Hluhluwe Game Reserve KwaZulu, South Africa

Repeating new member Michael Smith's questions about hunting small and medium game culled from the other forum we share:

"From looking at the outfitters permit fees on their brochure I can afford the following animals. Warthog Baboon Steenbuck  Springbuck (Common) Impala Duiker (Common) Blesbuck

"The larger trophies would cost quite a bit more to ship home and cost a bit more for permit fees. I have a few mounts at home but it's the hunting that keeps me going. Actually I have hides and mounts I can't even hang because the wife gets touchy. When I get my underground rifle range set up I'll have a place to display them. I really like the wild game meat, but Can't take the African meat home. I'd pay to do that long before spending a bunch of money on a trophy head. 

How do the outfitters respond if you choose to shoot female game ? Is that an accepted practice for the outfitters? I would think they would push to have you shoot the trophy animals for the better profit."  

Michael, shooting females depends on the season. In January most females will have young. A careful study with binoculars by the PH will identify females without young - and those will be old and unproductive and they are "culling" material and normally presented at a lower price.

Warthog: Really, for the US visiting hunter a big male with tusks is a must, with a European mount of the skull and tusks.

Baboon: I have yet to see a hunter who had shot a baboon who was not regretful of it -particularly if it was not a heart shot for an immediate kill.

Steenbok: Only the males have horns but both are beautiful animals. A European mount is not nearly worthy of them - in fact only a full mount is. These little antelope mate for life and the PH will do his utter best to find a solitary animal. They are very territorial and the male and female will be spotted within about 40-50 yards from one another.

Springbok: Both the males and females have horns and both are good for a shoulder mount with the male also good for a European mount.

Impala: Only males have horns which are good for European mount.

Duiker: Too small for shoulder mounts, only the male has horns. Only good for a full mount really.

Blesbuck: Medium sized animal, both males and females have horns which look good as a European mount.

You expressed your real wish for getting off the ship: hunting to experience the country and its animals. My sincere advice for the short time you have is to come shoot with your camera and a 70-300 mm zoom lens in the 300,000 acre Hluhluwe Game Reserve. That way you can get a great deal more, including buffalo and elephant and most of the big antelope. Being an accomplished graphic artist your memory data base on displays - and in your mind - will be so much more comprehensive and satisfying.