Livingstone’S Suni hunting
View 20 hunts View all hunts20 hunting trips from 7 outfitters starting from $5,530
Where to hunt Livingstone’S Suni
Livingstone's Suni ist the bigger of the two suni subspecies. A coveted member of the “Tiny Ten” group, it inhabits the area south of the Zambezi River in Mozambique, Eastern Zimbabwe and the Zululand region of KwaZulu-Natal Province of South Africa. The best Livingstone's suni hunting area is said to be Coutada 11 within the Marromeu Complex in Mozambique. Other good locations include the Niassa and Zambezi River concessions in Zimbabwe; the remains of the Sand Forest areas in Zululand offer good opportunities as well.
Price distribution
The trophy fees for Livingstone's suni in South Africa can range from $2,000-3,000, and reach over $4,000. In Mozambique, daily rates are higher ($600-$700 as compared to $350-450 in Zululand), and you will be required to book a minimum of a 6-10 day hunt, but with the trophy fee of $995-1,600, the total price of a dedicated suni hunt bottom-lines about the same.
Suni Hunting in Southern and Eastern Africa
Learn more about hunting suni, its life history, and conservation issues from our blog by Peter Ruddle.
24 May 2020 Suni Hunting in Southern and Eastern AfricaWhen to hunt Livingstone’S Suni?
Suni may be hunted year round In South Africa and Zimbabwe. In Mozambique the season is open from April 1 to November 30. Suni inhabit dry riverine bush and Sand Forests, so the best months for hunting Suni are the dry months of June to October when the trees have lost some of their leaves and the foliage is not so dense. The absolutely best time is August and September, when there's an abundance of fallen leaves that suni feed on.
Hunting methods All hunting methods (9)
One of the best methods of hunting Livingstone's suni is still hunting through areas of thick undergrowth, which they prefer. Walking directly through the wood would have you constantly ducking, diving, and even crawling, so it is best if there's a trail you could follow. Walk slowly and quietly, trying to have the wind in your face and the sun at your back, and try to make out a suni among the undergrowths. That can be tricky, as the animals will be in the shadows while you'll probably be exposed to sunlight. Early morning hours are better, as the ground and the dead leaves and branches that cover it may still be a little wet from morning dew, and less noisy to step on. Alternatively, you can take advantage of the suni's habit of using communal dung pits. The males use them regularly, to mark their territory and establish dominance, so waiting in an improvised blind near such a dung heap may bring the tiny buck right to you. Surprisingly, suni are attracted by animal in distress calls, so this method can also be used. Just bear in mind that in Africa there's no saying what animal may want to check this sound out - hyenas, leopards and even lions may pay a visit. Most hunters prefer shotguns for suni hunting, as the scattergun is more forgiving. If you're using a rifle, opt for a heavier bullet less likely to be deflected by twigs and grass, and if your rifle is equipped with a scope, don't forget that at distances of 10-20 yards your bullet will be traveling below the line of sight, and allow for it.
Why hunt Livingstone’S Suni?
This small antelope stands 12-17 inches high at the shoulder and weighs 10-12 pounds (4.5-5kgs). It is a dainty little specialty animal normally only hunted by the true collectors who are probably African hunting veterans by the time they decide to shoot one. They are also much more challenging to harvest than many bigger 'iconic' species. The biggest threat to suni is poaching for bush meat, and as hunting safari operations combat this threat effectively, and the funds received from hunters allow them to do so, trophy hunting actually benefits suni populations.
Interested in this animal? Create a subscription to get offers right to your inbox