One Species of Plains Game

[Ryan]

Just one is a horrible idea, ha ha.

But....
Black wildebeest. Crazy unpredictable jokers.

 

[mdwest]

I have no idea why… but I absolutely love hunting blue wildebeest… I’ve taken 2 with a bow, and have lost count on how many have been taken with a rifle…including culls it’s definitely over a dozen…

Bar none my favorite PG

 

[Duke1966]

Mountain zebra or Kudu

 

[Sabre]

I've thought about this since I saw it first posted and I can't really choose one.

I feel like the best thing about Africa is all the variety on one hunt, and for me that is a huge part of the enjoyment.

Good question and thread, but every time I pick one in my head I think, "Arrgh, but what about this other one?"

 

[Muskox]

Mountain zebra or Kudu

Mountain zebra are a fantastic hunt.

 

[DLSJR]

It’d be very tough for me to only want to hunt one PG species, as there are multiple I enjoy and some I haven’t hunted but which I’m sure I’d enjoy.

Of the PG I’ve hunted two stand out for me, Lord Derby Eland and Greater Kudu.

 

[Betterinthebush]

Hunting blue wildebeest was a riot. Getting in range was fine, finding the biggest bull went fine, but then the circus began. They never stopped moving. Clear shot. NO! Not clear, cow behind him. There they go! Oops! Here they come back! Where did he go? Here he is. Shooting. Stop! He just threw himself in the dirt for a bath! On and on..! I had so much fun and was smiling so hard my face hurt at dinner.

I love them all. I’ll always hunt a kudu and waterbuck, but the amount of and combination of fun/frustration made blues special for me. I’d be satisfied to be held just to them for life if I were forced. Plus I just love that blue brindled hide. It was so sleek. And the face ruff from his boss to nose was so soft. I’d never known until I took my first.

 

[Hogpatrol]

Agree with Newboomer, springbok are one of the few native to the arid region karoo and they know how to dodge anything that looks like it'll eat them, including hunters, trucks and hunters on trucks. Killed over a hundred and don't remember too many less than a few hundred yards. Tiny target and can take a hit and keep on going. Backstraps are delectable too!

 

[Newboomer]

Hunting blue wildebeest was a riot. Getting in range was fine, finding the biggest bull went fine, but then the circus began. They never stopped moving. Clear shot. NO! Not clear, cow behind him. There they go! Oops! Here they come back! Where did he go? Here he is. Shooting. Stop! He just threw himself in the dirt for a bath! On and on..! I had so much fun and was smiling so hard my face hurt at dinner.

I love them all. I’ll always hunt a kudu and waterbuck, but the amount of and combination of fun/frustration made blues special for me. I’d be satisfied to be held just to them for life if I were forced. Plus I just love that blue brindled hide. It was so sleek. And the face ruff from his boss to nose was so soft. I’d never known until I took my first.View attachment 707387

Sounds just like springbok. Hilarity and frustration.

 

[kpoynter]

For me it’s Kudu…I’ve been fortunate to take many and two 60”
Then Eland and they are very underestimated by your average hunter since they don’t have the big horns….
They all have something to offer but a big Kudu bull is just a magnificent animal
Sable is also an absolute beauty

 

[Osama Mahdi]

Why is the bushbuck considered special? Can experienced hunters elaborate, please?

 

[Mark Biggerstaff]

POOR MAN'S BUFF, BLUE WILDEBEEST.

I will second that. I will hunt blue wildebeest all day long every day.

 

[mdwest]

Why is the bushbuck considered special? Can experienced hunters elaborate, please?

Of the spirals I’ve definitely found them the most difficult/challenging… any spiral set out for other than a bushbuck usually is met with success in a day or two in South Africa if hunting with a reputable outfitter…

Finding and finally connecting with a good bushbuck took 4 trips for my wife with multiple attempts each trip…

 

[375Fox]

Why is the bushbuck considered special? Can experienced hunters elaborate, please?

Bushbuck hunting probably has the largest component of luck attached. Every bushbuck hunt I’ve done is very unique and different than the other bushbucks I’ve taken. I’ve shot them by chance at last light, by driving them out of brush, walking slowly along river and spring to spring, waiting at water, and by glassing. Each hunt is very different and a nice trophy. Also an animal that is very difficult to farm and generally isn’t.

 

[375Fox]

Of the spirals I’ve definitely found them the most difficult/challenging… any spiral set out for other than a bushbuck usually is met with success in a day or two in South Africa if hunting with a reputable outfitter…

Finding and finally connecting with a good bushbuck took 4 trips for my wife with multiple attempts each trip…

An eland on a game farm and an eland on a low fence farm or free range area are two very different animals. Eland that have ability to move cover huge distances and makes a very different hunt. You might be after one a week.

 

[NoStepOnSnek]

Thanks for all the feedback on this thread so far. I might have to rethink my target list for my 2027 hunt

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Kudu in the Eastern Cape mountains. They are essentially free range even behind game fences. Very wary and difficult country.

I have three on the wall and the prettiest is not the longest. Only 44.5" and I'm fine with that. I don't live in Buckingham Palace.

 

[meigsbucks]

Springbok, Eland and Kudu for different reasons. Springbok are so skittish. Eland have proven to be tough hunts. Kudu are called the Grey Ghost for a reason.

 

[Andrew62]

Kudu, followed closely by eland

 

[Erny]

bushbuck for sure, with kudu being a close second