Tiny 10 - Which ones are the hardest to get?

[JoeA]

Hi,
I watched a hunting show recently, where a hunter & PH took a Klipspringer and a Vaal Reedbuck. It got me wondering about the Tiny 10. Which ones are most/ more difficult to hunt due to habitat? Which one(s) has the most restricted range?
My curiosity lies in learning more about the varied game in Africa. I'm still in the dreaming stage, about a plains game trip to Namibia or SA with my trusty '06.

 

[Ridgewalker]

Can’t help you on the Tiny 10. I’ve only taken duiker which seemed pretty easy.
But I’d suggest you stop dreaming of a trip to Namibia and just do it. Throwing in a couple of Tiny 10s and learn for yourself about them. Oh and then give us a report on your hunt (my ulterior motive ).
Best

 

[BRICKBURN]

Some folks are not including the Vaalie in the TT.
There is a bunch of traveling to get it ALL done.

Permits and range can create some of the difficulty. I ranked them easiest to hardest in my experience and others will rearrange that list and will get no argument from me.

• Common Duiker (also called Gray Duiker or Bush Duiker)
  
• Steenbok (also known as Steinbuck or Steinbok)
• Klipspringer
• Red Forest Duiker (also called Red Duiker, Natal Duiker or Natal Red Duiker)
• Blue Duiker
  
• Cape Grysbok (also called Southern Grysbok)
• Sharp's Grysbok (also called Northern Grysbok)
• Oribi
• Damara Dik-Dik
• Suni

https://www.africahunting.com/threads/hunting-the-tiny-ten.21105/

https://www.africahunting.com/threads/the-tiny-ten-antilopes-of-southern-africa.14987/

Enjoy dreaming.

 

[Hutch01]

I never had much interest in the tiny ten until I began to run out of species to hunt with my East Cape Outfitter. So on my last trip we began to night hunt for Grysbok, Steenbuck and Duiker. We collected all of them and used a .22 rifle which was easier on the capes. During the day I chased Kilpspringer and Vaal. Now these two are another story. We chased the Vaal for two days. The Klipsringer seem to be getting harder to come by in their native rocky canyons. I blew out his shoulder up side of mountain with a .300 at 205 yards on rocky outcrop. The Vaal we chased around a series of oat fields and canyon country. He was one of the most difficult critters to get. Get on a plane! Good luck.

 

[KMG Hunting Safaris]

Hi @JoeA ,
As Brickburn mentioned, some people do not include the Vaal Rhebuck in the Tiny 10. The hardest members of the Tiny 10 is without a doubt the Sharpe's Grysbuck and the Suni.
Pursuing the Tiny 10 is a great challenge, some say, more difficult than completing your Big 5, and will most often require multiple trips, since they are not all available in the same country. Majority of them, are available in South Africa.
Hunting the Tiny 10 is our speciality, so if you require some info, please do not hesitate to contact us, and we will be glad to offer some assistance. The Vaal Rhebuck will also not be a problem, should wish to add that.

All the best and take care,
Marius Goosen

 

[enysse]

I agree with Marius and Brickburn. Sometimes the hardest thing is getting the permit. Another major obstacle is traveling to each place the animals are found in their native habitat. Still I love the conquest!

 

[Red Leg]

Location, location, location. Lots of folks tend to take a South African centric view of hunting these unique animals - and obviously some are best or only hunted there. However, if the setting is moved to Mozambique, the Suni, oribi, red duiker, blue duiker, and common duiker become very achievable and affordable on a single hunt.

 

[Wheels]

The "Tiny Ten" list we see in AH threads, seem to be a very southern Africa list of animals.

There are three duiker's and two grysbok on the list. Why not have three dik-dik and substitute Kirk's and Salt's? If the Royal antelope is the smallest antelope in Africa and the world, why isn't it on the list? Why not substitute a Peter's duiker for a Blue and a Harvey's duiker for a red? Is the Yellow Backed duiker just to big to be on the list? You could probably have a tiny ten of duikers! Should the list be expanded to the "Tiny Twenty" Inquiring Minds............

 

[Royal27]

The hardest members of the Tiny 10 is without a doubt the Sharpe's Grysbuck

Sharpes is by far the easiest! Walk up to within 50 yards of one at high noon and shoot. Nothing to it.

Now Blue Duiker, that one is hard!

 

[BRICKBURN]

Tiny Twenty

 

[BRICKBURN]

Sharpes is by far the easiest! Walk up to within 50 yards of one at high noon and shoot. Nothing to it.

Now Blue Duiker, that one is hard!

That list got shaken up quick.

 

[BRICKBURN]

Location, location, location. ...............

That does change it in a rush.

 

[Uintaelkhunter]

Hi @JoeA ,
As Brickburn mentioned, some people do not include the Vaal Rhebuck in the Tiny 10. The hardest members of the Tiny 10 is without a doubt the Sharpe's Grysbuck and the Suni.
Pursuing the Tiny 10 is a great challenge, some say, more difficult than completing your Big 5, and will most often require multiple trips, since they are not all available in the same country. Majority of them, are available in South Africa.
Hunting the Tiny 10 is our speciality, so if you require some info, please do not hesitate to contact us, and we will be glad to offer some assistance. The Vaal Rhebuck will also not be a problem, should wish to add that.

All the best and take care,
Marius Goosen

Defiantly would go with Marius for a tiny ten hunt he makes them seem easy or as close to it as you can get for the little ones.
Also a lot depends on where you hunt them in ranking how hard or easy they are. You can always stumble into one while hunting something else and take it but it is when you seem to be actually going after them they seem to get harder to find. If you are sticking to strictly South Africa and Namibia then the sharps is by far the hardest followed by Suni and red duiker but that will open up a lot if you hunt a sharps in Zim or Suni and sharps in parts of Mozambique. Next would be finding a cape grysbuck and a blue of good size. Vaal and klipsringer are not overly hard. It is the terrain and hiking that is the though part for them and the long shots on Vaal And I do think Vaal should be part of maybe the tiny 12 along with Mtn reedbuck. Next down the list I would rank oribi due to getting a tag in hand. Then Dik dik just because you need to go to Namibia just for that one. Also to note it is the last one on my list and the only one I have not taken yet. Lastly and the most easiest if there is such a think on the little one are the ones most people start with steenbuck and common duiker.

 

[BWH]

I had several Oribi in front of me while hunting Reedbuck, bushbuck, etc..... I didn’t realize what they were or the amazement of the PH..... so close, but so far..... no permits.

 

[Red Leg]

Oribi are pretty much common game in much of coastal Mozambique. We would see 5 to ten pair a day and permits are not an issue (nor an exorbitant trophy fee). The area we hunted Nyala and Suni was alive with the little guys. I suspect we saw twenty males the morning we went out to take one.

 

[neckdeep]

Had a sharpe's in my scope on my first safari, right when we identified him he bolted. Where exactly in Mozambique do they have Blue Duiker?

 

[Scott CWO]

I was told Suni are the hardest or among the hardest to get. I shot a big male in Moz while it chased a female right to me. The PH went nuts. I had no idea it was a big deal.

 

[BRICKBURN]

I was told Suni are the hardest or among the hardest to get. I shot a big male in Moz while it chased a female right to me. The PH went nuts. I had no idea it was a big deal.

Funny how that can happen. Right place at the right time.
Congratulations on your luck.

 

[Red Leg]

Had a sharpe's in my scope on my first safari, right when we identified him he bolted. Where exactly in Mozambique do they have Blue Duiker?

Coastal forest of the Zambezi Delta. You can take common, red, blue, suni, and oribi with Grant Taylor Mashambanzou Safaris https://www.mashambanzousafaris.com/

 

[Scott CWO]

Funny how that can happen. Right place at the right time.
Congratulations on your luck.