Has anyone here hunted Africa “Backwards”?

[mrpoindexter]

My first hunt of my life was in South Africa, 5 months after I took up archery as a sport. I did 5 days of spot and stalk on Cape buffalo with some PG mixed in. Got my Cape buffalo the last full hunting day.

Next safari was for elephant in Zim (but I was denied a bow permit and had to use a rifle, which bothered me for years). Following safari was for lion.

My line of thinking, since I wanted them all, was to start on the big ticket items and harder hunts. Perhaps half the PG will just happen on random opportunities or in the left over time after the big one is down. Still have 2 DG to get and 6 more PG to complete my 29. I have not yet shot a duiker or a warthog, if you can believe it, in 8 safaris.

 

[375Fox]

I did a several PG safaris before I hunted buffalo. I’m glad I did, but I don’t see the need to do PG hunts before DG if DG are what you really want. Before my first safari if I was offered kudu or buffalo I know I would have chose kudu, so maybe my thinking is different. I didn’t hunt Africa backwards (if that’s a phrase now) but I would say I’m going in reverse. I go mainly to experience hunting new areas. That often means hunting DG to get the best full experience, but I don’t think I’m missing anything only hunting PG. PG interest me more than DG does. If a concession area offers a full bag of plains game I’d rather do that and watch buffalo and elephant than hunt them. I’m particularly excited for the variety of PG Uganda has.

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

Although I hunted an impala early on, my first serious hunt per se was for a buffalo bull. It was something special because there was so much prepararion for it: buying a 375 H&H, practicing, getting fit, wearing in my Courteneys.
Nothing since has been diminished by doing the buff first, in fact I think it has enhanced it all. Researching what PG you are going after, it's habits, habitat, shot placement, getting a rifle if you don't already own one.