Hunting the Spotted Hyena

[KMG Hunting Safaris]

Hunting Spotted Hyena has always intrigued me. In fact, they intrigued me so much, that after hunting countless Hyenas over the years, I decided that it was simply one of the trophy animals that I wanted to add to my personal collection.
What was it that made them so special in my eyes? Was it the fact that they had been built up in reputation by the countless animal shows? Was it the eerie feeling only they could produce when they whoop in close proximity of your built, ground blind? Their peculiar anatomy? Maybe it was a culmination of all of the above. The one thing I do know, is that I love hunting them, and that was enough in making a decision to hunt one for myself during the 2019 hunting season.
The area that I chose to conduct my hunt, was the same area as where I would be on a 7 day Cape Buffalo Bull/Cow combo hunt. My idea was to get my hunter on the board, and then proceed with the nocturnal hunt for the Hyena, as this would not interfere with our daily operations. Getting a Buffalo Cow or Bull on the ground, would also help tremendously with some extra bait, using some of the stomach.

This specific area, really has had minimal pressure on the Spotted Hyena population, which is exactly why I thought it would be the perfect area in my quest to bag myself a proper dog......

TBC....

 

[Ridgewalker]

Come on Marius! You’ve hooked me!

 

[KMG Hunting Safaris]

Come on Marius! You’ve hooked me!

Haha. I have not even written the next segment yet, but will add some content tomorrow. Will update daily. I promise. It will be worth the wait. Trust me.

 

[Jeffrey]

Is calling hyenas for hunting legal/ethical?

I've called Brown Hyenas with a FoxPro before, it was fairly straightforward. We weren't hunting them though.

 

[KMG Hunting Safaris]

Is calling hyenas for hunting legal/ethical?

I've called Brown Hyenas with a FoxPro before, it was fairly straightforward. We weren't hunting them though.

No sir, it is illegal to call Spotted Hyena in South Africa.

 

[BenKK]

Sounds good, Marius! They’re an animal that intrigues me, too!

 

[CJW]

They are near or at the top of my wishlist. I woukd love a full body mount. Actually, just petting one would be cool. When used to humans they are very playful.

 

[tarbe]

They are near or at the top of my wishlist. I woukd love a full body mount. Actually, just petting one would be cool. When used to humans they are very playful.

Mine is getting tanned right now in Zim...soon @gizmo will be doing a full mount and I do believe I am looking forward to it!

 

[Dee S]

We were near Etosha in September on my hunt and when my one and only wild encounter with one occurred. It was right at dusk, Pieter may have already called for the truck We were about to pack up our gear when it 'whooped' out in front of us. A very cool, but eerie feeling for a first timer like me. It probably was within 200 yards of us. Never did see it, but still a unique experience I was not expecting.
Looking forward to the rest of your story.

 

[Tra3]

Keep writing! I’ve always enjoyed your hunts as posted here.

 

[JPbowhunter]

Do you ever hunt them under natural light e.g. full moon?

 

[KMG Hunting Safaris]

They are near or at the top of my wishlist. I woukd love a full body mount.

Well, if I answered you on this, it would ruin the story.

 

[KMG Hunting Safaris]

We were near Etosha in September on my hunt and when my one and only wild encounter with one occurred. It was right at dusk, Pieter may have already called for the truck We were about to pack up our gear when it 'whooped' out in front of us. A very cool, but eerie feeling for a first timer like me. It probably was within 200 yards of us. Never did see it, but still a unique experience I was not expecting.
Looking forward to the rest of your story.

Yeah, they have a way of disappearing like that. In a lot of parts of Namibia, the Brown Hyena actually push them out. Some of the areas that we hunt in Namibia the locals have told me about how there use to be loads of Spotted Hyena when they were kids, but as time passed, the Brown Hyenas took over and pretty much pushed the Spotted Hyena out.

 

[KMG Hunting Safaris]

Keep writing! I’ve always enjoyed your hunts as posted here.

Thank you. Busy with it as we speak.

 

[KMG Hunting Safaris]

Do you ever hunt them under natural light e.g. full moon?

You are jumping the gun here....

But I will answer your question specifically once the report is done. You are welcome to write me a PM with specific questions if you wish.

 

[BenKK]

Yeah, they have a way of disappearing like that. In a lot of parts of Namibia, the Brown Hyena actually push them out. Some of the areas that we hunt in Namibia the locals have told me about how there use to be loads of Spotted Hyena when they were kids, but as time passed, the Brown Hyenas took over and pretty much pushed the Spotted Hyena out.

Pardon my ignorance, but I’m very interested in learning more about this. I imagined, having never seen either, that the spotted hyena would be more powerful and dominating than the brown hyena. Can you educate me more on this?

 

[KMG Hunting Safaris]

Pardon my ignorance, but I’m very interested in learning more about this. I imagined, having never seen either, that the spotted hyena would be more powerful and dominating than the brown hyena. Can you educate me more on this?

Ben, I honestly don't have the answer. One thing to keep in mind is that not all Spotted Hyena run in packs, and I will also touch on some of this in my report. One thing that Namibia does have a lot of, other than sand, is Brown Hyena.
How accurate the information is from the Namibian locals I spoke to, one can only wonder. Were there outside factors that aided in the decline of Spotted Hyena numbers in that specific area? Was it just a coincidence that the Spotted Hyena numbers declined, and the Brown Hyena population exploded? Not impossible.

 

[BenKK]

Thank you, Marius! Lots to puzzle about in the bush.

 

[KMG Hunting Safaris]

....Lots to puzzle about in the bush.

Mate, truer words have never been spoken.

 

[JPbowhunter]

Ben, I honestly don't have the answer. One thing to keep in mind is that not all Spotted Hyena run in packs, and I will also touch on some of this in my report. One thing that Namibia does have a lot of, other than sand, is Brown Hyena.
How accurate the information is from the Namibian locals I spoke to, one can only wonder. Were there outside factors that aided in the decline of Spotted Hyena numbers in that specific area? Was it just a coincidence that the Spotted Hyena numbers declined, and the Brown Hyena population exploded? Not impossible.

I studied to be a biologist, more focused on landscape ecology (not that I work directly in that field now). But for whatever it's worth it almost sounds more like one of the situations where the browns can't compete with spotted so even when it's ideal habitat they're absent or in low densities. Then when spotted move out they're able to colonize. You'd need to know a lot more about the dynamics of spotted hyenas to be able to make any real conclusions. Do they fare as well close to human habitation, do they need X amount of habitat regardless and are they losing it? Availability of food source, competition etc.