I'm going on a plains game hunt in the Limpopo area of RSA next summer, my first time in Africa. I'd like to hear from any hunters who have hunted plains game, what they think was the toughest to get close to?

For me it was red duiker. I never got one either.

Kudu usually give you about 4-5 seconds to take your shot once you have stalked them and are in position, and if you aren't prepared, then it's all over and the stalk begins afresh.

Giraffe.
The only way to sneak up on them is to dig a tunnel.

As soon as I state an animal you'll get yours with ease.....but here goes anyway.....I worked like hell getting my Kudu.....and it was the number 1 trophy I went to Africa for. I found the one I wanted to be a very difficult to get a shot at animal!!! I hope you get a nice one too.....and with a bit less trouble than I had.

But that's what makes them worth the effort!!!

quote:

Giraffe.
The only way to sneak up on them is to dig a tunnel.

Yep! We tried a number of times, old long neck had us pegged a half mile away! But, we finally found a blind one!

Widomaker416
I shot my first one at @188 yards with my 450 No2 Double.
I was glad I had shot at my 200 yard rock at the deer lease several times.

I found giraffe FUN to hunt, I killed 2 of them. Their meat is very good to eat.

I can imagine that the long neck is a challenge. Of those that I've hunted (and giraffe is not in that group) the most challenging was Zebra ... lots of eyes in the groups and very alert.

They busted us on more than one approach to other species too. Felt good to knock off one of those fellas in the end. Took several days of rather careful stalking to do.

I can also see how Klipspringer can be hard to hunt.
However I got very lucky and shot a MONSTER right "near" camp.

My kudu was the longest shot I have ever made [just over 300 yards] with my 9,3x74R double.

Although I don't think you'll find them in Limpopo, my vote goes for vaal rhebuck.

My kudu was tough, but so is Eland. I can see Giraffe being a challenge also. Hey, if any weren't it wouldn't be nearly as fun.
Doug

Kudu and Eland in my case. Never got the Eland. I agree with the poster who said that kudu only give you a few seconds. But a lot of game acted like that.

Giraffe seemed easy. They were the only things that didn't run when they saw us. But then again I wasn't going to shoot a giraffe so maybe they could read my mind.

For those that have hunted giraffe, what do you do with one when you've got it?

OK this wasn't what I expected but Hartman's Mtn Zebra were the spookiest!

I agree with Samwise. The one that gave me the most problems were mountain zebra. Most of the time theyey were in large herds and busted us ever time. I eventually got two and both of them were in small groups.

Thanks for all the replies. Impala and Springbok are two of the animals I will be hunting. How do they compare to whitetail deer?

If stalking, Nyala can be tough, at least it was for me. None were easy, but the Nyala was really tough. That was in Zim, I don't know about RSA.

Matter of fact, I had taken kudu, sable and eland, and the PH knew I wanted to try for nyala, he turned to me and said, "The easy part is over". None of it had been easy, but the Nyala certainly made the others seem that way.

Another tough animal in regards to stalking is the bushbuck. Not an easy animal to take.

I found that zebra and baboons were the hardest to try and stalk on foot. All those eyes were constantly looking out for ya!! Sneaky devils!!
I got lucky, my giraffe bull was about 100 yards from the others when we found him and the herd never saw us while we were putting the stalk on him.. but 3 waterbuck cows almost blew the stalk when we got within 100 yrds of him. But, i said almost!! Now, he's headed to Az!!!

The toughest game to stalk is always the one who sees you first.

Hmmmm - stalking ...... let's see - I'd guess giraffe are tough if they're switched on. I haven't hunted them though. Mountain zebra were very, very careful, but given cover and time, they're approachable.

I'd go with bushbuck or reedbuck, due mainly to their cover. If you're stalking and not doing a hide and wait for good luck, they'd get my vote.

I bowhunted kudu, hartebeeste, and oryx all by spot and stalk. And all with the same success - NONE ! Got close to all, but not quite close enough. When they hang out in groups, your odds go way, way down for bowhunting. For rifle, the cover they use makes the difference, at least for me.

For me gemsbok, I never hunted eland but it is well known for being a very sportive hunt. I shot three kudus and seen shot several more and never find too difficult the aproach, I love to hunt them but for me the gembsbok where really spooky.
L

My toughest were nyala and klipspringer. The nyala never seem to stop running. Klipspringer are very tough as their terrain is mountainous and they are very quick.

On my one plains game hunt, kudu were hard to find, but not to stalk; once we found one, he stood there for a really long time.

The game I found tough in terms of the stalk itself was blue wildebeest. We stalked a lot of them, both herds and bachelor bulls. We usually ended up with the bull we wanted snorting at us from behind a bush for a while, then wheeling and running off.

We weren't hunting zebras, but the few we saw were very, very spooky indeed. My PH said he considers them one of his toughest animals to hunt.

Zebra are really spooky, oddly when you are around them without a rifle everything is fine, its when you are stalking with intent.... klipspringer is really difficult as is oribi, small size added to tough terrain make things very very difficult. I find springbok a hoot to hunt cos they are really switched on. I once stalked up to 45m on one only to blow the stalk because i was so excited. pretty lame, but mind you it was only my 2nd or third africa animal ever that i had stalked up on.
I love eating impala, so i do tend to enjoy hunting them. they are pretty to look at a not that difficult to hunt.

try walking up eland or zebra. that is a looong day in the field i promise you.

good hunting, tm

White Owl

The common duiker has just given me fits. I have yet to even get a shot at one. Having said that you will probably get one with ease.

Mark

I'd vote for eland, particularly the Lord Derby species, first... a true stalking, tracking hunt in 100 degree plus temperatures, lots of eyes when they are with cows and the bloody insects! Second place would be Vaal Rheebok... lots of climbing and long shots, but cooler!

Of course, I would imagine stalking sitatunga would be the hardest... I don't stalk well in scuba gear!

quote:

Originally posted by White Owl:
Thanks for all the replies. Impala and Springbok are two of the animals I will be hunting. How do they compare to whitetail deer?

I haven't hunted impala, but I have gone after springbok and found them pretty easy to stalk.

Yes I found Springbok easy-Right out in the open we approached at an indirect angle with me following immediatly behind the PH. My wife watched the whole thing and coined the phrase-now famous with Vaughan of the "PH 3 Step"-between this and her comments of men having more trouble picking out a Springbok they like than women have shoe shopping we had a rather hilarious time of it.

most of the family tragelaphinae , the spiral honed antelopes, are pretty damn crafty and most can be difficult to stalk eg kudu and bushbuck.

Once zebra have been harrassed enough they can be very shy too!

The duikers too, that live in thick bush, like the red duiker, hence most PH's call them.

Most blesbuck are easy to spot/stalk if you are prepared for longer shots BUT if you want to get close to blesbuck that get hunted regularly, get ready to crawl a lot!

For me it is Vhal Rhebok. I guess everyone has a particular animal that has been a bugaboo. This one has been mine. By the time Id get high enough there would be nothing but females. Busted every time.

I agree with kayaker, any spiral horned antelope will be hard earned.
On the other hand, any farm where the animals are regularly pressured will result in very spooky and sporting hunts.
Cheers,
Gabe

Stalk? A duiker? You've gotta be kidding me.

I've never wished for a full-choked twelve gauge loaded with smallish buckshot more than when hunting duikers.

All I have ever seen of them was their north ends heading south, and then farther south, and then farther south, and then south out of sight.

I asked my PH, "How in hell do you shoot these things?"

His reply, "You wait until they stop."

Ha!

quote:

Stalk? A duiker? You've gotta be kidding me.

mrlexma,

Last year in Zimbabwe we were riding down this trail, Tracker spotted a Duiker. We were off, it ran, we did the stalk, yes a stalk on a Duiker, spotted him feeding! Took the shot and missed! Believe that! I missed a feeding Duiker!

As you said, you don't stalk a Duiker!

Stalking a Grey (Common) duiker can be easier, as they are often in less dense bush than the red (or blue) and don't seem as skittish. I have shot them on stalk, but usually just by 'chance'.

I have never hunted Vaal Rhebuck, but friends tell me they can be very cunning and alert, and really test your skills!

I hunted Reedbuck around Mooiriver in open sheep pastures in rolling hills and they were pretty damn alert! Obviously terrain also plays a role....

quote:

Originally posted by N E 450 No2:
Giraffe.
The only way to sneak up on them is to dig a tunnel.

a local gunshop has a complete mounted giraffe
My brother had been in the store about a dozen times and I kept commenting on the giraffe to other people...

Finally one day while we were standing at the ammunition counter it occoured to him to ask:
"Ok, so where is this F'ing giraffe?"

I looked at him and said: "Look up"
He was literally standing UNDER it...

I cannot imagine how you'd sneak up on a Giraffe
without employing either tunneling skills or vertical envelopment (parachute)

I once saw a film clip of a Momma giraffe giving some "Special High Intensity Training" to some lions that were obviously under the mistaken impression that they were being stealthy while making an attempt at sneaking up on her baby....

Momma giraffe apparrently enjoyed spending the afternoon practicing her "Lion Punting" technique.

AllanD

quote:

a local gunshop has a complete mounted giraffe

Allen,

I just saw the big guy for the first time a few months ago. That's funny, your brother never saw it there!

An impala ram in amongst his ewes in the bushveld...good luck even picking him out let alone getting a standing shot at him. And when you do, he will most likely be looking right at you. A very challenging hunt indeed.

Kayaker, forgive my lousy spelling. The Vaal or grey reedbuck has been my nemesis for sure. The common reedbuck in the open areas were definitely tough but still nothing in comparison. Of course it is a non issue for this gentleman as he is hunting up north so should not be any Vaal on the menu. In the area he will be hunting I would have to say it is a toss up between kudu and bush buck.

Mike, Vaal Rhebok is totally right....

ITO reedbuck, some get confused between Mountain reedbuck and Common or Southern Reedbuck and the Vaal Rhebuck/Rhebok

In 100% Afrikaans its more confusing...the Vaal Rhebok is the Vaal Ribbok and the Mtn Reedbuck is the Rooi Ribbok, both 'ribbok' but totally different animals. The Common Reedbuck is a Rietbok (exact translations of each other).
Almost like cartridge nomenclature!

I have yet to persure a Vaal Rhebok...but from what I hear, its lots of fun!

As far as Plains game, Eland seemed to be hard for me. I never did get one.

Baboons, weren't all that easy. I got within about 200 yrs from one sitting in the top of a tree, I missed and shot the branch he was sitting on, right between his legs. The branch looked like it had been hit with a bomb, he fell about 10 or 15 ft before he caught another branch. I thought the trackers were going to die laughing.