Serval hunts

enysse

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Namibia, South Africa (East Cape, Guateng and Limpopo)
Is there anyone offering serval hunts on AH? How do you do the hunt? Dogs or night hunting? Success rate? Legal permits for export to USA needed! How many days needed and costs? I will be watching this thread to help plan my next hunt. Thanks again for any hints that can make my next hunt a success.
 
When I saw in the title "serval" I thought it was a typo at first. Then a quick google search gave me a real quick education. That would be a real interesting hunt!
 
I have seen 3 in Africa while i was out hunting. And to top it off i never got a picture of any of them.

One was I real dandy with great markings. I made a comment to the PH that i will have to add that to my shopping list in the future. We spotted this one after a long day in the bush while heading to camp, is crossed the road ahead of us.

One was a mid size one that was spotted while out following game spore, and the third one was a small one that was on a branch in a tree about 15 off the ground.

I did not have the permits is place for the first one, which happened to be the large one, and all 3 sightings were by chance.
 
Enysse,

If you are unable to find the Serval hunt you want here in the forum, try an email to a fellow that I have hunted with 3 times now and he has put clients on them pretty regular.
I have stumbled onto exactly two of them on his leases (totaling about a half million acres combined) simply while I was out at night on "stake out" for poachers who had left snares set in the forest.
Didn't catch any poachers but saw all sorts of cool night animals and bids, the serenade was also excellent.

His email is:
big5game@worldonline.co.za
His name is Hannes Swanepoel and I vouch for him.
He is the guy shown nearest the rump on my avatar buffalo here.

Cheers,
Velo Dog.
 
Is there anyone offering serval hunts on AH? How do you do the hunt? Dogs or night hunting? Success rate? Legal permits for export to USA needed! How many days needed and costs? I will be watching this thread to help plan my next hunt. Thanks again for any hints that can make my next hunt a success.

Enyesse,

I stand corrected.

The two critters I saw at night were Civet, look like a cross between a racoon and a cat, nonetheless beautifully marked coats (old folks get confused).

Hannes (the PH I mentioned) has a pretty good success rate with those but I think almost any PH having access to good habitat does as well, Civet do not seem especially clever.

Serval are a true cat somewhat resembling an Ocelot and I have never seen one, although the Hannes has photos of other clients that have taken them (AKA: "the poor man's leopard".)

Not sure if they were chance encounters or if he baits them like leopard or if he knows someone with hounds .. I'm not sure at all his method on Serval.

If no PH in this Forum chimes in with an offer you can't refuse, just email Hannes and he will tell you truthfully his odds of getting you a shot at one and/or he will recommend someone who has a high success rate on them.

I will email him pretty soon, as I need to update him on a task he put me on this summer anyway, and I will ask him about Serval hunting (now you have me curious about them) and I will let you know what he tells me about same.

Serval seem like a highly specialized thing - not unlike most other African feline - but if there is recent spoor of one in an area where you are hunting, I will guess any PH worth his tick gaiters will get you a better than even chance at it.

I wish you luck in your interest to take a Serval, as they are unique.

And the toothy bastards eat pigmy antelopes, such as steinbok, which annoys me to no end, just like Caracal do (and I actually have seen one of those, bolt across a dirt "road" in Namibia, lol).

Cheers,
Velo Dog.
 
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Hi Velo Dog, I saw some beautiful civet cats on my last trip but didn't have a permit. It was mistake on my part for sure. I think I can get one next time though.
Yes, the serval will be a special hunt. You are most likely correct in that I will have to find that needle in the haystack, where there is a person seeing them regularly. I would still need a permit too.
 
Hi Velo Dog, I saw some beautiful civet cats on my last trip but didn't have a permit. It was mistake on my part for sure. I think I can get one next time though.
Yes, the serval will be a special hunt. You are most likely correct in that I will have to find that needle in the haystack, where there is a person seeing them regularly. I would still need a permit too.

When it all fits together and your cat's in in the bag, I will live vicariously through your posts on it all one of these seasons.
Sounds like a worthy prize to seek.
Yes, CITES Permit required for kitties.
Good reason to never book with some hack outfit that has few-to-no-references for perspective clients to speak with.
Surely there must be a PH or two in this forum who hunt Serval with dogs at least?
 
Is there anyone offering serval hunts on AH? How do you do the hunt? Dogs or night hunting? Success rate? Legal permits for export to USA needed! How many days needed and costs? I will be watching this thread to help plan my next hunt. Thanks again for any hints that can make my next hunt a success.
image.jpg


Serval is typically only a target of opportunity with better chances at night. If you truly want to target it, you must hunt them with dogs in the agricultural areas of the Free State. I booked through Wade Derby at Crosshair Consulting with Kei River Safaris.
 
View attachment 31398

Serval is typically only a target of opportunity with better chances at night. If you truly want to target it, you must hunt them with dogs in the agricultural areas of the Free State. I booked through Wade Derby at Crosshair Consulting with Kei River Safaris.

Please tell us you did a full body mount with that cat! Love just seeing the picture as you just don't see them. Congrats!
 
E you could try talking With Chris Troskie. Back on my first safari if we had been able to avoid the rain snow and ice in KZN we were supposed to hunt Caracal at night by calling with a predator control specialist, he said they get some serval too so it may be worth cecking into. I don't think the serval was a high percentage item there though.
 
Hi Eric,
Serval hunts are done at night over spot light. We hunted one last year in the Natal region. Last time I check, hunting them with dogs is illegal. Should you need more info, please don't hesitate to send me a PM.

Take Care,
 
Thanks Marius, when the time comes to rebook back to RSA, your name is on a very short list I would consider.
 
This is an animal I would like to target as well. I am headed to RSA in a few weeks but, sadly, we were not able to secure any permits for Serval. I would love to see more trophy pics of Serval
 
View attachment 31398

Serval is typically only a target of opportunity with better chances at night. If you truly want to target it, you must hunt them with dogs in the agricultural areas of the Free State. I booked through Wade Derby at Crosshair Consulting with Kei River Safaris.

I recognize that hat. Gonna need to talk with Andy. That'll make a list of serval, caracal, cape grysbok, suni and red duiker for the next trip.

Congrats!
 

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