Any operators here that specialize in this hunt? I will be passing through RSA in mid July for work and so I'm doing research on the possibility of a short hunt and/or bird shoot as my time is fairly limited. I would appreciate any ideas or comments from either those who have done this or those who offer it. Thanks in advance.

George at Walken Seymour in the East cape country did fine by me and my wife on a Vaal Rhebok hunt. His website is http://www.walkenseymour.com/

Hello to my fellow Alaskan. Can you tell me more about your hunt? Feel free to PM if you want. I don't hear much about these hunts around here.

The hunt was in the Winterberg Mountains. The drive up took several hours, and I was wondering if we'd left the African continent and had somehow ended up in the lower slopes of the Rockies in MT or WY. It was a real eye-opener for me about how many exotic plants the South Africans have brought in over the years. Poplars, junipers, and a whole mess of smaller stuff.

George took us up to the top of a long, windy, ridge and we began hiking down. The vegetation was mostly low stuff, almost like subalpine tundra in the interior of AK. With no real vegetation to hide behind, we kept off the crests of the ridges and peeked down into the side gullies. Frankly, an elk hunter or a mule deer hunter would have felt right at home. Whenever we'd stop to glass, both my wife and I were mighty glad we'd brought some rain jackets with us. Not because it was raining, it wasn't. But it cut the wind that otherwise cut through our fleece like it wasn't there.

Finally, my wife got a decent shot at a very nice buck at about 300 yards. The Vaal Rhebok showed that he was hit, and hard, but he took off like a scalded ape. Uphill. And that had us pretty befuddled. Hard hit animals mostly go downhill. When we topped the ridge where the Rhebok had gone, we saw nothing. Glassing showed us nothing. And we couldn't find a blood trail beyond one tiny spot at the original place where the buck had been standing when he was hit.

George released Reggie, his Jack Russel terrier, and that little one-eyed dog knew what the game was about. He ran off over the next hill, then pretty quickly came legging it back, right behind the Rhebok. The dog was lagging far enough behind that I was able to shoot without taking out George's dog and my wife had her trophy.

Thanks for the additional info. Any photos of the area or rhebok?

I hear of 2 different ways of hunting for them...incidentally or purposefully. I am mainly interested in the pursuit of them as a primary goal. Everything I have read about them leads me to believe that they are a challenging and unique hunt.

A secondary question is what else should be considered when chasing vaal rhebok?

I should also state that I would not be traveling with guns on this trip due to work considerations. So I would need to use one of the PH's guns. I know many of you have done this but it would be a first time for me. With the long shots often encountered on vaal rhebok, I wonder how concerned I should be about that?

If you are going to be there, I'd make the time to do a deliberate hunt for vaal rehbok, mt. reed buck and blue duiker. These are terrific trophies and the country they are hunted in, is beautiful. I'd suggest that you contact Scott of Africa hunting safaris based in the heart of the Winterberg Mountains and let him arrange a hunt for you. Kudude

I can book you with Phillip and Chas. Price or Swartki Safaris if he has an opening and he usually squeezes me in someplace. They have some of the most primitive Rhebok hunting in RSA in the Winterberg Mts. His private is over 200,000 low fenced acres and abounds in Vaal Rhebok, Mt. Reedbuck and most of the other Plainsgame..

Kudude, did you hunt with Noel Ross? Any info or photos of your trip?

/

That's a nice one Alf. What was the length? Any details on the hunt?

Bryan,

This is a top 15 Vaalie I took with Garry Kelly last year. The pics also give you an idea of the country in the background. This a great hunt.

Mark

That's a nice one Mark. Was that your 2nd attempt with that operator or just for vaal rhebok? What was your shot distance?

Here is a Vallie I took a couple of years ago in the great Karoo. It also is top 15 in SCI.

465H&H

Thanks for all of the good photos. I would enjoy hearing more about your hunt experiences as I hear quite often that this is a favorite trophy among experienced hunters. I also hear more hunters say they would do a full mount for a vaal rhebok than for most other game. Is this because of the unusual hair (or is it really fur)?

What is the difference between a poor, average and good trophy?

Bryan,

The shot was 350 yards in about a 40 mph cross wind. I get lucky sometimes. The Vaal rhebok does have a wooly coat. His habitat can be quite cold and vwery windy so he needs the coat.

Garry considers a 7.5 incher a shooter.

Mark

Thanks Mark. That kind of shot concerns me a little bit as I would most likely be hunting with one of their rifles on this trip and would have had little practice with their setup. That's not a good recipe typically.

Yukon,

No, my ph was Ashley King, who lives down the road from Chappie. I have been at Noel's, I believe, if he is a great huge guy that looks like he's played rugby football all his life. Has an absolutely beautiful wife? I think we took a kudu at his place.

Damn, but I love that area. I call it Happy Valley. Gosh, I wish I could get back there this year. Kudude

quote:

Originally posted by MARK H. YOUNG:
Bryan,

This is a top 15 Vaalie I took with Garry Kelly last year. The pics also give you an idea of the country in the background. This a great hunt.

Mark

Mark,

That is a bloody ripper of a Vaalie

Yukon,

I shot mine near Bedford, with Peter Harris. He went 8 inches............chased a 10 incher for most of the day, but couldn't get a shot...

Arthur Rudman and his sons also have good concessions............

I hunted vaal rhebok in 2003 with Russ Fields, a bit north of Cook city, as I recall. Mountian Reeduck were the other primary species in this area, although ocassional blesbok and Kudu were also seen. My vallie was about 10 and 1/2 inches, and I did do a full body mount. They are a unique looking species, although not the most colorful. The "wool" is very different than the typical "fur" on most other animals.
I enjoyed the hunt, and second the notion that is was in country strikingly similar to the foothills of Wyoming / Montana.
The shot I took was extremely long (400+) with a serious crosswind (a full force gale!) One of my better (luckier) shots.
I recently switched computers and don't have any pictures at hand but will try to find a few to post of the hunt and the mount.
Bill

Blair and Bill, looking forward to any photos you might have. I'm still wondering how big the one Alf posted is and the story behind it? If the ears are 6" then that one is well over 10" it would seem. Mark, what was the length on your top 15?

Such a unique critter...ears like Yoda, interesting nose and coat, long thin horns, and their absolute refusal to be farmed. Neat animal.

Here is one that was taken in the Karoo by a local hunter near Laingsberg. It goes 11 3/8 in.

465H&H

Shazam...that's a big one.

quote:

Originally posted by 465H&H:
Here is one that was taken in the Karoo by a local hunter near Laingsberg. It goes 11 3/8 in.

465H&H

That's a freak!

Thanks for posting 465

Never mind ALF. I see where you posted elsewhere that it was 10".

I hunted vaalie with Russell Lovemore of Safari Trails International last year. After 3,5 days in the mountains (which was the last one) I took a mediocre ram, but we did see several others. The farm belongs to Noel Ross, which is legendary for his vaalies and hunting them..
I did a full mount as well. These animals are so unique that I would recommend you doing so too..

quote:

I hunted vaalie with Russell Lovemore of Safari Trails International last year

I've hunted with Russell three times in the last 10 years and would also recommend him strongly. He has also had Shockey, Kim Hicks and Boddington as customers if that means anything to you.

Below is a picture of the Vaal I took in 2002. It was well after shooting light when I got this picture, so please excuse the poor quality.


Here is a couple pictures of the full mount. Picture quality isn't that much better here!


I believe we were also on the Noel Ross farm. While I did not meet Russell Lovemore, his wife ran the dip pack operation we used for our trophies.

Bill

Thanks Bill. Looks like they got the bulbous, upturned nose right.

Given the general hunting conditions described with most Vaal hunts, what do you all recommend by way of Caliber and bullet? I have wanted to take a Vaal before but have not been hunting in an area in South Africa that has them. I believe that that will be one of the trophies that I will need to take at sometime in the future for sure.

UEG,

I used a 257 WBY shooting 90 XBT's to take mine ( that was pre TSX days ). I also took a Klippie and Black and White Springbok on that trip.

All of these could be taken with a 224 centerfire or a 243. I was warned about the Klippie's quills with a 257 but the 90 XBT just penciled through and he was bang flop.......

Range on the Klippie was over 400 yards.......a flat shooter is handy

You could use any flat shooting cartridge: 243Win, 25-06, 270, 7mmRM, or any 30 mag. Although you might get a close in shot, be prepared for a long one and in very windy conditions. Therefore, use a heavy bullet that will buck wind well. A good scope is important with these beauties. Kudude

They are small animals, around 50 lbs. so you don't need a big bullet but you do want a heavy for caliber bullet to buck wind. It should be as flat shooting as possible. The kill zone is only about 5" so you have to be careful not to overshoot the little buggers on close and medium shots. I used a 270 Win. with 130 grain Nosler Balistictips and it worked just fine. I would recommend as a minimum the 25/06 then go up through 270 Win, 270 WSM, 257 or 270 Weatherby Mags, or any of the 7mm mags. When you get up to the 30's you may be a little over gunned.

465H&H

Thanks for all of the great suggestions and the recommendations. From what you all suggest I now have some very good ideas! I was reading that Peter Flack took his very first animal at nine and it was a Vaal Rhebok. I have always been impressed with them, I just haven't had the chance YET to take one. We will remedy that in the future though.

I also appreciate all of the info and photos. Great stuff.

UEG and YD,

Have fun guys; they are a fantastic animal to hunt.

I'm missing Oribi, Sunni and a Cape Grysbok from my little collection........ Oh and a Red Duiker

Come to think of it, I also need an Oribi and a Blue Duiker. . .What's the difference between a Cape Grysbok and a Sharpes Grysbok?