Hunting Articles

Trophy Hunting the the Hippopotamus / Hippo in South Africa

PDF | Print | E-mail

DESCRIPTION

The hippopotamus or hippo is a large, mostly herbivorous

mammal in sub-Saharan Africa and is the third largest land animal (after the elephant and the white rhinoceros).

Hippos measure 3.3 to 5.2 meters (11 to 17 ft) long, including a tail of about 56 centimeters (22 in) in length and average about 1.5 meters (5 ft) tall at the shoulder. Even though they are bulky animals, hippopotamuses can run faster than a human on land. Estimates of their running speed vary from 30 km/h (18 mph) to 40 km/h (25 mph), or even 50 km/h (30 mph). The hippo can maintain these higher speeds for only a few hundred meters.

The hippo is semi-aquatic, inhabiting rivers and lakes where territorial bulls preside over a stretch of river and groups of 5 to 30 females and young. During the day the hippopotamus remains cool by staying in the water or mud and then emerge at dusk to graze on grass. While hippo's rest near each other in the water, grazing is a solitary activity and hippos are not territorial on land.

Hippos are by nature very hostile animals, especially when young calves are present. Frequent targets of their aggression include crocodiles, which often inhabit the same river habitat as hippos. Nile crocodiles, lions, and spotted hyenas are known to prey on young hippos. Hippos are very aggressive towards humans, whom they commonly attack whether in boats or on land with no apparent provocation. The hippopotamus is widely considered to be one of the most dangerous large animals in Africa. To mark territory, hippos spin their tails while defecating to distribute their excrement over the greatest possible area.

Hippos have been on the list as one of the most dangerous killers in Africa for a long while now and this is more due to their territorial temperament than their nature. As with humans, the older hippos get, the more cranky they are and it is these older bulls that have been kicked out of their family group, often with mortal wounds, that cause the many deaths in Africa each year.

Trophy Hunting the Greater Kudu - Tragelaphus Strepsiceros - in South Africa

PDF | Print | E-mail

DESCRIPTION - HUNTING THE GREATER KUDU

The greater Kudu is one of the species which can be trophy hunted on a hunting safari in South Africa accompanied by experienced professional hunters from the Grootpan Outfit.

The Greater Kudu is a woodland antelope found throughout southern Africa. Despite occupying such widespread territory, they are sparsely populated in most areas, due to a declining habitat.

They have a narrow body with long legs, and their coats can range from brown/bluish-grey to reddish-brown. They possess between 4-12 vertical white stripes along their torso. The head tends to be darker in color than the rest of the body, and exhibits a small white chevron which runs between the eyes.

Male Greater Kudus tend to be much larger than the females, and vocalize much more, utilizing low grunts, clucks, humming, and gasping. The males also have large manes running along their throats, and large horns with two and a half twists, which, were they to be straightened, would reach a length of 1 meter on average. However, the male horns do not begin to grow until the male is between the ages of 6-12 months, twisting once at around 2 years of age, and not reaching the full two and a half twists until they are 6 years old with trophy sizes at 8 years on. Males weigh 190-270 kg (419-595 lbs) while females weigh 120-210 kg (265-463 lbs). Females do not have horns while the bulls have horns that average 120 cm (42 in) in length at 6 years.

Their habitat includes thick bushveld, rocky hillsides, and dry riverbeds and anywhere with a constant supply of water. Their diet consists of leaves, grass, shoots and occasionally tubers, roots and fruit. During the day, Greater Kudus normally cease to be active and instead seek cover under woodland, especially during hot days. They feed and drink in the early morning and late afternoon, acquiring water from waterholes or roots and bulbs, which have high water content. Although they tend to stay in one area, the Greater Kudu may search over a large distance for water in times of drought.

Fully mature males will often fight other males by interlocking their horns with the other until one of them admits defeat and gives in. In rare circumstances this can sometimes result in both males being unable to free themselves from the other's horns, usually resulting in the death of both animals. Females may sometimes ward off males by biting them, due to their lack of horns.

The greater kudu is one of Africa's most stately and sought after game animals and probably the most hunted by trophy seekers.

Trophy Hunting the The African Lion (Panthera leo) in South Africa

PDF | Print | E-mail

LION HUNTING IN SOUTH AFRICA

The African Lion is one of the big five species which can be trophy hunted on a hunting safari in South Africa accompanied by experienced professional hunters.

The lion is the second largest living cat with some males weighing more than 550lb. Lions lives for ten to fourteen years in the wild, while in captivity they can live longer than twenty years. In the wild, males seldom live longer than ten years, as injuries sustained from continual fighting with rival males greatly reduce their longevity. They typically inhabit savanna and grassland, although they may take to bush and forest. Lions are unusually social compared to other cats. A pride of lions consists of related females and offspring and a small number of adult males. Groups of female lions typically hunt together, preying mostly on large ungulate. While lions do not typically hunt humans, some have been known to do so. Weights for adult lions range between 150-250 kg (330-550 lb) for males and 120-182 kg (264-400 lb) for females.

The mane of the adult male lion is one of the most distinctive characteristics of the species. It makes the lion appear larger, providing an excellent intimidation display; this aids the lion during confrontations with other lions and with the species' chief competitor in Africa, the spotted hyena. The presence, absence, color, and size of the mane is associated with genetic precondition, sexual maturity, climate, and testosterone production; the rule of thumb is the darker and fuller the mane, the healthier the lion.

Trophy Hunting Warthog (Phacochoerus africanus, "African Lens-Pig") in South Africa

PDF | Print | E-mail

DESCRIPTION

The warthog is one of the species which can be trophy hunted on a hunting safari in South Africa accompanied by experienced professional hunters from the Grootpan Outfit.

The warthog is a wild member of the pig family that lives in Africa. The common name comes from the four large wart-like protrusions found on the head of the warthog, which serve the purpose of defense when males fight as well as a fat reserve. Warthogs range in size from 0.91 to 1.5 meters (3.0 to 4.9 ft) in length and 50 to 150 kg (110 to 330 lb) in weight. A warthog is identifiable by the two pairs of tusks protruding from the mouth, which are used as weapons against predators. The upper canine teeth can grow to 23cm (9.1 in), and are of a squashed circle shape in cross section, almost rectangular, being about 4.5 cm (1.8 in) deep and 2.5 cm (0.98 in) wide. The tusk will curve 90 degrees or more from the root and the tusk will not lie flat on a table, as it curves somewhat backwards as it grows. The tusks are used for digging, for combat with other hogs, and in defense against predators-the lower set can inflict severe wounds.

Warthog ivory is taken from the constantly growing canine teeth. Each warthog has a pair of teeth in each jaw with the lower teeth being far shorter than the upper teeth. Both pairs grow upwards, with the upper teeth being by far the more spectacular in appearance. The lower pair, however, is the more dangerous: the teeth are straight, sharply pointed, and keep a keen edge by the upper pair rubbing against the lower pair. The tusks, more often the upper set, are worked much in the way of elephant tusks with all designs scaled down.

The male is called a boar, the female a sow, and the young piglets. Warthogs are powerful diggers, using both snout and feet. Whilst feeding, they often bend the front feet backwards and move around on the wrists. Although they can dig their own burrows, they commonly occupy abandoned burrows of aardvarks or other animals. The warthog commonly reverses into burrows, with the head always facing the opening and ready to burst out if necessary.

Warthogs are fast runners and quite capable jumpers. They will often run with their tails in the air. Despite poor eyesight, warthogs have a good sense of smell, which they use for locating food, detecting predators and recognizing other animals.

Although capable of fighting, with males aggressively fighting each other during mating season, a primary defense is to flee by means of fast sprinting. The main warthog predators are humans, lions, leopards, crocodiles, and hyenas. Warthogs can inflict severe wounds on lions, sometimes ending with the lions bleeding to death.

Trophy Hunting the Blue Wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus) in South Africa

PDF | Print | E-mail

DESCRIPTION

The Blue Wildebeest, also called the Common Wildebeest, is a large antelope and one of two species of wildebeest. It grows to 115-145 cm shoulder height and attains a body mass of 168-274 kg. Blue Wildebeest range the open plains, bushveld and dry woodlands of Southern and East Africa, realizing a life span in excess of twenty years. Blue Wildebeest are grazing animals that are often sighted in open grasslands or clearings in a savanna. The Blue Wildebeest male is highly territorial using scent markings and other devices to protect his domain. It has a beefy muscular front-heavy appearance with a distinctive robust muzzle; it strides with relatively slender legs and moves gracefully and quietly most of the time, belying the reputation for stampeding in herds; however the stampeding characteristic may sometimes be observed.

Probably the most conspicuous feature of the Blue Wildebeest are the large horns shaped like parentheses, extending outward to the side and then curving up and inward. In the male blue wildebeest the horns can attain a total span of almost 90 cm, while the female's horn width is about half the size of the male. These cow-like horns of both sexes are somewhat broad at the base and are without ridges. The Blue Wildebeest male horns have a boss-like structure joining the two horns. The male is larger than the female with a total body length of up to 2.5 m.

The adult blue wildebeest's color actually varies from a deep slate or bluish gray all the way to light gray or even grayish-brown. The dorsal coat and flanks are slightly lighter in color than the ventral hide and under parts. Dark brown vertical bands of slightly longer hair mark the neck and forequarters, and from a distance lend a perception of skin wrinkling. The manes of both sexes appear long, stiff, thick and jet-black, a color assumed by the tail and face as well.

Blue Wildebeest often graze together with other species such as Plains zebras for purposes of mutual protection. Zebras in particular are beneficial to co-exist with since they mow down highly vegetated areas leaving the wildebeests to eat the newly exposed and more nutritional short grasses, which is what they prefer. A Blue Wildebeest can attain a maximum speed of up to 80 kilometers per hour (50 mph).

Blue Wildebeest are unusually territorial, adult males occupying their territories for a month or for the entire year. The physical size of territories ranges from one to two hectares. The bulls mark territory boundaries with dung heaps, gland secretions, hoof scent glands and pawing of the earth. When competing over territory, males grunt quite loudly, make a thrusting motion with their horns and perform other displays of aggression.

Males exhibit rivalry when staking out territory and when competing for females. In the actual clashes between males, they face off resting on bent front knees, exchanging horn thrusts for brief periods. Elaborate individual displays are made in the rivalry and courtship process, where males bellow, snort and protrude their horns into the soil. The mating process is thought to begin at the first full moon at the end of the rainy season. Once territory is established, the male attempts to lure or corral the female into his domain. A female may copulate with several different males, visiting several different territories.

TIPS ON HUNTING BLUEWILDEBEEEST

Often referred to as the "poor man's buffalo", the wildebeest with its broad flat muzzle and shaggy beard does not win any accolades in the handsome stakes. It does, however have a reputation as being one of the toughest species around. If the hunter does not place his shot well he is in for a long walk with an uncertain outcome.

RIFLE CALIBRE FOR HUNTING BLUEWILDEBEEST

They are fairly large animals and a medium caliber magnum like 7mm or .300's and larger are a good choice with a well placed shot in the shoulder area.

TROPHY ASSESMENT ON HUNTING BLUEWILDEBEEST

The distance they extend beyond the ears and the length of the upward points judges their horns. Their bases are also important and should not be too worn down or fragmented.

CITES

No restrictions on hunting Bluewildebeest

RW minimum score 22 7/8"

SCI minimum score 72"

WHERE TO HUNT BLUEWILDEBEEST

Blue Wildebeest is widely distributed across South Africa and Zimbabwe. Grootpan Hunting Safaris hunt both these areas.

Page 3 of 3

Start

End