Hunting East Cape Bushbuck

Hi Guys, Im a first time African hunter (well nearly first time) I have decided on hunting the East Cape area, and my primary animal is Bushbuck. My question is, are they usually hunted in the mornings at first light, and will I be o.k hunting the first week of October?
I heard a whisper some guys who have good success spotlight them, which I dont want to do.
Thanks, looking forward to any input,
Cameron
australia

I have hunted a number early in the morning until 8 in tick brush in the Eastern Cape, and depending from the area if you do have any green fields in the area they will go and feed late in the afternoon in the green fields.
October will be fine i took a very good one late in December last year.

i hunted them in the cape sunning themselves in the morning. we hunted a river bank. this was one of the best hunts of my life. this is also where i got bitten by ticks. 2 days in the hospital upon returning home. one member almost died after returning home from the infection spreading. the doctor showed me how my infection was spreading up my leg. be careful and do up your pant leg around your boots.

I hunted bushbuck in the Eastern Cape in August 2010. We hunted normal think riverine areas during the mornings, as well as, open grassy hillsides until mid morning. In the afternoons, he hunted some desmodium fields as the bushbuck would come out to feed late in the evenings. Saw plenty of bushbuck but not the 'right' one. Made a few stalks that were later called off, and even had one in the crosshairs but elected to pass as it was early in the hunt.

On the next trip over, the bushbuck will be further towards the top of my wish list.

Good luck!

Ask your outfitter or PH to organize you some tick spray. You can spray it all over your legs, which will keep the ticks off. The general advise that was given here is just about spot on. I have found that Bushbuck dont come out too early in the Winter, with majority of our rams here in the Eastern Cape being shot between 09:00am and 11:00 am.

Best Regards
Marius Goosen

This is all very good information, as Cape Bushbuck is very high on my list!

Originally Posted by seattlesetters

This is all very good information, as Cape Bushbuck is very high on my list!

Mark,
They should be high on your list! and they deserve to be there! We also make use of some desmodium fields. Man , they love that stuff.

I shot one in May of 2009, and it seemed the sun had to be up in the morning before you could see them moving around....I shot mine at 9:30 am for the record. And when it's windy out they seem very scared. But I don't blame anyone...wanting one, they are something else to hold in your hand when they are down on the ground for good, just beautiful!

Originally Posted by KMG Hunting Safaris

Mark,
They should be high on your list! And they deserve to be there! We also make use of some desmodium fields. Man , they love that stuff.

Yes, indeed, Marius. The more I study these fine animals, the more impressed I become. It also helps that I was able to see a taxidermy display that included four sub-species of bushbuck (Cape, Limpopo, Chobe and Masai) with the shoulder mounts arranged very close together in a diamond pattern. Beautiful animals!!

In the last couple of months, the bushbuck has gone from being just another African antelope to being solidly entrenched as #3 on my wish list. The hunt that I book will undoubtedly include an area that is known for producing good rams.

I'm nuts about all the spiral horns! Took my first bushbuck, Limpopo, in 09 with Bosbok Safaris fairly late in the day near a dry creek bed. Had a very dark coat which my PH admired so I gave him the backskin. Made a very nice shoulder mount, 13 inch horns.

Originally Posted by KMG Hunting Safaris

Mark,
They should be high on your list! and they deserve to be there! We also make use of some desmodium fields. Man , they love that stuff.

What is "desmodium" ? If you don't mind explaining.

To me they are the greatest Trophy in Africa. I enjoy reading that so many people appreciate this great animal. Good luck on your hunt. I will agree with most of the posts that almost all the bushbuck I have seen have been mid morning. I have also seen just a couple right at dark.

Thanks Guys for the replies, Im really excited about going to chase them. My friend in East Cape says they are one of the hardest to get, they also have Kudu, Springbuck, and a few other species on the ranch, but I will be happy just targeting these little guys for a week, could think of nothing better than collecting 3 or 4 of them! That brings me to the next question, what is a good one length wise, is there any tricks to judging them?
Any pics would be greatly appreciated,
Thanks
Cameron

For Chobe, Limpopo and Cape bushbuck it only takes about 11 inches of length to make SCI. Anything over that is a shootable trophy. Takes a bit more for the others, SCI lists 8 species. You can see on my previous post what a 13 incher looks like. Its not a monster but I am quite happy with it!

Bushbuck (South African)
If the horns have a large bell and are pointed outwards, their length will
generally be 15”-16”. If the horns are still pointing inwards they will generally
be 13”-14” in length.

Bushbuck Shoulder Height 800 mm 31.50 inches

Minimums & Ear Lengths Measurements in Inches
Bushbuck
15 Rowland Ward
33 SCI
15” SA MEasure
6 Ears

Generally speaking, buck feed mostly during the cooler parts of the day and at
night. Prime time for bushbuck hunting for instance is not at dawn as widely
propagated, but from around about 10 o’clock in the morning, after the dew
has evaporated (although after very cold nights they may be out to catch the
first rays of the sun).

Credit:
This is information quoted from CHASA Manual 2009

I must admit they are tough to judge, because they are in the brush and are so jumpy. Anything that looks like a "foot" in length should be a shooter. I remember my first morning in the East Cape, we were looking for kudu and the tracker spotted a bushbuck below us...and I mean straight down a hill....my instincts said to shoot, but my wallet said wait. I could see that his horns were higher than his ears...like twice the ear length....I should have shot...the PH couldn't see it and I was on my own. The wind swirled and he flushed before I got a shot. It still haunts me til this day. Luck for me I got a nice one on the last day of the hunt at 9:30 am. If I ever saw another nice one again...I'd shoot it. They are incredibly beautiful.

Enysse, I am going to remember that if I see a Bushbuck, twice the ear length shoot first and think later.

It's very good advice, I'm not going to kid you guys they are a very small antelope and target for that matter. Don't underestimate their vision, hearing or smelling.

Originally Posted by enysse

It's very good advice, I'm not going to kid you guys they are a very small antelope and target for that matter. Don't underestimate their vision, hearing or smelling.

....and guts.
Many people and dogs have died at the end of a wounded Bushbuck.

You are right Marius, we should not forget it just because of its size. Wounded is a brave and dangerous animal. I have only hunted one and I could see it fighting with the PHs dog, fortunatly all ended OK. I posted some time ago about PHs carring their rifles even for a Plains Game hunting and with this animal, it could be an example.