Commonly Hunted Species (Info and Pics)

[James Vee]

Warthog

http://www.seaworld.org/AnimalBytes/images/warthog.gif

"Size: .9 to 1.5 m (2.9-4.9 ft.) in length; 63.5 to 85.0 cm (2.1-2.8 ft.) tall at shoulder.
Weight: 50 to 150 kg (110-330 lb.)
Source (http://www.seaworld.org/AnimalBytes/warthogab.html)

Description: pig like animal, black or brown in color, with coarse but sparse hair covering body. Its face is long with fleshy warts and protruding tusks."
http://www.seaworld.org/AnimalBytes/warthogab.html

The Hunt: Warthogs can often be seen during all hours of the day. But they are quick, real quick. You had better decide before your hunt whether or not you want to shoot a warthog, because if you see one and are unsure he will be gone by the time you decide. Warthogs can often be found at waterholes during the warmest part of the day. General price tag on a warthog is around $300.

http://www.reedercustomguns.com/information/photos_images/warthog.jpg

[James Vee]

Blesbok are also a commonly hunted species as well.

General Characteristics:
Body Length: 140-160 cm / 4.6-5.3 ft.
Shoulder Height: 85-100 cm / 2.8-3.3 ft.
Tail Length: 30-45 cm / 12-18 in.
Weight: 55-80 kg / 121-176 lb.
Source (http://www.ultimateungulate.com/Artiodactyla/Damaliscus_pygargus.html)

The blesbok is a grazing antelope. Often seen in large or small herds feeding in grassland settings. Both sexes have horns, which is commong for many game species in Africa. The males will have thicker, and often shorter horns. Some even have an ivory tint to them. Average price for a blesbuck is around $450 dollars.

http://www.sacrs.org.za/ecm21/pictures/030829-84-Blesbok.jpg

[James Vee]

Blue Wildebeast, or "The Poor Man's Buffalo" is also another commonly hunted game species in Africa.

General Characteristics

Body Length: 170-240 cm / 5.6-8 ft.
Shoulder Height: 115-145 cm / 3.8-4.8 ft.
Tail Length: 60-100 cm / 2-3.3 ft.
Weight: 140-290 cm / 308-638 lb.
Source (http://www.ultimateungulate.com/Artiodactyla/Connochaetes_taurinus.html)

Blue Wildebeast can best be found during the early or late parts of the day. They are extremely versatile in regards to the habitat in which they can be found. But they are often found in herds. Females in calves will group together as will satellite bulls. Adult bulls are often found solitary. Both sexes have horns. The males will have thicker bosses and often wider horns. A good way to measure the trophy status of a bull is to check the width of his horns. If the inside curl of the horns are equivalent to the width of the ears then it can be estimated to be around a 27" bull. Average trophy fee for a blue wildebeast is around $1100.

http://www.jesseshunting.com/photopost/data/502/15456Wildebeast.jpg

[fisherguy]

The pics aren't working in the second two but thanks for the good info. Here is a question, what is the difference between the blue and black wildebeast, and the two types of zebra (burchells and hartmans i think they are called)?

[GEMSBUCKHUNTER]

The diff. between the Burchell zebra and the Moutian zebra is the Burchell is the one you see everyday in pics and stuff with the stripes where the Mountian Zebra looks alot like a jackass they are smaller i have a pic of one but i cant find it .
The blue wildebeest is the one you see in the pic below the Black looks like this http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v430/TREELOUNGERJAY/blackwildebeest1.jpg

[James Vee]

As you can see from the picture, the horns on a black wildebeast curve forward instead of out. I'll add some more information and more animals on this thread as time passes. If other guys would like to add animals feel free to do so.

[billcavazos]

Did the professional hunter get after you for the gut shot? Blue Wildebeast, or "The Poor Man's Buffalo" is also another commonly hunted game species in Africa.

General Characteristics

Body Length: 170-240 cm / 5.6-8 ft.
Shoulder Height: 115-145 cm / 3.8-4.8 ft.
Tail Length: 60-100 cm / 2-3.3 ft.
Weight: 140-290 cm / 308-638 lb.

Blue Wildebeast can best be found during the early or late parts of the day. They are extremely versatile in regards to the habitat in which they can be found. But they are often found in herds. Females in calves will group together as will satellite bulls. Adult bulls are often found solitary. Both sexes have horns. The males will have thicker bosses and often wider horns. A good way to measure the trophy status of a bull is to check the width of his horns. If the inside curl of the horns are equivalent to the width of the ears then it can be estimated to be around a 27" bull. Average trophy fee for a blue wildebeast is around $1100.

http://www.jesseshunting.com/photopost/data/502/15456Wildebeast.jpg

[James Vee]

LOL, no he didn't get after me for the "gut shot". I have no defense on this one though. It was just flat out not a very good shot. The wildebeast was about 100 yards out, quartering away and walking about to get into the sticks. I rushed the shot, but felt comfortable taking it. We had a Jack Russel along that took off after the wildebeast after the shot as did we. After about a 300 yard sprint we found the dog had the wildebeast doing circles about 100 yards from where we were. I took a rest and placed a shot at the base of the neck, which dropped him there. The PH in the pic and I are good friends.

[apmaurosr]

Nice pics James Vee. Hey, did you harvest the giraffe in your picture?

Ant

[James Vee]

Thanks. Unfortunately the giraffe in the pic was/is not mine. The owner, Quentin McEntee of Traxx Outfitting in South Dakota shot it.

[James Vee]

Impala are another species that is commonly hunted in Africa.
General Characteristics:
Body Length: 120-160 cm / 4-5.3 ft.
Shoulder Height: 75-95 cm / 2.5-3.1 ft.
Tail Length: 30-45 cm / 12-18 in.
Weight: 40-80 kg / 88-176 lb. Source (http://www.ultimateungulate.com/Artiodactyla/Aepyceros_melampus.html)

Impala can be found in large herds throughout the day. Males often herd with other males and females will herd with other females and kids. Grazing occurs throughout all hours of the day. And drinking atleast one time per day. Average price for a trophy impala is around $450.

http://www.orchidspecies.com/africa/impala.jpg

[James Vee]

Waterbuck is one of the more expensive of the plains game animals.
General Characteristics:

Body Length: 180-220 cm / 6-7.3 ft.
Shoulder Height: 100-130 cm / 3.3-4.3 ft.
Tail Length: 22-45 cm / 8.8-18 in.
Weight: 150-250 kg / 330-550 lb.
Source (http://www.ultimateungulate.com/Artiodactyla/Kobus_ellipsiprymnus.html)

One of the things I noticed about waterbuck is that more often that not I could smell their musk odor before I could see them. It's a distinct smell, which reminds me of somewhat of black licorice. Waterbuck do not display the large grouping behavior that other antelope such as impala do. Most waterbuck prefer moist habitat. Males are territorial, while females can be found in small groups. Average price for a waterbuck is around $2,250.

http://www.duke.edu/~bdk4/Africa2003/Waterbuck.JPG

[USAFVet]

Nice pics. Definitely want to get there and do a multiple species hunt like that some day.

James, do you recommend doing a package hunt where the species is listed out or picking and choosing and paying those trophy fees? I could see getting carried away over there and really piling up the trophy fees if you weren't careful. I'd be running around like a kid in a candy store.

[James Vee]

USAFVet, you mention the example of running around like a kid in a candy store and I think that fits too many people who hunt Africa to a "T". When the hunt is all said and done for some guys money really isn't a factor. But for a lot of other guys there is a big reality check when it comes time to pay up. You've got to be careful about what you do. One of the first things I would recommend is getting a price sheet for all of the game, and memorize or atleast make a good effort to study it. Some guys will carry this sheet around with them, but in many circumstances by the time they pull out their price sheet to see how much it's going to cost to shoot an animal, the animal will be long gone. Some of the package deals that you can find for auction at Ducks Unlimited, Whitetails Unlimited and Safari Club banquets are good deals. They are designed for the hunter to take one or more of the less expensive animals for free, with hopes of that hunter taking some more expensive animals during the same trip. If I could hook up with one of those banquet offers on a night where the bidding is low I'd do it.

[GEMSBUCKHUNTER]

USAFVET,
My opinion would yes take a package hunt because the daily rate prices are normaly lower. if you just go over and start a trophy fee plus daily rate you will be paying more. Like for instance the place i went they will let you change your package up how ever you want. lets say the package has a Blesbuck,Impala,Gemsbuck, springbuck,duiker and say you dont want the duiker or blesbuck then you subtract the price of those 2 animals and then add in the ones you want say the price to start was $3400 you just took 2 off now that price is $2930 now you want to add in a kudu and a wildebeest with the cost of those 2 added in it would be $4680. just to give ya some kind of idea but not all outfitters will do that. Theres a lot of homework to do when planning for a safari. Hope this helped

[apmaurosr]

James Vee

Thanks for the walk down memory lane with the pics. I enjoyed them and the background you provided. That's a great shot of the waterbuck. The waterbuck is about as majestic as the kudu in my opinion.

Ant

[USAFVet]

Thanks for the feedback, guys. I'm sure when the time gets closer I'll have a few more questions for you.