If you had the whole season open and had to pick the best 10 days to make a plains game trip to the Limpopo area with Kudu, Hartebeest, Waterbuck, high on your list. What dates would you choose? Does it matter a whole lot? Thanks.

Ten days in July.

fairchase

If kudu is important you might want to book early to catch the rut. May might be a good bet. It will be green but the big bulls will be more visible while chasing the cows. Of course consult your safari operator to find out his recommendation.

Mark

May, June and July. Good bushbuck from Louis Trichardt, Limpopo.

My opreator says that May and June book-up really fast.
However, I really like hunting in open habitat at least here in the states so I guess I need to make a choice.
A couple of more questions, If I may, please.

When do the leaves drop in Northern RSA,

When is the Kudu rut?

I like mid to late August, climate is dryer and fewest leaves on the trees making for better visibility.

Limpopo has a temperate climate. This translates to the leaves dropping at quite different times each year. May be as early as April one year, and as late as July next.

There is better visibility once the leaves has dropped. So for kudu you are probably better off before the leaves drop, and they can see you better. It is true that you can also see them better, but it cuts both ways. My "Animal Bible", Smithers' give a long period of "rut" from May to August.

Sunshine: Tel me how far off the mark I am: The very nice busbuck was shot late, gutted and hung in a cold room. The photo was taken next morning? Just my guess. Still a very nice bushbuck!

As to the best 10 days? Whenever your Outfitter has an opening? On a really good concession it makes very little difference. But it is just MHO.

In good hunting.

Andrew McLaren

quote:

Verewaaier: Sunshine: Tel me how far off the mark I am: The very nice busbuck was shot late, gutted and hung in a cold room. The photo was taken next morning? Just my guess. Still a very nice bushbuck!

Andrew, you are absolutely correct. The buck was shot in November 1983 16.45 (nothing beats a diary...). When we got back home it was too dark to take a photo, that's why I took it the following morning.

Kudu can vary but the best time to shoot a kudu is late afternoon and very early in the mornings when they move actively.

The kudu rut is usually mid May to Mid June and it is a good time to hunt them for they only have ONE thing on the brain!!

If you can only book later in the season I would suggest when the leaves have fallen usually from July onwards. In my opinion good dates: May 21 - 31st; June 19 - 29; July 17 - 27; August 16-30 will be good for kudu movement.

zingeli

do your dates coencide with the new moon or something?

Ivan,

Absolutely! The kudu bulls are very active during late afternoons during new moon phases, as soon as the moonlight starts coming they wait for nightfall to start moving. I have seen his many times. Also I prefer to book bow hunting safaris only during the new moon phases in the dry time of the yer August - October.

It works try it. Hereby I don't say that you will not shoot during other times but this defenitely makes hunting easier.

Wooow

Great Bushbuck Sunshine!!!