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Table of Contents
- What Does Plains Game Hunting Mean?
- African Plains Animals
- Conservation & Plains Game Hunting
- Our Philosophy Towards Trophy Hunting
- 10 Best Trophies to Hunt on a Budget
What does Plains Game Hunting Mean?
Plains Game refers to antelope in sub-sarahan Africa. The term has context because of a significant amount of antelope inhabits the plains and savanna areas of Africa. Even though many ‘African plains game animals live in dense brush such as the nyala and bushbuck.
The all-encompassing plains game terminology includes African plains animals with bovine characteristics such as wildebeest. It excludes the ‘Big Five’ animals, includes buffalo, lion, leopard, elephant, and rhino.
African Plains Animals
30 different Plains Game Hunting species available in the Bedford region
Our core African plains game animal hunting list includes the following species:
- Kudu
- Gemsbok
- Wildebeest
- Eland
- Blesbok
- Steenbok
- Mountain Reedbuck
- Impala
- Springbok
- Zebra
- Nyala
- Waterbuck
- Cape Buffalo
- Hartebeest
- Sable
- Lechwe
- Roan
- Bushbuck
- Giraffe
- Duiker
- Common Reedbuck
African Plains Game Hunting
By clicking the Read More button, you will find detailed information on each African plains animal and hunting tactics used for plains game hunting.
Cape Buffalo Plains Game Hunting
Cape Buffalo is one of the most sort after African trophies. A 375-caliber rifle is the minimum legal rifle requirement for hunting a Cape buffalo. African Buffalo kill more hunters than any other species on an hunting safari.
Kudu Plains Game Hunting
A truly magnificent trophy for any safari. Kudu is always one of the first on any African hunter’s trophy list. They have fantastic eyesight, and the apt nickname “gray ghost” is for a good reason. Kudu can simply vanish into thin air at any time.
Nyala Plains Game Hunting
A very sort after and cherished trophy and one of the most beautiful African antelope. A nyala bull stepping out from the thick bush and giving you a shot will not be forgotten. This is a must ‘have’ trophy on any African hunting safari.
Waterbuck Plains Game Hunt
A waterbuck bull is a must for any aspiring African hunter. Its sheer size, large and impressive horns sweeping back and hooking forward makes it a very desirable trophy. Hunting a free-range waterbuck can be challenging.
Blesbok Plains Game Hunt
Seen by many as the perfect trophy for a hunter’s first plains game hunt. Blesbok is a true plains game. They can be wary and difficult to approach. Longer shots may be required for blesbok plains game hunting in South Africa.
Impala Plains Game Hunt
Another trophy most hunters want to take on their African first hunt. The smooth skin and two-tone color make a striking trophy. Impala is also included in most plains game hunting packages. Impala can jump 10 feet.
Eland Plains Game Hunt
The largest of the spiral-horned family in Africa. The larger mature males often weigh up to one ton and can be challenging to bring down. Another inspiring trophy. Eland makes for a fantastic big game hunting.
Warthog Plains Game Hunt
Warthogs are great trophies for hunting, always with a very exciting stalk. They are now one of the most widely spread game animals across the Eastern Cape. Any plains game safari hunt should include a trophy warthog.
Springbok Plains Game Hunt
The name of this antelope comes from the Afrikaans word “spring,” which means to jump. This antelope is a magnificent plains game antelope. Springbok is shot in the open plains, and stalks can be very tricky.
Gemsbok Plains Game Hunt
Gemsbok males and females make for great trophies. Extremely aggressive and dangerous when threatened, both sexes carry long spear-like horns. Never shoot above the Gemsbok’s horizontal midline.
Zebra Plains Game Hunt
Hunting zebra can prove very difficult in certain areas as judging stallions from mares can be very tough. Zebra are very resilient and likely will require a follow-up shot. Zebra makes for beautiful flat skin.
Reedbuck Plains Game Hunt
Mountain Reedbuck will usually be found lying in the grass or under a tree. The male will likely be lying a little way off from the females. This is a great hunt and a worthwhile adventure for any hunter.
Red Lechwe Plains Game Hunt
Red Lechwe is a wonderful trophy with sweeping horns and does not occur in abundance in South Africa. The Bedford area is fortunate to have several free-ranging lechwe herds. Horns will tend to wear down with age.
Black Wildebeest Plains Game Hunt
These strange-looking animals occur only in South Africa. The black wildebeest was saved from extinction, with only 17 animals remaining. Black Wildebeest are now widespread and is one very tough animal.
Red Hartebeest Plains Game Hunt
One of the fastest plains game species in Southern Africa. They have an excellent sense of hearing and smell but poor sight. Always be cautious of the ‘humped withers, ‘ which can result in your shot being a little high.
Blue Wildebeest Trophy Hunting
Blue Wildebeest are also called the poor man’s buffalo. Wildebeest have been known to travel a few hundred yards with a heart shot. Caution when hunting Wildebeest. He can be aggressive when wounded.
Giraffe Trophy Hunting
The giraffe is the largest ruminant and the tallest mammal on the planet. The giraffes can reach 18 feet and makes for very interesting big game hunting. Hunting giraffes will mostly be done by spot and stalking.
Copper Springbok Trophy Hunting
Copper Springbok is a color phase and not a separate subspecies and form part of the four springbok color variations. Shooting all four springbok color variations is referred to as the “Springbok slam.”
Black Impala Trophy Hunting
Black impala is a color variant of the common impala. The black impala is not a separate sub-species. The color is all black but with the same two-tone color as the red impala. An impressive trophy addition for the plains game hunter.
Roan Antelope Trophy Hunting
After eland and kudu, the roan is Africa’s largest antelope. Roan is a large, tough, and tenacious animal. Roan, as with sable, is not indigenous to the Eastern Cape but has been introduced. Prices for roan have fallen significantly.
Bushbuck Trophy Hunting
In the Bedford area, bushbuck are hunted in the mountain area or along river beds in thick brush. Bushbuck will live easily in amongst human settlements and will adapt and begin feeding at night time.
Steenbok Trophy Hunting
These beautiful little antelope occur widely on the open plains. Only the males carry very upright horns. A hugely underrated trophy, mainly due to its size or that few people notice them while plains game hunting.
Black Springbok Trophy Hunting
The Black Springbok is a color phase and not a separate subspecies and form part of the four springbok color variations. Shooting all four springbok color variations makes for a great wall mount.
White Blesbok Trophy Hunting
The White Blesbok displays a color mutation of the blesbok and is not a recognized subspecies. Many hunters now opt to shoot both blesboks on a plains game hunt as white blesbok are now common and very affordable.
Common Reedbuck Trophy Hunting
Common Reedbuck forms part of the reedbuck family and is the largest of the family in Africa. The reedbuck is quick and alert out of hiding. He will, however, tend to stop and look back at his pursuer. Take your shot-his mistake.
Fallow Deer Trophy Hunting
Fallow Deer from were introduced by the British into South Africa in the late 1800s. They are now widespread in the Eastern Cape, in particular in the Bedford region. Fallow deer can jump up to 6 feet.
Duiker Trophy Hunting
Duikers are very shy, elusive creatures with a fondness for dense cover and will dive into thickets for protection. These are solitary animals and often shot by chance while glassing for the other larger African trophies.
White Springbok Trophy Hunting
White Springbok is a color phase and not a separate subspecies. They form part of the four springbok color phases. Consider the springbok slam on a plains game hunt. Springbok is affordable.
Sable Trophy Hunting
A large jet black mature sable bull is, without a doubt, the most impressive trophy. Sable is not native to the Eastern Cape but has been introduced. Sable is a must-have trophy for any plains game hunter. Prices have reduced.
Bushpig Trophy Hunting
Bushpig is nocturnal. Bad-tempered and hostile, the bushpig is mostly hunted after dark when he is most active. Be wary of his razor-sharp tusks. He is sometimes shot in broad daylight. A unique and interesting trophy to hunt.
Conservation & Plains Game Hunting
By the 1950s, very few wild animals were found outside parks, which resulted from overhunting, the introduction of domestic animals, and overgrazing. The domestic animals introduced diseases that devastated local wildlife, and many areas became devoid of meaningful wildlife.
The fall of apartheid and related increase in tourism and private ownership of wild animals resulted in the reintroduction of many animal species and a rapid rise in the safari and game ranching industries.
Game ranching in South Africa is now unique in terms of species diversity. South Africa is one of only a few countries where ownership of wildlife is vested with private landowners.
Over the ensuing years, an industry-unique to South Africa has sprung up, occupying 20m ha (20%) of South Africa’s marginal agricultural land.
Today there is almost 20 million head of game on private ranches; in comparison, there is 14 million head of cattle in South Africa. The State, in the form of National and Provincial parks, conserves only 6 million ha, on which are found only about 5 to 6 million game animals.
The tremendous growth and development of the game ranching industry are visible throughout South Africa. Supporting infrastructure development all over the country. Game numbers are always on the increase. As well as the number of hectares dedicated to game ranching.
Our Philosophy Towards Trophy Hunting
We are conservation-oriented, owning vast numbers of established herds of wild game in their natural habitat on large land areas. This was achieved over many years of reintroducing game and conversation. Our hunts are only large free-range conservancies. We limit the amount of hunting parties to ten per year to ensure exclusive and high-quality hunting.
Nick Bowker and his family own a significant portion of the land that you will be hunting on. You will have exclusive access to some of the best free-range hunting areas in South Africa, hunting African plains animals in their habitat, superior quality, and authentic experience, ensuring you the best African Safaris.
10 Best Trophies to Hunt on a Budget
What are the 10 best plains game trophies to hunt on a budget in South Africa?
Kudu, Nyala, Waterbuck, Springbok, Blesbok, Impala, Warthog, Gemsbok, Wildebeest, Sable