Bushbuck hunting in Zimbabwe

Bushbuck is known by some as “Africa’s Whitetail” due to the fact that they have very similar habits and a crafty animal to hunt. They are the smallest of the spiral-horned antelope group. Mature males are normally solitary and bark like a dog when danger approaches. This nocturnal water-dependent species is found in thickets, riverine forests and reedbeds along river systems. Two Bushbuck subspecies occur in Zimbabwe. The Limpopo Bushbuck occurs in the southern parts of the country in the Limpopo River basin from which it gained its name. Chobe Bushbuck are hunted in the northern parts of the country and are mostly confined to the Zambezi Valley and its surrounds. The best time to hunt Bushbuck is early morning when returning to the thickets or late afternoon when they break cover to feed and drink. A slow walk and stalk along the edge of a river can also lead to a successful encounter with a suitable trophy. Wounded males can be very aggressive and known to attack a hunter or dogs used for tracking wounded animals. Classified as a species of least concern by the IUCN, no special hunting permits are required.