Pygmy Antelope
The "Little Five" or "Tiny Ten" either way you refer to the smallest of African Antelopes, these diminutive species are a challenge to hunt and are found all over the African Continent.
June - 2007
Grey Duiker # 1
Also called "Bush" or "Common" Duiker. Found in several countries but can be difficult to hunt due to their secretive nature. This trophy ram was my first ram on this safari but I had taken a female earlier in the Gauteng Province. Long range shooting using a .223 was required to harvest this Duiker.
June - 2007
Grey Duiker # 2
My second trophy ram on this safari. Standing in heavy brush, 120 yards away, I used the .280 to harvest this ram. This Duiker is lying on a Termite mound which covers Southern Africa. Last year I failed to take any Duikers. They can be difficult quarry.
May 2007
Female Gray Duiker
Female Gray Duiker taken in the Gauteng Province in late May 2007. Females do not have horns, rather sport a "mohawk" ridge of hair that stands erect between their ears. They compliment the male when mounted.
June - 2007
Cape Grysbok
What an exciting hunt Cape Grysbok are! Trophy rams are hard to come by but we took 2 out of 2 hunts! Probably one of the more elusive of the Pygmies to take. Permits are required, so book well in advance. This ram measures nearly 3 inches.
June - 2007
Oribi
One of the "super pygmies" the Oribi is an outstanding trophy! In the Eastern Cape of South Africa, they reside in the open coastal hillsides and plains where they keep a sharp eye out for enemies. Exceptional trophies like this ram are taken only by permit. You should plan your hunt well in advance to assure a permit.
June - 2007
Steenbok
A rainy morning produced this super Steenbok ram. Rams this size score high in the record books. We took two in this caliber and saw many more. Some of the top record book Steenbok come from our areas.
July - 2006
Steenbok
David with his trophy Steenbok ram. Excellent trophy that belongs in the "Little Five" Pygmy Antelope collection of African game. Taken with the .223 caliber. The East Cape region sports excellent populations of record book Steenbok. Ask me about booking your own hunt for the "Little Five."
June - 2007
Steenbok
Talk about a trophy! This Steenbok is a monster. This gold medal ram is a super trophy of the Little 5/Tiny 10. Many rams of this class come out of South Africa, espeically the Eastern Cape. This ram holds the current #40 position in the SCI forthcoming record book.
Speaking of giant Steenbok, this one entered the SCI record book at # 23! A friend of mine from Tennessee took this trophy of a lifetime. This ram nearly measured six inches on each horn!
Another giant record book Steenbok taken in Limpopo Province. This ram not only has length, but mass to boot. Steenbok are one of the "Tiny Ten" of Pygmy Antelope. Our PH's know where to find rams of this age and trophy class.
HICERUS CAMPESTRIS
Class: Animals with Milk Glands (Mammalia)
Subclass: True Mammals (Eutheria)
Order: Even-toed Mammals (Artiodactyla)
Family: Bovidae.
The Name "Steenbok": "Steenbok" and "steinbok" are variations on the same Afrikaans (South African Dutch) word for "stone buck."
Location: Southern Africa and part of East Africa.
Habitat: Terrestrial. Open plains and lightly wooded savanna.
Description: The coat Is a uniform reddish color, sometimes turning grayish with a light silvery sheen. The delicate appearance of this slightly built antelope is accentuated by its long legs and thin neck. The ears are long and broad, and the tail is only a short stump. The horns, present only in the male, curve slightly forward and average 4 inches long with 7 inches being the record. Length of head and body is about three feet, two feet high at the shoulder, and it weighs about 26 pounds, the male sometimes lighter than the female.
Behavior: The steenbok is active both day and night constantly moving in search of food. It feeds on many plant species, eating grass, tubers, leaves, and fruit. It can go for long periods without drinking. It is found in lowland habitats, and never ventures into hilly areas. It is said sometimes to take refuge in the old burrows of aardvarks. It is generally solitary and is seen only briefly in pairs during the short mating season.
Reproduction: Gestation lasts about seven months, and one young is born.
Some of the beautiful flora that grows in South Africa. This is one BIG cactus!