The Accurate Reloading Forums THE ACCURATE RELOADING.COM FORUMS Hunting African Big Game Hunting Anyone ever seen a porcupine in daylight?Go | New | Find | Notify | Tools | Reply | |
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An event of long ago made me worder about the strict nocturnal habits of porcupines. Smithers state that they sometimes bask in the sun in front of their burrows. But have you ever seen a porcupine active in broad daylight? What were they doing? What was the weather like? Anything of note about seeing one in broad daylight? Glad for any input about the daylight activity of porcupines. In good hunting. Andrew McLaren Andrew McLaren Professional Hunter and Hunting Outfitter since 1974. http://www.mclarensafaris.com The home page to go to for custom planning of ethical and affordable hunting of plains game in South Africa! Enquire about any South African hunting directly from andrew@mclarensafaris.com After a few years of participation on forums, I have learned that: One can cure: Lack of knowledge – by instruction. Lack of skills – by practice. Lack of experience – by time doing it. One cannot cure: Stupidity – nothing helps! Anti hunting sentiments – nothing helps! Put-‘n-Take Outfitters – money rules! My very long ago ancestors needed and loved to eat meat. Today I still hunt! | ||
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Andrew I have on two occasions. Once was in a field full of green mielies, surprised the bugger while he was snacking on a windy day Second time, very odd, but in open grassland making his way across. No idea why, possibly displaced from a burrow. He then went down into an abandoned burrow. whether he stumbled upon it by chance or whether it was an old haunt we will never know. Aside from that its only ever been with a spotlight at night | |||
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I have, in Texas, just walking down a ranch road. He didn't seem overly concerned about me either. | |||
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It is common to find porcupines in the daytime in the US. I had a bird dog who had a particular knack for finding them when out pheasant hunting, and brought back several quills in his nose on several occassions. Later in life he learned to just bark like crazy when he saw one, but kept his distance. Hard to say what they were doing before being disturbed by my dog, but just seemed to be going about their business on the ground. Bill | |||
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The only African Porkie I've seen in daylight was in Cameroon. It was a really hazy and overcast day and we had one cross the trail about 50 yards in front of us. Pretty big one too. I'd quess it was at least 3 feet long. I've seen a couple at night on the way back to camp, but that was my only daytime encounter. That being said, I've seen hundreds of American Porkies in the daytime in my native Colorado. | |||
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I have seen NA porkies feeding in trees during the day and saw one shimmy down a nearby tree once while I was in a tree stand bear hunting in Quebec. ~Ann   | |||
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saw one one in broad daylight in matetsi in knee high grass, was walking up to a kudu we had just shot and came up on him, he sure didn't head for a burrow, rather came at us backwards (we were about 10 ft. away), when be backed up he turned and scurried away | |||
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I've seen a number of them in Alaska and one in Pennsilvania in broad day light. Brett DRSS Life Member SCI Life Member NRA Life Member WSF Rhyme of the Sheep Hunter May fordings never be too deep, And alders not too thick; May rock slides never be too steep And ridges not too slick. And may your bullets shoot as swell As Fred Bear's arrow's flew; And may your nose work just as well As Jack O'Connor's too. May winds be never at your tail When stalking down the steep; May bears be never on your trail When packing out your sheep. May the hundred pounds upon you Not make you break or trip; And may the plane in which you flew Await you at the strip. -Seth Peterson | |||
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I haven't seen one during the day, but I would imagine that maybe on overcast days or late winter afternoons they might venture out if they didn't nibble enough the night before. I know aardvaark are sometimes seen during the day under these conditions. | |||
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I've never seen one in daylight in Africa, but I've seen pleanty of them in West Texas, New Mexico in daylight! ....Mac >>>===(x)===> MacD37, ...and DUGABOY1 DRSS Charter member "If I die today, I've had a life well spent, for I've been to see the Elephant, and smelled the smoke of Africa!"~ME 1982 Hands of Old Elmer Keith  | |||
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I've seen three in two trips to RSA on the Eastern Cape. All were in broad daylight. One about mid morning, the other two were on different days, about mid afternoon. Each seemed to be doing his own thing, and ignored us. | |||
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I have seen them in the daylight while hunting in Alaska. They do not seem to be too frightened or aggressive. Jim | |||
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I met one in the middle of an alder thicket in Alaska, when I saw his little brown beady eye I would have bet a million dollars he was a Brown Bear. After my hasty retreat with cold chills down my back and the discovery he was simply a porky, I was very grateful to watch him for long minutes before I could move and regain some sort of composure again. My buddies told me I invented some new curse words in that thicket. Good shooting. phurley | |||
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I've seen hundreds of them in the daylight back in TX.. My pointers seem to have a knack for finding them! Thank God they only show a passing interest in them and leave them be. I have yet to see one here in southern AZ.. I think it may be too dry down here. They're thick in northern AZ though. There were a BUNCH of the little bastards in MT too! I've seen 2 in Africa in daylight.. 1 was up on the RSA/ Zim border near Mussina and it was early morning.. He was wattling down the 2 track headed back to sleep off his meal in a hole somewhere. I saw another one on a place near Plumtree, Zim right at last light.. We were walking back to the truck and heard some loud rustling in the grass nearby.. Got closer and we could then hear his quills rattling as he was moving along. I've heard it was bad luck to shoot one, so i never did.. On the same token, Ive awlays thought of it as great luck to find a quill in the road or on the trail while you're hunting! | |||
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Fifteen safaris and only once have I seen a porky in daylight. It was in the north Chewore concession. He crossed the road about 10 yard in front of us moving at a rather rapid pace. | |||
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I once saw three at the same time, one afternoon at Rooiport, SA. Those were the only porcupine that I've ever seen in Africa, day or night -- but I was raised in the Adirondacks and frequently saw porcupines out and about during the day there. They are generally nocturnal, but, like Leopards, don't hesitate to move about in daylight if they have some good reason. When you get bored with life, start hunting dangerous game with a handgun. | |||
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I have seen one in daylight down in the Zambezi Valley. The PH was upset with me for not shooting it as he always wanted to see how the taste..  | |||
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Not very often. Only 2 or 3 times and if I remember correctly, only on very overcast days and not far short of dusk. | |||
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Thanks for input. Although quite a few have in fact seen Hysterix africaeaustralis in daylight, the fact that not many more responded is taken, rightly or wrongly, as 'evidence' that they are indeed mostly nocturnal. This tells me that, although they may look the same in Alaska and southern Afrca they are not the same species. I've seen three at one time in 55 years of hunting in southern Africa, and that is just about average? I saw a bigger one and two smaller ones walking down a pathwah while I was hunting near Koedoeskop many years ago. About midmorning on a bright and sunny, but cold day. They passed a few yards from me unmolested. Is there anyone out there that can tell what species the American and or Alaskan 'porcupine' is. The only subspecies recognized in southern Africa is of the genus Hysterix, which is the Greek name for porcupine - and has nothing to do with Asterix and Obelix  . The species nameafricaeaustralis apparently only means that they occur in the southern parts of Africa. OK, never mind - I'll go to Wikipedia! In good hunting. Andrew McLaren | |||
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Last year 7 sightings in Groblersdal area and this year 3 in Lydenburg. I found it very odd. In mountains running like hell to somewhere in the middle of the day. Nothing chasing them. Charl van Rooyen Owner Infinito Travel Group www.infinito-safaris.com charl@infinito-safaris.com Cell: +27 78 444 7661 Tel: +27 13 262 4077 Fax:+27 13 262 3845 Hereford Street 28A Groblersdal 0470 Limpopo R.S.A. "For the Infinite adventure" Plains Game Dangerous Game Bucket List Specialists Wing-Shooting In House Taxidermy Studio In House Dip and Pack Facility In House Shipping Service Non-Hunting Tours and Safaris Flight bookings "I promise every hunter visiting us our personal attention from the moment we meet you, until your trophies hang on your wall. Our all inclusive service chain means you work with one person (me) taking responsibility during the whole process. Affordable and reputable Hunting Safaris is our game! With a our all inclusive door to door service, who else do you want to have fun with?" South Africa Tanzania Uganda | |||
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I saw one in Namibia in 2007. About an hour before sunset on a clear day while it was just out waddling around. I shot it at about 100 yards and got some great pictures. I'll be happy send them to someone who knows how to post them. I had a good handful of the quills that I was going to bring home with me but I must have set them aside as I was packing and forgot about them. | |||
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i have seen exactly that , basking at the mouth of their dens , i will try and find the picture to post , needless to say the sighting was followed by a mad scramble to get the sticks up and get the hunter in place ...urgently she whispered ....what is it ...where should i shoot , she has a 300WSM and the quills probably scattered over an acre ...!!!!it was about noon on a hot sunny day ... on lemco .. i have seen them on several occasions at sites that i have known there was a burrow and we snuck in in early daylight to shoot ...a lot of effort for a handful of quills ... "The greatest threat to our wildlife is the thought that someone else will save it” www.facebook.com/ivancartersafrica www.ivancarterwca.org www.ivancarter.com ivan@ivancarter.com | |||
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Oh how I envy you. After picking up a pencil size quill on my first trip to Namibia, I really wanted to shoot a porcupine for the skin. I thought it would make a great rug to hang on the wall. When I headed back to Namibia for my second hunt I asked my host and he said that the don't hunt them on his ranch.  I have killed elephant, lion and buffalo, so I only need a leopard to complete the big four. But, truth be told, I would rather take a porcupine than a leopard. Jason "You're not hard-core, unless you live hard-core." _______________________ Hunting in Africa is an adventure. The number of variables involved preclude the possibility of a perfect hunt. Some problems will arise. How you decide to handle them will determine how much you enjoy your hunt. Just tell yourself, "it's all part of the adventure." Remember, if Robert Ruark had gotten upset every time problems with Harry Selby's flat bed truck delayed the safari, Horn of the Hunter would have read like an indictment of Selby. But Ruark rolled with the punches, poured some gin, and enjoyed the adventure. -Jason Brown | |||
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Saw one in Matetsi unit 1 in 2006 11:00am while we were trailing buffalo he walked along about 10yds from us for about 300yds,it was a big one but its quills looked like the had mostly been plucked(no big one's for it's size). Saw another in Alaska in a tree about 10ft. off the ground on a day when the wind was blowing about 60mph and not a cloud in the sky. Wind was so bad you had to lean into to walk. Wesley | |||
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I can't even begin to fathom the series of events that would follow such an occurrence. "...Africa. I love it, and there is no reason for me to explore why. She affects some people that way, and those who feel as I do need no explanation." from The Last Safari | |||
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Back in 95, late in the September afternoon on the road north from Windhoek on our way from airport to a farm – we were driving with a PH and his appy – we saw a porcupine crossing the road, minding its own business – PH hard on the breaks jumped out of the bakkie with his appy on his heels – one grabbed a pole and the other a couple of big rocks – turned the lights out on the poor creature with two client’s ladies in the vehicle observing the lynch – they have pretty set the tone on the whole trip. | |||
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Pretty poor taste.  Also illegal hunting - yes, even if you attempt to kill or just molest, an animal with sticks and stones it is in legal terms hunting - on a public road to boost!  In good hunting. Andrew McLaren Andrew McLaren Professional Hunter and Hunting Outfitter since 1974. http://www.mclarensafaris.com The home page to go to for custom planning of ethical and affordable hunting of plains game in South Africa! Enquire about any South African hunting directly from andrew@mclarensafaris.com After a few years of participation on forums, I have learned that: One can cure: Lack of knowledge – by instruction. Lack of skills – by practice. Lack of experience – by time doing it. One cannot cure: Stupidity – nothing helps! Anti hunting sentiments – nothing helps! Put-‘n-Take Outfitters – money rules! My very long ago ancestors needed and loved to eat meat. Today I still hunt! | |||
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I see them a great deal in southwest texas during the day. Almost everytime I see one I think,,,,,???? What the heck is that, then I am like,, porcupine...I never expect to see one, the last time was in the middle of the day checking a water trough and the sticky creature just waddled right up to get a drink and didn't pay any attention to me,, thirsty I guess. They are about like racoons as far as tearing up floats on water troughs and feeder timers so they really aren't liked that much but I tend to leave them alone. Very common to see them at night. I have only seen one in Africa and it was near dusk.. you can make more money, you can not make more time | |||
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I saw one in Zimbabwe, near Mbalabala, in broad daylight. We were driving towards a hunting area and he had just crossed the track in front of us. I jumped out, with the camera, and went after him for a photo, foolishly thinking that I could get close enough for a quick pic - those bastards are must faster than they appear! "White men with their ridiculous civilization lie far from me. No longer need I be a slave to money" (W.D.M Bell) www.cybersafaris.com.au | |||
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Saw one near Fort Rock, OR. one day. It was really windy and we almost bumped into each other. It scampered off into crevice under a ledge. --------  www.zonedar.com If you can't be a good example, be a horrible warning DRSS C&H 475 NE -------- | |||
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Saw one just last Sunday, about 5:30. Fist P-Pine I've seen in a year or so. Ed DRSS Member | |||
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This past June I was watching an alfalfa field along the Bushman River in Natal. It was late evening and a porky came out of the woods and began feeding in the field. A pair of Duikers, two Egyptian Geese and a Ewe and calf Bushbuck joined him. I ranged the porky at 200 yards but didn't want to shoot him as I was waiting on a Bosbok, and hopefully a good one. This was about an hour before dark. It was clear, no clouds. A week later in Limpopo, we were coming back from setting out Leopard bait and a blind. It was about 9:30 pm and we were on a gravel road. Frans was driving about 50mph when all of a sudden what looked like a Volkswagon came out of the bush and ran into our path. With a thump, we ran over what was the largest porcupine I have ever seen. His quills were up and this porky was huge! Frans only said: "Good thing we hit him broadside." I wanted to go back and get some quills but we were in a hurry to get back to camp for some late dinner so we kept on going. I have seen them in the western US States but only twice during daylight hours. Gray Ghost Hunting Safaris http://grayghostsafaris.com Phone: 615-860-4333 Email: hunts@grayghostsafaris.com NRA Benefactor DSC Professional Member SCI Member RMEF Life Member NWTF Guardian Life Sponsor NAHC Life Member Rowland Ward - SCI Scorer Took the wife the Eastern Cape for her first hunt: http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/6881000262 Hunting in the Stormberg, Winterberg and Hankey Mountains of the Eastern Cape 2018 http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/4801073142 Hunting the Eastern Cape, RSA May 22nd - June 15th 2007 http://forums.accuratereloadin...=810104007#810104007 16 Days in Zimbabwe: Leopard, plains game, fowl and more: http://forums.accuratereloadin...=212108409#212108409 Natal: Rhino, Croc, Nyala, Bushbuck and more http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/6341092311 Recent hunt in the Eastern Cape, August 2010: Pics added http://forums.accuratereloadin...261039941#9261039941 10 days in the Stormberg Mountains http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/7781081322 Back in the Stormberg Mountains with friends: May-June 2017 http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/6001078232 "Peace is that brief glorious moment in history when everybody stands around reloading" - Thomas Jefferson Every morning the Zebra wakes up knowing it must outrun the fastest Lion if it wants to stay alive. Every morning the Lion wakes up knowing it must outrun the slowest Zebra or it will starve. It makes no difference if you are a Zebra or a Lion; when the Sun comes up in Africa, you must wake up running...... "If you're being chased by a Lion, you don't have to be faster than the Lion, you just have to be faster than the person next to you." | |||
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