Researching dik dik hunts…

[Green Chile]

.223 pipe for the R8, then use it for the rest of your life as a >100 yards trainer for all your other R8 calibers

There you go making logic instead of emotion again...yea, that's a great idea. The .223 R8 barrel I'm selling is the safari weight and it doesn't fit on my wood stocked R8. I could find a threaded .223 barrel.

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

I'm following as well!

I still need Suni, Oribi, Blue Duiker and Dik Dik.

I think your best course of action is Mozambique for the first 3 due to the costs of a Suni in South Africa. Oribi permits are very limited in South Africa as well and typically need to be reserved a couple years out. @KAROO WILD Safaris came through on mine last minute as well as cape Grysbok and Blue Duiker. From there I’d plan a follow-on hunt targeting Dik-Dik in Namibia, Uganda or one of the more exotic destinations that you might fancy for you and your wife to accomplish her hunting goals.

In Moz you might as well hunt another Red Duiker while you’re there. I’ve planned this exact hunt with Mark Haldane in Coutada 11 for next year. I’m going in June since that’s the best hunting for all the Tinnies except Blue Duiker but not impossible as the bush still very green. I’m also hunting Croc, Buff, and Selous Zebra. Early is good for Croc. Likely adding Warthog and Bushpig to the license as incidentals and trying to decide between Waterbuck or Common Reedbok and Nyala or Bushbuck. Late season is good for Eland and some of the other PG species and the blue duiker hunting gets better when it browns up. The other outfitter to consider is Grant Taylor of Mashabanzou Safaris. Both him and Marks areas (close to each-other) seem to produce some of the best Suni and Red Duiker in Africa and offer the best chance a book breaker. Nyala and Waterbuck are also exceptional there.

For those wondering why I’m not adding all the above to my license, the downside to Moz is you need to pay a fee to add each animal to your license, plus a trophy fee if successful. Example is Selous Zebra $2k license fee, then $3.7k trophy fee. Regardless if i shoot one I’m out $2k. Waterbuck, Nyala, Reedbok, Lichtenstein Hartebeest are all about $1-1.5k per to add them on the license. I made a similar decision of Seloue Zebra over Sable since I already have 1 Sable and am hunting another this year in Zambia but I’ve still got over a year to change my mind …

 

[Hunt anything]

@Mtn_Infantry , that’s a good plan! I hunted next door in Coutada 10, I saw trophy quality animals of everything on the trophy list except zebra and elephant. We saw some elephant but cow herds.
When I was there the government fees weren’t nearly as high as they are now.
I did come away with buffalo, sable, warthog, nyala, bushbuck, reedbuck and hartebeest. But I will always regret walking away from a 30+inch waterbuck and all of the TT available. The red and blue duikers, suni and oribi are the most painful. It eats at my gut just typing this out 11 years later on the nose. I hunted June 1st thru 10 2014.

 

[Green Chile]

Walking away from that many T10 species would be tough. Any 30" waterbuck is a great thing to see. I walked away from a BIG bushbuck one evening last season but we were focused on the Sharpe's grysbok and we got him that night about 1 hour later. That was my main goal so I didn't regret that as much.

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

@Mtn_Infantry , that’s a good plan! I hunted next door in Coutada 10, I saw trophy quality animals of everything on the trophy list except zebra and elephant. We saw some elephant but cow herds.
When I was there the government fees weren’t nearly as high as they are now.
I did come away with buffalo, sable, warthog, nyala, bushbuck, reedbuck and hartebeest. But I will always regret walking away from a 30+inch waterbuck and all of the TT available. The red and blue duikers, suni and oribi are the most painful. It eats at my gut just typing this out 11 years later on the nose. I hunted June 1st thru 10 2014.

I planned this hunt specifically for the Red Duiker and Suni to complete my Tiny Ten. Anything after those two is a bonus.

I know it’s not the ideal time for a Blue Duiker because of how green it’ll be, but fingers crossed i can get an opportunity to take another, this time with my 375. The one I took in the Eastern Cape was over dogs due to unforeseen rain (very much like rabbit hunting), but I think it’s be pretty cool to have completed the Tiny 10 and Dangerous 7 (working towards) with a Single Rifle. Since I’ve killed multiple buffalo with that 375, I think we’re going to attempt the buffalo with the 470 Double Rifle

 

[ActionBob]

Walking away from that many T10 species would be tough. Any 30" waterbuck is a great thing to see. I walked away from a BIG bushbuck one evening last season but we were focused on the Sharpe's grysbok and we got him that night about 1 hour later. That was my main goal so I didn't regret that as much.

I tend to switch focus pretty quickly when opportunities arrise. My finger tends to error on the pull the trigger side and figure it out later

 

[Green Chile]

I tend to switch focus pretty quickly when opportunities arrise. My finger tends to error on the pull the trigger side and figure it out later

You make a great point. I personally have the ability to really focus on one specific animal even, for a week and have had some great wins that way. The question is, can I also capitalize on a lucky opportunity that might pop up. I have some wins there but sometimes I turn them down. Whatever side of the spectrum you're in, some flexibility is probably appropriate.

 

[Osama Mahdi]

I think your best course of action is Mozambique for the first 3 due to the costs of a Suni in South Africa. Oribi permits are very limited in South Africa as well and typically need to be reserved a couple years out. @KAROO WILD Safaris came through on mine last minute as well as cape Grysbok and Blue Duiker. From there I’d plan a follow-on hunt targeting Dik-Dik in Namibia, Uganda or one of the more exotic destinations that you might fancy for you and your wife to accomplish her hunting goals.

In Moz you might as well hunt another Red Duiker while you’re there. I’ve planned this exact hunt with Mark Haldane in Coutada 11 for next year. I’m going in June since that’s the best hunting for all the Tinnies except Blue Duiker but not impossible as the bush still very green. I’m also hunting Croc, Buff, and Selous Zebra. Early is good for Croc. Likely adding Warthog and Bushpig to the license as incidentals and trying to decide between Waterbuck or Common Reedbok and Nyala or Bushbuck. Late season is good for Eland and some of the other PG species and the blue duiker hunting gets better when it browns up. The other outfitter to consider is Grant Taylor of Mashabanzou Safaris. Both him and Marks areas (close to each-other) seem to produce some of the best Suni and Red Duiker in Africa and offer the best chance a book breaker. Nyala and Waterbuck are also exceptional there.

For those wondering why I’m not adding all the above to my license, the downside to Moz is you need to pay a fee to add each animal to your license, plus a trophy fee if successful. Example is Selous Zebra $2k license fee, then $3.7k trophy fee. Regardless if i shoot one I’m out $2k. Waterbuck, Nyala, Reedbok, Lichtenstein Hartebeest are all about $1-1.5k per to add them on the license. I made a similar decision of Seloue Zebra over Sable since I already have 1 Sable and am hunting another this year in Zambia but I’ve still got over a year to change my mind …

Hi, I’m sending you a PM to avoid hijacking the main thread. Many thanks!

 

[Hunt anything]

I planned this hunt specifically for the Red Duiker and Suni to complete my Tiny Ten. Anything after those two is a bonus.

I know it’s not the ideal time for a Blue Duiker because of how green it’ll be, but fingers crossed i can get an opportunity to take another, this time with my 375. The one I took in the Eastern Cape was over dogs due to unforeseen rain (very much like rabbit hunting), but I think it’s be pretty cool to have completed the Tiny 10 and Dangerous 7 (working towards) with a Single Rifle. Since I’ve killed multiple buffalo with that 375, I think we’re going to attempt the buffalo with the 470 Double Rifle

I saw a lot of red duiker around the edge habitat being a road or a pan, the suni were in relatively open woods. There was some kind of tree in bloom that the bushbuck and blue duiker were feeding on and that’s were I saw the majority of the blues.

 

[Hunt anything]

I tend to switch focus pretty quickly when opportunities arrise. My finger tends to error on the pull the trigger side and figure it out later

I asked about a red duiker permit but the quota was spoken for. That is one advantage of going late in the season, all hunters won’t take everything they bought license for and there is often some quota leftover.

 

[ActionBob]

I asked about a red duiker permit but the quota was spoken for. That is one advantage of going late in the season, all hunters won’t take everything they bought license for and there is often some quota leftover.

Am i reading this to mean they paid the license fee ahead of time, and if they failed to take the animal then a later hunter can use that paid for license to take that species and only need to pay the trophy fee?
If that is how it works, that could indeed be an incentive to hunt late in the season

 

[Hunt anything]

Am i reading this to mean they paid the license fee ahead of time, and if they failed to take the animal then a later hunter can use that paid for license to take that species and only need to pay the trophy fee?
If that is how it works, that could indeed be an incentive to hunt late in the season

That was my understanding, of course this was 11 years ago as you probably know that’s a lifetime in Africa.
Maybe one of the Mozambique outfitters can clarify.

 

[SFRanger7GP]

View attachment 691200


Who has been successful hunting them and with which operators? I’m researching for a future hunt to finish my T10. Stories and photos? Did you use a small rifle or load solids in your main rifle? Looking for any experiences with them. Thanks!

Otjandaue Safaris Namibia. We hunted twice with Roy and Janet and I took an ancient dik-dik like I wanted. I know a lot of PH’s take clients to him as well.

I wasn’t after the tiny series. I just found them very interesting.

Safe hunting.

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

Am i reading this to mean they paid the license fee ahead of time, and if they failed to take the animal then a later hunter can use that paid for license to take that species and only need to pay the trophy fee?
If that is how it works, that could indeed be an incentive to hunt late in the season

I unfortunately don’t think it works like that.

I don’t see the government of Mozambique not taking the extra money by making you pay for it to be added to your license. Heck just the hunting license is a fee, then you pay said fee per species to add it to your license.

 

[Throwback]

I got one on my last hunt in April of this year in Namibia at Jan Oelofse Hunting Safaris. I posted a story here about that hunt but about the bull elephant I got. Those were the only two animals I shot except a jackal. Since I didnt tell the story about the dik dik. Here it is briefly.

We had stalked on foot for a few hours that morning in a riverbed area that was some what dry. We saw several groups of male and female dik diks together. Each time we stalked close they spotted us and ran like lightning. It was tough to spot them before they spotted you, and if you did, to then get close without getting spotted was also tough. They are very quick. We decided to try a different spot and walked back to the truck. We both took a bathroom break, PH used the radio, drank some water and we then loaded up in the truck.

As the PH backed the truck up, like in the first foot or two of backing up, I looked to my left (passenger side is the left in Namibia) I saw two dik dik grazing towards us about 15 yards from the truck! I grabbed the PH's shoulder and as soon as he saw them he shut the truck off. I had the .375 that was loaded with solids resting out the door of the open top truck. We were frozen. The PH whispered to me that the one in the rear was a male and a shooter. He told me to wait until he cleared a bush he was behind and to take him. At about 10 yards I shot him. The darned thing ran about 10 yards and I worked the bolt and lined up to take another shot. At first I thought I had somehow missed him, as I thought that round would have dropped him. The PH then grabbed my shoulder and said "its over". We walked the short distance to where he was and he was dead.

I also saw a few more on that property in my time there after this one.

I am going to get a full body mount. This was my third of the Tiny 10. Slowly but surely. I love hunting them. Cheers

 

[Hunt anything]

I unfortunately don’t think it works like that.

I don’t see the government of Mozambique not taking the extra money by making you pay for it to be added to your license. Heck just the hunting license is a fee, then you pay said fee per species to add it to your license.

Went back and looked at my journal from the hunt. I do write that the full trophy and govt fee would have to be paid. At the time it was between $1000 and $1500 for red and blue duiker, suni and oribi.
The government would get their cut twice.

@Throwback, great ram! The dik-dik are colorful little antelope.

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

Hi, I’m sending you a PM to avoid hijacking the main thread. Many thanks!

Glad that break-down helped you. Completing the Tiny 10 can be a pretty costly endeavor. You’re looking at, a minimum of 2 separate countries (RSA & wherever you hunt your Dik-Dik). For most it’ll likely be 3 or 4 countries since several species (Sharpes Grysbok, Red Duiker, and Suni) have very limited ranges in RSA and limited permits. It’s possible to combine multiple areas in RSA into a single hunt, but you’ll likely have some serious travel and relocation fees. My breakdown looks like the following

Safari 1 - Limpopo - Steenbok
Safari 3 - Kalahari - Duiker
Safari 4 - Namibia - Diki-Dik & Duiker
Safari 6 - Limpopo - Klipspringer, Steenbok & Duiker
Safari 7 - Eastern Cape - Cape Grysbok, Blue Duiker, Oribi & Duiker
Safari 8 - Matetsi Zimbabwe - Sharpes Grysbok
Safari 11 (2026) - Coutada 11 Mozambique - Potential of Red Duiker, Suni, Oribi, Blue Duiker

In my opinion the most cost effective way with the best chance to complete it would be

Trip 1 - Eastern Cape - Blue Duiker, Oribi, Duiker, Steenbok, Klipspringer, Cape Grysbok (you’ll relocate within the EC at least once, likely twice to do all of these)
Trip 2 - Namibia - Dik-Dik (pair with Leopard or other PG)
Trip 3 -Mozambique - Suni, Red Duiker
Trip 4 - Zimbabwe - Sharpes Grysbok (pair with Buffalo or Elephant)

You could also eliminate trips 3 & 4 by adding days to trip 1 and relocating to Limpopo to try for Sharpes Grysbok and Red Duiker, and relocating to KZN for Suni and Red Duiker. The most important thing with that plan is ensuring the South African outfitter has secured your permits for Suni, Oribi, Red Duiker, and the Grysbok well before arrival (I know someone who was told this year they had a Suni permit, and upon arrival learned they didn’t). You’re likely going to need to plan a trip like this 2+ years out so the outfitter can ensure they get the permits on Suni and Oribi because of how few there are in South Africa and the very limited areas to hunt them. Also note the subspecies of Oribi in Moz, Zambia, and Zim is different that the Oribi in South Africa

 

[Green Chile]

Great advice from Bill as always. I have access to excellent red duiker and Sharpe's grysbok in Limpopo through what we offer...and it's where I took mine last year. It's not commonly available there. It's possible to do T10 in 3 trips but 4 is more likely...and if you miss one or don't have a really good run of luck, then you have to go back again.

 

[Russ16]

Regarding perfect rifles. Didn’t Connecticut Shotgun make a Model 21 double rifle in .22 magnum? How great would it be to take them with that?! LOL

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

Regarding perfect rifles. Didn’t Connecticut Shotgun make a Model 21 double rifle in .22 magnum? How great would it be to take them with that?! LOL

Or an old Churchill double in 22 Hornet … might know where one is for sale