Who is chasing the spiral horn slam?

[bwanamrm]

I believe Jason Stone was just advertising a discounted Mtn Nyala in Ethiopia.

I hunted Mountain Nyala with Jason and can highly recommend him and the area he hunts.

 

[dogcat1]

After 20 years, completed my spiral slam last year with an Nyala. I hunted the hard ones first then got distracted chasing all of the eland species and bushbuck species. I have loved every hunt for the spiral horned.

Most intriguing hunt was Mountain Nyala with Jason Roussos in Ethiopia. Unique, fantastic, seriously fun.

 

[Green Chile]

After 20 years, completed my spiral slam last year with an Nyala. I hunted the hard ones first then got distracted chasing all of the eland species and bushbuck species. I have loved every hunt for the spiral horned.

Most intriguing hunt was Mountain Nyala with Jason Roussos in Ethiopia. Unique, fantastic, seriously fun.

How long was your mountain nyala shot?

Congrats on accomplishing those goals. What’s next? Will you repeat any of the specialized spiral hunts?

 

[Happy Myles]

My mountain nyala was 300 yard shot. but took 45 minutes to reach the carcass . Tough country but a great hunt. I hunted with the late Colonel Negussie .

 

[Green Chile]

My mountain nyala was 300 yard shot. but took 45 minutes to reach the carcass . Tough country but a great hunt. I hunted with the late Colonel Negussie .

Were you able to use a tripod or some improvised field rest for that?

 

[Happy Myles]

Were you able to use a tripod or some improvised field rest for that?

No. I used traditional sitting position. I had used for decades before I heard of tripods. I would not take the shot today I am embarrassed to say.

 

[Green Chile]

Old school shooting skills! A real rifleman. Love it.

Any photos of your fav spiral horn trophies taken?

 

[Firebird]

Where is Hank2211?-I’ve read enough of his reports to believe he should be sharing his experience on this thread

 

[Cecil Hammonds]

I’ve read Peter Flack’s book. I’m contemplating finishing my spiral horn slam. Would still need a LDE and Mountain Nyala. I love the spiral horned species and most plains game. I try to hunt areas with one or two spiral species available when planning dangerous game hunts. I went to Zambia specifically for a sitatunga, as well as the three lechwe species and giant sable. Didn’t even seriously hunt buffalo when there. I am of the opinion that dangerous game doesn’t always have to take precedence for me. Good luck to you and hope you get the spiral horn slam!
View attachment 582108View attachment 582109
View attachment 582110View attachment 582111View attachment 582112View attachment 582113View attachment 582114View attachment 582115View attachment 582117

Hi Scott,

We just returned from Zambia, and are looking at going back next year for Sitatunga, Sable, and Black Lechwe. May I ask who you went with?

Cheers,

Cecil

 

[dogcat1]

I chased the spirals! Great fun and great hunts. All were a challenge. The Lod Derby is my favorite and the toughest. My. Nyala are a challenge as they are high in the mountains in Ethiopia, and Ethiopia is a super place to hunt!
Do it!

 

[Green Chile]

I chased the spirals! Great fun and great hunts. All were a challenge. The Lod Derby is my favorite and the toughest. My. Nyala are a challenge as they are high in the mountains in Ethiopia, and Ethiopia is a super place to hunt!
Do it!

That's interesting as I have heard the outfitters have gotten really good at LDE success rates. Getting there, dealing with the heat, etc but you should see a lot of LDE. I would have thought the Mt Nyala or bongo would be tougher than LDE. Of course, each experience varies.

 

[dogcat1]

As in all hunting, being in the right area is a great help along with the right PH. I was fortunate in both aspects. My first LDE was very tough - 9 days tracking in 100 degree heat. The next was in a great area and taken after 4 days. Bongo on day 3 in a thrilling tracking job, the Mt Nyala was after 2-3 days of watching and glassing. Sitatunga was a classic “sit in the machan” for several sits then connected. All great fun and worth the effort. Bushbuck, kudu and eland were great fun. The regular nyala was last and in an area we did not expect to one.
Go!

 

[Scott CWO]

Hi Scott,

We just returned from Zambia, and are looking at going back next year for Sitatunga, Sable, and Black Lechwe. May I ask who you went with?

Cheers,

Cecil

Sorry I didn’t see this question until now. I went with Ntengu Safaris in Zambia with Fico Vidale as PH. I posted a report and highly recommended the areas. Got everything I wanted except roan but came close.

 

[Green Chile]

As in all hunting, being in the right area is a great help along with the right PH. I was fortunate in both aspects. My first LDE was very tough - 9 days tracking in 100 degree heat. The next was in a great area and taken after 4 days. Bongo on day 3 in a thrilling tracking job, the Mt Nyala was after 2-3 days of watching and glassing. Sitatunga was a classic “sit in the machan” for several sits then connected. All great fun and worth the effort. Bushbuck, kudu and eland were great fun. The regular nyala was last and in an area we did not expect to one.
Go!

Did you take them in one hunt each? If so, that’s fantastic. I typically have very good luck but I hunt hard until the end…has worked on most species except for leopard.

 

[dogcat1]

Took 7 or 8 hunts as they are in different places. I am after all of the bushbuck species as well and it takes a separate hun5 for each.
If I only had one more hunt to take, it would be for any of the eland species. I like LDE the best but you hunt them in bad countries. A tracking eland hunt is my cup of joy!

 

[Mark Biggerstaff]

I have only done the South African version all in the Northwest

Two best Kudu

Two Nyala

Eland old worn down bull

Bushbuck in Northwest

 

[Hank2211]

Where is Hank2211?-I’ve read enough of his reports to believe he should be sharing his experience on this thread

That's an excellent question Firebird. As they say, ask and . . . well, something might happen.

At the risk of repetition and being a bit boring, here are my spiral horns, in the order in which I got them. Having said that, in many cases I've shot multiples (eland, kudu (dozens), bushbuck (got all but two of the sub-species), etc) so I might add one or two of the same for variety (and to allow some on other threads the pleasure which they seem to find in crapping on others' trophies!)

I have very little doubt that the nine spiral horns are much harder to get than the Big Five - and not just because there are more of them. At least three of these hunts - the bongo, the Giant Eland and to a lesser extent the Mountain Nyala - are among the hardest hunts in Africa. And you have to visit far more countries - many of them far from hospitable - to find them. But it's an adventure and a goal well worth the effort.

1. Bushbuck

Matetsi, Zimbabwe, 2009 (Doesn't look like a Chobe, but got it very near the Chobe River . . .)

Cape Bushbuck - Eastern Cape 2014

Limpopo Bushbuck, South Africa, 2016

Harnessed Bushbuck, Benin, 2017

2. Kudu

Shangani, Zimbabwe, 2009 (first of a couple of dozen?)

South Africa (somewhere - a bigger version!)

3. Eland

Matetsi, Zimbabwe, 2010

4. Nyala

South Africa, Northern Cape, 2012

Mozambique, 2023

5. Bongo

Cameroon, 2013

6. Sitatunga (Forest)

Cameroon, 2013

7. Lesser Kudu

Danakil, Ethiopia, 2016

8. Mountain Nyala

Ethiopia, 2016

9. Giant Eland

Cameroon, 2019

 

[Firebird]

That’s the stuff! Thanks for the pictures and writing up your adventures-

 

[Killo]

A great post @Green Chile I love chasing the Spirals! This quest takes you all across the African Continent, to many different habitats and cultures.

Good luck to all in pursuit of their goals.

John EdView attachment 582256View attachment 582257View attachment 582259View attachment 582261View attachment 582262View attachment 582263View attachment 582264View attachment 582265View attachment 582276

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

That's an excellent question Firebird. As they say, ask and . . . well, something might happen.

At the risk of repetition and being a bit boring, here are my spiral horns, in the order in which I got them. Having said that, in many cases I've shot multiples (eland, kudu (dozens), bushbuck (got all but two of the sub-species), etc) so I might add one or two of the same for variety (and to allow some on other threads the pleasure which they seem to find in crapping on others' trophies!)

I have very little doubt that the nine spiral horns are much harder to get than the Big Five - and not just because there are more of them. At least three of these hunts - the bongo, the Giant Eland and to a lesser extent the Mountain Nyala - are among the hardest hunts in Africa. And you have to visit far more countries - many of them far from hospitable - to find them. But it's an adventure and a goal well worth the effort.

1. Bushbuck

View attachment 633838
Matetsi, Zimbabwe, 2009 (Doesn't look like a Chobe, but got it very near the Chobe River . . .)

View attachment 633831
Cape Bushbuck - Eastern Cape 2014

View attachment 633839
Limpopo Bushbuck, South Africa, 2016

View attachment 633834
Harnessed Bushbuck, Benin, 2017

2. Kudu

View attachment 633843
Shangani, Zimbabwe, 2009 (first of a couple of dozen?)

View attachment 633844
South Africa (somewhere - a bigger version!)

3. Eland

View attachment 633837
Matetsi, Zimbabwe, 2010

4. Nyala

View attachment 633835
South Africa, Northern Cape, 2012

View attachment 633836
Mozambique, 2023

5. Bongo

View attachment 633840
Cameroon, 2013

6. Sitatunga (Forest)

View attachment 633841
Cameroon, 2013

7. Lesser Kudu

View attachment 633832
Danakil, Ethiopia, 2016

8. Mountain Nyala

View attachment 633833
Ethiopia, 2016

9. Giant Eland

View attachment 633842
Cameroon, 2019

Could you pick a favorite? Most memorable? Most difficult? Did any not live up to the hype? If you had to pick just one more to hunt, what would it be?