Sitatunga Hunting

Expect to get very wet and muddy when sitatunga hunting in a swamp. This spiral-horned antelope is an excellent swimmer and when threatened, often run into and submerge in deep water or retreat into the very thickest vegetation. This is a specialist hunt and not for the faint-hearted hunter.

The sitatunga have elongated, splayed hooves and flexible foot joints that enable it to move across boggy ground.

Sitatunga Trophy Minimums

Where To Hunt A Sitatunga

• You can hunt a western sitatunga on forest hunts in Cameron and Central African Republic.
• You can hunt an East African sitatunga in western Tanzania and Uganda.
• The island sitatunga may only be hunted in the Ssese Islands of Uganda which are found in the north west corner of Lake Victoria.
• You can hunt a Zambezi sitatunga in Zambia.

Sitatunga Hunting Prices

• In Cameroon, the western sitatunga is in the Group A selection of forest animals from which you can choose 2 to hunt. The trophy fee for the western sitatunga is usually 2500 Euros.
• In Central African Republic (CAR), the western sitatanga is not considered as a forest 'precious game' species and may be hunted in addition to the bongo or giant forest hog, depending on your hunt length. The western sitatunga trophy fee is between 3000 Euros and 5000 Euros.
• In Tanzania, you can hunt an East African sitatunga in wetland areas of western Tanzania on a 21 day licence. The total trophy fee will be between US$3250 and US$4800, including Community Development/anti-poaching fees.
• In Uganda, both the East African and Island sitatunga carry a trophy fee of US$5000.
• In Zambia, the Zambezi sitatunga can be hunted on specific expeditions to the Bangweulu or Kafue wetlands areas, usually in combination with a black lechwe hunt. Sitatunga can also be hunted on some game ranches. The trophy fee for a Zambezi sitatunga can be as low as US$4500 to US$6000, rising to US$12000 to US$16500. Some outfitters charge different trophy fees for sitatunga horn lengths of +26" or +30".

Sitatunga Hunting Methods

• As sitatungas use regular, tunnelled pathways through the tall reeds and papyrus of swamps, they are often hunted from blinds, rickety high platforms or boats.
• Be prepared to take a quick accurate shot - the last thing you want is a wounded sitatunga follow-up through swamp vegetation. They are notoriously difficult to find if wounded, often submerging underwater with only their nostrils showing.
• Sitatunga are most active just after dawn and just before dusk.

A Good Sitatunga Trophy

• Good horn length with thick bases will make a good trophy.
• Sitatunga horns are similar to those of an nyala. If you actually get to see the horns before shooting, look for a deep 'bell' that extends past the ears on the outer curve and then flare out.

Sitatunga Hunting Shot Placement

• As sitatunga shot placement is similar to other antelope plains game species, go to Shot Placement On Plains Game.

Sitatunga Bull Vital Statistics

• Shoulder Height: 32-46" / 81-116cm
• Weight: 168-262lbs / 76-119kg

Sitatunga Habitat And Requirements

• This antelope lives in thickly vegetated, muddy swamps and marshes.

Sitatunga Social Structure

• Essentially solitary animals, pairs associate for short periods of time for mating and small mixed groups are occasionally formed.

Sitatunga Gestation Period

• After a gestation period of around 7 months, one offspring is born.

Sitatunga Gender Identification

• Only male sitatunga have horns.
• The males are grayish-brown and the females are a reddish brown, with six to eight vertical white stripes on the body.
• Males are also considerably larger than females.

Sitatunga Trophy Permits (2015)

Sitatunga Hunting Recommended Reading

Search For The Spiral Horn by Craig Boddington (2002) who is one of the few hunters who has successfully hunted each of the major varieties and most of the subspecies of the nine spiral-horned antelope of Africa.

Hunting the Spiral Horns: Sitatunga: The Sly, Shy, Secretive One by Peter Flack (2015) is the only book you will need on sitatunga. Contributors include Don Cowie, Brian Herne, Robin Hurt, Rudy Lubin, Jeff Rann, Alain Smith, Chris Kinsey (the first sport hunter to bag all 26 subspecies of sitatunga) as well as other noted professional and experienced sport hunters. As John Jackson says in his foreword. "You are about to embark on an incredible journey across the range of all sitatunga".

Sitatunga Hunting Recommended Viewing

Bongo & Sitatunga With The Pygmies . Hunts for western bongo, western sitatunga and the duikers of the rain forest with hired hunters of the Pandjele Pygmy tribe as trackers. 60 mins.

Zambia Safari: The Bangweulu Swamps DVD by Ken Wilson. The black lechwe is only found in the Bangweulu Swamps and this hunt ends with a 26" animal. Then the hunt begins for one of Africa's greatest trophies, the Zambezi sitatunga. 55 minutes. DVD.

Hunting Other African Animals

Big Five Hunting

• African Buffalo
• African Lion
• African Leopard
• African Elephant
• Rhino

Waterside Hunting

• Hippo
• Crocodile

Other Plains Game Hunting

• Giraffe
• Zebra

Spiral Horned Antelope Hunting

• Bushbuck
• Kudu
• Nyala
• Mountain Nyala
• Sitatunga
• Bongo
• Eland

Large Antelope Hunting

• Sable
• Roan
• Waterbuck
• Kob
• Lechwe
• Oryx / Gemsbuck
• Wildebeest
• Hartebeest
• Tsessebe / Topi

Medium Antelope Hunting

• Blesbok
• Bontebok
• Reedbuck
• Impala
• Gerenuk
• Springbok
• Rhebok
• Puku

Small Antelope Hunting

• Gazelle
• Duiker
• Dik-Dik
• Steinbok
• Grysbok
• Oribi
• Klipspringer
• Suni
• Bate's Pygmy Antelope

African Pig Hunting

• Warthog
• Bushpig
• Forest Hogs

Other Cat Hunting

• Cheetah
• Serval
• Caracal
• African Wildcat

Animals Of Opportunity

• Baboon
• Civet
• Genet
• Honey Badger (Ratel)
• Hyena
• Jackal
• Ostrich
• Porcupine
• African Fox
• Monkey