Few wild animals command as much respect and fascination as the honey badger (Mellivora capensis). This small, fearless creature, renowned for its unmatched tenacity, is often said to be one of the most dangerous despite its diminutive size.
Key Takeaways
- Honey badgers are said to be one of the most difficult and vicious little African creatures to target when hunting in Africa.
- These resilient creatures are nocturnal, making the hunting process even more challenging.
- Modern technology such as infrared and night vision has revolutionized how we hunt wildlife at night.
- Night hunting in Africa is even more challenging for hunters, with visibility nearly zero.
- Setting the trap for the honey badger is imperative, with dragging of a scent imperative to lead the honey badger to the blind.
- The blind needs to be set up downwind from the baiting area, allowing for the hunter to sit in wait, undiscovered.
- Honey badgers have an incredible sense of smell and if disturbed or smell a human, will leave the prey or bait and hightail it away into the night.
- Honey badgers often use old anthills as a den, with its interleading tunnels allowing for the perfect escape routes for this cunning and dangerous specialty game species.
- Honey badger hunting requires patience, perseverance, and a good dose of admiration for a cunning and aggressive beast that is a worthy hunting adversary.
The Honey Badger
Honey badgers are largely nocturnal, making them difficult to track and observe during daylight hours. As a result, hunting or even studying them requires advanced techniques, tools, and a level of patience that tests the resolve of even the most experienced hunters. The advent of modern technology, particularly infrared and night vision equipment, has revolutionized the way we engage with wildlife at night. Armed with these tools, I embarked on a journey to hunt and observe a honey badger in its natural habitat, venturing into the wild under the cover of darkness from the safety of a blind.
Night hunting in Africa presents a unique set of challenges. Unlike traditional daytime hunts, visibility is reduced to nearly zero, and the forest takes on an entirely different character once the sun dips below the horizon. Every movement and every sound seems amplified in the darkness, and the air feels charged with the unknown. Hunting an animal as cunning and unpredictable as the honey badger only intensifies this experience. Before heading into the wild, I ensured I had the latest tools to give me an advantage on an unforgiving night, with my honey badger hunting adventure about to begin.
Infrared and Night Vision
Infrared and night vision technology have become indispensable in modern nocturnal hunting. Infrared imaging works by detecting the heat signatures of animals and other objects, turning invisible body heat into visible light on a screen. It’s especially useful for locating animals in dense cover where visibility is reduced.
On the other hand, night vision amplifies the available light, including infrared light, to make objects visible in the darkness. With this equipment in hand, I was confident that I would at least be able to see my target, even if the honey badger had no idea I was watching it.
Setting the Scene for the Honey Badger Hunting Safari
A key part of the preparation involved was creating a blood or scent spoor. This involves dragging a partially rotted carcass for about a kilometer around the hide to lead the honey badger straight to the bait.
Another key factor in preparation for the hunt was finding the right location for the blind. Honey badgers are creatures of habit, often following the same paths and routines when hunting for food. We set up a bait in the boneyard (a designated spot on the ranch where carcasses, bones, and guts are dumped) and the blind upwind from this spot. Which made it rather nasty later that night as now and again we got this bad whiff of rotting meat coming straight at the blind.
The blind itself was equipped with specialized camouflage to blend into the surroundings, reducing the chance of detection. Even with night vision and infrared, remaining unseen was critical. Honey badgers, while not typically reliant on their eyesight, possess a keen sense of smell and an almost preternatural awareness of their surroundings. The blind needed to offer not just concealment but also silence.
The Honey Badger Hunt Begins
Night descended over the wilderness like a thick curtain. As the light faded, the sounds of the day—the calls of birds, the buzzing of insects—gradually gave way to the nocturnal symphony. From the safety of the blind, I watched as the transition took place. The first hour was spent acclimating to the darkness and testing the equipment, ensuring that everything was functioning as it should.
The night vision device was a game-changer. Through its dimmed screen, the dark world outside the blind came alive. Every tree, every bush, and every rock stood out in sharp detail. I could see movement in the distance—small animals, likely rodents, scurrying through the bush. Occasionally, the distant call of a hyena or the rustling of a nearby bush reminded us that we were not alone.
Around midnight, the temperature dropped, and that’s when the infrared monocular really started to shine. Unlike night vision, which relies on light, the infrared picked up the heat signatures of animals. The screen displayed glowing patches of warmth where animals were hidden by the brush.
The First Sighting
It was nearly 11 pm when I caught the first glimpse of my target. A small, faint heat signature appeared on the infrared screen, low to the ground and moving quickly. I adjusted the focus, zooming in on the figure. There it was—the unmistakable shape of a honey badger. It moved with purpose, its head low to the ground as it sniffed out prey, claws ready to dig.
Watching through the screen, I marveled at how effortlessly the badger moved through the undergrowth as if the dense brush and rocky terrain were of no concern. The honey badger’s reputation for toughness is well-earned; they are known to take on venomous snakes, fend off lions, and dig into the hardest of termite mounds with ease. What I witnessed at that moment was a predator entirely at ease in its environment.
The infrared allowed me to track its movement with ease, even when it disappeared into a thicker bush. The bright heat signature against the cooler backdrop of the night allowed me to follow the honey badger’s every move. It paused occasionally, digging at the ground with powerful claws.
What struck me most was the sheer audacity of the creature. Even in the dead of night, it moved without hesitation, as if it knew that nothing in the wild posed a real threat to it. Watching the honey badger in its element gave me a new appreciation for the animal. This was not a creature that merely survived—it dominated.
The Challenges of Night Hunting
As the night wore on, the honey badger had a feast on the carcass that we had put out and I followed its movements through the infrared and night vision equipment. But even with the latest technology, hunting at night presented its own unique set of challenges. The darkness, while made more manageable by the equipment, still played tricks on the mind. Sounds seemed to come from every direction, and the isolation of the blind added to the sense of vulnerability.
The wind shifted several times during the night, and I had to remain conscious of my scent. Honey badgers have an incredible sense of smell, and any hint of human presence could send the animal scurrying away. Even though I was safely concealed, the smallest mistake could ruin this honey badger hunting safari.
At one point, the badger moved out of the range of my infrared monocular, disappearing into the bush. For a moment, I thought I had lost it, but the night vision scope picked up its faint outline as it moved through the undergrowth. It was fascinating to observe how the honey badger adapted to the night. It moved quickly and efficiently, its senses guiding it through the dark in search of food.
The technology allowed me to remain patient, confident that I could wait for the right moment. Night hunting in Africa is often a waiting game, and without the aid of infrared and night vision, it would have been nearly impossible to keep track of the badger’s movements.
The Moment of Decision
As midnight approached, the honey badger made its way back toward the path where we had initially set up the bait. This was the moment I had been waiting for. With the badger approaching, I switched between infrared and night vision, keeping a careful eye on its movements.
I had the option to take the shot, but at that moment, I hesitated. The honey badger had survived the night, proving itself as a master of its environment. It was a creature of unmatched resilience and ferocity, and after watching it hunt, I realized that killing it would be an act of dominance rather than necessity. I had come to understand the honey badger in a way that few ever do—from the inside of a blind, using the most advanced technology to observe it as it moved through the world, unconquered by the night.
This hunting safari had given me a new perspective on this remarkable creature. The honey badger had shown me what it means to be truly fearless, to thrive in a world where danger lurks at every corner.
In the end, I decided to take the shot, it was a hit. However, the honey badger still ran off. Honestly, I think my shot may have been a little to the left, but there was a blood spoor we were able to follow. We followed the blood for a while but trying to track in the dark with limited light sources was another challenge. We decided to call it off and resume tracking again in the morning.
At first light we were up and tracking this elusive honey badger, we tracked him back to his den. The honey badger’s den was an old ant hill and we were able to see his tacks and blood going into the den. The anthill den was a myriad of little tunnels and we were very wary of the possibility of the honey badger racing out and attacking us (these creatures are notoriously aggressive).
We ended up digging up the entrance to the den and a large part of the main tunnel. Unfortunately, even though we knew he was there (and had died there) we could not find which tunnel he had gone down and we were unable to recover him.
Hunting a honey badger at night with infrared and night vision technology was an unforgettable experience. The advanced equipment allowed me to see the wild in a way that would have been impossible just a few decades ago, revealing the nocturnal world in all its hidden glory. But more than that, the experience taught me about the nature of the honey badger itself. It is not merely a creature of legend or myth—it is a living testament to the power of survival and adaptation.
The honey badger may be small, but it is a force of nature, and in the dark of the night, it reigns supreme.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there honey badgers in South Africa?
Yes, honey badgers are found within Southern Africa, except in the north-western coastal regions.
Why are honey badgers so feared?
Honey badgers are aggressive, and even its predators, which include animals such as lions, hyenas, cheetahs, and crocodiles, prefer not to mess with it.
Can you shoot a honey badger?
While honey badgers are targeted on hunting safaris and shot, the shot placement needs to be incredibly spot on, as these aggressive creatures have thick, durable coats to protect them.
What is the honey badger’s biggest enemy?
The honey badger is hunted by numerous predators including lions, crocodiles, pythons, hyenas, and cheetahs.
Are honey badgers aggressive?
Yes, the honey badger is one of the most aggressive animals in Africa. Their name might sound sweet and tempting, but they have a vicious temper and are not to be messed with.
Why are honey badgers so fearless?
Honey badgers are known for their bad attitudes and aggressive natures, taking on anyone and anything that is in their path. Their tough coats protect them against predators’ bites, while their sharp teeth and long claws assist them in attacking prey. They also have very few natural predators willing to take on an adult honey badger.
Author: T. van Wyk