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Which would you choose?
20 April 2007, 18:25
SniperWhich would you choose?
If you were deciding between adding a blue wildebeest or a bushbuck to your next safari which would you choose and why?
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www.tgsafari.co.za 20 April 2007, 18:28
AlloutWildebeest. Poor man's buffalo.
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20 April 2007, 18:36
GeorgeSBushbuck, definitely. They are challenging to stalk, their meat is delicious, and they make a much more attractive mount.
George
20 April 2007, 18:39
MacD37I agree with Allout, I love hunting willies. I'd like to have a good example of every sub-species of wildebeast, and I still need a black , and a blue willie.
Of course, a good Bushbuck is something I don't have either, so.............
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20 April 2007, 18:42
sierrabravo45I haven't shot a Willie yet, but I have shot a Bushbuck.
I really liked hunting bushbuck so that would get my vote.
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20 April 2007, 18:50
<Hunter Formerly Known As Texas Hunter>Bushbuck - lots of fun stalking the marshes - challenging. Little rascals are sometimes hard to find and can be testy when wounded. Also beautiful creatures. Hunting blue wildebeest, as I know it, is like hunting most other plains game. Every Afican hunter probably needs a blue wildebeest but if I had to choose between the two it would be bushbuck.
20 April 2007, 19:56
MARK H. YOUNGSniper,
I've been fortunate enough to take some of both bushbuck and wildebeest. I think the bushbuck is definitely more challenging to hunt but if you wound a wildebeest you could be in for a long follow up.
It would seem you might be wondering which one to add to a package. If that is true you will be much more likely to take the wildebeest. Bushbuck are not stocked animals and they come and go through game fences at will so there might be bushbuck on the property but not while you are there.
If you are not hunting on a package ask the operator for both and see how it plays out once you are there. If it isn't a package you'll only pay for what you shoot anyway.
Mark
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https://www.facebook.com/pages...ures/627027353990716 20 April 2007, 20:12
jorgeGood post. Two entirely different animals and two entirely different hunting techniques. No doubt the bushbuck makes for a more beautiful trophy, but hunting them is closer to hunting whitetail deer. Wildebbest is more "african" to me and I prefer that. jorge
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20 April 2007, 20:21
GarByI've taken both....BUT...I ONLY took the bushbuck because my PH said it was an exceptional example (17"). I really like hunting for the Wildebeest....but now I need a black to go with my blue.
That ramble didn't answer your question very well....sorry...Africa's like that.
By the way, my bushbuck is the Limpopo variety; I'm going to Zambia in '08 for leopard and buff and want to take a Chobe variety.
I vote you just shoot them both.
Gary
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20 April 2007, 20:26
mstarlingGiven the choice I'd go for a bushbuck. Really though, I'd happily hunt either.
Mike
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http://www.mstarling.com 20 April 2007, 20:42
Fallow BuckBushbuck, make a great hunt & the BW makes a great Rug!!!
I'm of the mind that you leave it to the gods and shoot the first of whichever species turns up at a good trophy size.
This is one of the reasons that I'm not keen on packages, cos so much changes when you get there and see the animals. I never wanted a Waterbuck until I saw a juvenile on the first afternoon... I spent the rest of the week looking for his big brother but it never happened.
Rgds,
FB
20 April 2007, 20:54
zimbabwequote:
Originally posted by zimbabwe:
I am not a trophy hunter so the mount is of no significence to me. I have shot several Bushbuck and Wildebeest and feel the Wildebeest to be the better hunt. I like the herd concept and the selection and stalk required to take an animal from the herd. The Bushbuck while a most beautiful animal is too much like stalking whitetail deer to me. As to the meat quality I would take wildebeest any time over Bushbuck. I have only hunted in Zimbabwe so have only had the opportunity to take a single species of each. Given the opportunity I would like to take the other species of Wildebeest but have no real desire to again hunt Bushbuck.
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20 April 2007, 21:39
Michael RobinsonThat's a tough choice. Both can be a challenge to hunt and are equally desirable, IMO.
Mike
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20 April 2007, 21:48
L. David KeithHaving hunted both, I would rank the Bushbuck as a much higher challenge. Meat is at the top, but of course most PG is excellent table fare. You won't be taking any meat home, so other than possibly sampling some while in Africa, meat isn't a high consideration. Wildebeast as mentioned are an animal of the open plains. Doesn't mean you won't find them in heavy bush, especially the Blue. They can be difficult to stalk and heed our fellow members advice: they aren't called "poor mans Buffalo" for nothing. They can absorb a great amount of lead, and a wounded Wildebeast will give you fits in finding him. They are so ugly (to many) they are beautiful to me. Getting a trophy Wildebeast is the game. However, I'm still a bigger fan of the Bushbuck. Sly and elusive, a mature Bushbuck of any species is a grand event. I get many more comments on my 3 Bushbuck than the super Black Wildebeast I've taken. I return to Africa in a few weeks and although I'll hunt Blue Wildebeast, I will seek Bushbuck once again. Best of luck on your trip. LDK
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20 April 2007, 22:38
Safari-HuntSniper, take both, both of the aniamls should not be off the chart when it comes to their prices. So it's not such an expensive decision like deciding between bushbuck and nyala for instances $600 for bushbuck compared to sometimes $2000 for Nyala.
Save up and do both !
Frederik Cocquyt
I always try to use enough gun but then sometimes a brainshot works just as good.
20 April 2007, 23:23
Fallow BuckSniper,
Have you looked at any of the smaller antelope for your third?
Myself I#m interested in trying to get a good steenbuck next time round. I spent ages trying to get one but we kept bumping them out of tree roots before we saw them!!
Just a thought for an inexpensive addition that would be fun to hunt.
FB
I take it your hunting South Africa. If the choice was between a bushbuck and a White Bearded or Nyassa Wildebeast and a any bushbuck I would probably take the wildebeast. Mostly because those safaris are already expensive enough. And you should collect the regional ones as you can.
Bushbucks bore me, but I am sure sorting through the herds of gnu will bore some folks. If I had the oppurtunity to choose between a small gnu and a good bushbuck. I wouldn't shoot a gnu.
21 April 2007, 00:33
SniperYes I am hunting the Limpopo region of South Africa.
"In the worship of security we fling ourselves beneath the wheels of routine, and before we know it our lives are gone"--Sterling Hayden--
David Tenney
US Operations Manager
Trophy Game Safaris
Southern Africa
Tino and Amanda Erasmus
www.tgsafari.co.za Bushbuck gets my vote. I've hunted and taken two and I've hunted and taken a wildebeast. I prefer the bushbuck.
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21 April 2007, 03:36
Use Enough GunIf you're hunting the Limpopo go with the bushbuck. I have blacks and blues and bushbuck and I believe that the bushbuck will offer more of a challenge to you. A full body mounted Limpopo bushbuck will be a very beautiful trophy, only surpassed by that of a good nyala.
21 April 2007, 03:47
Adrian ParhamAssuming you plan to hunt other areas on subsequent hunts the bushbuck would seem to be the better choice. Boddington says the Limpopo bushbuck is the largest of the clan (horns) and the one I took on the banks of the limpopo was one of my favorite hunts and trophies. (17" and good mass) We were hunting northwest of Alldays near Zanzibar border post across the river from Botswana. The nyasa wildebeest and the white bearded are both subspecies of the blue and more attractive to some. The blue is much more common in your hunting area . Adrian
Bushbuck is my vote.
Bushbuck is a more challenging hunt. You get out and hunt them on their home turf on foot. Where I was in Zimbabwe it was a river bottom. I didn't get a one however as we only saw a few females but no males.
Wildebeest are more of a spot and stalk stituation. We saw tons of them from the landcruiser.
However, I will have a special spot in my heart for my blue wildebeest however as it was the first animal I harvested in Africa.
21 April 2007, 08:01
mustbhuntnBetween my wife and kids, we have five wildebeest, 3 blue and 2 black. My daughter also took a limpopo bushbuck. All of the animals were challanging and make beautiful mounts. I see no proper way to decide so beg, borrow, or save up and take them both. You won't be sorry.
21 April 2007, 08:26
Buliwyfbushbuck.
Blue wildebeest are numerous.
21 April 2007, 09:42
Frank BellerI've shot both, and between the two, I think I'd pick the wildebeest; like some others have said - a poor man's buffalo.
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21 April 2007, 11:47
jetdrvrI have two wildebeest, one in Limpopo and one in the Selous. So far, the score is bushbuck 1, me, zero. They are elusive up around Ellisras. I'd love to get one. Given the chance, I'd hunt both. The wildebeest is Africa. Love 'em, and they're very tasty, too.
22 April 2007, 06:37
luv2safariBushbuck...the little bastards deserve to die!
They have given me the slip every time, so far.
Besides, they are a beautiful addition to the wall or floor.
22 April 2007, 06:54
gas57Bushbuck-the challange, better looking, more fun, or save up and do both as the airfair is more!!!
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23 April 2007, 09:20
Russ GouldWildebeest are dime-a-dozen, you find them everywhere for not a lot of money, and they are relatively easy to hunt. Stupid animals actually, they just die hard. A good bushbuck, on the other hand, is a hard-won trophy and not easy to hunt. Very smart, stick to the thick brush, and more dangerous than a wildebeest when wounded.
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