Hunting Hyena - How many have hunted one?

I'm in final prep mode for a trip to Zim in August. In addition to buff, i would like a hyena. I have spoken with several people and have been told that intentional hunts for hyena are difficult. Most hyena taken are through random encounters.

Has anyone here taken a hyena? Was it purposeful or opportunity?

I took one in Botswana in the Okavango Delta in 2001. We planned to bait for one, but as we came into camp at last light we saw one. Quick shot, thank Schmidt & Bender for a scope that gathers light incredibly well, and I had my trophy. Normally we wouldn't take any trophy near camp, but nobody likes Hyenas so the normal rules didn't apply. The skinner refused to put it in the shed with the other trophies. He said that Hyenas didn't deserve to be there.
By the way, I took it with a 375 H&H, Federal TBBC from a Krieghoff safari classic.

I have not hunted them. I have heard plenty of stories in Namibia. Normally the ranchers there didn't mind the brown hyena...but the spotted hyena was another story...SOS (shoot on sight). They have a fair number in Northern Namibia. They get them usually by baiting...some night hunting too.

I would definitely take one if I had the opportunity...and have it half or whole mounted.

..I have hunted the brown Hyena with no luck!! We came across a set of huge tracks about 1 mile from camp so we baited the area with bones etc from previous trophies I had shot but we had no success.. The tracks did come in to the bait several time but he never showed when we were around!!
..I think It would have made a cool trophy!!

Spotted Hyena is definitely on my to hunt and shoot list.
If I get the opportunity I will not hesitate !

I can't say with certainty but I believe that most Brown Hyena are taken on encounter. However they are also hunted over bait, and I do know that they come to Leopard bait in Namibia. The problem as you already know is that they mostly come at night.

For those of you who are not familiar with the Brown Hyena, here is a trophy picture of a Brown Hyena from the photo gallery of Karl Stumpfe from Ndumo Hunting Safaris in Namibia. You can check out his photo gallery here, he has some great pictures.

Myself, I have only seen them a few times in the bush and I can tell you that they look like something straight out of hell. Very strange looking, resembling a Vampire Bat in the face. Definitely a cool trophy to add to the collection.

Sentinel Ranch in Zimbabwe is 99% successful using bait at night on Spotted Hyena. Moon lit nights work best, look them up in SCI record book for their results.

We ran across this one in the Selous while looking for buffalo. It had been injured and was limping away when I shot this picture.

I put up a leopard bait into a tree, and a brown hyena came to look. You can see the pic in my gallery. This is already the second time that a brown hyena came to a leopard bait, even though it could not reach it.

I have shot a few them, mostly as a target of opportunity..all spotted varieties..I would like to shoot a brown hyena at some point..but they don't rate very high on my list..Lot of my clients are hot to shoot them however..

We all have our favorites. About all I care about hunting anymore other than for subsistence, is Cape Buffalo, I dearly love hunting those old dagga boys.

Just a word of advice to all our USA hunting friends, please make sure with your Fish and Wildlife dept. about the legalities of importing BROWN HYENA into the USA.

Last I had that they do NOT allow imports of Trophies for this species?

Just make sure, better to find out, than to pay for an animal you cannot take home!

Europe and Canada I know have no problem.

I think they are by chance.

I was in RSA when I had an encounter with a Brown but the PH did not what him shot.

I put my scope on the Brownie and said "pow" so he is checked off my list now.

JP does that technique work for the big 5 too? Cause that sounds like a very economical way to hunt...

Safari Chick, Works for Me, I just need to get my scope on them.

I took a Sable as well. We where walking through the brush when I spotted a very nice Sable and called for the sticks. I put the gun up and found him in the scope right about the time my PH tapped me and very softly said,"You did not have Sable on Your list. Do you want Him?". I said," POW!! , I got Him". He laughed and said "You Scared Me."

CITES has taken the Brown Hyena off their list, therefor one cannot import it info the US.

Here is what one source states:
"The brown hyena was initially listed in Appendix I in 1975, was downgraded to Appendix II in 1995, then completely deleted from the CITES listing in 2000. They were also downgraded in the IUCN red list, being listed as Vulnerable in 1990, and in 2000 they are listed as Near Threatened. They are regarded as rare in the South African Red Data Book."

It would make great trophy though .....

I'm more interested in a spotted anyways but thanks for the information. Thanks for all of the posts everyone.

Hyena have been on my list for as long as I have been going to Africa.

I had one in my sights one night, no light, but it was just too dark.

I passed. I regret it now. I was 90% sure I could drill him.

After handling around 100+ wolves, I would love to have a hyena life sized! We had tracks of a VERY large one in Namibia, but never caught up with it. Someday.......

I don't know about Spotted Hyenas, but Brown Hyenas are very atrackted to old motor oil. If you are doing a leopard hunt and there are brown hyenas in the area, just dump 5 litres of old used motor oil about 10 to 15 yards to the side of the bait tree and there will be a brown hyena within two days that come to roll in the oily sand. That will not disturb the leopard at all.
Just be warned, the eyesight and hearing of the hyena are much better than that of a leopard and if you spooked him once, he will not come back.
Jerome are correct, they are not the most atractive animals around.
As from 2006, you need a special permit to hunt them in Namibia.

I would love to get a spotted. Does anyone know any outfitters in South Africa that would have some to hunt?