Mountain Reedbuck question

[Charles de Ribeau]

I've heard conflicting opinions about mountain reedbuck. Some people seem to think that it's almost as tough as a hunt for a bighorn sheep, or a mountain goat hunt. Others make it sound like they are about as challenging as animals like springbok or wildebeest, in terms of challenge, although more physically demanding.

What do you folks say?

 

[johnnyblues]

I came across them several times while hunting vallies. In my opinion having hunted both bighorn and mtn goats the comparison is just plain silly. The challenge is no where close to that! You will need to be able to shoot from 200-450 yards. Same as you would as if you were hunting vallies. Decent physical conditioning is required.

 

[Buckdog]

I agree with Johnny not really a physical demanding challenge at all just be able to shoot well at a small target. Not what I would call "Real" mountain hunting aka mtn goats, dall sheep, bighorns, etc where you have to climb some pretty steep terrain all day sometimes for days on end.

 

[steve ahrenberg]

Just my experience, Mountain Reedbuck is no different than any other PG species to hunt. Its simply an animal that lives in the mountains. Comparing it to Sheep hunting, in the west is a poor comparison.

The only PG hunt that I found the least bit physically demanding is a LDE tracking hunt. Mine was five days of walking non-stop from morning until dark, on flat ground. The heat compounds the walking, but even that, being an Arizonan wasn't bad.

 

[Charles de Ribeau]

Just my experience, Mountain Reedbuck is no different than any other PG species to hunt. Its simply an animal that lives in the mountains. Comparing it to Sheep hunting, in the west is a poor comparison.

The only PG hunt that I found the least bit physically demanding is a LDE tracking hunt. Mine was five days of walking non-stop from morning until dark, on flat ground. The heat compounds the walking, but even that, being an Arizonan wasn't bad.

LDE??

 

[jasyblood]

LDE??

LDE = Lord Derby Eland

 

[Dewald]

As with all plains game the propey and animal population dictates the difficulty. The one in my avatar took two days on an open farm along the Umfolozi river to find, and then required a 240m shot. For the same area kudu are much more difficult.

I’ve hunted quite a few, and they are fairly predictable, hence if you blow a chance on one, chances are you’ll find him sunning himself on the same slope the next day.

Obviously finding a big trophy might mean a few stalks prior to finding a shooter, which can easily add up the miles you walk in the mountains. Although it is good to be prepared for longer shots on them, its not uncommon to bump one at very close range, and get a shot at under a 100y when he stops to look back.

The first two rams were shot on the same property, 240m and 150m respectively. The third one I shot in 2006 in tge Eastern Cape after it jumped up from cover at no more than 20m, and then stood at 80m.

 

[Nyati]

Not "real" mountain hunting, but does take some effort.

 

[Charles de Ribeau]

LDE = Lord Derby Eland

Thanks.

 

[Mort Hill]

All depends on the lay of the land how hard a Mtn Reedbuck can be. I took mine once we were on top of a big plateau. We drove to the top. I don’t hear that happening much with the Western US/Alaska ram and goat hunts. Just my opinion.

 

[greyfox]

Mountain Reedbuck, to me, is most like a Coues Deer hunt, No where near the physical requirements of sheep or goats of the west.

I dearly love hunting the Mountain Reedbuck and the Coues Deer BTW...

 

[steve ahrenberg]

Mountain Reedbuck, to me, is most like a Coues Deer hunt, No where near the physical requirements of sheep or goats of the west.

I dearly love hunting the Mountain Reedbuck and the Coues Deer BTW...

That is actually a very accurate comparison.

 

[IA diver]

One of my favorite African animals to hunt and IMO the best tasting plains game animal. In the Karoo they like the step mountain sides covered in loose rocks and boulders which have made my hunts a challenge and most memorable.

 

[Charles de Ribeau]

We drove to the top. I don’t hear that happening much with the Western US/Alaska ram and goat hunts. Just my opinion.

It can happen. When I took my goat, the road was closed, but we hired someone to pack our gear in with horses. We walked up the road to 12,000 ft. We set up camp in a stone shelter house (good thing - it turned out we could have died otherwise). The day I took my goat, we were about 1/2 mile from camp, just off of the road. The scouting was much harder than the actual hunt (except for the weather).