Suni Hunting

Suni antelope are usually taken as the opportunity arises while hunting something else.

When in danger, the suni freezes, remaining hidden until the threat is nearly on top of them, at which point it leaps up and dodges around bushes and shrubs, quickly vanishing into the undergrowth.

Suni Trophy Minimums

For convenience, SCI uses the Tanzania/Mozambique border as the dividing line for the ranges of the East African suni and the Livingstone's suni. The true southern limit of the East African suni is supposed to be the northern bank of the Zambezi river.

Where To Hunt A Suni

Suni occur in a large swath of eastern Africa stretching from the costal regions of KZN, South Africa, through Mozambique into eastern Tanzania and Kenya. The East African suni range ends north of the Zambezi river in Mozambique and the Livingstone's suni range starts south of the Zambezi river.

So you can hunt the larger Livingstone's suni in Mozambique and in South Africa. The Livingstone's suni range crosses into Zimbabwe in the far north-east and south-east but it is not commonly hunted there. If you are a serious SCI record book suni hunter, hunting in northern Mozambique, be aware you could be hunting an East African suni which SCI will class as a Livingstone's suni record.

You can hunt an East African suni in eastern Tanzania, including in the Selous, on a 16 and 21 day licence.

Suni Hunting Prices

• Without a doubt, Mozambique is the place to go to hunt a Livingstone's suni. In Mozambique, the Government licence fee for a Livingstone's suni is between US$250 and US$385. The trophy fee is between US$900 and US$1500.
• In South Africa, the Livingstone's suni is a TOPS animal which requires a special permit to hunt which must be obtained before the hunt in the client's name. The trophy fee for a suni is in the range of US$1500 to US$2500. A suni is not an antelope that is conducive to captive-breeding and being stocked on game farms, so the hunter in South Africa, must hunt it in it's limited home range in KwaZulu-Natal.
• In Tanzania, the Government trophy fee for a male suni is US$200. With additional Community Development/anti-poaching fees, the total trophy fee will be between US$300 and US$650.

Suni Hunting Methods

• If you are looking to specifically hunt a suni it can be a major challenge, requiring a lot of patience. Walking and stalking in the likely habitat at dusk or early morning might do it but these tiny antelope tend to hide in the thickest bush.
• As on so many hunts, it is when you are not actually hunting a specific animal, that you get lucky...think duiker and you just might get a suni.
• Suni use a communal dung heap, so if you can locate a fresh one, it is worthwhile staking it out and waiting to see if one appears.
• Suni have a tendency to freeze when they feel threatened or they might stand and bark, which may be your chance for a shot.

A Good Suni Trophy

• Look for solid bases and good horn length - if the horns extend past the ears it will be a good trophy.

Suni Hunting Shot Placement

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

Steinbok Vital Statistics

• Shoulder Height: 13-15" / 33-38cm
• Weight: 9-13lbs / 4-6kg

Suni Habitat And Requirements

• They typically inhabit dry areas with thick undergrowth.
• This tiny antelope has retiring habits and are not often seen, feeding primarily at night.

Suni Social Structure

• Suni live as monogamous pairs.

Suni Gestation Period

• After a gestation period of 6 months, one offspring is usually born.

Suni Gender Identification

• Only males have the wideset, black-coloured horns which are ridged for most of their length, slanting back in line with the face.
• Females are slightly larger in the body than males.
• Unlike other tiny antelope, suni do not have a tuft of long hair on their heads.

Suni Trophy Permits (2015)

Suni Trophy Taxidermy

• As with all the tiny African antelopes, a full mount makes the best taxidermy display, with or without a habitat base.
• Don't forget to tell your taxidermist not to blacken and polish the horns, if you want the horns to look natural.

So What About The Suni Name?

• The name 'suni' is the native African name for this antelope.
• Neotragus moschatus is Greek for 'new goat' with 'moschatus' being Latin for 'musk' pertaining to the preorbital glands which emit a musky secretion and smell.
• Obviously Livingstone's suni was named in honour of the missionary and explorer David Livingstone

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