Top 5 plains game?

[wildfowler.250]

Folks I’ve been back reading old posts with interest and there seems to be lots of top 10 posts - basically covers a good chunk of what’s available!

What would your top five plains game be for a week hunt? And even better, why?

Just to get some ideas for myself going forward. I’ve a mental idea. I think if I could split a South Africa hunt down to kudu, springbok, impala and zebra, I think I could still come away and say I’ve covered a few key animals but interested to hear what folk rate? Maybe throw a wildebeest in there.

 

[KMG Hunting Safaris]

Bushbuck

 

[MontanaPat]

Kudu, Eland, Bushbuck, Nyala, waterbuck

 

[Fabnosh]

Bushbuck - iconic, always a challenge and a lovely looking animal.

Common duiker - not a usual answer but I love these little guys. Usually hard to get close to and, depending how high the cover is, can be a tricky and slow approach.

Warthog - quintessentially African and every PG hunt needs warthog. I love playing the ‘field craft’ game with these and make it a personal challenge to take shots under 50m. Also they like it hot so that can bring its own challenges.

Kudu - needs no introduction or rationale.

Impala - my favourite of the antelope. Beautifully proportioned and, depending on terrain, can be hard to get close to with lots of ears and eyes keeping watch.

To be fare though, any times with plains game irrespective of what it is, is lovely. For me it’s the experience and the memories not necessarily the boasting rights of the mount on the wall.

FN

 

[Tundra Tiger]

My first trip to Africa in 2021 was for a 5 species package: kudu, zebra, impala, blue wildebeest, and blesbok. No qualms with any of those. I did however add a few others after the fact. And no future trip won't include kudu or warthog.

 

[grand veneur]

In my opinion something like that depends primarily on the area in which one is hunting. For most people, the reference is certainly southeast and southern Africa, but there are countries where other PG species are more common. In Burkina Faso for example, the Roan is a very most common antelope and was the number 1 for many hunters. In other countries there are not 5 different species of PG.

 

[375Fox]

A lot will depend on the area and region to me. I think Kudu, Bushbuck, Warthog will be on my list anywhere I go. Kudu are always a challenge and a great trophy. Bushbuck are very secretive and have some different behaviors compared to other PG. Warthog because they are impossible to contain and the tusks are impressive. Eland is my favorite animal in Africa to hunt, but it has to be a tracking hunt on huge areas. For a 5th I think zebra simply because they are an iconic African animal and a good hunt.

 

[Betterinthebush]

Sable, kudu, eland, nyala, bushbuck.

I reckon it’s going to take me 3-4 hunts to complete my list. I’m fine with that.

..being optimistic here, of course. If it takes me 10 I’m fine with that as well.

 

[grand veneur]

I would focus primarily on the game that originally existed in the area. In southern Africa, this is often no longer the case, as many other game species have been introduced in the various game ranches and other heavy managed areas.

 

[375Fox]

Sable, kudu, eland, nyala, bushbuck.

I reckon it’s going to take me 3-4 hunts to complete my list. I’m fine with that.

..being optimistic here, of course. If it takes me 10 I’m fine with that as well.

Unless you’re speaking about money or trying to only hunt them in their native regions, you could do all that in one 10 day hunt. Success rates are high. Bushbuck would be the more difficult of the 5.

 

[grand veneur]

Ultimately, whether in their native area or introduced, hunting PG remains the same and can also be difficult.

 

[Hunter-Habib]

My favorite plains game.

 

[grand veneur]

If I had to choose a favorite PG, it would be the Eland, but in my opinion, it's not a typical PG.

 

[everett]

Kudu, warthog. Then, depending on area, impala or gemsbok, duiker or steenbok, bushbuck.

 

[wildfowler.250]

Folks why does everyone rate bushbuck so highly? Not just on this thread but they always come up. I think nyala are way better looking. Bushbuck do make a cool euro though. But there must be something in it!


Interesting to read the replies!

 

[wildfowler.250]

Bushbuck are very secretive and have some different behaviors compared to other PG.

To be fair, I can completely understand a challenge. I’ve been tempted to hunt a lechwe maybe as an extra. I think they’ve been introduced to free state a while back? My main concern is if they’re not difficult so maybe I should lean more to bushbuck or waterbuck. But waterbuck hasn’t come up here much either!

 

[Altitude sickness]

1. Eland

2. Eland

3. Eland

4. Warthog
5. Zebra

My wife would say

Sable

Zebra

Kudu

Warthog

Impala

 

[PARA45]

For me, Kudu, Nyala and Bushbuck. Since I was a kid, the Kudu has been my favorite antelope, and if I can I'll hunt Kudu every time I'm in Africa.

Bushbucks are feisty little guys that will not hesitate to charge at you if wounded. My PH showed me what one did to his Jack Russel Terrier, and he is the one who told me that they are extremely aggressive.

 

[Hunt anything]

Always bushbuck, small package with an attitude! Any of the reed bucks, nyala, warthog and impala.

 

[KuduKiller]

Bushbuck, kudu, zebra, lechwe and gemsbok. Bushbuck on the river is fun. I have found that zebra, in my opinion can be harder to hunt than kudu. Lechwe was fun as well. Gemsbok can be a challenge and that was one of my longest shots I’ve ever taken.