Not much has been written or reported about hunting the lowly hyena. As a game animal, they don't seem to be high on most African hunters' lists.

But I would like to take one this year, if possible. I think it would make for a great full body mount.

I would think the best way to hunt them would be to set baits, as in lion hunting. Then build a blind and watch the baits at dawn and dusk.

We have seen them on our lion baits before. But we have never shot at them, as we were after the cats and didn't want to spook any that might be near.

I have also wondered how to tell the males from the females under hunting conditions. I have seen female hyenas that looked like males - with grossly distended genitalia. Never in the wild, but on television. The few I've seen in the wild have always been running away.

I have to imagine that females are frequently shot instead of males. Not sure that it matters.

I would appreciate hearing from those who've hunted hyena. How did you do it? Was it very difficult? Did you enjoy it? Thanks.

Hyena eluded me for several trips. An underrated trophy, for sure.
The genitals look ambiguous, the females tend to be bigger.
I'm having mine rugged.
Good luck with your smelly dog.

Don't know how to hunt one, but would consider it to be a very fine trophy indeed.
On my 3 safaris, never saw 1 or I would have 1 of my own.
Best of luck!

Mike,

You might want to check the link below for my hyena hunt last year. http://forums.accuratereloadin...991004181#4991004181 I've shot two hyenas and I think they are about the sharpest pencil in the box. They are very wary so I think you'll need to specifically bait them.

Mark

I shot one last year in Sengwa research. Went like this: client shot an elephant. We butchered elephant and chained the big bones (feet etc) to a large tree. Covered the pile with thatch grass. Vultures descended and actually sat in that tree but left the bone pile alone ... I guess they work on sight alone. Before leaving, we built a blind (well a screen) about 70 yards from there and cleared a path all the way back to the road so we could walk in silently. Path we marked with toilet paper.

Next morning an hour before first light we walked in. Two hyenas were on the bait. We waited til it was light enough to see the sights (I was using an iron-sighted 375 thanks to United Airlines who refused to check my rifle at PDX). Something spooked the Hyena, one of them ran directly toward us and stopped about 30 yards off. I shot instinctively as I still could not see the irons. I missed.

Next morning same story. This time I had a borrowed 30-06 with a scope. Could make out the Hyenas, probably the same two, and I shot one of them in the shoulder. Was pretty sure of the shot. Well to cut a long story short, five hours of tracking later, some blood initially and two laydown spots, we bumped that hyena off a ridge and he took off at full speed. PH called it off. I still don't know what happened ... I think I may have hit a branch, or perhaps there was a solid in the borrowed rifle. Not sure.

So in Sept this year I tried again. We built a tree blind over a bone yard. This time on a ranch. Spent the night in the tree. (Second night, I think this was a mistake.) PH got mad at me for snoring. Anyway, some bushpigs came in, also a brown hyena. No spotted. Next night we went out with a caller. This in the form of a very powerful amp hooked up to a CD player in the Cruiser. Played some whoops and then a feeding frenzy. Got one answer but no action. Tried 3 or 4 times in different places. Last setup, got an answer immediately, then jabbering as they came in from about two miles away while the feeding frenzy was playing. It was very exciting. Could tell which direction they were coming from and got ready. Heard foot thumps and then saw them in the moonlight. PH put a green light on them. One stopped and I nailed it about 50 yards out. It went down within 30 yards. The other one hung around jabbering in the dark. You can see photos here

Zim 2013

I tried for one over bait last time I was in South Africa. It was at night and froze my butt off to no avail.
Hyena's are apparently smarter than me. They stayed someplace warm.

quote:

Originally posted by Russ Gould:
I shot one last year in Sengwa research. Went like this: client shot an elephant. We butchered elephant and chained the big bones (feet etc) to a large tree. Covered the pile with thatch grass. Vultures descended and actually sat in that tree but left the bone pile alone ... I guess they work on sight alone. Before leaving, we built a blind (well a screen) about 70 yards from there and cleared a path all the way back to the road so we could walk in silently. Path we marked with toilet paper.

Next morning an hour before first light we walked in. Two hyenas were on the bait. We waited til it was light enough to see the sights (I was using an iron-sighted 375 thanks to United Airlines who refused to check my rifle at PDX). Something spooked the Hyena, one of them ran directly toward us and stopped about 30 yards off. I shot instinctively as I still could not see the irons. I missed.

Next morning same story. This time I had a borrowed 30-06 with a scope. Could make out the Hyenas, probably the same two, and I shot one of them in the shoulder. Was pretty sure of the shot. Well to cut a long story short, five hours of tracking later, some blood initially and two laydown spots, we bumped that hyena off a ridge and he took off at full speed. PH called it off. I still don't know what happened ... I think I may have hit a branch, or perhaps there was a solid in the borrowed rifle. Not sure. Maybe I aimed a bit high (half way up). I could clearly see which way he was facing so I didn't gut shoot him.

So in July this year I tried again. We built a tree blind over a bone yard. This time on a ranch. Spent the night in the tree. (Second night, I think this was a mistake. Hyenas workded the giraffe bones over pretty hard the first night). Blind was comfortable so I fell asleep waiting for moon to rise. PH got mad at me for snoring. Anyway, some bushpigs came in, also a brown hyena. No spotted. Next night we went out with a caller. This in the form of a very powerful amp hooked up to a CD player in the Cruiser. Played some whoops and then a feeding frenzy. Got one answer but no action. Tried 3 or 4 times in different places. Last setup, got an answer immediately, then jabbering as they came in from about two miles away while the feeding frenzy was playing. It was very exciting. Could tell which direction they were coming from and got ready. Using my trusty Valmet 412 in 375 JDJ with Redfield 2 3/4x scope. Heard foot thumps and then saw them in the moonlight. PH put a green light on them. One stopped and I nailed it about 50 yards out. It went down within 30 yards. The other one hung around jabbering in the dark. Coat on my hyena was primo. Will have rug mount made. You can see photos here

Zim 2013

Now another client of mine tried the blind thing in Zululand. He wanted to use a double rifle with no scope. Hyena came in, but as soon as the PH put the light on, the Hyena took off so no shot.

I have also heard that a surefire way to get them is to cut up a hunk of meat into little cubes and bury them. The Hyenas go nuts digging them up, and they tend not to run off when you put the light on. Haven't tried it though.

I think the optimal solution is a night vision scope. That way you can take your time with the shot.

i've shot a couple or 3. the first was over a bait at night in matetsi. that one was a ghost. it took over 3 hrs of watching it come in and out of the shadows on a moonlite night before getting a shot. next was a couple nights after we had shot a problem lion we called by his old kill and had 2 come in. in fact we were sitting in back of the cruiser and they actually came right up next to the tailgate.
agreed, they are a much underrated animal

Man, in Samaris's Selous blocks they are all over the place.

I have a full body mount hyena which is absolutely my favorite animal. The trackers wired some leopard bait remnants to a tree just above their ability to easily reach, which had the effect to keeping them enticed. We walked in about one-half mile with just socks on to minimize the noise. There was a small hill between the two hyenas and us. We peeked over the hill and by earliest dawn light we saw them. I could see only their profile so I put the crosshairs "half way up and centered from left to right..." as the PMI used to say. The PH asked rather skeptically if I hit him. A forty yard shot is pretty easy and a .375 Swift A-Frame finished the deal.

I thought it was a great hunt, magnificent trophy, and highly recommended.

I have always considered a hyena a very fine and interesting trophy, its interesting that most hyenas I have read about being shot where targets of opportunity and on the other hand specifically hunting them seems quite challenging.

Mike:

I just end returned from Zim and took a hyena on my hunt. It was a blast to hunt and would hunt them again. The best part was all the other predators that came into the bait.

My hyena hunt with Charl van Rooyen took place in June, in the Limpopo near Kruger. This was written by Charl and posted on July 3, 2013.



"The night is eerily and uncharacteristically quiet. It is only 19:30, according to my Luminox, staring right at me from the dark blind Vaughn and I are sitting in. The Bushveld air is biting cold and dusty, and I cannot help but think how privileged we are to be sitting here, waiting for one of the most coveted predator trophies in all of modern Safari hunting, the Spotted Hyena.

The pressure on me as a Professional Hunter is now on. My mind trails off to the events of the previous 7 days. We are half way through the Bucket list hunt, and our 14 day marathon Safari in South Africa. Everything has gone without a hitch so far, and we have collected some great and memorable trophies. We have also laughed a lot, ate some of the best food in the world, and in general, just had an absolute blast. But this is it, the one hunt that has had me worried the most.

Last night was interesting for sure, with some great activity at the bait site, but no Hyena. From our hide-out, a young Leopard walked in front of the blind no more than 5 yards from us. An hour later, a BIG male Leopard calmly walked up to the bait and started feeding on it. He then walked around the bait and twice sat on his haunches looking right at us. We also heard the howling “whoooop” of our prey more than once, but nothing came in. Why? Did we do something wrong? Did the two Leopard have anything to do with it? Was it the wind? Or was it something to do with the full moon-a “Super Moon”, and the brightest and biggest full moon of 2013? All these thoughts kept me awake and constantly thinking during the previous night.

The next morning was a revelation of sorts. Of the three drags we made, all three had Hyena tracks running on them, but, only after we left. We got out of the hide just before midnight, and they came in the wee hours of the next morning.
Vaughn then suggested to Heinrich, our local assisting professional hunter, and to myself, that we should re-drag the area and freshen up the bait. All of us agreed that this strategy might make the difference that evening.

Right now the bait is only 60 yards away, stationed over a little open area cleared by erosion. Our blind is perfectly situated, in the shade of a very big thorn tree and covered with camouflage netting.

The full moon continues to casts its translucent light, and we again feel the eerie calm as we watch the bait tree and the surrounding area for any sign of activity. We wait and wait…remaining quiet and motionless. The moon’s light now finds its way partially into the blind and Vaughn places part of his camouflage clothing over the rifle barrel to avoid any glare from the moon.

A couple of hours later the still night air is suddenly shattered by a very clear and distinct “whoooop!”. He is still some ways off, but it sounds as if he is on one of the roads that had been freshly dragged again this afternoon. I can sense Vaughn, sitting next to me, beginning to focus all of his senses on the sound, and slowly but quietly settling himself upright and a little forward in his seat. Vaughn now has the rifle and scope tightly pulled against his upper right arm and face. The next “whoooooop” as well as a softer “giggle”, takes both of us by surprise as the Hyena is now only about 200-300 yards from us. I begin to think that he must be running hard onto that fresh stinking trail that we left for him earlier today.

No words or looks are needed or exchanged between the two of us. Vaughn sits totally focused and tucked in behind the sticks, waiting. I perch forward with the spotlight in my hands. We peer into the bright moonlight for some sign of the “spotted dog”. Nothing….did he smell us? Did we do something else wrong? A little shadow of doubt started to creep into my mind, but then…..there…..a large shadow moving down the road leading to the bait….The sloping body and odd gait reveal that this is the animal that we came for. The Swarovski binoculars confirm to me that it is a mature Spotted Hyena, and I give Vaughn the tapping signal on his leg that the light will shortly be coming on and that he will soon be in the clear to shoot.

BOOOOOM! Before the light even has a chance to come on, Mr. Spots is the unhappy recipient of a Barnes 200gr. TSX bullet from Vaughn’s .325 WSM MG Arms Model 70 Winchester. A short tirade of sounds from the Hyena, and then brief hopping and biting that abruptly ends within 15 seconds. A perfect heart shot, taken in the full of the moon and without the assistance of any artificial light!
Vaughn and I had discussed this scenario over and over during the previous night. IF the moon was bright enough, he would try to take the shot without the assistance of the light. Once he got the tap from me, he had the “green light” to make that determination himself and to take the shot if he felt comfortable and confident to do so.

The relief and jubilation that flooded over the both of us was indescribable! Let us just say that this was not my client’s first try for this special animal, but it surely was a very special and memorable hunt for both of us. And, it was certainly my humble privilege and honour to be the lucky P.H. to guide him to a successful conclusion of his quest for the 'Spotted Dog'".

My hyena was added to the shopping list when we got to Sentinel in Zimbabwe last year.

We used a combination of a zebra (that I wounded and the hyenas finished off) and finally an electronic caller one night to bring one in.

It was a little pissed off to hear another 'pack' on the zebra carcass and came running in just after dark. Gotta say that their sounds are pretty eerie.

Ended up taking a 50+ yard shot illuminated by John's Surefire light. One shot from my 350 Rem Mag (using CEB Raptors) and it dropped in its tracks. Stuck a second shot in it per request just to make sure. (1st shot entered around the anus and exited the chest. You can see where the 2nd shot clipped the front left elbow as it was on the ground.)

Not a monster but my most gratifying trophy.

Hyenas stink beyond belief so it's a good idea to try to shoot them as close to camp as you possibly can so that you don't have to ride in the truck with the carcass for any longer than you absolutely have to.

I've personally found the easiest way is to either peg a bait out close to the skinning shed (because they'll be used to swinging by there on a regular basis anyway) or swing by the camp rubbish dump/vulture restaurant in the mornings and evenings and you'll often get your shot without too much hassle.

As with most animals in Africa, they get a whole lot more canny if they're heavily shot and they ain't stupid so quickly learn to be very wary if that happens.

I took one in Namibia this year. It was high on my list next to leopard. I was told they are most active during full moons. We sat in different blinds a few night, used ripe cat gut from the leopard for bait, used electronic caller, but nothing seemed to work. We saw some browns on the trailcams on the leopard bait, but no spotted. We did see a lot of tracks around the baits though. One night one of the hyenas even came into camp and stole a solar light.

One afternoon we packed some food and bedding and decided to spend the whole night in a blind up on a hill near a waterhole. There were a lot of hyena tracks near there. No action all night, then about 0630 after about 14 hrs in the blind, we were all packed up to leave, when the PH noticed something in the distant. On first look he said it was a brown and I decided to hang tight to film him. As he got closer, it turned out to be a spotted. I was ready with the rifle in a second. At about 150 yds, he stopped behind a tree and started smelling the air. The wind was in our favor, but must have been whirling due to the hill. They have an incredible sense of smell and are extremely intelligent. After a few mins, he decided to turn around and started walking back undecidedly. I was covering him with the rifle and as soon as he cleared the tree, I took the shot. He fell right down as the shot broke his shoulder, but he was still alive and fairly pissed when we made it down to him and finished him.

Without doubt the most underrated trophy in Africa.

Didn't someone shoot a two legged one many years back?


I too would love to add one to the collection as I think they make a great mount and, by the accounts above, a challenging animal to obtain.

Our own Jerry Huffaker got quite the award thanks to a hyena as well.

http://forums.accuratereloadin...3421043/m/2021070191

I have shot five hyena. All of them have been targets of opportunity; pure hit or miss opportunities experienced while out hunting for other critters. We have baited for hyena on a couple of occasions but we have never shot one on bait. Boris is a much underrated trophy for sure.

They are an underated trophy, I shot one coming off of the bone pile of my Elephant,it was an education looking at him up close, they are a powerful beast. Here's one I did for Frostbit. They make a very cool mount if done properly.

I've shot zero hyena in four attempts.

They're smart and wary. Hope to hook one in October.

We shot two hyenas as targets of opportunity in Zambia last season. A third one was hunted more purposefully. We took a bit of rotting back skin and some feet and bundled it all up in bait wire and then fastened the bundle to a stout bush in the middle of a partially burned plain where we had seen some hyena sign. We then did a number of long gut drags out from and back to the bait, such that any hyena passing through the plain that night would likely find it. The next morning, we came in at the very edge of first light, and sure enough, a hyena was busy tussling with the wired bait. He took off but turned and looked back long enough to get shot. We tried the same tactic again in that GMA, and a hyena was seen, but the hunter wasn't quick enough. In another GMA with fewer hyenas, the tactic was completely unsuccessful.

A key thing to shooting a hyena is being ready to shoot quickly and willing to take a shot that might not be 100%. For every hyena I've seen killed, I've probably seen two lost opportunities due to clients being unwilling or unable to shoot quickly and/or to shoot a moving target. That problem occurs with most of the more skittish animals, but hyenas stand out due to the manner in which most are encountered.

Hyenas do stink, but they're a very interesting animal and a special trophy. Their coats can be pretty--especially on younger ones, which tend to have lighter colored hair.

quote:

Originally posted by AR79:
I took one in Namibia this year. It was high on my list next to leopard. I was told they are most active during full moons. We sat in different blinds a few night, used ripe cat gut from the leopard for bait, used electronic caller, but nothing seemed to work. We saw some browns on the trailcams on the leopard bait, but no spotted. We did see a lot of tracks around the baits though. One night one of the hyenas even came into camp and stole a solar light.

One afternoon we packed some food and bedding and decided to spend the whole night in a blind up on a hill near a waterhole. There were a lot of hyena tracks near there. No action all night, then about 0630 after about 14 hrs in the blind, we were all packed up to leave, when the PH noticed something in the distant. On first look he said it was a brown and I decided to hang tight to film him. As he got closer, it turned out to be a spotted. I was ready with the rifle in a second. At about 150 yds, he stopped behind a tree and started smelling the air. The wind was in our favor, but must have been whirling due to the hill. They have an incredible sense of smell and are extremely intelligent. After a few mins, he decided to turn around and started walking back undecidedly. I was covering him with the rifle and as soon as he cleared the tree, I took the shot. He fell right down as the shot broke his shoulder, but he was still alive and fairly pissed when we made it down to him and finished him.

I hunted with Jan from the same blind a couple of nights. We heard one hyena calling in the distance but he never came into range.At a different (elevated) blind Jan dropped me off and drove 500 yards away to hide the truck. A male hyena followed him the last 200 yards and approached to 6 yards from the truck. Jan shot him at less than 15 yards.

Thanks, gentlemen. Very informative and helpful.

Looks like we'll have our work cut out for us.

Especially since, as usual, hyena won't be at the top of my list, but will have to wait, pending what I hope will be other successes.

Mike,

You might as well get some baits stations going during the hunt. Waste not want not.

Great animal to hunt.

Had a blast shooting mine last year of my elephant carcass (dragged >3miles behind the land cruiser, to a dry river bed). Missed a Brown in Namibia the year prior - still pissed at myself for that!

Enjoy!

I have hunted one successfully and I enjoyed the experience but felt that I was not hunting a true game animal.I would rather spend my time hunting a sable,good kudu,or something that I prize.I would not hunt a hyena again unless my hunt turns out bad and I am feeling screwed up.

I'm O for 4 on hyena. I have found that many PH's don't take hyena hunting serious and it tough to make them understand that this is an important trophy for you.

quote:

Originally posted by Sevens:
Didn't someone shoot a two legged one many years back?


I too would love to add one to the collection as I think they make a great mount and, by the accounts above, a challenging animal to obtain.

Our own Jerry Huffaker got quite the award thanks to a hyena as well.

http://forums.accuratereloadin...3421043/m/2021070191

I believe Aaron shot a big hyena in Zambia Kafue blocks that had only two legs, and according to him the old bastard seemed to be doing quite well! Tough adaptable animals i guess

Two feet or two legs? I would love to see a two legged hyena. Would be tough to get around.

I hunted the Bubye in Zim. July 2012 (Chamalaya Camp) with hyena as my target species. I saw perhaps two dozen in 7 days, many on the road at night while hunting caracal, genet, etc ( very enjoyable in its own right). I am not fond of hunting from a blind so we used calls, both hyena pack howls ( Foxpro) and prey-in-distress screams. With the latter, lions & leopards often came in - fun to watch but they deter the hyenas. The pack squalls brought in about 10 hyena, bristled and ready to rumble. I missed several shots at about 80 yards in the spotlight. On the drive back I shot a big lone male at a waterhole. These critters are tough to kill, took more than one .375 bullet to anchor it.

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:
Mike,

You might as well get some baits stations going during the hunt.

I will certainly try to do that, if we can. Thanks.

quote:

Originally posted by Michael Robinson:

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:
Mike,

You might as well get some baits stations going during the hunt.

I will certainly try to do that, if we can. Thanks.

Quite simple Mike. You tell your PH.

I have one full mount and one rug, cool animals and a great hunt

Have shot several, been in on many more. Fine game animal, interesting hunt, and a unique mount in MHO.

Hyena are fascinating. Intelligent hunters that can digest bone. Here's a sneak preview from my recent Selous Safari.

Shot a Hyena in Lokisale few years back. One of my favorite trophies. Wanted to have a rug made but skin was packed wet and they are fairly greasy anyway.... Rotted on way back. Still have the skull at least.

Really neat.

Calling is said to be extremely effective at dusk if legal in the area.

Early morning over bait works well.

Great animals, gentlemen. Thanks for sharing your experiences and photos.

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:

quote:

Originally posted by Michael Robinson:

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:
Mike,

You might as well get some baits stations going during the hunt.

I will certainly try to do that, if we can. Thanks.

Quite simple Mike. You tell your PH.

Andrew - I will discuss this with him, of course. But it will still be a question of priorities. If we are to hang bait animals early on, I will want/have to hunt and kill them. The problem I see is that doing so might lessen the time I will have to hunt my primary quarry - sable and eland.

We'll see. I hope it will be possible to get baits going early. If I have early luck with my primary quarry, then all may be well - as their carcasses can be used, at least partly, for bait. It will then be a question of whether the hyena will show up!

I'd truly like to hunt and kill a hyena, and I certainly hope that I will have time to focus on one.

Thanks, again, to all.

AR is a terrific resource because of you.