Easiest and hardest species to hunt?

[MJ75]

So, three weeks today I'll have arrived in the Eastern Cape with friends and we;ll be hunting. Needless to say I'm sat here in the UK with just one thing on my mind. I've been reading this site and others, watching Youtube videos, reading hunting related books and generally wishing my life away until the big day arrives. I'm sure you can all relate to that....

I'm not 100% sure what species I wnt to take, trophy bushbuck and bushpig are on the list along with a number of culls, though I'm thinking of changing some of these for Cape Grysbock or maybe another kudu. Our outfitter is very flexible so we shall see what happens.

In the meantime I was wondering what species people see as the easist and most challenging. On my first ever hunt I met a Canadian gentleman who saw blesbock as the most challenging. In my experience, I found these the easiest! Obviously peoples opinions will vary massively, as it's a very subjective topic, but what species do you see as easy and difficult?

 

[Royal27]

You're right, there are just so many variables and so many species to hunt!

I think I'm going to start this by making a really general statement. I think the little guys, like the Grysbok you mention are at least some of the hardest. They are just so small, hard to find, and in the case of something like blue duiker require fairly specialized hunting. You don't just go out and glass for one. Now for my Sharpes Grysbok the hunt was easy as he just walked out in front of us while we were checking for buff tracks at a waterhole. I also know he was the only animal I took on that safari that got the PH and trackers excited.

Again on the Grysbok if you really want one I would add him over Kudu or bushbuck. You can find those guys lots of places. Only one place to find a Cape Grysbok.

And on the Blesbuck I would say that in my experience it was harder than I thought it would be, but wouldn't call it an overly difficult hunt either.

Now for easy (and I haven't hunted either so please take this for what it is worth) I would say Sable and Bontebok, at least where I saw them. They just seem to stand there and stare at you until you get really close at least. My opinion on this is because of their value and how they are raised is that they are pretty used to human interaction. I don't think I will ever hunt a Sable in SA due to this. I've heard too many stories of tame Sable.... Now in other places like Zam, different story and on the to do list.

 

[brushmore]

At least from what I read, the bongo sounds like a very difficult hunt and would have to on that list of most challenging to hunt.

 

[gordon-kruger]

Depends of many factors, if you think of SA and the farmed game there you will find that nothing is really difficult, if you not find what you looking for you try another farm. I will say from experience one of the most hardest and difficult hunts is probably to take a good trophy Sitatunga, it's like Leopards on bait, you sitting and waiting and sometimes for days... But also a Pygmy Antelope in North East DRC is very/very/very difficult.... Same as the West African Royal Antelope.

 

[TokkieM]

For me the Vaalie was a bastard for many years,other seem to shoot them at will.

Don't want to make a blanket statement,but area,management of the area,species distribution,natural habitat,hunting,poaching and predatory pressure are all going to play a role in how hard or easy a species is to hunt. I have said it before, don't use dogs on a Blue Duiker and see how hard he is to hunt. Try hunt a Vaallie on the Baviaans were the carrying capacity is low and one Make has a range of 400-600HA and you are in for a hard hunt,go down to the Western Cape and you trip over them,same for Grysbuck,never seen so many in the day as in the Ceres Mountains.
Same goes if you drop a Gemsbuck in the thick coastal Bush in the EC, will be one of the hardest hunts you have.

Here is were the book on trophy records is the right tool, area,species and when and how they were taken will even the odds if you pay attention. Can't say the same now in SA as species have gone cross natural distribution lines a long time ago.

Hardest hunt you can have no matter what you hunt is hunting a specific individual of any species.

 

[ActionBob]

I thought Lechwe was very easy. And I have to agree with Royal on Sable, haven't hunted one but came across them. I did hunt bontebuck and not difficult, but was not as easy to get close to as lechwe and sable. The lechwe seemed to be very tolerant of us looking them over and getting under 100 yards. Lots of species can be difficult but Vaal Rhebok has to be up there... Buffalo are easy to find, but to find, judge and get a good shot at "the" buffalo before he spooks off can be challenging. And exciting!

 

[Boela]

My money would be on a free range Bush Buck, especially on a walk and stalk and not the "sit in ambush method".
No dogs/beaters.

 

[gordon-kruger]

At least from what I read, the bongo sounds like a very difficult hunt and would have to on that list of most challenging to hunt.

Brushmore, Bongo can be tricky, but on a well manage GMA and a PH that have doing his "pre spotting" you simply use allot of time during the dryer period in a highseat near a salt lick, stalking is nearly impossible with all dry leafs, after the first reins normally in end of march the leafs is softer and dogs can be used... can be a quite messy hunt in thick vegetation.. not my cop of tea. I will probably put a freerange Eland bull very high on the list if we speaking larger game, and a +50" LD Eland this days even harder... pure physical and in combination of hot temperature eating the power...

Huntinghard, you right about habitat, but I think we all know that it will be the hardest task ever to find a free range Gemsbok in Congo or a Lechwe in Zim..... all hunters probably chose a area where the chances is highest for that specific animal, right ?

 

[TokkieM]

Gordon if you find a Gemsbuck in the Congo let me know! I was referring to SA were borders pretty much don't exist when it comes to variety of game.

Forgot to mention that another hard animal to hunt is the one that has been born with a defect or that has been injured in some way,shape or form.
They don't survived their wounds or injury easy,but when they do,they cling to life like no other,they also develop a skill set diffrent to their same species siblings. Blesbuck that hide instead of run,Bushbuck that keep circling around and Steenbuck that crawl in the grass are all examples of walking wounded that have given me a hard time.

 

[Nyati]

I would say it also depends on wether you just want to shoot a representative animal, or looking for a specific type of animal.
I like to hunt mature animals, who did not get old by being stupid, and that can take some time and effort.

 

[G Skinner]

Well for me the easiest was my African Wildcat .... came right in and sat nice and pretty ...bow shot from 20 yards .... my most difficult was my Kudu . My PH said I should be most proud of the cat . Most people come into my Recroom and are in total AH of the Kudu .... though he is not by any means a trophy .... My point is luck plays a really big part in easy or difficult . As long as you have fun that is all that matters .
Good Luck and Play Safe
Glen

 

[siml]

The small critters are definitely a lot harder to hunt, as skinner says, luck plays a big role.

 

[KWALATA SAFARIS]

Never disregard Kudu on foot..... Eland on foot as well especially in hilly country

 

[gordon-kruger]

Japp Jaco, the fact is that on a open GMA most good Eland bulls is take when we actually not specific hunting Eland... it's when you start to tracking a bull in a heard for 15 km the sweat/blood/tears comes in hilly terrain and +40 degrees, tsetse flies and a small hangover.......

 

[bassasdaindia]

Never disregard Kudu on foot..... Eland on foot as well especially in hilly country

I am not comparing any animal , but Eland on foot on a large farm or large concession are very difficult , their gate (step ) is so large and they trot , I have walked in excess of 20km's in a day after them.

they always prove to be a difficult but rewarding hunt for me.

 

[lcq]

In my very limited experience I found the bushbuck the most difficult. They like the thick stuff and are very skittish, waiting motionless till the last minute then bolting deeper into the verge. I tried the spot and stalk for days and walked 25km before giving up and hunting them like white tails from a blind

 

[fairgame]

Roan in open savannah are a bitch. Very big crocs are also wise. My most physical hunts have been for Buffalo where they are scarce and harassed.

 

[Diamondhitch]

Never disregard Kudu on foot..... Eland on foot as well especially in hilly country

Agreed, free range kudu have been very tough but I love hunting them.

Vaal Rhebok should be near the top of the list but mine came surprisingly easy. A lot of time, energy and plenty of boot leather in the hills have been devoted to a good free range Kudu bull. Caracal, called in, has been a nemesis of mine but I will get it done one of these days!

I found Blesbok and Impala to be the easiest.

 

[enysse]

Bontebok and blesbuck can be very easy. So can sable in the open plains, but any where there is a lot of bush they can hide well. Lechwe are fairly easy too, in the East Cape.
As far as hard, bushbuck will always be challenging, any of the small antelope, eland on foot (OH BOY), and Kudu hunting is no gimme (especially in thick trees, you see them and then they disappear forever...gone). For me, I hardly ever run across a mature warthog, so to me they are difficult.