I included a pic of this big hyena in my earlier report but the hunt was so unusual at least to me that I thought it might warrant a brif report of its own.

I had told Terry Anders/Forever African Safaris that I wanted a hyena while we were with him in Zimbabwe and he assured me that they were plentiful on Sentinel where we would be doing a visit.

Our trip with Terry was a whirlwind affair that saw us overnighting in 5 different places in 11 total days. To say the least we saw alot. When we finally got to Sentinel that is super nice BTW we only had two days to see everything, shoot some leopard baits for my client coming the next week and hunt the hyena. I was not optimistic on the hyena but Terry being one of Zimbabwe's psychotically optimistic safari operators was confident we could make it work.

Here's were it gets interesting. We went out the afernoon we arrived at Sentinel and collected some leopard baits and one very big ram that would be the hyena bait. As it was getting dark we took the big ram to an area that looked like a bone yard. This was where we would hunt the hyena. We secured the ram to a specific tree head up with the body mostly on the ground. It had to be just this way as the hyena would not feed on it with the head up. Here I'm thinking REALLY! but the hyenas would remember it was there. OKIE DOKIE! Next morning we drive to the bait tree an sure enough the ram hasn't been touched. Ram was removed from the tree and into the Cruiser so that the vultures would not feed on it during the day.

The rest of the day we continued to hunt for leopard baits and at day's end we went to the bait tree and resecured the same ram from the previous day to the tree BUTwith the head on the ground. Above the tree about 65 yards was a vertical cliff that we climbed and set up to watch the bait. In about 20 minutes 4 hyenas showed up on the opposite hillside so things were looking positive. A few minutes later a single big hyena showed up about 600 yards out. This was now looking even better. The single hyena started to come in but laid down for 20 minutes about 400 yards out. I was thinking that this was very cool.

Just at dark the big boy got up and came to the bait as if on a string. I'm now expecting him to feed. Wrong! He walked right by the bait never stopping and directly in front of our hiding place. I took him on the move breaking his back and one finisher ended a really neat hunt.

Evidently all this is exactly how most of the hyenas are killed there. They very seldom feed until after dark. Once this hunt was over it became clear just how cautious hyens are and why it is so difficult to shoot one in a conventional cat bait situation. I bounced this method off 3 experienced PHs in Zambia after we left Zim and they had never heard of anything like this before. It sure worked a charm for me.

Mark

Man that sucker looks huge! Good job Mark.

Very interesting technique.

Nice hyena, Mark. I tried for one in Namibia, using the carcass of a baboon I had shot for bait- no takers. I'll try again this April/May when I go back to Namibia. They are really cool trophies, and the PH hates them because they're eating all his springbok.

Interesting, I learned something.

Thanks,

An animal I hope to add to my trophy room some day.

Congrats!

Mark
You have a great trophy there, I plan to get one myself one day, had no luck yet. I never realised they could grow that big. Well done.

John,

It is a very big hyena but we are standing behind the rock and the hyena is about a foot in front of us so it looks even bigger than it is.

You can take a hyena on Sentinel where I shot this one at a PG rate. The PG hunting is very good there and free range as well.

Mark

That is one big 'djib'! (Sorry. Ethiopia days...)

Nice story Mark!

Mark,

What part of your trip was for work again? Great story.

Dean

Dean,

The best kind of work is the kind that doesn't seem like work.

Mark

Mark

You mentioed you visited several different areas..will you have an update on the areas you visited (especially Save)?

Thanks

Definitely a decent sized one Mark. Is it a female?

Safri2,

I did not visit the SAVE as Terry was not hunting there when I was in Zim with him in August. We did visit a property in Matetsi, Broadwell, and Sentinel all private properties with great hunting. We also visited three 4 star photo lodges in Hwange Park and Vic Falls plus we did make a short stop at the Bubye. All that and a look at the SAVE going forward should be a complete seperate report.

Mark

Jim,

I honestly don't remember the sex of the hyena or being concerned about it. I do know it was far bigger than the one I shot in '96 and bigger than any I've ever seen. Terry told me that it was as big as hyena ever get. he thought it would weigh about 160 lb. although we did not weigh it.

Mark

quote:

Originally posted by MARK H. YOUNG:
Jim,

I honestly don't remember the sex of the hyena or being concerned about it. I do know it was far bigger than the one I shot in '96 and bigger than any I've ever seen. Terry told me that it was as big as hyena ever get. he thought it would weigh about 160 lb. although we did not weigh it.

Mark

The females are larger, that's why I asked. Mine was a female and a monster.

Mark,

He/She is a BEAST!!!

Beautiful Trophy shot too...
I cut the glare from the flash down a bit


Before




After

Great story

One hell of a big Hyena

For sure an unique hunt

Good job Mark

Mark: Great report and an interesting way to bring it to a close. I have been trying for a big spotted hyena for four trips now, and have come close but no cigar! Yours is a monster.

In 2004 I had brown hyena in my sights, but they were off limits to Americans so I passed. In 2007 after my leopard hunt, we had no luck at all on any tries. In Zim in 2009, I had them all over me in the dark but never shootable without a light. The elephant parts we baited with only brought in lions, and that is another spooky story of its own.

Finally last year in Namibia we tried everything imaginable. Calling with both speakers and group vocals or lion fedding sounds, and predator calls, baiting, tracking, driving the roads, and watching over drags. Again, got my ass kicked.

I have a secret weapon for my next trip and try tho. Just like Lil Ernest and elephants, I brought home a trophy from the airport in Windhoek. Should be just the ticket. Here's my hunting partner with the secret weapon!

interesting read - the first one i shot was in matetsi we had hung a bait and watched the hyena drift in and out of cover for over 3 hrs. Finally about 11:30 it came under the bait& got shot, but never did touch the bait
another one we called in over a dead donkey came in as a pair and never touched the bait then either

Butch,

I've always thought the lowly hyena didn't get the respect he deserve but I'm even more convinced since my recent experience that a hyena is without doubt one of the most interesting African species.

Mark

Roland,

Thanks for the work on the pic. We're tweaking your quote today.

Mark

Here's a picture of my hyena from Sentinel last month. 57 yard shot.

We used a CD of hyena 'music' to bring it in.

Ray

quote:

Originally posted by MARK H. YOUNG:
Butch,

I've always thought the lowly hyena didn't get the respect he deserve but I'm even more convinced since my recent experience that a hyena is without doubt one of the most interesting African species.

Mark

Dead right. Difficult to hunt and make for a very fine trophy indeed.

Mark,
Awesome trophy. Terry has been telling me of this magical place. Same story, no worries we can shoot hyena, how many do you want. So I am looking forward to it.
Glad you had a good whirlwind. I agree that Terry is forever optimistic, and he certainly can "make a plan".

brent

brent,

As MidgetIdjet who also hunted Sentinel this year with FAS/Terry Anders said the electronic call works great too and is very exciting with a pack off dodging squelling hyena coming in at close range in the dark. Personally I prefer Terry's baited method as you can be a litte more methodical in your shooting of a selected animal.

Mark

I wonder if the CD is the one that I gave to John Hunt and Terry a few years back? I know that John has used it with great success as well. It's most likely been copied many times over!

Here is my Dad's Heyena also taken on Sentinel... Looks like a familiar rock!

Taken on a hunt booked through Mark with Terry on the same trip as Ray's, using the same Hyena music!