Hopefully, I have figured out how to post pics so I thought I would post the two Cape and one Chobe Bushbuck I have taken within the last year. This was my first Cape Bushbuck. I decided to go after this ram after spotting him while Kudu hunting the bushveld late one afternoon in the Eastern Cape of RSA. Initially, the range was too far to discern anything about him other than "it" appeared to be a Bushbuck feeding its way up and out of the Kloof bottom. We cut the distance to just over 400 yards and although he didn't appear to be anything of great potential, I was mesmerized with his beauty. His almost black coat gave his spots the illusion of stars shining in the night sky. I decided that this was a great trophy to me so I asked my PH if he would mind I closed the distance alone. I needed someone to give me hand signals in case my stalk went south or other eyes appeared and spotted me. He gave me the nod so off I went. I managed to close the gap to within 125 yards. I had to steady my heavy bull barreled model 700 Remington in .223 on some wispy bush branches and this attracted the Rams attention. He was looking directly up at me when I squeezed the trigger and sent the 60 grain Nosler Partition quartering through his vitals. He dove downward into the thick bush and disappeared. We found him expired at no more than 50 yards from where he stood. We carried him up the steep ridge just in time to take several pictures before the Sun went down. He was better than I thought and is a great trophy to me. This was my first Bushbuck and thus began my strong desire to hunt them.
My next encounter with a Cape Bushbuck would come within a few days. Early one morning while hunting Nyala along the Fish River, I glanced towards the top of the ridge to see a dark sillouette that I presumed was the figure of a young Nyala bull. I whispered towards my PH who was uphill from me to "Look at that Nyala." He pulled his Swarovski's to his eyes and immediately motioned for me to come here. I scrambled up the hill and once I was beside him he said: "Do you see that Bushbuck?" The Ram had dropped off the skyline and had turned back around to face an Impala Ram that was following the Bushbuck. "Yeah, I see him." was my reply. "Take him, take him now" was his reply. I fired my .280 and the 160 grain Nosler Accubond closed the 135 yards in a millisecond. Whump! The Ram jumped into the air and ran down hill upon returning to the ground. We covered the short distance through the bush in record time: I went to where he had been standing, my PH followed a worn trail leading into the bush. He didn't go 30 yards. My PH and tracker were jumping about this boy. I have to say it made my day as well and is one of my favorite memories of the trip. Just shy of 16 inches on the left and 15 on the right. I still stare at the 8x10 photograph I have of him. Hopefully I have him hanging on the wall by the end of the summer.

My most recent Chobe Bushbuck was taken just a few weeks ago in Zimbabwe. I had seen this Ram the day before and spotted him the next morning within a hundred yards of the previous spot. Again I used the .280 w/160 grain Accubonds. Range was very close, so no concerns there. Just another super Bushbuck and more fuel to fire my quest for these great animals. For those who may not know, Bushbuck is outstanding table fare. I compare it to properly cared for and grilled Pronghorn Antelope of our Western States. Good hunting, LDK

Bushbuck are special. This one was a western Tanzanian variety. We had all worked up a bit of a sweat before we finally got him in the tall grass. Doesn't take much to hide him.

That's an outstanding collection.

Can't get enough of those bushbuck!!!

I always enjoy hunting bushbuck as well... here are the last few I took in Zim and Zambia all three with a .375 H&H.

They're fun to hunt. This one was taken not terribly far from Lake Kariba in Zim.



He took a 300 grain Swift from a .375 full length through the body and just ran away. It didn't make it far but there wasn't any blood and I really thought I'd messed up for a couple minutes. They can be tough little characters.

Kyler

LD, great animals...It sure gets in your blood...I also agree with a outstanding backstrap and filets...

Mike

The best Bushbuck in South Africa are near the Zanzibar gate to Botswana at "Montera Estates". Call David Thomas. I got a 16.7" and my hunting buddy got 15.4" along the Limpopo there. Lots of Bushbuck on the little islands.

Bushbuck are fun to hunt. They can be very elusive when hunting them.

Love them bushbuck. Here is a Limpopo Bushbuck I was lucky enough to get in October 2003.

This is my bushbuck, which also happens to be my first African animal. The horns go about 16 inches if I remember correctly. We were hunting along and near the Limpopo river in RSA. There was a abandonned border crossing there, but the name of it escapes me at the moment.

David: that BB's got to be close to a record! wow! jorge

I found an area in Zimbabwe a few weeks ago that supposedly sports Bushbuck pushing 19 inches. Moz has Chobe's that approach that limit but are heavier in mass. I'm leaving for RSA in late May and hope to add a Limpopo BB to my collection. Good hunting, LDK