The safari was for all intents and purposes now over. The lion had been skinned and now the baits had to be dropped and blinds dismantled. It was a good set up and I made a mental note that I would use the site again. A fairly fresh leg of hippo was winched down from the trees and chains and shackles were cleaned off and recovered.

The game scout approached me, an old but strong man whose face read like an old map. Creased and bearing the deep contours of hardship, his cheeks bore the chevron markings of the Nsenga tribe.

He took me aside and my initial thought was now what have I done wrong? Boss he said to me 'can we leave this meat for my dog'? There was something ancient about the look in his eyes, something cloudy and distant. Very distant and it was not part of me or what I know.

I knew not to question his request.

The meat was left for his dog Crocuta crocuta the spotted Hyena.



The Hyena for me is one of Africa's underrated game animals. It is occassionally and incidentally taken on safari but not often hunted. Normally spotted (excuse the pun)from the car by a keen eyed tracker and then quickly dispatched by the hunter. There is nothing wrong with that but consider this.

Is the spotted Hyena not Africa's apex predator? It can do everything that a Lion can do and more. It's senses are more developed and it has the strongest bite of any animal on the planet. Sure it cannot climb trees but it's coat is almost on par with a Leopard and a lot more interesting than a Lions. It even has a mane which becomes erect and bristles with aggression. Something most taxidermists are not aware of. The pose in the above picture (badly reproduced by me) taken by Francois Delby is a hyena at it's best and is how I envisage a hyena should be mounted. It reeks of Africa.

You hunt them like Lion and to some degree a Leopard. The bait attracts all three species and to be on the ground in close proximity of both Lion and Hyena is surely one of Africa's finest experiences. But the real bargain is that they are classified as PG and come with an affordable price tag. The hunting is not easy as they are clever and often nervous around a bait site. You venture into the eerie gloom of morn and night to take on this ghostly character. In numbers they are more bold but a single animal is as coy as any Leopard. To hunt and shoot a Hyena makes for a very worthy trophy indeed.



The dark is punctuated by their whooping and mournful call which stills any campfire talk. A log is throw on the embers and the light of flame is cast into the shadows. The staff can be heard muttering something from the kitchen but the old scout is content for he knows that his dog has been fed that night.

One of my favourite game. BUT remember, when helping to carry it to the truck always grab a front leg!!!

I agree, a cool hunt.

quote:

Dahlgren,

First time I have seen that.

Ozhunter,

The second photo, is that Luangwa or Lower Zambezi?

Note chaps the female is the larger of the species and if you have a choice try and shoot the smaller animal. Still makes for an impressive trophy.

All this old Africa boy has to say is -- if you mount one and ask me to your home (without telling me about the 'jib' inside), you deserve the kak dropped on your floor (behind me).

Hyenas scare me in a very old place. Being out after dark in Ethiopia is still an occasional nightmare, although having big guns now helps...

It was 3:00 a.m. and I was sleeping the sleep of a hunter who had been up every morning for a week two hours before dawn and not to bed until midnight. That's the routine of leopard hunting, of course.

I was shocked awake by the most terrifying scream I've ever heard. At the same time, it sounded both human and unworldly, like the gates of hell had been opened and all the misery of evil had flown out had encompassed me with a sound louder than my still fogged mind could comprehend.

Was it real?

I heard nothing more, not the slightest noise. Befuddled and in a sleep deprived stupor I lay there for a few monments trying to understand what had happened.

I rememember thinking that I was in Africa and if the devil himself had come in my tent and screamed in my ear, I shouldn't be surprised. I actually shrugged my shoulders, albeit in a supine position, closed my eyes and went back to sleep.

The next morning after I returned from another unsuccessful wait in the leopard blind, I found the below, evidence that Lucifer hadn't been my tent, but, only 40 steps from my sleeping body, he had celebrated the capture of another soul, an unfortunate (and hopefully by then unhearing) impala... then, satiating his blood lust and hunger, the Prince of Darkness left me only a smear of blood to ponder.

quote:

only 40 steps from my sleeping body, he had had announced his deed and then left only a smear of blood.

Did you ever recover your sleeping buddy?!!!
Peter.

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:
Dahlgren,

First time I have seen that.

Ozhunter,

The second photo, is that Luangwa or Lower Zambezi?

Although I've seen Hyena in similar looking terrain of the Luangwa, This was on the Chewore in lower Zambezi.
I've heard you will often shoot a young male for as first light appears the main group heads for the den and only then will the young Males get a chance to feed, Unfortunately for them Mr Schmidt or Mr Swarovski created perfect tools for their demise.

I have worked my ass off for a Hyena, still am hyena-less. Had them in my scope in Tanzania, I have video of them feeding 30 yards from me in Zambia. Heard them nightly in Mozambique, but still have no Hyena. When I shoot one, he will be a full body mount.

I still have a Leopard in the freezer and Jerry Huffaker says he has an idea for a Leopard/Hyena mount.

My next trip will have Hyena at the top of the list.

Took this one on my first safari 1996...I was young then.

Whew! I thought this might be another bleeding-heart dog story. "Me and Skippy-Do were life-long bed companions ..."

Tried for 14 days in the Zambezi valley with no luck. Leaving before shooting light, each morning, and coming in long after dark. The last best bait was taken over by lions, and was exciting to say the least..

They are still high on my list, and will try again next year!

On a photo safari in the Serengeti the truck got stuck one morning. As we were digging it out we had a pack circling. Still gives me the creeps. Being unarmed in Africa is not fun.

Damn near the most fun I ever had with my clothes on!!!!

A long drawn out loud, half moan, half growl is what you hear when the hyena comes. The most hair raising sound I have ever heard.

The posse has traveled to the Lutope Valley again. Stopping along the way to ask about hyenas. I can not figure out how they know, we are six or seven miles from Lutope. People tell us of hyenas killing a donkey near Mr. Sabandas home last night. We had hunted elephants at the Sabandas a few nights ago.

Our first stop is field before the Sabandas. We use the grass tent that the people sleep in during crop season, it is elevated and you can see in all directions. The guys set up the caller and huge speaker. We place the chairs and get ready. I have my rifle in my hands and the shotgun at ready. This is crazy. The god awful moaning and crying that comes out of the speaker is at rock concert level.
Clinton and Neimiah are on night vision and high alert.

This is insane!!

You start off with a few groaning and moaning calls, wait and listen. The hyenas will come if they hear the call. They will come from several miles if they hear it!

Next you play the distress call. It is a coyote hunting call, the sound of a whitetail fawn in distress. It sounds like you have inpaled the fawn on a stake and have left it in the field to die.

Oh yea, I forgot the bucket of elephant guts that have been sitting in the sun for a few days. Do not put the bucket in the truck until it is moving!

Now the call is the feeding laughs and growls of the hyena, throw in a few fawn squeals for effect. It is pitch dark, just what the hell are we doing?

Thirty minutes and no hyena, pack up and head for the Sabandas. We are hunting in this guys back yard. The cattle pen is right in front of us. Neimiah told us last year he had to shoot a PAC elephant right here. Bullet went through the ele and hit the bull in the pen. Had to pay twenty bucks for the dead cow and did not get to keep it.

The calling starts and immediatly a hyena answers off in the distance. Dudleys son Clinton is with us, he tells me to get ready. Shit he is still a long way off. Then I realize this nasty noise is coming at a dead run.

I can not begin to explain how frightening this is for me. Truly scared of this noise coming right at me. Clinton tells me to get ready and watch him so I know where to aim. No sneaking, no skulking, no looking for danger. This devil is running right at us to get a piece of the action.

"Now", the light comes on adn this odd looking creature is running right at us, growling. He turns to the left at about fourty yards and I shoot behind him. Miss, dam no time for a second shot.

Everybody else is laughing and joking. WTF this is not for the faint hearted. Called some more, he answered but has been educated and will not come back. The whole time the Sabandas have been hiding in their hut one hundred yards away.

Back to camp, we set up on the river bank again. All that comes is two jackels. Another miss at a fifteen pound rocket ship. Dinner at midnight(early night).

Friday Oct 29

Today is our last day in camp. We are going to fly out a day early, so we have time to shop and start to get off bush time.

Last evening of hhunting, we head towards the Lutope Valley. Stopping to talk to several people on the way. We turn down a different road today. Dudley says a mombi(cow) was killed by hyenas last night. We travel for miles down this high speed road. Still going to the Lutope River but miles upstream from where we were before.
Pulling up to the local beer joint and find out where the hyenas are hanging out.

As usual hands and fingers point in all directions. You have to decide who to rely on. One of the least drunk guys climbs on and off we go. It is still light and there are goats, cows and children everywhere. Excellent hyena food.

We find a rise and a tree in a burnt over field. Fires are burning everywhere. This part of the valley is a canyon with steep rock walls on either side. A blind is built facing upstream, three chairs in a row.

Important note!!

Rena is sitting in a chair right behind us.

The devils songs start again. Dudley and Neimiah laugh, few people know we are here. They have to think Satan is upon them. Goats are crying, cows bawling, people yelling to each other up and down the valley. I tell Dudley they are going organizing a war party to spear us.

Then the moaning starts, way up the valley. It is coming from a long way off. Call some more and he is coming.

I have the shotgun in my lap. Dudley is going to let come closer tonight, gee thanks.

UNNGHH!! Right behind Rena. The night vision swings around, he is about fourty yards away and right behind her. She has her head down between her legs, maybe kissing her ass goodby. "Watch to your left, he is crossing".

The light comes on and I let him have it with a load of oo buckshot. Hit him, he turns back. Hit him again, keeps going to the left. I step back to be behind Rena and let him have it again. Seven shots and everyone says I hit each time. It was about fourty to fifty yards, when we last see him he is barely moving. Gather up the lights and head out.

So ya think you are having fun. Not a chance scared shitless. They will pry this gun out of my cold dead hands!

Nothing, can not find him. Search for fourty five minutes. No blood, no tracks. Maybe it was the devil.

Well we know there were two of them. Set up again and start calling. It does not take five minutes and UUNNGGH! Right behind Rena again. Dudley sees him and tells me to get the rifle and move to the tree. This guy is really pissed, growling like hell.

Light comes on and bang. The devil is dead!!!!


What a hideous yet beautiful creature. One hundred pounds of killing machine. He will make a good rug.

This was our last night of hunting. We are on our way back to camp, thunder,lightning, torrential rain. Dudley wants Rena to ride in the cab. I tell him to keep going she will let us know if she wants in.

Thunder, lightning, rain. The guys are singing now, it goes on and on and it sounds wonderful. Even with the noise of the truck.

She is soaking wet when we get back, I think she had tears in her eyes!

How do I know this, I had tears in mine!!!!

quote:

Originally posted by JudgeG:
evidence that Lucifer hadn't been my tent, but, only 40 steps from my sleeping body,

Judge I’ve told this story on AR before, but maybe some of the newbies haven’t read it. For those who have skip it!

We were sitting around the nightly campfire on the banks of the Luangwa River near Zambia’s Upper Lupande hunting concession, relaxing after an exceptionally hard day hunting Buffalo on foot! We could hear a big male lion telling the world that this was his land, and warning trespassers! As we talked, the sound of his roar got closer and closer and by the time we turned in, he sounded no more that a few hundred yards from our camp. He was certainly coming to the river.

For anyone who has not been in Africa on a moonless night, you can’t imagine how dark it is. The grass shelters we had were lean-to type with totally open fronts, and mine was the last one right where the bank dropped off into the river. The grass fence ended right behind my shelter.

I started to doze off when I heard the lion once more that only sounded like about 50 yards behind my shelter. My eyes popped open wide, and sleep was the last thing on my mind. My 375 H&H bolt rifle was lying on the floor within reach of my right hand. I felt for it, and it was there. In a few minutes I heard something go around the end of the grass fence, and could hear the slight footfalls of something heavy on the gravely sand outside my shelter coming my way. I picked the rifle up and laid it on the bed beside me, and slowly worked the bolt to put a round in the chamber. Then I placed my hand in front of my eyes, and could not see my hand it was so dark. The foot of my bed was only 3 feet from the sand in front of my shelter floor.

I heard the footfalls stop at the foot of my bed, and not move for what seemed to be hours, but was likely only seconds. I fully expected the lion to come through the mosquito net on me at any second. Then I heard the foot falls start again, moving on past my shelter toward the open gate that led to the skinning shed down river. After I took the round out of the chamber and placed it back in the magazine, but left the rifle on the bed I finally went to sleep.

In the morning I got up as soon as it was light, and could plainly see where the tracks had stopped only about 5 feet from the foot of my bed, and had turned to look at me, then turned again and went across the yard to the gate. As I was looking at the tracks, Simon Eldridge, my PH, came out of his shelter next to mine. I called him over to look at the tracks. His first words were he was pretty close HUH? To which I only whistled, then he said, with a smile on his face, “You thought it was the lion we heard last night didn’t you?” to which I nodded in the affirmative! He laughed, and said those are Hyena tracks, but a very large one! Then he said it is a good thing you were awake because sometimes Hyenas will find sleeping people, and sniff them, and when they get to the face, if they smell food or bad breath, they sometimes bite you in the face, and drag you out of the your bed.

The thought crossed my mind that lions are not the only things in Africa that are dangerous in some cases. The Hyena has a bite that can break leg bones of a giraffe, and it wouldn’t be a chore for him to bite the whole face off a human in one twisting bite!

IMO opinion the hyena is a fine trophy, and deserves far more respect that he gets from client hunters in Africa!

One of my favorite animals in all of Africa.. and I have tried many times to take one.. to no avail as of yet.

This last Oct, we sat 7 of 10 nights in blinds over bait while in Zim. Had alot of browns and a few leopards come in, but the spotties stayed shy and let us know they were out there by talking to us all night.

I want one.

Andrew, you really know how to start a tread

always remember my 1st hyena. we were in matetzi hunting sable & buff. there were lots of hyenas around the area & we decided to try for one. they were always nearby the camp at night so we hung a skunky old leopard bait in a tree about 100 yards behind the kitchen. We had a perfect blind. sitting on bar stools with the rifle out the back kitchen window. she came in shortly after dark on a moonlight night. but it was just like a gray ghost. drifting in and out of the shadows in the moonlight, and as soon as she would stop I would try to get the crosshairs on her, and she would disappear again. this went on for almost 4 hours. she never did come all the way into the bait, but did stop long enough just under it. the skinners weren't happy about that at all.

quote:

Originally posted by D. Nelson:
Took this one on my first safari 1996...I was young then.

Beauty and the beast.

quote:

Originally posted by jeff h:
Andrew, you really know how to start a tread

Next you will see me advertising Hyena safaris?

It is a great hunting and those who cannot afford the cats should consider Hyena as an option.

Often in the twilight of morn you approach a screen blind of grass separating you from the bait and who knows what grim creature is crunching on them bones?

The Hyena ia an animal that I very much would like to hunt.

quote:

Originally posted by matt u:
The Hyena ia an animal that I very much would like to hunt.

Sent you a PM.

Joking. It is hunting and to mix it with lions is a bonus.

I have to agree with Andrew. To bait hyenas, build a blind and then sneak in early in the morning to see if you can catch them at bait is a consumate thrill! On three successive mornings in Chewore North hunting with Brent Leesmay of Chifuti we shot a huge civet and then followed with a hyena the next two mornings. Brent said most of the PH's didn't speak to him for a month after... just plain jealousy I guess! Prior to that trip I had seen exactly 1 hyena on 12 safaris!

Heard a lot of good things about Brent and his father Nevin and I did a stint in the lower Zambezi. Great people.

I also think the hyena is an often overlooked trophy and I am very glad to have made a special effort to take one. As others have said a hyena is often an animal taken only as a target of opportunity.

A specifically targeted hyena baited hunt is very close in all respects to a baited lion hunt and there is no worry about the hyena being "6" YEARS OLD. You just whack the big one.

My own hyena hunt was quite simple. We hung a buffalo rib cage low from a tree in the area where we had seen hyeans a couple of evenings on the way back to camp. The next morning we snuck into the blind and as it got light all we saw was a large pack of wild dogs but one looked odd. As it became more light we could see that there was a big hyena standing away from the bait hoping the wild dogs would leave giving him a meal. The hyena was very intent on the dogs and I'm pretty sure he never heard the shot that killed.

Interestingly the dogs hung around while we retrieved the hyena and we got some great footage of them.

Andrew and I are working on some packages that would feature the hyena as a main target with plains game.

Mark

Andrew,

Thanks for pointing that out about the "mane". I didn't pay much attention to it when I shot mine. I like your first image and may have my Hyena mounted in a similar over the shoulder pose.

Got this one after finding a bunch of them on a fresh waterbuck kill.

Andrew - Have you ever seen how fast a Hyena can run with two legs, and two stumps?? Ask Richard!!

We have only seen them on or around lion baits. I could have killed any number of them, but I wasn't willing to risk any shots, for fear of running off the cats.

But I would certainly like to hunt one sometime. Like Wendell, I have always thought that a big hyena would make a terrific full body mount.

quote:

Originally posted by Frostbit:
Andrew,

Thanks for pointing that out about the "mane". I didn't pay much attention to it when I shot mine. I like your first image and may have my Hyena mounted in a similar over the shoulder pose.

Great Hyena. Agreed and get you taxidermist to copy that and comb the hair around the shoulders and neck towards the head. Bend the back legs to give it that hunched look.

Great thread! I always thought that a hyena would make a terrific trophy, and reading this certainly hasn't cured me of that idea.

Fairgame, in the original post you mentioned that you were dropping the bait after successfully hunting lion. Pardon the momentary thread highjack, but is there a reason for doing this? Why not simply leave it up until it is devoured completely?

John

quote:

Originally posted by jwm:
Fairgame, in the original post you mentioned that you were dropping the bait after successfully hunting lion. Pardon the momentary thread highjack, but is there a reason for doing this? Why not simply leave it up until it is devoured completely?

John

I'm not Andrew, but I will tell you my experience:

The main reason to drop the baits is to recover the chain/rope/cable/wire that they are hung with. This is done because the PH can reuse it and if left up it would become litter, or worse, poachers could use it to make snares.

Also, waiting for the bait to be devoured would require a special trip later to recover the cable. Usually this would cause a significant waste of time and resources.

Thanks, Jason, that makes sense. I interpreted him as meaning that the meat itself was being removed, rather than left for the animals to finish...never thought about the hardware.

John

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:
Heard a lot of good things about Brent and his father Nevin and I did a stint in the lower Zambezi. Great people.

+1 for Nev and Linds. Good folks. I'll be spending the better part of the month of July with Nevin, et. al in Zim. Andrew, join us for a day or two?

quote:

Originally posted by safari-lawyer:

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:
Heard a lot of good things about Brent and his father Nevin and I did a stint in the lower Zambezi. Great people.

+1 for Nev and Linds. Good folks. I'll be spending the better part of the month of July with Nevin, et. al in Zim. Andrew, join us for a day or two?

Say Hi for me.

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:
Dahlgren,

First time I have seen that.

What ? 3 hyeanas looking into a camera, look at the mane of the big boy in the middle

quote:

Originally posted by safari-lawyer:

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:
Heard a lot of good things about Brent and his father Nevin and I did a stint in the lower Zambezi. Great people.

+1 for Nev and Linds. Good folks. I'll be spending the better part of the month of July with Nevin, et. al in Zim. Andrew, join us for a day or two?

Would love to but I am busy then.

Hyena is one of the top critters left on my gotta have it list. I've tried for them on my last three hunts and have come up with a big huge ZERO.

In 2008 in the Dande we did at least see two but they split the second the light came on. We also had one whooping and (how do you describe it?) growling? It sounds like the most horrifying monster noise some special effects guy in Hollywood could think of. This guy came right up behind the blind and shattered the night silence with his groaning, growling, low pitched scream that was loud enough to reverberate down the valley for several seconds.

That was one of the most memorable things that I've ever had happen while hunting Africa. I've found that many PH's don't generally enjoy the task of Hyena hunting and when requested will in their very polite manner, give it a half assed effort at best.

You know that look when they say "No problem we'll make a plan." But their eyes kind of go dull and roll back into their heads. And are probably thinking "Here we go again with a ANOTHER bloody Yank and these bloody hyenas!!"

After all it does increase the length of the hunting day beyond human capability at times if you are hunting other stuff during the day.

Next time I am going to set aside several days for nothing other than a hyena. Hopefully I can finally put one in the salt if we concentrate on a hyena and nothing else. I actually want a pair of them for a life sized mount.

My wife hasn't yet approved the life sized hyena mounts in the living room. I'm sure she'll lighten up when she see's how cute they're going to look snarling and staring down our guests as they walk into the living room.

quote:

Originally posted by surestrike:
best.

You know that look when they say "No problem we'll make a plan." But their eyes kind of go dull and roll back into their heads. And are probably thinking "Here we go again with a ANOTHER bloody Yank and these bloody hyenas!!"

When I told Johnny du Plooy I was interested in Hyena he basically said I'd be beyond lucky to get one. Got lucky on the croc we left out as bait.

They are not easy to come by in the daylight.