I have been on 4 safaris to Africa, and while they have always been relatively high on my priorities, I have never even managed to SEE any of the small cat species; caracal, serval, black footed cat, swamp cat, sand cat, golden cat.
Is there any place, or any outfitter who could get me onto at least the caracal, serval and black footed cat?
Has anyone here taken these? If so was it just by coincidence? I think Murphy himself my have stepped in on my particular case.

I, too, would LOVE to take a serval. I was fortunate enough to see one while looking for Duiker one night in Zimbabwe a few months ago. He was no more than 30 feet away from me and was completely unintimidated by my presence. I was tortured to learn that we couldn't take him.

Regards,

JohnTheGreek

There are several outfitters in South Africa that seem to specialize in these "small cat" safaris....I believe they hunt them with dogs. If you are a member of SCI they advertise there.

I managed to get a genet,saw a couple of african wildcats and a serval.This was bowhunting at Humani in the Save River Valley conservancy in Zimbabwe.I got the genet at night and saw one wildcat at night but could not get a shot with my bow.The other wildcat and serval were spotted by chance and offered no shot.I don't guess it would qualify as a small cat but I took a cheetah on that trip also......eyedoc

To hunt these small cats you need to be in the right location. Lots of prey means they will frequent the area more. e have shot caracal, cerval, civet, and porcupine on old farms around buildings and at watering holes. Most shoot them at night or use mechanical calls. We generalyy shoot several every year in RSA. It takes time and most are targets of oppritunity

Caracal is on my list this summer in RSA. I'll let you know how I do, I'm going to see a PH who specializes in calling them. He has a reputation of bagging lots of these kitties.

Another PH/landowner I know of in Namibia says he gets a lot of serval and cheetah. Maybe next year I'll go check him out! I did see one of those genets in Limpopo on the Botswana border last year. It was too far away and too dim for shooting but it was larger than I thought they were!

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~Ann
Orion Trophy Expeditions

Saw an African wildcat in the Tuli Block of Botswana. Lots of Cheetah in the Okovango. None of them were on my ticket.

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RAB

EXPRESS,

A couple of years ago, we were on the way back to camp just before sun down when we saw an African wild cat. He had something in his mouth not more than 20 yards from us.

My PH said to jump out and shoot it, which I duly did.

And as I have heard so many stories of people being chewed up by wild cats, I am glad I had my 375/404 loaded with the Barnes 300 grain X bullet.

Of course, one well placed shot put him down for good.

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saeed@ emirates.net.ae

www.accuratereloading.com

Express,

Mail safaris@maclaren.co.za about small cats.

Remember, Serval and African wild cat are on CITES 1 like leopard. AWC interbreed with domestic cats and are therefore threatend.

Golden cat is protected. Forget about that one! If you are lucky enough to see one enjoy the sight, but do not shoot.

Genets, civets and caracals are not listed.

Cheetha can only be legally hunted in Namibia. Also CITES 1. Why kill them? They make wonderful pets.

As Saeed says, use enough gun when hunting African Wild Cat. They can sneak into your hut and chew up your entire face :-).

Bjorn

Saeed and Bjorn,
Yes,yes, use enough gun by all means for the African wildcat. At least a 22 LR. I suppose the one Saeed bagged had a mouse in its mouth? And were the remains of the cat sufficient for any use listed in _101 Uses for a Dead Cat_ after the 375/404 hit it?

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RAB

Saeed, did you recover the bullet?

What was the performance of the Barnes X in this instance?

Did you spine him to be safe, or go for the vitals?

Rick.

rick3foxes,

No I did not recover the bullet from this one. But, I did recover the bullet from an Egyptian goose I shot with this rifle

I almost missed this cat. I hit it just behind the shoulders - remember cats have thier hearts more to the rear - and a slightly low.

The bullet made a big channel in his chest, and probably gave him a heart attack!

Walter was not very impressed.

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saeed@ emirates.net.ae

www.accuratereloading.com

Civet and genet are NOT cats. They are viverridae; same family as suricate,and mongoose. JLS

We often take Cacarcal and Serval on our properties. WE also have African Wild Cat and a few genet. These are not taken much as not many people want them. Civet do not occur in our area but we do have available on some concessions we have up in Northern Province.
We hunt them various ways. At Night, calling and with dogs. Whatever is the prefence. Success rate is good and we are now offering a small cat safari.
Email me direct if you would like more details or some pics of others successes
Selwyn

quote:

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Originally posted by EXPRESS:
I have been on 4 safaris to Africa, and while they have always been relatively high on my priorities, I have never even managed to SEE any of the small cat species; caracal, serval, black footed cat, swamp cat, sand cat, golden cat.
Is there any place, or any outfitter who could get me onto at least the caracal, serval and black footed cat?
Has anyone here taken these? If so was it just by coincidence? I think Murphy himself my have stepped in on my particular case.

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Selwyn,

Welcome to the forum.

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saeed@ emirates.net.ae

www.accuratereloading.com

I'm having a full mount on my genet that I took this past season. Should look pretty cool!