Hunting Vaal Rhebok

So....I'm looking to find out about hunting Vaal Rhebuck (or Rhebok). These small antelope seem like interesting animals that aren't exactly easy to bring to bag.

Where is a good place to go if a guy wants to hunt Vaal Rhebok? What are the common hunting methods? What are the shot distances like? What is a good cartridge and rifle for such hunting? Which optics are best?

What is a good trophy? A great trophy? Anybody have pictures?

All things Vaal Rhebok can be discussed here. Looking forward to the responses...thanks!

I am excited to see the some discussion on this species. I am looking into hunting with KMG in 2013 and Vaal Rhebok will be my priority animal. Very unique in appearance and endemic to only RSA.

I can tell you this. I hunted those little buggers for 4 days on my last safari to kockstad s.a. We never got close enough for me to shoot one with my muzzleloader. I had a 5 inch male 100 yards away. I was looking for the 10 incher that the farmer claimed was on his property. We never saw a shooter. It was cold and we had snow on mountains that we where in. My ph said that a val rheebuck is the premier animal in Africa. If you can get one you have something most people will never get. I will be back someday to find one. My wife was not happy about the snow part. Lol

I remember reading Boddington's hunt for vaal rhebok a few years ago. And I have dreamed ever since of hunting one. I was told to prepare for long hikes and possible long shots. I'm thinking 7mm Mag, because it's a flat shooter and cuts through the wind well. I have seen pictures of 10 in.+ vaal rhebok taken. They are usually on top of mountains with very little cover. They have eyes that see everything. And guessing they can hear well and smell everything too.

To me it's a must have animal in RSA....if you are a antelope hunt!

Originally Posted by enysse

They have eyes that see everything.

I think all African antelope are equipped with those..

Seattlesetters,
The vaal rhebok is a awesome buck to hunt. One you might consider hunting, that is similar to the rhebok, but a lot less expensive to hunt, is the mt reedbuck. Its found at slightly lower elevations, is just as fun to hunt, but is about 1/3 the trophy fee. The method of hunting them is similar, you wake up early in the morning climb to a high point and glass for them. An hour after sunrise and they are already bedded, so you are walking in the dark to reach your spot prior to sunrse. You will find both the vaal rhebok and the mt reedbuck to be some of the most challenging game to hunt in RSA.

Originally Posted by BigBullet

Seattlesetters,
The vaal rhebok is a awesome buck to hunt. One you might consider hunting, that is similar to the rhebok, but a lot less expensive to hunt, is the mt reedbuck. Its found at slightly lower elevations, is just as fun to hunt, but is about 1/3 the trophy fee. The method of hunting them is similar, you wake up early in the morning climb to a high point and glass for them. An hour after sunrise and they are already bedded, so you are walking in the dark to reach your spot prior to sunrse. You will find both the vaal rhebok and the mt reedbuck to be some of the most challenging game to hunt in RSA.

Thanks, John. Great feedback.

I think I may just want to hunt both of them. As a backpacker and trail runner, mountain hunts appeal to me very much.

I'm thinking perhaps a Mountain Reedbuck on my first trip, then try for Vaal Rhebok on a subsequent trip where I can apply more time as needed, at the suggestion of others on this thread.

Originally Posted by johnfox

I think all African antelope are equipped with those..

Did you know the vaal rhebok is the only antelope they have not been able to successfully dart or capture and transplant around to surrounding ranch with any real success....I'm sure they could use helicopters but that's about it.

The last mt reedbuck I hunted was in the Orange Free state and a small group were spotted just as they bedded down in the thick brush. They were well below us concealed in the bush and the PH was trying to get them to move by barking like a baboon. I was laying downhill on a flat rock and the PH is holding my ankles so I wouldn't go over. Finally the reedbuck broke cover and I was able to locate the ram. This was the smallest trophy (horn size) I have ever taken, but one of the most memorable hunts.

Originally Posted by BigBullet

Seattlesetters,
The vaal rhebok is a awesome buck to hunt. One you might consider hunting, that is similar to the rhebok, but a lot less expensive to hunt, is the mt reedbuck. Its found at slightly lower elevations, is just as fun to hunt, but is about 1/3 the trophy fee. The method of hunting them is similar, you wake up early in the morning climb to a high point and glass for them. An hour after sunrise and they are already bedded, so you are walking in the dark to reach your spot prior to sunrse. You will find both the vaal rhebok and the mt reedbuck to be some of the most challenging game to hunt in RSA.

I agree! Mt Reedbuck is one of THE best hunts I've ever had. Whole day of climbing and glassing. Was like one big adventure. Hunting this great little animal will normally be in beautiful landscapes and the best of all (for a non trophy local RSA hunter) their meat is seriously delicious. In my humble opinion better than Springbuck and Gemsbok. Definitely a must on your list.

Mark,
Good thread. The Vaal Rhebuck is a serious animal to hunt and to be safe, I would allocate three days to find a nice ram. Brace yourself for pretty long shots. I was lucky enough to get a chance to hunt one myself , last year. Very fortunate to get a 9" ram at a "close" 200 yrds. Reason why I say close...hunting Vaal Rhebuck, a 200 yard shot is considered close. Wind was absolutely howling. Got wind drift of about 1 yard over the 200 yard shot. At the shot, my crosshairs was actually on the chest of the doe, standing next to the target ram. I am happy to say that he looks great on my wall.
Here is the very proud owner. In the next photo, notice the type of terrain that they are found. Here where I'm sitting , its about 7500ft above sea level.





Best Regards
Marius Goosen

Marius, that is one fine vaal rhebok!

Is that a suppressor on the rifle? I have seen lots of video of similar ones on hunt shows. If so why? Nice rhebok.

The suppressor takes the kick out of the gun and silences the shot...it's great cull gun.

Well actually I know it quiets the noise, not sure how much kick it takes out. Just that its so big and like I said I have seen some of these on hunt shows. But whats the idea of it here? This isnt a cull hunt I dont think.

Originally Posted by sestoppelman

Well actually I know it quiets the noise, not sure how much kick it takes out. Just that its so big and like I said I have seen some of these on hunt shows. But whats the idea of it here? This isnt a cull hunt I dont think.

Sestoppelman,
The idea of the rifle is as you said. This is a 308 Win, loaded with 130 gr monolithic solids, that produce round about 3150 fps. To give you an idea of the recoil reduction, I would say that the recoil now is probably on par with a .222 .It is also there to take the crack out of the shot , and so suppress the sound.
This is the rifle that my clients use , should they not bring their own rifle. I have found that should they miss their first shot, it often gives them a second chance , since the animals cant place the position of the threat.
The suppressor is realy not that big. Its only 6 inches long. Sure, it affects the balance of the rifle a bit, but the advantages far outway the disadvantages. It covers all clients that might be recoil or noise shy and will give them an excellent opportunity of placing a good shot, which is so much more important than looks. Plus, you can just screw it off, should you not want to use it. Hope that makes sense.

Best Regards
Marius Goosen

I wish they allowed us in the USA to do that to our hunting guns for the open seasons....I'd ugly a gun up in a heartbeat! (lol)

Thanks Marius,

Was aware of the noise suppression but unaware that it actually reduced recoil. Learn something new everyday. Never fired a suppressed weapon of any type before, so I guess I can plead ingnorance!

Originally Posted by KMG Hunting Safaris

Mark,
Good thread. The Vaal Rhebuck is a serious animal to hunt and to be safe, I would allocate three days to find a nice ram. Brace yourself for pretty long shots. I was lucky enough to get a chance to hunt one myself , last year. Very fortunate to get a 9" ram at a "close" 200 yrds. Reason why I say close...hunting Vaal Rhebuck, a 200 yard shot is considered close. Wind was absolutely howling. Got wind drift of about 1 yard over the 200 yard shot. At the shot, my crosshairs was actually on the chest of the doe, standing next to the target ram. I am happy to say that he looks great on my wall.
Here is the very proud owner. In the next photo, notice the type of terrain that they are found. Here where I'm sitting , its about 7500ft above sea level.





Best Regards
Marius Goosen

That is indeed a very nice ram, Marius! Thanks for sharing your experience.

Those photos make me want to hunt Vaal Rhebok more than ever....a very worthy trophy!

Over here in the UK nearly all of us use sound moderators on .22 rim upto much larger calibers.They can make rifles a bit heavier and awkward to carry but the positives far out weigh the negatives.If your sound moderator is fitted correctly it it can be unscrewed and fired with out it, with no or very little in change in zero.For example if your are in the highlands of Scotland on steep terrain and weight is a issue. When we are shooting at night (foxes,rabbits etc) near built up areas,there is very little disturbance.The best thing I find is when using my .270 for deer stalking, there is very little recoil, you can see the bullet strike on a deer at 70yds because there is very little muzle flip.Two of my friends came over from the states and spent a week shooting deer with a .270 ,.308 and thought sound moderators were great.