What Size Animals Should One Target On A Hunt In South Africa

[LivingTheDream]

I am more about the look then necessarily about the size of the horn. Some of these genetically mutated animals that people are making that score well don't even look like the species anymore.

My bushbuck wasn't book but with a broken horn and aged at 9 years what a trophy. I often think about how many hunters and leopards that thing avoided and in the end I was lucky enough to not mess up the shot. What more could you ask for. Anyone who passes on animal like that because they are worried if it would make book is crazy.

 

[BRICKBURN]

I would love to see a picture of that bontebok if it beats the record. I don't think I have seen one over 14" but I have not seen a bunch of them either. That one must be a monster for sure.

15 5/8
They have taken bigger.

Then some Blesbok over 18 working on becoming 20.

 

[billc]

This thread was not started other then to tell people some info on what I feel like is a good starting point. It was started to help people who come to AH for info and this subject has not been talked about that much.

I did not base my sizes by any book or anyone outfitter but a good general overall size from what I have found.

Also sizes are not by one of the order by sizes place that are out there. You hunt hard pick the right place and have some good luck you never know what you can get.

The one factor talked about and it is a good point is just the look of the animal. It has made me take more then one animal myself and I was very happy I did. Just the stalk your on at the time can make some change what you may take when the time comes.

I have measured some of my animals but never plan on entering anything. Did it more to just know what size they were to help with my judging on the next trip.

I do realize some guys hunt for just the time out it gives them others for a certain size or kind of animal they have always wanted. I myself am not here to judge either as both is ok with me. I know this post with more comments will help new hunters going into there for safari.

For the record if I take a 28" nyala I will be super happy and as proud as if it was 30". But if I manage to ever take a 30" I just maybe a little happier but the hunt will decide that also.

 

[billc]

View attachment 151843

15 5/8
They have taken bigger.

Then some Blesbok over 18 working on becoming 20.
View attachment 151844

That is a very nice ram taken. The blesboks keep getting bigger but dam they still look like a goat to me. LOL

 

[Royal27]

This thread was not started other then to tell people some info on what I feel like is a good starting point. It was started to help people who come to AH for info and this subject has not been talked about that much.

I agree with bill on this. Whether a 53 inch Kudu is average in Limpopo or if a 28 inch Nyala is just really good can be argued all day long. And should be, that is part of the fun.

Point that I take away from this thread though is what is good, really good, and great? Sometimes that gets lost in "record book" talk. Although SCI is easier to make than RW it doesn't mean that many hunters won't be thrilled with a good representative trophy, myself included for many animals. Maybe this thread helps new guys to understand that.

And also to understand that their are differences, major ones, between SCI and RW, which are different still than what we are used to in BC here in the states.

 

[billc]

My goal was no talk about record book or even scoring at all. Also not to judge any ones trophy they may have taken already or what there goal maybe for anyone animal.

This is to just show what size a good animal would be for guys going or looking for help to understand were to kind of start on each animal. Hell some guys will just shoot what the Ph tells them because there friends or they trust them that much and never even measure the animal anyway. But the trust comes over time and this will help guys know what they are getting into as they talk to the place they may want to hunt with. To me starting the search is the first part but going in with some basic knowledge will only help a guy looking to plan his dream hunt.

 

[Art Lambart II]

Bill, thanks for the the info, this will really help me with my expectation on my safari this August. An advice on Zebra?

 

[cpr0312]

Art, my very limited experience advice on zebra is to determine what you want to do with it. I mean if you want a rug or want to use the tanned skin for ottomans, rifle bags, etc. then go for a mare, they usually have the nicer hides.

 

[Art Lambart II]

Art, my very limited experience advice on zebra is to determine what you want to do with it. I mean if you want a rug or want to use the tanned skin for ottomans, rifle bags, etc. then go for a mare, they usually have the nicer hides.

My wife wants a Zebra skin rug, thanks for the advice.

 

[billc]

Bill, thanks for the the info, this will really help me with my expectation on my safari this August. An advice on Zebra?

Reedy info is on the money but most Ph's will try to take a stallion. If they can tell a mare is pregnant at the time they will pass on them but that all depends on the time of the year you go. Sometimes as you look at the herd one will jump out at you and you just need to make sure it is one you can take. They are a blast to hunt is all I know.

Good luck on your hunt art I am sure you will have a lot of fun.

 

[BRICKBURN]

That is a very nice ram taken. The blesboks keep getting bigger but dam they still look like a goat to me. LOL

They sure do. Funny coloured goats.

 

[Hank2211]

We can argue about whether Bill's numbers are a bit high, or a bit low, but as he said, a lot will depend on where you are.

I think this is a useful exercise, if only to make sure people have a reasonable expectation when they visit Africa. I've actually seen people who show up with lists and numbers. And long lists too. If you want to hunt top ten anything, it will take time, regardless of where you are. Hunters need to decide up front what's important to them - size animals or quantity of animals. It's rare you will have the time for both. And unrealistic expectations have ruined more than one safari - you need look no further than some of the hunt reports on this site.

On the other hand, you can take my approach. I look for the oldest and most decrepit thing out there, and that's the one I want. One horn, broken horn, doesn't matter.

Doesn't make me better - just shows there's room for all sorts.

 

[Royal27]

An advice on Zebra?

Only shoot a black one with white stripes. The white one with black stripes is much more common, but unscrupulous PHs will have a hunter shoot for the same price when they can....

just a travesty when it happens....

 

[Hank2211]

Only shoot a black one with white stripes. The white one with black stripes is much more common, but unscrupulous PHs will have a hunter shoot for the same price when they can....

just a travesty when it happens....

When I fire began to hunt ostrich, we had a great deal of difficulty. so my PH and I began to say we were hunting zebra. But we were really hunting ostrich.

Ostriches may think they're smart, but this fooled them, and we got one.

I expect this is what Art Lambert II was really asking, Royal. So I say go for the zebra with a beak, two legs, black feathers, a golden rump, and a really stupid expression on its face.

 

[Art Lambart II]

Ok I got it, Black with white stripes, walks on two legs and a dumb expression. Wait a minute that sound like some DC politicians not a zebra.

 

[Royal27]

When I fire began to hunt ostrich, we had a great deal of difficulty. so my PH and I began to say we were hunting zebra. But we were really hunting ostrich.

Ostriches may think they're smart, but this fooled them, and we got one.

I expect this is what Art Lambert II was really asking, Royal. So I say go for the zebra with a beak, two legs, black feathers, a golden rump, and a really stupid expression on its face.

And again, this is what makes this forum so valuable!

 

[billc]

I think royal wants to start scoring zebra so he will come over when you get it home and measure each stripe. Goal is to get over 800 inches of black stripe when adding the length of each stripe together.

 

[Royal27]

I think royal wants to start scoring zebra so he will come over when you get it home and measure each stripe. Goal is to get over 800 inches of black stripe when adding the length of each stripe together.

I've been trying to figure for shadow stripes though. That's the tricky part....

 

[Hank2211]

I've been trying to figure for shadow stripes though. That's the tricky part....

Shadow stripes on "zebra" are actually an optical illusion. They're caused by how the light hits the feathers.

 

[rookhawk]

I think it also comes down to how/where the animal is hunted as some have already mentioned.

The Germans were onto something with their ethics and heritage I feel. They would always go for the most mature, broomed down animal they could find. A "trophy" was an animal past breeding peak and entering late bachelorhood or non-breeding phase. That method honors the future genetics of the herd/species and removes those animals that have already passed on their genetics. In the wild of say the Zambezi Valley big buffalo "Dugga Boys" that would adhere to the Germanic standard of beauty might only be 36"-37" (and a monster 39-5/8" was just shot there), certainly not a good standard by Moz or RSA high fence options that may hit 43"-44" though.

I'd opt for the animal that has the most age and accurately represents the species and let the tape measures stay put. (***and I'm an SCI measurer telling you not to measure!)

If every animal you hunt is an SCI Gold medal winner or that's what it takes to get the animal mounted in your trophy room, you might just be buying animals and not hunting to a full experience. You're missing something and no insult meant, but it is quite easy to make book in RSA if you shop for that intention. What's more impressive, a 51" wild Kudu or a 56" high fence kudu? There's a lot more of the latter than there are of the former. Happy that both exist but I do feel that the person that shoots the 51" deserves a bit more credit as that is a rarer animal.

Stalk and hunt beautiful mature animals and let the chips fall as they may for the scorebook.