How many critters will 2 guys typically take

hunting 2x1 on a 10-day hunt if they select quality mature animals?

Neither @LegalEagle or I are terribly blood thirsty hunters but we are definitely going to pull the trigger.

We will be spot n stalk rifle hunting in the western part of Limpopo and northwestern portion of Free State.

I know there are many variables but we each have 6 animals in our packages and I'm just trying to get a feel for...we'll be looking for additional animals to shoot by day7? Or that should keep us busy? Or we better plan to go site seeing for a few days?

Have a great time! I’m envious.

My son (age 13) and I took 9 animals between us as well as some guinea fowl and spent 2 1/2 days site seeing on a 7 day trip.
You will have lots of time. Put aside a couple days of site seeing whatever is in close vicinity and take it all as it comes. And take money for extra critters just in case. Have FUN!

You should have plenty of time for that on a 10 day deal! Enjoy!!

My daughter and I did a 10 day hunt in 2013 and we shot about 20 animals not counting some monkeys.
We each had a list and package when we got there but then added animals we saw that were excellent but not on "the list" we started with.

I suggest you listen to your PH and if he says you need to shoot that .........then do so.

There are 3 kinds of animals in Africa:
1) We can do better.
2) That is an ok shooter.
3) SHOOT NOW!
Do not wait if he says the third one.

Its still hunting, so nothing is guaranteed... especially if you are pursuing a specific species. My wife and I got about one animal per day- we had some days with two and some days with 0. Of note, we were looking for and actively hunting kudu everyday and didn't get ours until the second to last day.

If you're not going off a list, you could easily have shooting opportunities on 2-3 animals per day no sweat.

The list of the animals will decide so not knowing what that is makes it hard to say. What a 10 day normally does over a 7 day hunt is gives you time to look for better animals.

Taking animals like blue wildebeest and impala can happen fast and you both could take them both in the same day. Now make that a kudu or eland and you could both hunt for 2 days and take neither.

Also will depend on the staff if they come get your animals and you keep hunting or if your making drives back to the skinning shed. There is a lot of factors but with a normally list both of you can take 6 animals in 10 days and maybe have a day or two left over to add more or good view the area.

In my experience I totally agree with billc. On a recent safari it took me 9 days of a 10 day hunt to get my list. I shot 8 animals.
I was still trying for a bushpig until dark on day 10.
The cost of day rates for 3 extra days is cheap in the sceme of things.
It gives you time to be selective on your trophies and if you have spare time at the end go after the freebies such as baboons and jackals and rock rabbits.

Depending upon the guys & the budget.... safe to estimate 10-20, 5-10 each.

I would agree with everything above. Common animals in the area come quickly. Eland, kudu, bushbuck can be a lot more difficult. I shot my first bushpig last October, and I had been looking for one of those as long as some folks hunt for a leopard.

There is a huge difference between a 7-day and 10-day hunt. During the latter, you have plenty of time to shrug off jet-lag and you won't feel rushed - particularly 2x1. Yet, it will still be over faster than anything you have ever done in your life.

billc said:

The list of the animals will decide so not knowing what that is makes it hard to say. What a 10 day normally does over a 7 day hunt is gives you time to look for better animals.

Taking animals like blue wildebeest and impala can happen fast and you both could take them both in the same day. Now make that a kudu or eland and you could both hunt for 2 days and take neither.

Also will depend on the staff if they come get your animals and you keep hunting or if your making drives back to the skinning shed. There is a lot of factors but with a normally list both of you can take 6 animals in 10 days and maybe have a day or two left over to add more or good view the area.

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What billc said is right on. Tell us the animals on your lists and we can try to give you a better idea. You are hunting in good areas and if you have a good PH and if you and your buddy shoot straight you should have no problem.
Best of luck and most important soak in every minute of your time there and have fun!

In 10 days you can likely shoot more animals than you "think" you can afford.

You just never know and can't really plan - I burnt up an entire 8 day hunt trying to find a mature Bushbuck, on the other hand it took us 15 minutes to put a 56 inch Kudu in the truck ...

As for the sightseeing - sometimes a day off in the middle of a hunt lets you catch your breath and refocus, not a bad thing ...

One difference i don't think was mentioned is on a 10 day vs 5 or 7 day hunt, unless you are putting undue pressure on your PH, he will likely pass on lesser animals he would want to take with less days. Now that is assuming you are decent fellows and not hunting doubles of everything.

Example; we passed on a kudu and the PH commented that if a short hunt he would have taken it, but we had time to do better. Then a few days later a young Dr in camp took that same kudu. His party tended to drink a lot and stay up late, keepinh all the PH's awake...And not only was he short on days, but he was trying to lowball everything and made a derogotory comment about farmers, which I and a couple of the PH's are, and the rest where farmer's sons... he also shot a eland with a broken leg... somehow trophy quality kept slipping

I would highly recommend you make different lists, Stienbok vs duiker, black vs blue wildebeast, impalla vs reedbuck, kudu vs nyala or waterbuck, etc. It will make for a better hunt with better trophy quality if your PH only has to find one good critter of each species. And will mitigate any hard feelings over who gets to shoot the better trophy, no matter how good of friends you are. Especially 2x1 as you can't blame your PH But also stay flexible and if a great chance at a double on something presents itself, take em!

And yea, your list may be too short, especially if this is your first trip and taking the common critters. My (ex) wife and I took 16 critters in 9 days on first hunt. She took 5 of those.. But then she did accuse me of being bloodthirsty

Thanks for all comments. Its our first trip. We both have Kudu and waterbuck high on the list but otherwise the list are pretty different. I really want to take a good bushbuck. Planning some night jackal and porcupine hunting. We should have a lot of different hunts and be opportunistic on really good animals. We'll each probably have a couple Grand extra in our pockets.

My 2¢ Six animals in ten days should easily be doable unless you are after maximum size trophies. For extra action at reduced prices, consider some cull animals. They won't be trophies but can make some nice skull mounts and flat skins.

Best of luck on your hunt!

MizzouAg said:

Thanks for all comments. Its our first trip. We both have Kudu and waterbuck high on the list but otherwise the list are pretty different. I really want to take a good bushbuck. Planning some night jackal and porcupine hunting. We should have a lot of different hunts and be opportunistic on really good animals. We'll each probably have a couple Grand extra in our pockets.

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Hunting is hunting - you just never know - but the minute you threw in "good bushbuck", a lot of the guys on here will be quick to tell you that can be a pretty tough hunt in the Limpopo, could get real lucky, maybe a few hours, but the odds are that one could eat up a several days and a lot of the prime time hunting, early mornings and evenings

MizzouAg said:

hunting 2x1 on a 10-day hunt if they select quality mature animals?

Neither @LegalEagle or I are terribly blood thirsty hunters but we are definitely going to pull the trigger.

We will be spot n stalk rifle hunting in the western part of Limpopo and northwestern portion of Free State.

I know there are many variables but we each have 6 animals in our packages and I'm just trying to get a feel for...we'll be looking for additional animals to shoot by day7? Or that should keep us busy? Or we better plan to go site seeing for a few days?

Click to expand...

I wouldn't worry about extra time. I had extra and used it up hunting.. then I wished I had more extra to spend a day or two sitting around enjoying the ambiance.

Nosler guy said:

You just never know and can't really plan - I burnt up an entire 8 day hunt trying to find a mature Bushbuck, on the other hand it took us 15 minutes to put a 56 inch Kudu in the truck ...

As for the sightseeing - sometimes a day off in the middle of a hunt lets you catch your breath and refocus, not a bad thing ...

Click to expand...

Where the heck were you hunting? Does he have a brother?

I would tell you also to make sure since your hunting 2x1 to know who is up to shoot. But both of you will need to be ready in case something pops up that maybe on the other guys list. If I was you I would flip a coin and one guy gets first chance at kudu other at waterbuck since you both want one.

I would also say if even for a few days to maybe go 1x1 if you can since you have bushbuck on the list. If you do that for say 3 days it should not be that much more and then you will still have days to enjoy hunting together