Deciding what to hunt in South Africa

Impala is almost a freebie. If you ask, just about every place will let you shoot some extra impala as management culls. Same with springbuck. Warthog are cheap enough but isn't there still a hangup getting those in US because they are swine? Baboon are typically bait and shoot. I have no interest in doing anything but spot and stalk.

Black wildebeest are an interesting trophy and they can be challenging to hunt. Typically a wide open terrain critter. I found sable very disappointing stalk. Very high price tag too. Kudu are moderately expensive but not out of reach. Usually they can be had for just under $2K (consider a Montana elk goes for $1,700 nonresident so not bad). Kudu are, next to buffalo, my favorite animal to hunt. Very spooky and they live in challenging terrain. They are also essentially free roaming as fences don't hold them. PH never knows for sure what's going to turn up on any given property. Red hartbeest are fun to hunt. Wary and often in rugged country. Usually the price tag for them is not too bad. They make a very interesting skull mount (shoulder mount not so much). Red lechwe are beautiful but very expensive. Zebra can be affordable. I've just never been interested in shooting one. Blue wildebeest are fairly cheap and usually not a difficult stalk. Get the skull done and backskin if the color is right. Springbuck are very cheap usually. Skulls are small but pretty and their backskin is borderline spectacular. They can be challenging if herded up. Like black wildebeest, they prefer open plains. Getting within 200 yards is not easy. They are very flighty. Impala should give you a good hunt. Often as not they are in thick stuff. Blesbuck are quite numerous and affordable. I didn't find them to be terribly challenging to hunt. Shooting them was usually something to do or provide meat for property owner. Gemsbuck will often provide a good hunt. Although definitely not free roaming, you never know where they will show up. They are a desert animal so not bound to waterholes and rivers. Price is typically about the same as kudu. Tops for trophy, euro or shoulder mount. And excellent eating! Eland will be way out of your price range. Nyala and Barbary sheep are also very pricey. Waterbuck are about the same price as kudu or a bit more. They hang out in the same terrain but not as spooky. I would spend the money on kudu or gemsbuck instead. When you get there, have your lodge owner keep his ear to the ground. August will be towards the end of hunting and property owners will be looking to adjust herd sizes before ruts start. Less competition later in the season too. Some bargains are bound to show up. When I was there I was offered deals out of the blue on sable and nyala I hadn't budgeted for that were simply impossible to turn down.
 
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Impala
Kudu
Gemsbok

(all impressive animals!)


If you want to wait for Namibia for the gemsbok, then take a zebra, blue wildebeest or waterbuck as #3.
 
It will depend on what’s available. I would not set your heart on something they don’t have. My recommendation is to take what trophy animals they have and you get a shot at, instead of just shooting a lesser animal just because it’s on your “list”
 
You might consider holding off on at least one choice until you are in the field. Know the prices so you know what you are getting into, but maybe leave one of your choices to fate. You may not know what it will be until you see it, but when you see it you will know it. On my first trip, toward the end of the hunt I came across the most incredible nyala, I'll never forget it. I turned it down as it wasn’t on my list, nor was it the species I was hunting. I regretted that decision for a long time.
 
You might consider holding off on at least one choice until you are in the field. Know the prices so you know what you are getting into, but maybe leave one of your choices to fate. You may not know what it will be until you see it, but when you see it you will know it. On my first trip, toward the end of the hunt I came across the most incredible nyala, I'll never forget it. I turned it down as it wasn’t on my list, nor was it the species I was hunting. I regretted that decision for a long time.
best advice yet, know the price list, know what you can afford that is on the list and take what Africa gives.....my advice would set back a little extra in case you are presented with something stellar....
 
show up with money and hunt till it runs out

A morning hunt will start with a plan to hunt Kudu, see a herd of Impala, but on that stalk you see a Blesbuck then a warthog is standing there 50 yards, wait is that a Zebra to the left AHHH the choices and decisions to be made
 
It depends on what you want to spend extra but for limpopo I would add blue wildbeest and kudu if your budget will cover them. If not maybe zebra or warthog instead of kudu. A very nice animal is also a waterbuck which gets over looked by alot of hunters for some reason.
 
Hi 06, welcome to AH and what a wonderful problem you have! I am glad you are taking an impala, they are beautiful. As some others have said add a warthog and a blue wildebeest. Then when those are in the salt see if you have enough left for a bush buck or a zebra. A zebra rug back home is something you will admire every day.
 
show up with money and hunt till it runs out

A morning hunt will start with a plan to hunt Kudu, see a herd of Impala, but on that stalk you see a Blesbuck then a warthog is standing there 50 yards, wait is that a Zebra to the left AHHH the choices and decisions to be made
On my 3 RSA safaris this is what I did. On each hunt I had 1target animal ( kudu, roan, klipsringer) and if bushbuck in the area I will never pass up a chance to hunt them. Other than that I take as much cash as I can save and hunt alacart if I like it I shoot it until the money runs out. Doing this I’ve aquired a fair amount of plains game.
 
Agree on the zebra-bring the skin home and display it anywhere. I would also agree on kudu and I like your impala idea
I have mountain zebra rug which is great. But used skin from Burchell zebra to make 2 zippered rifle cases. They are trimmed with elephant hide. Look awesome, functional and great pricing.
 
This is what I would suggest and has been mentioned by other.

Hunt endemic species to the area that has good genes.
Find out what endemic species there is, is it one one area different concessions and so forth.
Some areas boast greater trophy quality than others.

So find out what is available plus the prices
What is endemeic and what would be nice to have without too much hassle.

As an add on ask them what management animals are available and at what price you could end up getting a good blue wildebeest bull but then add on a female just for the experience.
Same for Impala get a nice trophy and add a ewe/female impala.
 
I've said it before, but I think it's smart to have a "must have" list, a "by-chance" list and a "finish early" list.

The must-haves are the ones you'd be disappointed leaving Africa without.

The by-chance lists are animals that you can afford but aren't on your must-have list. This is an important list since if you bump into, say a bush pig, you had better be ready to line up and shoot. A moment of Indecision might cost you your chance and create a lot of regret after you're back home. Baboons, gray diuker and bush pigs are good "by chance" animals since they're usually cheap. They're also good by-chance animals because if you have them on the must-have list, they will usually take up a lot of time and may cost a bit more because you'll have to drive or bait to get them.

Lastly, the finish early list is important only if you take your must-have animals. The finish early might be a wing shooting day or a drive-park day or maybe a bush buck...

As far as which animal...I removed a gemsbok and replaced it with a zebra...I'm so glad I did. I don't know how many times I will go to Africa but I will probably hunt a zebra every single time...
 
I agree with Frederik and Rubberhead, good advice.
No one has mentioned little guys. Steinbok and other small antelope can add some pretty enjoyable hunting time at low cost.
Just enjoy every minute of the whole process.
Bfly
 
I would first study what good mature older animals look like. Then take what the area offers for those type animals. Without discipline, you could end up shooting a ton of fairly young, average animals. I would look for age. Then if trackers are decent.... encourage them and your PH to also do some hunting by tracking. Any good tracker has a pretty good shot at staying on animals like zebra, kudu, wildebeest, eland and the like. In mixed scrub and woodland, it's amazing how difficult zebras are to hunt if they've had any hunting pressure :) If in the dark about what to choose, I would not turn down an opportunity at any older, even beat up, broken horned PG animal. Stick within budget if necessary but IMO, it's better to go without a grocery list.
 
everyone has their own idea of which animals to harvest, but I suggest that you make sure of what is available in the area you are going to hunt. THEN look at pictures of all the animals and make a choice on what you like and want, not what someone suggests it is your hunt enjoy it and remember everything works on African time so enjoy it
 
We hunted 10 animals on our trip to SA. We both agree that our favorite trophy is the zebera. If your budget allows...it should be on your list.

Overall, don't try to hunt too much. Stop to smell the roses (so to speak because there are no roses in Africa) and enjoy yourself.
 
I would first study what good mature older animals look like. Then take what the area offers for those type animals. Without discipline, you could end up shooting a ton of fairly young, average animals. I would look for age. Then if trackers are decent.... encourage them and your PH to also do some hunting by tracking. Any good tracker has a pretty good shot at staying on animals like zebra, kudu, wildebeest, eland and the like. In mixed scrub and woodland, it's amazing how difficult zebras are to hunt if they've had any hunting pressure :) If in the dark about what to choose, I would not turn down an opportunity at any older, even beat up, broken horned PG animal. Stick within budget if necessary but IMO, it's better to go without a grocery list.
That's mostly the job of the PH. You can't expect a first time African hunter to size up any of the animals, even after looking at pictures of mature animals.

Likewise I wouldn't expect a PH to size up a Rocky Mountain elk or a mule deer on their first couple of trips to hunt them. Where I can size them up quite quickly.
 
That's mostly the job of the PH. You can't expect a first time African hunter to size up any of the animals, even after looking at pictures of mature animals.

Likewise I wouldn't expect a PH to size up a Rocky Mountain elk or a mule deer on their first couple of trips to hunt them. Where I can size them up quite quickly.
Totally agree but I do tell the PH what shape I like in certain animals, I prefer more narrow kudu and goal post shaped impala to name a couple.
 
Totally agree but I do tell the PH what shape I like in certain animals, I prefer more narrow kudu and goal post shaped impala to name a couple.
That's true, and a conversation that you need to have with your PH. Let him know your expectations and just what you want.
 
We have all overlooked one fantastic opportunity, after dinner one evening (or 2) ask about a springhare hunt with all the ph's in camp. Helluva lot of fun
 

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