be #1 on my list!


Michael