Is hunting waterbuck challenging? I saw a few decent ones in the Limpopo province last year on a hunt, and they sort of just stared at us. If I had shot one of them, it would have almost been like shooting a cow. Is that typical? Or are they usually more skittish?
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Waterbuck - Challenging hunt?
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CAustin
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I have seen them on both hunts and I think they think you can't see them if they stand still. Now when I got close to them in the truck they moved off. So if your on foot I don't think it would be like shooting a cow.
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I don't know but I plan to find out!
I'm told you had better hit them in the right spot and hit them hard or they will take you on a merry chase!
I'm told you had better hit them in the right spot and hit them hard or they will take you on a merry chase!
CAustin
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Bob it sounds like a job for the Ruger Guide Gun to me. Hornady DGX would make him smart bad!
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I've taken two, and neither was like shooting a cow, although if you were shooting from a vehicle, I suspect they might not be as challenging. They are territorial, so when I saw a nice one, and he saw me and ran, I revisited the same area a number of times over the next few days until I found him again.
Both were a fun stalk, though I can confirm that up to a certain point, they will freeze and stand there. But if you keep moving, they do run. Both were about 100 - 125 yard shots. One dropped dead on the spot, while the other ran. We found only a small drop of blood, but having found that, we tracked him for about 100 yards and found him dead. Not another drop of blood was found. I think their skin can close up better than some other animals.
A beautiful - regal looking -animal.
Both were a fun stalk, though I can confirm that up to a certain point, they will freeze and stand there. But if you keep moving, they do run. Both were about 100 - 125 yard shots. One dropped dead on the spot, while the other ran. We found only a small drop of blood, but having found that, we tracked him for about 100 yards and found him dead. Not another drop of blood was found. I think their skin can close up better than some other animals.
A beautiful - regal looking -animal.
PHOENIX PHIL
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I'm with Hank on this. In the truck, they do seem to not have a lot of fear. Get out on foot, another story. My first hunt in S. Africa, my PH told me we were in a very good quality Waterbuck area. Saw tons of them, but there were always on the move. Finally we had one come walking in on us while we were sitting down. Not a great shot from me, but good enough. The bull stopped sometime after he was making his escape, coughed up a bunch of blood, but kept going. Probably 500 yards he traveled after the shot.
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try stalking one with a bow , they are a fun animal to hunt , they can move through some pretty thick bush , quite easily and very quietly .
like most antelope they have that security zone ,with in 80 to 100 metres , and if they see you they move ,
likje all the African animals that don't get hunted from the ute , you can drive very close to them ,
I ended up taking mine from a pit blind , and the angle of the dangle was perfect , the arrow only pierced on lung and we had a long track out , to find him
like most antelope they have that security zone ,with in 80 to 100 metres , and if they see you they move ,
likje all the African animals that don't get hunted from the ute , you can drive very close to them ,
I ended up taking mine from a pit blind , and the angle of the dangle was perfect , the arrow only pierced on lung and we had a long track out , to find him
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Mine was a hunt. It was moving from the truck. Chased it over 2 hills an finally got a moving shot at 235 yards moving pretty fast thru brush. First animal I shot in Africa. Made SCI record and a fantastic shoulder mount. I would suggest taking one. They sure look good on the wall.
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Imagine eight hunters taking 7 days to find one animal!
We all saw a monster the first day and everyone in the group wanted him and was actively searching of him.
The first day he stood still until the shots went off at the rifle range. Thereafter, he was in high gear.
No one encountered him until I was lucky enough to be with a sharp eyed tracker and the stalk was on.
Thankfully, we were sneaky enough that we got well within rifle range and I got my opportunity.
Luck made the stalk seem easy. How this animal avoided all those eyes looking for him for that long I have no idea.
I think it depends on the concession and how you hunt them. Try and get within Bow range of a big one, you'll have a challenge on your hands.
We all saw a monster the first day and everyone in the group wanted him and was actively searching of him.
The first day he stood still until the shots went off at the rifle range. Thereafter, he was in high gear.
No one encountered him until I was lucky enough to be with a sharp eyed tracker and the stalk was on.
Thankfully, we were sneaky enough that we got well within rifle range and I got my opportunity.
Luck made the stalk seem easy. How this animal avoided all those eyes looking for him for that long I have no idea.
I think it depends on the concession and how you hunt them. Try and get within Bow range of a big one, you'll have a challenge on your hands.
Well, here is the waterbuck that just kept begging us to shoot him. The PH thought he was 24 inches, and as a result, offered him at a pretty significant discount. We declined the opportunity. Who would have shot it?
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This one was taken in Zimbabwe - Matetsi - about 5 years ago. A shade over 30 inches. Makes a difference if you let them get a bit older.
Wheels
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Love it when they grow old and gold.
The gold tint on the corrugations and base of an old waterbuck bull is where the character is.
Nice one Hank.
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Perhaps because it is not seen as a meat buck for local biltong hunters...that's why they stand and look at hunters...nobody hunts them...the majority is meat hunters. My 2 cents!
Have a look at this one harvested the 2014 season...RW 31 2/8". Took us 3 full days of hunting.
Bigger bulls is in the class of Kudu - very tricky to hunt.
Have a look at this one harvested the 2014 season...RW 31 2/8". Took us 3 full days of hunting.
Bigger bulls is in the class of Kudu - very tricky to hunt.
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Because of some clients having to move their dates I have 2 prime time slots open if anyone is interested to do a hunt
5-15 May
or 5-15 June is open!
shoot me a message for a good deal!
5-15 May
or 5-15 June is open!
shoot me a message for a good deal!