Which Big 5 do you want to hunt?

[JGRaider]

A leopard is the only one I have the least bit of interest in hunting.

 

[thi9elsp]

I was fortunate enough to hunt and get a cape buffalo in 2011. I would like to do that again. But, I really would like to hunt elephant if and when I can save enough and the import issues get resolved. As Velodog said, I am too hyper as well to sit in a blind for leopard and lion. Rhino has no appeal. Now, if while out buffalo or elephant hunting a cat showed up and I could afford it, BANG!

 

[gizmo]

I have to say leopard because I have already done lion and buff. That being said another buff would be great too. After I get a leopard though. I don't know if I will ever be able to afford an elephant or rhino especially. Perhaps a tuskless one day or something.

 

[WildRose]

Well if we are going that route, I have to say that Lord Derby's eland is the most awesome trophy I can think of in Africa

I'd be hard pressed to argue against that. They too are a truly awesome animal.

The spiral horned species in general just have a special allure about them as far as I'm concerned.

Growing up in the US I'm constantly amazed at the variety of species across Africa. For medium and large game here you have a very short list to choose from in any state. Deer, more deer, Pronghorned Antelope, 3 species of bear, and mountain lions are the majority and then we have in a few states sheep of 3 different species.

The "North American Grand Slam" if I remember right requires only 20 or 25 species.

That wouldn't even be a good start compared to all the game Africa has to offer!

It's easy to see why so many sportsmen from around the world made Africa their home in the last 150 years or so.

 

[WildRose]

Well if we are going that route, I have to say that Lord Derby's eland is the most awesome trophy I can think of in Africa

I'd be hard pressed to argue against that. They too are a truly awesome animal.

The spiral horned species in general just have a special allure about them as far as I'm concerned.

Growing up in the US I'm constantly amazed at the variety of species across Africa. For medium and large game here you have a very short list to choose from in any state. Deer, more deer, Pronghorned Antelope, 3 species of bear, and mountain lions are the majority and then we have in a few states sheep of 3 different species.

The "North American Grand Slam" if I remember right requires only 20 or 25 species.

That wouldn't even be a good start compared to all the game Africa has to offer!

It's easy to see why so many sportsmen from around the world made Africa their home in the last 150 years or so.

 

[Christina Nyczepir]

I voted lion (male), elephant and buff. Croc and hippo are just so darn ugly, I've never had an interest. But after seeing Bob's photos, the number of shoes, belts and purses I could make out of those skins flashed before my eyes.

 

[barryk]

Chose the buffalo because, to me, it symbolizes Africa............and my den needs one!

 

[Philip Glass]

Starting the big 7 in September. Will hunt for ele, buff, hippo, and croc this year and begin the rest of the list next year. Hopefully by this time next year I'll have completed all but rhino. It's hunting and there are no guarantees especially in the wildest of places!
I love and respect them all but the King of Beasts will likely be the one to really steal my heart.
Fun discussion so let's keep it going!
Regards,
Philip

 

[ActionBob]

I voted Elephant, Leopard, and Rhino... I have two buffalo and hope to take at least two or three more in future. I certainly well understand why buffalo lead the tally! They are very exciting, very dangerous, challenging and decidedly Africa! I also have a male lion and taking another would really need to be in the right circumstances. Leopard I was in no hurry as there is a very large population and absolutely no reason to curtail hunting of them.. And I always figured I can sit in a blind at an older age, concentrate on the more physical stuff while I have some prayer of doing it yet... However one never knows about politics and large cats so if opportunity presents itself, I just may have to get this most beautiful of all done sooner than later? Rhino, man I just don't know what to think!? Surely tempted by some of the deals that come up, and not totally opposed to a dart hunt... I just want to do it right if I do it, and want it to be a hunt and not just a shoot.

Now elephant is another whole thing! I have a nice bull elephant.... Definitely want another! Nothing in life can compare to elephant hunting. I've written of it before and find it difficult to put into words.... The hunting of these magnificent beasts is such a balance of emotions and responsibilities. Responsibilities to the species first, the individual animal you take, the environment so necessary for them and often so terribly decimated by them. The people who live with them and need to tolerate them for their long term survival in those areas..... The African rural communities.... And to the future generations who, only through a solid hunting industry will have these magnificent animals in the real wild to experience for themselves.

Elephant has to be the top animal of the Big Five.

 

[UKHunter]

I went Cape Buff, it is my dream African animal to hunt. The cats have no real appeal to me. If I had to shoot one it would be a leopard, tracked and hunted on foot with hounds. No blinds.

My dream hunt;

Cape Buff
Hippo hunt on land
Bushbuck
& Warthog!

 

[AZDAVE]

Have my cranky old buff. so the cats have my attention, when my wallet can support the next safari. and A bull hippo in sugar cane fields right at dark with a double???

 

[LivingTheDream]

All of them...keep it simple

 

[Warbird782]

I have hunted a lioness which was a taxing stalk through the Kalahari bush. My next DG animal will most likely be buff from the big 5 but I am trying to go for hippo and croc right away as well. I did vote for ele and leopard as well as they are dream hunts for me.

OK, I may have to change things up. My wife is said that she would rather I hunt a leopard next. Buff may have to wait unless I can pull off a buff/leopard hunt all at once.

 

[Norwegianwoods]

Which big 5 do i want to hunt... all..
priorities though it would be buff, leopard, lion, ele, rhino in order

I agree, also with your priority list.
But a Rhino, I would only like to hunt with a bow.
I also would like to do a Hippo on land with a bow.

I would love to hunt a Giraffe, but with my bow only.
I really don't want to hunt one with a gun.

I don't want to do a bait hunt for Leopard or Lion.
Both because I find it totally mind numbing to sit and wait at a bait for hours, day after day and also because the method doesn't appeal to me at all.

Realistically will I only afford to hunt a Buffalo one day.
And a bull Giraffe with my bow for sure

 

[Norwegianwoods]

Well if we are going that route, I have to say that Lord Derby's eland is the most awesome trophy I can think of in Africa

I totally agree!

 

[WildRose]

I'm going to have to change my reply a bit. Next trip the Buff moves up the list since it didn't work out this time around and I was privileged to be offered a chance to participate in an Elephant culling. The elephant hunt is something I'd never even considered a possibility but when the offer was presented I immediately started looking at how quickly I can come back.

I have an amazing wealth of friends who never cease to humble and amaze me.

 

[Petrus Geldenhuys]

Thanks for everyones input
The score is settled.... Buffalo takes this one followed by Elephant and then leopard

 

[NickyMaz]

Buffalo is #1 in my book. I'd love to go for Rhino if they weren't so threatened, maybe someday...

 

[MT Griz]

Well....I have already taken a buffalo so technically that might have to be my #1. But moving forward.........
1). Leopard (maybe with Jaco someday)
2). Lioness (a tracking hunt on the Kalahari sands)
3). Elephant (a tuskless cow in the Zambezi valley)
4). Hippo and Croc (not sure why this is so appealing to me, but from the first day I started thinking of hunting Africa I wanted to shoot a Hippo!)
5). Rhino (I don't think I would ever spend the money to shoot one, two many other things that are way less expensive that I want to hunt)

 

[Witold Krzyżanowski]

Elephant and leopard are my dream.
Witold