Benand Els is the field editor for the African Outfitter magazine. Over the years me and Benand became very good friends, and hunting buddies. In December we hunted Bushpigs together for his 4 part article on the species, and were lucky to harvest two pigs in two nights, the biggest being a monster of a trophy.
Around the campfire in December, we discussed my speciality in hunting the “funnies”. They are the very difficult to get, Plains Game animals that are mainly nocturnal. Plains Game hunting in South Africa has become so competitive that we had to adapt our approach a little bit,a dn go after the beasties the other guys are not interested in going after, or maybe do not know how to hunt!
Serval is one of those trophies that are difficult to get and luck plays a BIG role. They will not come to bait, and the long grass habitat of the little vleis and river systems they prefer, makes for very difficult hunting. On top of that they are nearly totally nocturnal.
I told Benand August would be good time to try for a Serval. I have access to an area that holds a decent population of Serval, and we take 1 or 2 every year with serious trophy hunters. Benand told me to book one for him.
Last week I got the paperwork in order to make the hunt legal, and phoned Benand! The man was so excited, and reminded me that has been trying to get this elusive trophy for years!
Ok, to make a looooong story short. He shot this truly magnificent male Serval on the edge of a vlei at 22:00. I called him with a mouth caller in, and Benand shot him perfectly with his 30-06 and a 180gr. Rhino bullet.
I will update with another photo, but trust me, I have hunted these cats for 15 years now, and this is the biggest by a loooooong shot…..Will be interesting to know where it will lie in the “book”!

That's a monster.

Well done to you and Benand.

Man, I have always wanted a serval. 17 trips to Africa, 6 countries and I haven't even seen one much less had a shot! That cat is superb. Well done!

Congradulations Charl,
Calling him in with the mouth call makes it that much more special.

Fabulous. I saw one at 10 meters several years ago and had no license.

Beautiful cat! I've seen two of them in the wild. One I had in my scope for quite some time and wanted to take it. It was actually feeding on a bait we had up. The PH advised me that he did not have any on quota. The other was on quota, but a fleeting two second glimpse of it in the middle of the road was all we got.

Beautiful. Sure hope that ends up a life size mount.

It will be a full mount. Benand is a very humble, honest, serious and ethical trophy hunter. He is the proud owner of one of the most fantastic trophy collections on Southern African game I have ever seen.

Now y'all know where to come for a Serval, if the need arise. Combined with Serval, Bushpig, Klipsringer and Mountain Reedbuck it's a different, but interesting hunt!

Here is another one!

Benand is 6.4ft tall!

Well done, Charl!

While i would like one.

The only one i have seen was where i did not have a permit for ahead of time.

When i had a permit, you guessed it non were seen.

Maybe in 2014 when i return i will see if this can be added to the list.

I have shot five caracals. I would trade four of them for a serval! Great prize indeed.

I shot a big Serval in 2004 and then had the chance to shoot one in 2006 and 2007. I did not take those cats as they were both smaller than the one I already had. Plus quota is low so might as well let someone else get one.

I would love to get a caracal some day - have not seen one yet.

BigB

I just looked on the 'net., serval kittens in the US fetch 8 grand, but that does include your cites permit!!

Awesome animals. The X-factor cats along with the Caracal!

Get one of these while you can. Quotas are getting really low. Shot a monster in the Free State, but that was with hounds. Would be quite a thrill to call one in. Well done

quote:

Originally posted by joester:
I just looked on the 'net., serval kittens in the US fetch 8 grand, but that does include your cites permit!!

my wife read this post and checked it out also. thank God the price was obscene even by her standards- and that is really saying something. i have some nice pictures and video somewhere that i took of a serval out hunting in midday along a creek in the Okavanga Delta. he seemed oblivious to us on the Cruiser as he hunted rats/ birds/whatever

Thats a beauty! Congrats

Looks like a damn cougar. Congrats

an outstanding trophy Charl, congrats! I have only seen two (Zim) that were together one night while hunting varmints.