Who has taken most or all of the bushbuck slam?

Green Chile

Green Chile

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I'm not really a collector of slams although I have several done or nearly done. The interesting thing about the bushbuck slam is how many different parts of Africa it takes you to. By next season I hope to have 3 of the 6 sub-species. Probably the most accessible/easiest to take are the Limpopo, Chobe and Cape.

Of course, you can argue that there are more than 6 sub-species but for the sake of this topic, let's say there are 6...Limpopo, Chobe, Cape, Melenik, harnessed and Masai. I'm wondering who has chased most or all of these 6? Also, any advice you might share or what would you do differently if starting over? Who are some of the operators I should be talking to who chase the other 3 sub-species? I know many bushbucks are taken incidentally while on a big ticket safari but my trips are always 7-14 days and I can't be gone for 21+. The sweet spot for me is in that 10 day range. This will probably be my next focus if I can take the leopard next year on my 2nd attempt, which should also leave me short of the T10 by just one trip to Namibia. As always, photos are welcomed here!
 
The Masai is actually considered East African, there is also the Nile in Uganda.

The Abyssinian is also found in Ethiopia.

This is my current African pursuit, and have the Chobe, Cape and East African (Masai).

I honestly think the Masai should be a separate sub species.

Roland Ward doesnt recognize both the Cape and Limpopo (I think they call it South African Bushbuck)

Peter Flack's book on bushbuck is absolutely a fantastic read.
 
Flack's books on all of the spiral species are excellent. Mine are packed up right now for a move. What is next on your list and do you have any outfitter recommendations?

The topic of lumping and splitting species is a huge discussion. I will say that I can't understand why the Cape wouldn't be its own separate from Limpopo species. It is so dark that it appears black and loves the higher elevations and can be considerably larger bodied as well (20-30% heavier).
 
I would love to do a BB slam, I currently have Chobe, ape and Limpopo. As @LivingTheDream the dream stated some don’t recognize a difference between the cape and Limpopo but sitting here looking at one of each they definitely look different to me.
I will never be able to afford a slam as Ugandas Nile and East African as well as Ethiopias mineliks and Abyssinia are way too costly.
There is a population of harnessed in northwest Zambia that is a slight possibility for me.
I believe @Hank2211 recently did a hunt report on him finishing his slam in Uganda, it was a good read.
 
Just need the Abyssinian...
 
I’ve taken a few but not really pursuing the slam. Hope to get Menelik next April.
 
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I have taken 6 of them. Missing the one that lives on an island somewhere (forgot the same). They are all fun to hunt. THe easist were the ones in Uganda and Ethiopia. The hardest has been the Cape bushbuck. I have never hunted them thinking I need to take all of the species until one PH said I had almost done it and then I read Peter Flacks book on Bushbuck and realized I had.
I am not a collector so I missed that merit badge from the various critter clubs.

Same goes for sheep. I have taken many. Someone told me to get "registered". I thought he meant as a sex offender.... However, I find collectors to be odd personalities. They speak like, "I got my Hangay sheep here and I got my Urial there". They speak as if the animal is "theirs". It is they who shot it but it was never theirs....
 
Thanks for all of the posts so far.

dogcat1 said:
I have taken 6 of them. Missing the one that lives on an island somewhere (forgot the same). They are all fun to hunt. THe easist were the ones in Uganda and Ethiopia. The hardest has been the Cape bushbuck. I have never hunted them thinking I need to take all of the species until one PH said I had almost done it and then I read Peter Flacks book on Bushbuck and realized I had.
I am not a collector so I missed that merit badge from the various critter clubs.

Same goes for sheep. I have taken many. Someone told me to get "registered". I thought he meant as a sex offender.... However, I find collectors to be odd personalities. They speak like, "I got my Hangay sheep here and I got my Urial there". They speak as if the animal is "theirs". It is they who shot it but it was never theirs....
Click to expand...

I was hoping you would post as I know you have traveled a lot on your hunts. I hear what you're saying about the collecting mentality. I have numerous animals that qualify beyond record book minimums...some I'm told would likely be top 10. I just haven't done that and maybe I should to get more credit to the PH. I treat the slam lists like something fun that I can research and chase that I wasn't aware of until the collectors put the lists together.

It's also interesting that you stated the Cape sub-species was more challenging. I'm used to the little bushbucks being down in the weeds at the bottom of the weeds. In the EC, I found them much higher on the mountains...still in the densest cover but half way up the mountain and very difficult to access. The shots would have been long...way over 400 yards and rarely standing clear of cover. I remember the tracker saying, "Boss if you shoot him I will go get him but if we don't have to, that's ok too." Well said! I'm going back this season to try and catch one.
 
Green Chile said:
I'm not really a collector of slams although I have several done or nearly done. The interesting thing about the bushbuck slam is how many different parts of Africa it takes you to. By next season I hope to have 3 of the 6 sub-species. Probably the most accessible/easiest to take are the Limpopo, Chobe and Cape.

Of course, you can argue that there are more than 6 sub-species but for the sake of this topic, let's say there are 6...Limpopo, Chobe, Cape, Melenik, harnessed and Masai. I'm wondering who has chased most or all of these 6? Also, any advice you might share or what would you do differently if starting over? Who are some of the operators I should be talking to who chase the other 3 sub-species? I know many bushbucks are taken incidentally while on a big ticket safari but my trips are always 7-14 days and I can't be gone for 21+. The sweet spot for me is in that 10 day range. This will probably be my next focus if I can take the leopard next year on my 2nd attempt, which should also leave me short of the T10 by just one trip to Namibia. As always, photos are welcomed here!
Click to expand...
That’s a great goal-the bushbuck slam is definitely one of the more interesting ones given how spread out they are.
I haven’t completed all six, but you’re spot on that Limpopo, Chobe, and Cape are the more accessible ones and often taken opportunistically. Once you get into harnessed, Masai, and especially Melenik, it becomes a lot more of a targeted effort with specific regions and outfitters.
From what I’ve gathered and experienced, the biggest thing is planning each trip around one primary subspecies rather than hoping to pick them up incidentally. With your 7–14 day window, that’s probably the most realistic approach anyway. Areas in CAR/Cameroon for harnessed, Ethiopia for Melenik, and Tanzania or Kenya (where possible) for Masai would be worth focusing on with outfitters who know those animals specifically.

If I were starting over, I’d line up a loose roadmap early and try to stack species where geography overlaps, but accept that a few of them are going to require dedicated trips no matter what.

Curious to hear from anyone who’s actually completed all six-that’s a serious accomplishment.
 
Jack Jones said:
That’s a great goal-the bushbuck slam is definitely one of the more interesting ones given how spread out they are.
I haven’t completed all six, but you’re spot on that Limpopo, Chobe, and Cape are the more accessible ones and often taken opportunistically. Once you get into harnessed, Masai, and especially Melenik, it becomes a lot more of a targeted effort with specific regions and outfitters.
From what I’ve gathered and experienced, the biggest thing is planning each trip around one primary subspecies rather than hoping to pick them up incidentally. With your 7–14 day window, that’s probably the most realistic approach anyway. Areas in CAR/Cameroon for harnessed, Ethiopia for Melenik, and Tanzania or Kenya (where possible) for Masai would be worth focusing on with outfitters who know those animals specifically.

If I were starting over, I’d line up a loose roadmap early and try to stack species where geography overlaps, but accept that a few of them are going to require dedicated trips no matter what.

Curious to hear from anyone who’s actually completed all six-that’s a serious accomplishment.
Click to expand...

Did you get your Masai Bushbuck in Kenya or did AI type that up for you.
 
Bushbuck have always been one of my favorite quarry, they are like an African Whitetai! Smart, secretive and sporting.

I lack the two from Ethiopia and hope to make that trip sooner than not.

JES
 
I pulled my copy of Flack's book out of the packing boxes. Apologies for misspelling Menelik's...and of course I missed a couple of sub-species from memory as others have stated. Fascinating subject and Flack's book series on each of the spiral horns is one of the best additions to my library.

Some of Flack's thoughts on distribution across Africa...

IMG_0860.JPG


IMG_0861.JPG
 
bwanamrm said:
Just need the Abyssinian...
Click to expand...
Do you have yours grouped in a way that can be photographed? I've never seen the majority of them grouped together.
 
LivingTheDream said:
Did you get your Masai Bushbuck in Kenya or did AI type that up for you.
Click to expand...
Methinks mr @Jack Jones is a scammer account. Odd that he did do an introduction thread for himself but in it speaks of only hunting North American animals while dreaming of a free range hunt in RSA.. Then in the post you responded to he says things like “I haven’t completed all six” and “If I were to start over”, implying experience. Joined in 2025, just started posting Wednesday and obviously using AI. A scammer if there ever was one
 
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Green Chile said:
Do you have yours grouped in a way that can be photographed? I've never seen the majority of them grouped together.
Click to expand...
No sir... spread over several rooms.
 
Wishfulthinker580 said:
Methinks mr @Jack Jones is a scammer account. Odd that he did do an introduction thread for himself but in it speaks of only hunting North American animals while dreaming of a free range hunt in RSA.. Then in the post you responded to he says things like “I haven’t completed all six” and “If I were to start over”, implying experience. Joined in 2025, just started posting Wednesday and obviously using AI. A scammer if there ever was one
Click to expand...

I hadn’t noticed prior…

But re reading his last post, there are a couple of AI “tells” in the script…

Almost certainly used AI to assist in responding at a minimum…
 
mdwest said:
I hadn’t noticed prior…

But re reading his last post, there are a couple of AI “tells” in the script…

Almost certainly used AI to assist in responding at a minimum…
Click to expand...
Yep. And like @LivingTheDream noted, he mentioned Kenya as a possible destination for the Masai! I think grammatically correct posts are always a red flag too. The vast majority of us don’t proofread haha. AI is always very wordy and long winded as well
 
Funny you mention that...I noticed the spelling and that's what made me correct my own misspelling.
 
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