Mountain Reedbuck Trophy hunting is a more demanding game animal to hunt than the other reedbuck species in Africa. The hunter will find these animals more challenging to hunt because they are a much more wary antelope, inhabitants of more challenging terrain, and smaller body size makes it a difficult target.
There are no seasonal restrictions on Mountain Reedbuck in designated conservancies in Eastern Cape, South Africa. Nick Bowker Hunting offers Mountain Reedbuck trophy year-round.
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Mountain Reedbuck Hunting Cost
The average cost of a Mountain Reedbuck is $350. A plains game package hunt can include a Mountain Reedbuck.
The Reedbuck Slam is also an excellent addition to any package and includes the common reedbuck, mountain reedbuck, and grey rhebok.
- $350 Mountain Reedbuck Trophy Cost
- $1350 Common Reedbuck Trophy Cost
- $1600 Grey Rhebok Trophy Cost
All-Inclusive $4500 Starter Plains Game Package for seven trophies and eight days hunting. (Inclusive of a Mountain Reedbuck Trophy)
- Kudu
- Impala
- Wildebeest
- Springbok
- Blesbok
- Warthog
- Mountain Reedbuck
Included in the Mountain Reedbuck trophy hunting package is a licensed hunting guide. As well as a hunting license and all permits.
The Mountain Reedbuck in Pictures
Interesting facts
- Mountain reedbuck are active throughout the day and night, showing the most activity around dawn and dusk and frequently rest when temperatures are high.
- Although the species is social (usually females are found in small herds), groups are not stable: individuals may switch groups regularly. Females occupy home ranges of around half a mile, which overlap several smaller male territories.
- The male use of body posturing and vocalizations is to maintain boundaries between neighboring males.
- Females prefer territories with steep slopes to enable them to escape from predators, irrespective of the presence of food or water. As a rule, population densities are 5-9 animals per half a mile in South Africa.
- Males are solitary and territorial but associate with females as they pass through their territory. Immature males live in small bachelor groups.
- Where conditions are favorable, breeding occurs year-round. Whereas in South Africa regions with harsh winters, most births happen in the austral summer (mostly November).
- Lambs are tucked away in dense vegetation by their mothers for at least one month, where the mother will visit them to nurse.
- One lamb is born after a gestation period of approximately eight months a Weaning occurs after about a year.
- Females reach sexual maturity as early as 9-12 months, though they are not fully mature until 18-24 months.
- Males reach full maturity at 27 months of age.
- Mountain Reedbuck hunts are very different from the common reedbuck due to the habitat difference.
Difference between a male and female
Mountain Reedbuck males have horns while females do not. In this case, two females are pictured below with a young male.
About Mountain Reedbuck
The mountain reedbuck averages 30 inches at the shoulder and weighs around 65 pounds. It has a gray coat with a white underbelly and a reddish-brown head and shoulders.
The male has ridged horns of about 6 inches, which curve forwards. Both the male and the female have a dark scent patch beneath the ears.
This medium-sized antelope is found in the Cape province of South Africa and free state on rocky slopes.
The ears’ points are rounded, and the most noticeable feature is their big, white, bushy tails.
A typical group is several adult females and juveniles and one nomad male. Adolescent males are forced out of their herds and form small bachelor herds.
Mountain Reedbuck is a hugely underrated hunt experience.
The Mountain Reedbuck is different from the Common and Bohor reedbuck.
Mountain Reedbuck Hunting in South Africa
Your mountain reedbuck trophy should have an average shoulder height of around 29 inches, weigh about 65 pounds, and have a Horn Length of approximately 5 inches.
The minimum Safari Club International score for a mountain reedbuck is 11. Add the length of each horn and the circumference of the bases to get your score SCI score.
Trophy Mountain Reedbuck hunting can be a difficult animal to hunt than the other Reedbuck species in Africa. However, the Bedford area’s population density is unusual and makes life a lot easier than in other parts of the country.
As a result, the hunter will find these animals much warier and live on more challenging terrain. Also, its smaller body size makes it a difficult target.
The mountain reedbuck is spotted and stalked from high points such as steep slopes and canyons’ entrances. Stalks are quite often long, and a good pair of boots is needed.
The hunter will often find the female lying in the grass or under a tree. The male will most likely be lying a little away from the females.
The trick is to avoid being spotted by his harem. The best scenario is to find a bachelor ram on his own.
Warthog is often a hindrance when hunting mountain reedbuck as they share the same areas. The focus is on the mountain reedbuck; a sleeping warthog under a bush will not be spotted and give the game away.
Trophy Judgement and Rifle Caliber
Trophy Judgement
The Mountain Reedbuck’s horns tend to be shorter than those of the common reedbuck but still have the characteristic curve forward at the horns’ tips.
Any set that goes past the ear lengths will constitute a good trophy.
They are wary but often inquisitive – a trait that the hunter can use to his advantage.
They graze and drink early in the morning and during the late afternoon or even at night, usually resting in the shady spaces of their habitat during midday.
Mountain Reedbuck hunters can expect shots to be longer, with steep gradients at times.
To judge the Mountain Reedbuck trophy quality, one must always look at the neck’s size: a thick and darkened, well-set neck is the first sign of a mature animal.
The horns are in the shape of hooks, hooking forward with a good base. Therefore always look to harvest a male with horns in line with the ears’ tips or greater.
Rifle caliber
The Eastern Cape region of South Africa is probably the best area to hunt these mountain dwellers, where hunters will enjoy great numbers and exciting hunting.
Often spotted on the slopes of valleys and draws while glassing for kudu or eland.
For those hunters who do not wish to go through the red tape of bringing a rifle into South Africa, Nick Bowker has a 7mm custom-made Remington Magnum fitted with a suppressor.
Mounted to the gun is a Swarovski Z8 tactical scope. We have hand-loaded Hornady ELD-X ammunition.
The rifle, including ammunition, is available as part of all hunting packages free of charge.
Include Mountain Reedbuck Trophy hunting in your African hunting safari; you won’t regret it.
Frequently Asked Questions
The trophy fee as a standalone Mountain Reedbuck hunt is between $300 to $500. Daily rates vary between $250 to $500 a day.
Included in the Mountain Reedbuck trophy fee is a licensed guide. As well as a hunting license and all permits.
A Mountain Reedbuck trophy is often included in a plains game package. Package prices vary from $3000 to $10,000, depending on location and size. Packages include 5 – 7 trophy animals and are inclusive of accommodation, meals, and daily rates.
Mountain Reedbuck hunting is in the early mornings and late evenings and spotted from an elevated vantage point in the thick brush and then stalked.
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.
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.
The horns are in the shape of hooks, hooking forward with a good base. Therefore always look to harvest a male with horns in line with the ears’ tips or greater.
Seasonal Restcitions
There are no seasonal restrictions on mountain reedbuck hunting in designated conservancies in the Eastern Cape of South Africa.
The mountain reedbuck is smaller than the common or southern reedbuck and has smaller horns. The horns of the common reedbuck also angle outwards.
The common reedbuck has a lighter shade of color. As the name suggests, mountain reedbuck are found in mountainous rocky areas, while the common reedbuck is found more in woodlands and savanna.
Mountain Reedbuck have curved horns, while the grey rhebok has straight horns, which are longer but with smaller bases.
The coloration is very similar, and they are often confused as both the mountain reedbuck and grey rhebok females do not have horns. The grey Rhebok tends to live at greater altitudes than the mountain reedbuck.
References:
Smithers RHN – The Mammals of the Southern African Subregion
Government of South Africa – Mountain Reedbuck
Hluhluwe Game reserve – Reedbuck Facts
Endangered Wildlife Trust – Facts about the Mountain Reedbuck
Clive Walker – Signs of the Wild