Mike Borman of Bangweulu Taxidermy sifted through the heads of some impressive Buffalo and picked up the diminutive skull and remarked 'hell that is heavy, look at the bases and check how he is broomed off on one side'. What he cupped in his hand was the dagga boy of blue Duiker.

This was the first duiker taken at Royal Kafue and although I had always had one on quota I had never really hunted them as my client's pursuits had always been for the bigger more glorious game. I never gave them much attention nor had studied them to any degree. Sort of considered them little more than a small target of opportunity.

I can honestly say that it was Kevin (pictured here) who introduced me to miniature world of blue duikers and the hunting of them. For us all it was a fairly intense learning experience and resulted in some fine fine hunting indeed.

Having questioned my trackers and camp staff I was led to believe that the thickets around camp was positively heaving in the tiny beasts. Admittedly I had on occasion heard their squeals and the odd small disturbance in the leaf litter so I did know that they were around but presumed rare.

Our very first foray just behind camp resulted in a couple of sightings, some hearings and a close up of an elephant bull. Hunting them redefines the word tiptoe. Incredibly (for me) we had one shot opportunity but I could not (did not) know how to differentiate between the sexes. This was going to be a steep learning curve for us all. It was also bloody obvious that these tiny animals had all the advantages and that their senses were very acute. The walk and stalk method proved awkward and bumbling. We were giants in the forest.

It was Kevin who suggested that he (along with a tracker) would like to spend a few hours simply observing the terrain and territories of the duiker and took up an observation post on top of an anthill and I agreed to this.

Over the next few days Kevin had gathered more information about Blue duiker than I have read. Having analysed the cover and identified certain territories he had moved his hide into what he believed to be the killing field. He had now become fluent in Duiker language, had this unkempt look about him and grew a beard. He had gone bush. Talking Duiker sex around the bar in the evening was somewhat unusual considering we were on a double buffalo hunt. Kevin proclaimed that the bulls were significantly larger and carried much more mass in horn. The males also showed off what can best be described as a massive pair of bollocks. We are talking duiker here not buffalo.

Our preferred armoury consisted of a .375 with solids, a .22 short and a scatter gun. However the shotgun's pattern over thirty yards proved to be erratic and the firearm was rejected. The .375 even with solids might be overkill and as the .22 was well sighted at 40 yards this was to be the weapon of choice.

Kevin politely informed me that the specie was more active in the late afternoon and that he had set the stage and would like to draw the final curtain on the beast. One male in particular that ruled the patch. I say politely as he was further to inform me that this was to be a one on one affair and I was not invited. Me and my gun could view the proceedings from a distance. Like I said he had gone bush. I and the other hunter Carter chose the bar as our viewing platform and quietly sipped a good whiskey waiting for the show to begin. The sun was going down after all.

Just before dusk Kevin emerged from the nearby bushes. He was dancing and bearing in his hands his coveted trophy. I must say we were all in awe as the creature was both beautiful and exotic. Fragile and fantastic.


PHOTO courtesy of Carter Graves.

A bottle of some really fine spirit was opened that evening and Kevin must have slept with that ear splitting grin of his. The following morning I was allowed back into the driver's seat and showed him a little of what I know about buffalo.

"To see a world in a grain of sand"...it is all out there, the rest is up to you

Frustrating, but a whole lot of fun to hunt the little chaps.

Well told, as usual.

Looking for blue duikers in the thickets along the Kafue was one of the best experiences from my first safari. With the strange alarm calls and quick glimpses of the tiny things darting through the shadows, it felt a bit like we were hunting fairies.

Great Picture
Love hunting the little ones

Very enjoyable read, they are high on my wish list. Congrats on a great trophy and wonderful story.

A very well written and fascinating story, Andrew, along with a beautiful trophy!

Good things come in small packages. It's a very rare occasion when a client can show a PH something new. And then to have the you paint such an eloquent picture of the entire hunt, it's just special. Great story, well told.

Best-

Well written!! Nice that you can admit your personal learning curve never ends. A good trait.

I know zero about these little critters. Is that a good one?

quote:

Originally posted by Frostbit:
Well written!! Nice that you can admit your personal learning curve never ends. A good trait.

I know zero about these little critters. Is that a good one?

Jim,

As measurements go it would be in the very good class.

Although not a duiker, I hunted steenbok and klipspringer in April. Didn't get a shot at any duiker. Really enjoyed hunting them.

Great story Fairgame! Love the picture! They are so fun to hunt and it can become addicting to hunt them! I shot a very nice blue duiker while hunting the beautiful and scenic "jungles" along the Indian Ocean's coast in the Eastern Cape last June with Charl of Infinito Safaris. They are fast, darting here and there, and are a very small target of opportunity that usually come out of nowhere heading your direction, soon to turn and disappear just as quickly as they came, back into the thick stuff. You'd better be quick and a good shot!

Awesome read and trophy ! Good one on both of you mate!

Them little fella's have a sack to be proud of don't they?!

Thanks for sharing.....

Great story and an obviously nice trophy! Congratulations.

Andrew,

Great story and nice trophy! Get a call and you will be the Blue Duiker fundi. They come barreling in but sex ID is the key as you've seen.

I love hunting the little ones. A Cape grysbok is next on my Tiny 10 list.

Congrat to you and Kevin.

Mark

Good Stuff

Great writing Andrew.

Reminds me of hunting muntjack in the edge of tea fields in India.

quote:

Originally posted by MARK H. YOUNG:
Andrew,

Great story and nice trophy! Get a call and you will be the Blue Duiker fundi. They come barreling in but sex ID is the key as you've seen.

I love hunting the little ones. A Cape grysbok is next on my Tiny 10 list.

Congrat to you and Kevin.

Mark

Mark,

One of my trackers could call them but he needed a certain leaf that did not occur in the immediate area. The more subtle approach that Kevin decided on was much more interesting.

Basically it takes a couple of sittings or quiet walks to identify where the territories are. Then identify the male and make a plan.

His first shot at this duiker was a miss as it was ranged at 70 yards and he held the .22 over the top of the shoulder. The Blue returned some minutes later.

The advantage of using a .22 was there was very little noise disturbance.

quote:

Originally posted by infinito:
Awesome read and trophy ! Good one on both of you mate!

Them little fella's have a sack to be proud of don't they?!

Thanks for sharing.....

Absolutely and must have the largest ball bag to body ratio of any animal?

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:

quote:

Originally posted by infinito:
Awesome read and trophy ! Good one on both of you mate!

Them little fella's have a sack to be proud of don't they?!

Thanks for sharing.....

Absolutely and must have the largest ball bag to body ratio of any animal?

Nah! Ground squirrel!
https://www.google.co.za/searc...674.html%3B650%3B429

Third row, second from right. Should have put money on it.

Must say, Andrew that I look forward to blue duiker (and oribi) next time we hunt together. Some of the hardest hunting I've done, as opposed to opportunistic and lucky encounters, has been for the Tiny Ten. Apropos of which, male red duikers are remarkable in their dimensions, too.... Positively goat-like.

Best, Tim

quote:

Originally posted by Tim Carney:
Must say, Andrew that I look forward to blue duiker (and oribi) next time we hunt together. Some of the hardest hunting I've done, as opposed to opportunistic and lucky encounters, has been for the Tiny Ten. Apropos of which, male red duikers are remarkable in their dimensions, too.... Positively goat-like.

Best, Tim

Look forward to it Tim.

quote:

Originally posted by Scriptus:

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:

quote:

Originally posted by infinito:
Awesome read and trophy ! Good one on both of you mate!

Them little fella's have a sack to be proud of don't they?!

Thanks for sharing.....

Absolutely and must have the largest ball bag to body ratio of any animal?

Nah! Ground squirrel!
https://www.google.co.za/searc...674.html%3B650%3B429

Third row, second from right. Should have put money on it.

You know your nuts!! HOBBY?

quote:

Originally posted by Frostbit:

quote:

Originally posted by Scriptus:

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:

quote:

Originally posted by infinito:
Awesome read and trophy ! Good one on both of you mate!

Them little fella's have a sack to be proud of don't they?!

Thanks for sharing.....

Absolutely and must have the largest ball bag to body ratio of any animal?

Nah! Ground squirrel!
https://www.google.co.za/searc...674.html%3B650%3B429

Third row, second from right. Should have put money on it.

You know your nuts!! HOBBY?

Fellahs around here hang 'em out to keep cool, plus the "heat" [ahem ] makes them swell a bit, not like the poor beggars up there who have to wrap them up warm and tuck them away.
Boobs be a far better hobby, far prettier than nuts.