Summary
Bushbuck trophy hunting is often conducted by sitting at a vantage point in the late evening and waiting for the Bushbuck to step into small fields and begin grazing.
Bushbuck are often found in dense bush, riverine forests, and thick cover, making them an extremely elusive animal to hunt. They also prefer habitats near water sources, which provide them with essential resources and additional concealment.
Males are very aggressive and sometimes attack when wounded.
There are no seasonal restrictions on hunting Bushbuck in designated conservancies in the Eastern Cape of South Africa.
Bowker Hunting offers Bushbuck hunts year-round. Bushbuck may be hunted all year round in South Africa and Zimbabwe, providing hunters with flexibility in planning their trips.
In non-conservancy areas, there is a designated hunting season.
Bushbuck makes for a beautiful trophy on any Africa hunting trip.
We have outstanding trophy bushbuck for rifle hunting while on an Africa hunt from the USA.
Hunt fees are very reasonable.
Table of Contents
Introduction to Hunting Bushbuck
Hunting bushbuck is an exhilarating pursuit that draws hunters from around the globe to the wilds of Africa. As the smallest member of the spiral horned antelope family, bushbuck are renowned for their elusive nature and striking appearance. Their majestic horns, shiny coats, and unique coloration make them a highly sought-after trophy for hunters looking to add something special to their collection.
Whether you’re an experienced hunter or new to African hunting, embarking on a bushbuck hunt in South Africa offers the chance to encounter different species of these remarkable animals in their natural habitats. From dense riverine forests to thick bush, each hunt presents a new challenge and an opportunity to test your skills against one of Africa’s most prized antelope species.
Why Participate in a Bushbuck Hunt
There’s nothing quite like the thrill of a bushbuck hunt. These elusive animals are known for their wariness and ability to disappear into dense cover at the slightest hint of danger, making every encounter a true test of patience and skill. For hunters, the challenge of tracking and hunting bushbuck in the Eastern Cape or Limpopo province of South Africa is both demanding and deeply rewarding.
The satisfaction of harvesting a trophy bushbuck, with its impressive horns and beautiful markings, is an experience that stays with you long after the hunt is over. South Africa’s top outfitters and guides are experts in bushbuck hunting, ensuring that hunters have the best possible chance of success while enjoying the adventure and beauty of the African wilderness. Whether you’re after your first bushbuck or looking to add another trophy to your collection, a bushbuck hunt in Africa is an unforgettable adventure.
Bushbuck Hunting Trophy Fees in South Africa -2025
When planning your bushbuck hunting adventure in South Africa, it’s important to consider the trophy fees, which can vary depending on the region and the species you’re targeting. For a Cape Bushbuck trophy hunt in the Eastern Cape, hunters can expect to pay an average of $950 in 2025, with some outfitters offering comprehensive hunting packages that include guided hunts, accommodations, and trophy fees.
Prices in the Eastern Cape typically range from $800 to $1,200 for a trophy bushbuck, while in the Limpopo province, fees are generally between $700 and $1,000. With a variety of outfitters and hunting packages available, it’s a good idea to compare options to find the best value for your bushbuck hunt. No matter where you choose to hunt, South Africa offers outstanding opportunities to pursue trophy bushbuck and experience the excitement of hunting one of Africa’s most elusive antelope species.
Our 2025 price is $950.
The Cape Bushbuck trophy hunting package includes a licensed hunting guide, a hunting license, and all permits.
Guided hunts for Cape Bushbuck can be added to our big game packages.
Hunting Bushbuck in South Africa
Shot placement must be in the bottom third of the animal directly above the front shoulder. This will ensure a heart or lung shot. Avoid head and neck shots, which are high-risk.
Your Bushbuck ram trophy should have an average shoulder height of around 33 inches, weigh about 100 pounds, and have a Horn length of 13 inches.
The minimum Safari Club International score for an Eastern Cape Bushbuck is 31. Measured by adding the length of each horn and the circumference of the bases.
Bushbuck are part of the Spiral Horn Antelope family and are the smallest family in South Africa.
The spiral-horned family includes Kudu, Nyala, Eland, and Bushbuck.
He has keen senses and is very alert. Males are very aggressive and can attack when wounded.
Dogs usually bear the brunt of attacks, but humans do get targeted. Males make for outstanding trophies with thick black necks, shiny coats, and majestic horns.
Awe-inspiring animals that offer excellent walk and stalk hunting opportunities in the Eastern Cape.
In Bedford, Bushbuck hunting areas are in the mountains or in riverine forests and dense thickets.
The majority of Bushbucks are shot during the late evening or the early morning. Bushbuck are most active during the early morning and late afternoon, making these times ideal for hunting.
Bushbuck will easily live amongst human settlements, adapt their feeding habitats, and become nocturnal.
Hunting methods are sitting in a vantage point in the late evening and waiting for the Bushbuck to step into small fields and begin grazing.
During the day, Bushbuck will rest in thick brush. This is a medium-sized antelope rather than a big-game trophy.
Trophy Judgement and Rifle Caliber for Trophy Bushbuck
Primarily a browser, he feeds on leaves, grass, branches, flowers, and fruit during the night or early morning and late afternoon.
When disturbed, his alarm signal is a loud, hoarse bark similar to a dog’s.
Walking through the bush, probing the dense cover, and always being mindful of the wind direction can be productive when hunting this extremely elusive species, requiring patience and skill. While traditional driven hunts were popular for Cape Bushbuck in the past, stalking is the commonly practiced method today.
Hunt Bushbuck trophies with a 7mm or a 30-caliber rifle with suitable 180-grain bullets on your hunting safari.
For those hunters who wish to avoid going through the red tape of bringing a rifle into South Africa, Nick Bowker has 300 Magnums fitted with suppressors.
Mounted on the rifles are Swarovski tactical scopes. We have hand-loaded Hornady ELD-X ammunition.
The rifle and ammunition are available as part of all hunting packages.
Shot placement is critical; from any angle, place your shot to penetrate and pass through the chest cavity.
You do not want to wound this little guy as, for his size, he can be extremely dangerous.
For instance, an injured or cornered bushbuck is aggressive and will not hesitate to charge.
If your wounded Bushbuck escapes to dense cover, which he will undoubtedly try to do, be cautious in your pursuit, allow ample time for your bullet to do its work, and always send “Jack Russell” into the bush to find him.
The Difference Between a Male and Female Bushbuck for the Hunter
Females (Ewes) are smaller; adult ewes are lighter in color than rams, with more pronounced white spots and stripes, while males have horns.
Interesting Facts for a Bushbuck Hunt
- The fur of the bushbuck’s color depends on the habitat. It can be yellow, reddish, or brown. Bushbuck that live in dense forests have darker fur.
- The ears, chin, tail, legs, and neck, have white, geometrically-shaped markings.
- The main predators of the bushbuck species are big cats, hyenas, hunting dogs, and crocodiles.
- Bushbuck is a solitary and shy. It is usually active at night (nocturnal) but can be active during the day.
- Bushbuck is a typical herbivore (plant-eater). They are browsers and grazers and consume fallen fruits, tubers, tree bark, flowers, and shrubs.
- Bushbuck does not tolerate birds that remove insects. As a consequence, bushbucks have a lot of ticks.
- Nick Bowker hunts the Cape Bushbuck species in the Eastern Cape. Bushbuck in the north (Limpopo province) is referred to as the Limpopo Bushbuck, and in Botswana, the Chobe bushbuck is prevalent.
- Besides diseases transmitted by insects, bushbuck is prone to a viral infection called rinderpest.
- The bushbuck is not a fast runner but a good swimmer who can jump 6 feet and hide in thickets.
- Bushbuck mate throughout the whole year. Pregnancy in females lasts six months and ends with one baby.
- After a baby is born, the female eats the placenta and dung of the young bushbuck to remove all smells that will otherwise attract predators.
- The baby remains hidden in the vegetation when its mother is foraging.
- When it reaches the age of 4 months, the baby accompanies its mother in the food search.
- Bushbuck can survive up to 12 years in the wild and up to 15 years in captivity.
- Bushbuck driven hunts is a favorite pass time of the local community in the Eastern Cape pastime.
About the Bushbuck for Hunting
Description of Bushbuck and Hunting Areas
Bushbuck live within a “home” area, usually around 12 acres on the savannah and much more significant in the forest, that they will not usually leave.
These areas usually overlap other male home areas.
Bushbuck are solitary animals, and mature males go out of their way to stay away from each other, in contrast to plains game animals such as the black wildebeest and blesbok.
They are most active during the early morning and at night; and can be almost entirely nocturnal in areas where they are likely to be disturbed during the day.
Bushbuck inhabit thickets within dense and dry savanna woodlands
This species stands about 33 inches at the shoulder and weighs 100 to 120 pounds (depending on sex). Females have a light brown coat with up to seven white stripes and white splotches on the sides.
White patches occur on most mobile parts of their body, such as the ears, chin, tail, legs, and neck.
Information for Bushbuck Hunts
The muzzle is also white, and horns are found only on the males and only one twist.
At ten months old, young males sprout particularly twisted horns and, at maturity, form the first loop of a spiral.
Males are much darker in color and are often almost black in color.
Males and females have geometrically shaped white patches or spots on the most mobile parts of their body, namely the ears, chin, tail, legs, and neck, and a band of white at the base of the neck.
On males, these markings become more visible during their displays when they arch their backs and slowly circle one another, walking in a tense, high-stepping gait.
These highly ritualized displays usually make fighting unnecessary, and a rigid age-based hierarchy among Bushbuck keeps the males in check.
When disturbed, Bushbuck ( Tragelaphus scriptus) freeze or go to the ground and wait for the danger to pass.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to hunt a Bushbuck?
Trophy fees as a standalone Bushbuck hunt are between $800 – $1,000. Daily rates vary between $250 and $500 per day.
Included in the Bushbuck trophy fee is a licensed guide. As well as a hunting license and all permits.
How to hunt a Bushbuck?
Bushbuck hunting is in the early mornings and late evenings and is spotted from an elevated vantage point in the thick brush and then stalked. Alternatively, hunters use ambush techniques at watering holes or as they move back to cover from feeding.
Bushbuck are often hunted by sitting in a vantage point in the late evening and waiting for the Bushbuck to step into small fields and begin grazing.
Where do you shoot a Bushbuck?
Shot placement must be in the bottom third of the animal directly above the front shoulder. This will ensure a heart or lung shot. Avoid head and neck shots, which are high-risk.
What is a trophy, Bushbuck?
Bushbuck trophies have a Horn Length of approximately 12 – 13 inches. The minimum qualification score under Safari Club International for a Bushbuck is 31. Add the length of each horn and the circumference of the bases to get your SCI score.
How do you judge a Bushbuck trophy?
As with all African animals, a thick, heavy, darkened neck is the first sign of maturity and often the most visible maturity characteristic when observing at a distance.
A good symmetrical shape with smooth tips signifies an old ram and a trophy worth considering.
Seasonal Restrictions
When can you hunt Bushbuck in South Africa?
There are no seasonal restrictions on Bushbuck hunting in designated conservancies in the Eastern Cape of South Africa.
What Caliber is Recommended for Bushbuck Hunts?
We recommend the flat shooting 300 Winchester or 7mm magnums with high-quality tactical scopes and a suppressor.
Bushbuck in Pictures
