Most Overrated Hunt and Most Underrated Hunt

[dchum]

Comparison is the thief of joy!

Enjoy each hunt for it’s uniqueness however slight or great it might be.

And when in Rome, do as the Romans!
I think hunting from the truck is silly - but when I book a Sonoran, MX mule deer hunt, I will be hunting from the top rack truck. It’s what you do!

Of course this is my opinion on things, which matters nothing! lol

 

[Flipper Dude]

Tracking eland. Zebra in a wild area.

Overrated? Nyala. At least for me.

 

[mark-hunter]

Most overrated hunt: European CIC gold medal stag.
It can come to and surpass the value of a cape buffalo hunt, or get to the value of 2 PG hunts.
And the overall experience is not even comparable.
In my opinion:

 

[Mountaineer]

Most under rated - Hartman zebra

 

[dchum]

Most under rated - Hartman zebra

Ya my two Hartmanns zebra hunts went down really similar to how I hunt free range Aoudad in the Davis mountains in Texas.

Depending on the property you are hunting on a Hartmanns can really be like a sheep hunt lol

 

[Ontario Hunter]

I wouldn't rate sable hunting very high but the general consensus seems to be most others don't rate it highly either so I wasn't terribly disappointed. Low expectation. I wouldn't have bothered with it but the lodge owner worked a deal with landowner that was impossible to turn down without insulting those good folks who put us up in their home. It was the end of a seven year drought and they were hurting. We had hunted buffalo there four days and couldn't connect. Buffalo were wise to us so time to move on to another property. Glad I could leave them with something to put in the bank. But it was not a difficult hunt.

 

[Scott CWO]

Sable that have been handled or on ranches become easily adapted to people. I’ve hunted wild areas where the sable were very fickle and spooky.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

I would like to know how others rate springbuck. I found them to be somewhat challenging. Wary little stinkers. Probably because they are small and easy for just about any predator to take down ... plus they taste good. The lower price tag would seem to indicate they're not rated highly. But I enjoy hunting them. Blesbuck are also cheap and deserve it ... yawn. Impala can be fun. Wary noisy buggers, especially in groups. However, lone rams can be kinda stupid. Overall I think impala are good value for hunting experience/dollar. I enjoy hunting buffalo. Very wary and, of course, they can be dangerous. Also difficult to put down sometimes. But I'm not sure I can rate them worth the enormous trophy fee. Kudu are a fraction of the price and every bit if not more difficult to stalk. They rate highly and I've never talked to anyone who says otherwise. Not cheap but not ridiculous expensive either. I think bang for buck kudu rate the best for hunting experience and trophy yielded.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Sable that have been handled or on ranches become easily adapted to people. I’ve hunted wild areas where the sable were very fickle and spooky.

On my first safari a deal came up for a 48" sable bull at $4,800. Okay ... how did they know it was exactly 48"? Yeah, I figured that out without an answer. It would be a fabulous mount on the wall ... but that's it. No, I'd take three kudu trophies for that price and experience some real honest to goodness hunting. The lodge operator figured I wouldn't be interested but threw it out there just in case.

I don't understand why sable behind a fence would be so much stupider than tagged buffalo or impala or gemsbuck I have observed on same property. And they were. I have watched videos of sable hunts in free roam areas outside RSA and not impressed. In fact, I almost questioned do these things ever run?

 

[375Fox]

Sable that have been handled or on ranches become easily adapted to people. I’ve hunted wild areas where the sable were very fickle and spooky.

He’s been told many times on many threads.

 

[Betterinthebush]

On my first safari a deal came up for a 48" sable bull at $4,800. Okay ... how did they know it was exactly 48"? Yeah, I figured that out without an answer. It would be a fabulous mount on the wall ... but that's it. No, I'd take three kudu trophies for that price and experience some real honest to goodness hunting. The lodge operator figured I wouldn't be interested but threw it out there just in case.

I don't understand why sable behind a fence would be so much stupider than tagged buffalo or impala or gemsbuck I have observed on same property. And they were. I have watched videos of sable hunts in free roam areas outside RSA and not impressed. In fact, I almost questioned do these things ever run?

That’s it. You’ve convinced me. Your post has now made hunting Sable a top priority for me. Thank you.

 

[meigsbucks]

I have a special affinity for buffalo but kudu and springbok have proven more challenging. Blue Wildebeest, although tough, seem to be an easy hunt.
In the US, drawings and points, as well as cost for western animals has lessened its appeal for me.

 

[Scott CWO]

A few people have asked me what my favorite hunt was. My usual answer is the next one.

 

[Russ16]

Snipe or Rail hunting using a push boat in South Carolina is a very traditional, classic hunt.

Hunting Marsh Rail Birds on North Carolina's Cape Fear River

Rail hunting was once described as the "Sport of Kings" and enjoyed by the likes of Roosevelt and Ruark. While these odd marsh birds are no longer as popular as they once were, they're still insanely fun to hunt.

www.fieldandstream.com

That’s fun for sure but I prefer to get out of the boat and chase them with a dog.

 

[LivingTheDream]

It will be unpopular opinion, but I think Cape buffalo are overrated. I’ve never felt addicted to hunting them as some describe. I’ll hunt more if that is what gives me the best full experience from an area, but I don’t think I need to take one to have a successful safari.

I agree with this. I have hunted them a couple of times, I would rather focus on other animals now.

A lot of the Tiny Ten is underrated, some pretty cool hunts out there for them. I personally think Ibex in Spain is really under rated.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

He’s been told many times on many threads.

Again, why is it that sable behind fences seem so much less wary than just about any other species behind the same fence? The sable in your "wild" areas may be more wary but are they more wary than kudu or buffalo in the same areas? Or even comparable?

 

[dchum]

A few people have asked me what my favorite hunt was. My usual answer is the next one.

Full maned beautiful Serengeti lion in TZ… nope not that one! The next adventure!

love it Scott, you are a true outdoorsman.

 

[major hunter]

Sable that have been handled or on ranches become easily adapted to people. I’ve hunted wild areas where the sable were very fickle and spooky.

- Agree with this, hunted roosevelt sable in Tanzania and it was challenging. Not easy, not for those looking for a "comfortable" or "easy" hunt.

- Most underrated wild hunt would be mid-asian ibex. Not African but it's a fantastic trip.

 

[Scott CWO]

Full maned beautiful Serengeti lion in TZ… nope not that one! The next adventure!

love it Scott, you are a true outdoorsman.

Haha you might have got me on that one. Lions are very special. I must confess that walking up on my lion was exhilarating and a huge rush and relief at the same time. I will likely never pay that much again for a lion hunt but after I complete my spiral slam, I might jump on a cancellation someday. I hear about some great cancellation hunts but I’m always planning too far out with other hunts to take advantage of them.

 

[Muskox]

Over rated.

Any public land hunt in a highly over sold unit. Where drama lurks around every corner.

A private land hunt either on your own or guided.