Small cat hunts and night hunts

[Green Chile]

I would like to hear from those who have done some small cat hunting and/or night hunts for the cool small critters like honey badgers, civets, caracal, etc. It's something I would like to do in the future. Who specializes in this and what are some of your experiences and recommendations? Is this a shotgun hunt or a small bore rifle setup? Are we talking baits, spotlights in a blind or truck drive, some combo of all that? Thanks in advance!

 

[Doug3006]

Me too! I hope to hear about methods and calibers.

 

[Spear Safaris]

I can certainly help. Please email me. info@spearsafaris.com
Cheers Ernest

 

[IvW]

Combination gun is ideal..22Hornet/12ga or similar.
Depending on what night critters it could be bait, walk and stalk(spotlight and barrel light), spotlighting, driving, sitting and calling....

 

[KMG Hunting Safaris]

I would like to hear from those who have done some small cat hunting and/or night hunts for the cool small critters like honey badgers, civets, caracal, etc. It's something I would like to do in the future. Who specializes in this and what are some of your experiences and recommendations? Is this a shotgun hunt or a small bore rifle setup? Are we talking baits, spotlights in a blind or truck drive, some combo of all that? Thanks in advance!

My personal opinion is that the best way and only real chance for a Caracal is over hounds.
For the small cats, @LIMPOPO BIG GAME SAFARIS specializes in them.

 

[Tally-Ho HUNTING SAFARIS]

I would like to hear from those who have done some small cat hunting and/or night hunts for the cool small critters like honey badgers, civets, caracal, etc. It's something I would like to do in the future. Who specializes in this and what are some of your experiences and recommendations? Is this a shotgun hunt or a small bore rifle setup? Are we talking baits, spotlights in a blind or truck drive, some combo of all that? Thanks in advance!

Good day sir

Combo of shotgun for some animals which dont come to bait
And small caliber for animals on bait

We have a night critters deal of here in the deals and offers section
Can leave off the hyena and tale the rest of night critters in the package

Any other info you may require feel free to ask


Looking forward

 

[Hank2211]

I hunted night critters some years ago, including serval, caracal, honey badger, brown hyena, civet, genet, etc - here’s my hunt report:

SOUTH AFRICA: Nocturnal Hunt With Wintershoek & Safari Afrika

There was going to be one hunt report this year – my hunt in Ethiopia, set for November, 2016. However, my South African PH, John Tinley, with whom I’ve hunted at least four times, knows me too well. I can’t resist an interesting hunting opportunity. Last year he had been on a hunt for...

www.africahunting.com

It covers a lot of what you are asking about - hope it‘s of some help.

If I had to pick the one thing which makes the difference when it comes to these hunts, I would say without a doubt it would be a PH who has a lot of experience with these types of hunts.

 

[Tally-Ho HUNTING SAFARIS]

Bossie has a long history operating at night!!
he is possubly the best in Limpopo for specialist night animal hunting

 

[Philip Glass]

I would like to hear from those who have done some small cat hunting and/or night hunts for the cool small critters like honey badgers, civets, caracal, etc. It's something I would like to do in the future. Who specializes in this and what are some of your experiences and recommendations? Is this a shotgun hunt or a small bore rifle setup? Are we talking baits, spotlights in a blind or truck drive, some combo of all that? Thanks in advance!

I did a hunt like this just a few years ago. I hunted with Reinier Lind of Legelela Safaris in RSA. After much thought and testing at home I chose my Ruger American Ranch in 5.56 shooting factory 70g Barnes. I took a plethora of small game from red duiker to all the small cats on that trip. I have extolled the virtues of this bullet here before and will again point out that this load will not tear up an African wildcat while able to put down bush pig, springbuck, etc. It is amazing to say the least.
There are many AH sponsors who do these kind of hunts. I hope you have a blast!

 

[AZDAVE]

The night hunts and small cats are one of my favorite hunts. Have hunted them in various methods with several different outfitters.
Civet - Over bait, night hunt. 9.3x62 soild, Intrepid Safaris 2018
Serval - night lighting 9.3x62 solid, Motsomi Safaris 2018
Small spotted genet- spotted going up a tree during the day light, 30/06 solid, Motsomi safaris 2018
1st Porcupine - Night lighting, 243 Barnes TSX, Motsomi Safaris 2018
2nd Porcupine - Night lighting, 410 shotgun, KMG Safaris 2022
Carcal - Hunded with hounds during the day, 12GA, KMG Safaris 2021
Large Spotted Genet - night lighting, 12 ga, KMG Safaris 2022
1st Jackal, night lighting, 300 WM, Intrepid Safaris 2021
2nd Jackal, spot and stalk druring the day, 500 Jeffery, KMG Safaris 2021
3rd Jackal, spot and stalk during the day, 7 REM MAG, Ekuja Safaris 2021
Bat Eared Fox, night lighting, 6.5 Creedmoore solid, KMG Safaris 2021
Aardwolf, Night lighting, 6.5 creedmoore solid, KMG Safaris 2021

I have seen a number of African wild cats at night but never when I had a permit for one, Haven gone after the mongooses or other small night kritters yet.

My wife shot her Honey badger over bait at night, 7x57 soft, AAA Safaris. 2015

I had a safari for the small night kritters laid out with @LIMPOPO BIG GAME SAFARIS for summer 2020 but COVID jacked up that plan.

 

[Jäger_Ivo]

...For the small cats, @LIMPOPO BIG GAME SAFARIS specializes in them...

...Bossie has a long history operating at night!! he is possubly the best in Limpopo for specialist night animal hunting...

Off topic, but it's really nice to see someone recommend own competition for their high expertise! For me, this is a sign of a highly professional approach

 

[Green Chile]

I stepped away for a bit and came back to lots of good replies! Fantastic info and greatly appreciated. I really respect one professional complimenting another.

 

[Green Chile]

The night hunts and small cats are one of my favorite hunts. Have hunted them in various methods with several different outfitters.
Civet - Over bait, night hunt. 9.3x62 soild, Intrepid Safaris 2018
Serval - night lighting 9.3x62 solid, Motsomi Safaris 2018
Small spotted genet- spotted going up a tree during the day light, 30/06 solid, Motsomi safaris 2018
1st Porcupine - Night lighting, 243 Barnes TSX, Motsomi Safaris 2018
2nd Porcupine - Night lighting, 410 shotgun, KMG Safaris 2022
Carcal - Hunded with hounds during the day, 12GA, KMG Safaris 2021
Large Spotted Genet - night lighting, 12 ga, KMG Safaris 2022
1st Jackal, night lighting, 300 WM, Intrepid Safaris 2021
2nd Jackal, spot and stalk druring the day, 500 Jeffery, KMG Safaris 2021
3rd Jackal, spot and stalk during the day, 7 REM MAG, Ekuja Safaris 2021
Bat Eared Fox, night lighting, 6.5 Creedmoore solid, KMG Safaris 2021
Aardwolf, Night lighting, 6.5 creedmoore solid, KMG Safaris 2021

I have seen a number of African wild cats at night but never when I had a permit for one, Haven gone after the mongooses or other small night kritters yet.

My wife shot her Honey badger over bait at night, 7x57 soft, AAA Safaris. 2015

I had a safari for the small night kritters laid out with @LIMPOPO BIG GAME SAFARIS for summer 2020 but COVID jacked up that plan.

I would love to see any photos you want to post here. Also, can you share more about your caracal hunt with dogs? Jackal taken with 500 Jeff...you don't see that every day. Hah!

 

[ActionBob]

I can attest to Bossie being THE EXPERT for night hunts. I've asked and hunted at night with other outfitters and PH'S but nobody else compares. Most are done by 8 PM or will do a little spotlighting on the way back to camp.

Bossie will literally hunt from sundown to sun up if you are up to it. In fact I had a week of just him and I where I swear we hunted 16 to 20 hours per day! We were hunting klipspringer, giraffe, culling Impala, and i forget what else during the day...He will really put in the effort!

He has infrared, night vision, remote control green lights to hang over bait, many calls, spotlights. As for type of hunting, over bait, spot and stalk, calling, spotlighting... All the above!!

We were sitting over bait for honey badger when a huge hyena came in, had a permit so took it. Back another night for Honey Badger and Bossie was literally throwing stones at hyena to chase them off. A friend had problems keeping leopard off the Badger baits. I don't believe I have been on a hunt with Bossie where I have not seen at least one leopard. Back to badgers, I got a nice Badger and it is in a picture Bossie posted above. First night we were sitting up on top of a gravel pit bank with bait below when I felt something blow on my backside, a damned hyena was checking us out! We chased them off and i dozed off a bit but was woke to sounds of a Badger growling at us right in front of the blind! It let out a big huff and ran off. Next night we got the hyena than came back a few days later and got my Badger.

In addition to hyena and Badger, I've taken a dandy serval, bat eared fox, aardwolf, both large and small spotted genets, several porcupines and many jackal. I've seen but didn't get a shot at white tailed mongoose, red duiker, Sharps Greysbok. And I've missed my two nemesis' Civit and African Wild Cat which for some unexplainable reason gets me more rattled that the lions I've shot

I should also mention that I've gotten everything imported. Bossie gets the permits and follows up with the paperwork so you can get your trophies home! I have heard too many stories that you cannot import some of these. No, if you hunt them in the right areas and your outfitter gets the permits, no problems. I think some outfitters just don't want to bother with the hassle of getting the oddball permits.

 

[ActionBob]

As for calibers, I really like a 22 hornet, but have used 30-06 with solids (bossie recommended 220 grain slow moving softs as sufficient for aardwolf to zebra). I have also used 22 magnum, 12 gauge OU, 410 which was little light, 275 Rigby with heavy bullets.

I have a drilling i want to take that is 16 gauge over 7x65 with one shotgun barrel having a 22 hornet full length insert and swing mount scope. Of course the most important thing is to have an accurate rifle loaded so it doesn't blow up those little critters. If you have the right distances, a shotgun with #4 bird shot in 2 3/4" doesn't seem to do too much harm.

 

[geoff rath]

As an aside :
There's a BRNO ZH306 up or sale Down Under, 12ga/5.56x50R Combo. Claimed to be good condition, was a property varmint gun until they brought in specialist dogs to handle the problem ... I fancy that...

 

[ActionBob]

I can add that in one night with @LIMPOPO BIG GAME SAFARIS I took a bat eared fox, aardwolf, Bossie took a second aardwolf, and a serval. I wonder if anyone anywhere has ever taken those three on one hunt and in one night! Also took a big porcupine, 2 steenbuck because the first I ruined the cape so looking for a second just for the cape (first was about 4.5") but it was 5.5"! And 3 jackal that came to call. So took 10 great trophies in one night! We were hunting until about 3 AM

 

[AZDAVE]

@Green Chile The jackal with the 500 Jeff was interesting as we were looking for a Zebra for my buddy and a couple Jackals popped up. The outfitter wanted to cull the jackal population as we were the second hunters in camp after COVID. So on the count of 3 my buddy shot the one on the right with his 300 WM and I took the one on the left. Shot was like 75 yards and lets say a 500 soft is kinda tough on a jackal when you hit him through the top of the shoulder and spine connection point. I will have to do some digging as I changed computers over the holidays and haven't reloaded any of my old files. However you can find pictures on some of my hunt reports.

 

[Hogpatrol]

Number one question to ask of any outfitter offering night hunts is "What method"? Next question is "What are my chances of killing X animal(s) using this method"? One could wind up sitting in a chilly blind night after night with nothing to show for it or riding on the back of a truck possibly freezing one's balls off. BTDT.

 

[Green Chile]

I'm still chuckling about the jackal meeting the 500 Jeff. Not a good card shuffle for the jackal.

Good points on the questions to ask. Anyone can drive you around on a version of the Mississippi boat ride. I'm looking for decent opportunities.