Sable antelope

DESCRIPTION

The Sable Antelope stands 120 to 140 centimeters at the shoulder and weigh 200 to 270 kilograms, males being larger than females. Female Sable Antelope are chestnut to dark brown darkening as they mature while males are very distinctively black. Both sexes have a white underbelly, white cheeks and a white chin. They have a shaggy mane on the back of their neck. Sable antelope have ringed horns, which arch backward, in females these can reach a meter, but in males they can reach over one and a tenth meter. The life span of these animals is up to 18 years.

Sable Antelope live in savanna woodlands and grasslands during the dry season where they eat mid-length grass and leaves.  Sable Antelope form herds of ten to thirty females and calves led by a single male, called a bull. Sable Antelope males are very aggressive and will fight among themselves and also fend off attackers; they drop to their knees and use their horns.

In each herd, the juvenile males are exiled from the herd at about 3 years old. All of the female calves remain, however. When the herd gets too large, it divides into smaller groups of cows and their young. These groups will form new herds, once again with only one adult bull. The young males, which

have been separated from the herd, associate in "bachelor groups" of up to 12 individuals. Among the bachelors, the most dominant will be the first individual to join a new group of females when the position is open. When a predator, including lions, threatens sable antelopes they will confront it, using their scimitar-shaped horns. Many of these big cats have died during such fights.

HUNTING TIPS

If wounded, try and put as many shots in as possible as once they start running you can track for days without success. They are aggressive if pushed and care should be exercised when approaching them once wounded

WHERE TO HUNT

The biggest sable used to be hunted out of Zimbabwe and Zambia. South Africa is however breeding and hunting Sable with horns in excess of 45". 40"Sable are becoming commonplace. Grootpan Hunting Safaris hunt in both these destinations with great success.

HUNTING CALIBRE

We recommend any caliber from a 30.06 up, put prefer the 300 and 375 

TROPHY ASSESMENT

The horns of a good bull are very apparent and should have thick visible bases, running straight upwards a considerable distance before starting to curl backwards and downwards again. Some sable have tight curls whilst other do not curl as much but run parallel with their back. Horns that do not curl back to run parallel with the back signal a young bull. In some instances, the horns curl back and downwards so much that they irritate the animal as it keeps jabbing its own rump.

CITES

Although the status of the sable is considered to be safe, they seem to be on the decline in all areas BUT have adapted well to game ranching protection all over their range.

RW minimum - 41 7/8"

SCI minimum score – 100