YOU MAKE THE CALL - ?

[slad68]

Right guys here is a question for you.
You are now in my shoes and you need to make the call. This all happened today.

You are guiding you client, your selected species to target for his Safari is Red Duiker.
You find several Red Duikers in one spot.
You see a big mature Red Duiker male +_ 3".
NOW ,,, out steps a Bushbuck, BUT not just any bushbuck, this is a 16" + Bushbuck. Your client already shot a 14" Bushbuck on his previous trip, now looking for Red Duiker or anything bigger than he already has.

What do you do??? MAKE THE CALL

Red Duiker male and Female. The male is to the right and there are more to the far right.

Then out comes the Bushbuck and the Red Duikers are right behind him.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

A 16" Bushbuck would certainly be worth taking, but they're not unheard of. If a 3" Red Duiker is considered exceptional, that's what I'd take. But I wouldn't fault the hunter on whatever he chose.

 

[bluey]

whichever you decide you'll be happy with ,
and have a great fireside tale, which would spark a debate, near anywhere .
and you could bet your last dollar , you will never ever see that again , in your life.
id be taking the red duiker ,.

 

[ROCKET]

If I allready have a 14" bushbuck from my last trip I would keep focus on that red duiker no doubt......but any of both is ok.....you said it, is not any bushbuck.......anyway I´ll go for the 3" red......!!!!!

 

[gillettehunter]

Good pics and a fun question to debate. Probably the hunters choice trumps all. What does he want to do. How bad does he want the duiker? Would he really like to improve on his former bushbuck? How common are the duiker on the property? How hard to get/find one of similar size? Same questions on the bushbuck. All would affect my choice. Bruce

 

[Royal27]

SHOOT EM BOTH!!!!

 

[slad68]

Well guys, finding a 16+ Bushbuck is not unusual, so with the Red Duiker.
16+ Bushbuck is what it is, but in my opinion a 3" Red Duiker can be compared with a 58 to 59" Kudu.

The main thing is what do you do when 2 phenomenal trophy size animals are standing right in front of you saying "SHOOT ME - NO SHOOT ME"

 

[Royal27]

In all seriousness I would have shot the duiker. That would be one more of the tiny ten

 

[tarbe]

If I am the guide, I tell my client to take a breath and make his best shot on whichever critter he wants most!

It's great to have choices!

 

[Buff-Buster]

For me it would be the duiker. Either one would not be a wrong choice. What a predicament to be in!!! Must have a hell of a PH...lol

 

[IdaRam]

Very interesting situation Oh well, you know what they say... When life gives you lemons, make lemonade What a problem to have!
So did your client successfully bag the Duiker? I'm guessing that was the choice? Gotta have pics or it never happened
Here's my 2 bits;
If I'm the PH I whisper to the client to make his choice and take the shot, but PLEASE do it quickly!
If I am THIS hunter, I wait for the Bushbuck to clear the Duiker and then take the shot at the Duiker.
If I am ME, I take the Bushbuck when the shot is safe to avoid a passthrough into the Duiker standing behind. I chose the Bushbuck because I want one more than I want a Duiker.
Thanks for posting. Excellent real life scenario!

 

[Wheels]

Line the duiker up in front of the bushbuck so Jeff can get both with one shot!

Shouldn't the duiker be in the same area if you hunt there tomorrow?

This is turning into a great month for your client.

All the best.

 

[cptkirk]

I would personally shoot what ever species I was after in the first place and consider myself damned fortunate to have seen two exceptional trophies in one place at the same time. Nice to get pictures of both so you have visual aids for the campfire stories later.

 

[tarbe]

Line the duiker up in front of the bushbuck so Jeff can get both with one shot!

Ah, this is why I see guys shooting Duikers with a .375 H&H!

And yes, any PH worth his salt should be able to get those critters to line up for his client, so the client can pretend to be Matthew Quigley!

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

The perfect answer here of course is........ follow your PH's advice! My initial leanings were to the Red Duiker and the PH has only confirmed that.

 

[James.Grage]

While they are both very nice trophy's.

If we were after the Red Duiker and the Bushbuck came out. If we have time on our side (and it appears we do from the pictures) we would discuss the possibilities of which is more difficult to find again. Again the day on your safari would play into it, early, middle, late, and if i was happy with the earlier Bushbuck (which i would be or i would not shot).

If we have some time (again we do from picture taking ), i would settle in and take the Red Duiker.

 

[Biddleman]

If Jeff was the hunter he probably got both. One shot, two kills!

 

[BRICKBURN]

That Red Duiker would be down first. Don't get distracted.

 

[Hank2211]

Agree with Brickburn. Don't get distracted. If he already has a nice bushbuck, and decides to take this one, odds are - at least my odds - never see another red duiker on that hunt! That's how the hunting gods work! Take the duiker!

 

[sestoppelman]

Bushbuck for me.