Gemsbok Hunting in South Africa

• The straight, rapier-like horns are used in territorial combat and as lethal weapons against predators.

• Moreover, they can kill lions.

• Gemsbok minimizes water loss through sweat by allowing their body temperature to rise to an astonishing 45°C and dissipating the stored heat at night.

• Consequently, overheating is averted by a filigree of blood vessels in the nose, known as the carotid rete, through which all the blood that passes to the brain is circulated and cooled.

• Exoctic hunting for Gemsbok is available in the Texas hill country and other US states.

• A slow metabolism allows these antelopes to survive throughout the year without drinking in the Kalahari desert.

• They get the moisture they need from their food, for example, the desert melons that they dig up in drought times.

• After giving birth, a female hides her calf for 3–6 weeks, remaining nearby and visiting a few times a day to nurse.

• The calf’s pale brown color works as camouflage.

• Gemsbok hunting in Southern Africa’s arid regions was conducted by bow and arrow and was an important food source. Gemsbok is hunted safari style in Africa.

Description of Gemsbok

Widely hunted safari style for its spectacular horns that average 33 inches in length.

They use their horns to defend themselves and their young from predators. The males use their horns to protect their territories from other males.

Unusually gemsbok hunting is one of the few antelope species where female trophies are sometimes more desirable than male ones.

Gemsbok is light brownish-grey to tan in color, with lighter patches toward the rump’s bottom rear. Their tails are long and black.

A blackish stripe extends from the chin down the lower edge of the neck and through the juncture of the shoulder and leg along the lower flank of each side to the rear leg.

The Gemsbok has very muscular necks and shoulders, and their legs have white ‘socks’ with a black patch on the front of both the front legs.

The face is black with white marks, and the tail is long and black.

A rough coat with coarse hair, predominantly khaki.

Gemsbok stands about 47 inches at the shoulder. Male Gemsbok can weigh between 400–530 pounds, while females weigh 220–440 pounds.

Females isolate themselves from the herd before giving birth. After giving birth, a mother gemsbok hides her calf for about 3 to 6 weeks.

Information for Gemsbok hunting

This differs from most antelope species, whose young travel with the herd almost immediately.

The mother remains close to her concealed offspring and visits them daily for her calf to suckle.

New-born are colored in an inconspicuous brown, blending with their environment.

Their black and white face markings won’t appear until it is ready to join the mother’s herd. It will continue suckling until it is 6 to 9 months old.

The social structure of the Gemsbok is different from most other antelope species.

Other antelope in the area, like blesbok, employ a harem system where one dominant breeding male controls a group of females and young. Bachelor males form separate herds or hold a particular area.

On the other hand, gemsbok form mixed herds of both males and females.

Sparring contests that may escalate into fights serve to maintain the hierarchy in the herds.

These fights are likely to start due to competition for resources, such as females in estrus or a water hole.

Our packages include the Gemsbok and other desirable trophies such as sable antelope, nyala, kudu, and black wildebeest.

Your Gemsbok trophy should have an average shoulder height of around 46 inches, weigh about 500 pounds, and have a Horn length of approximately 36 – 38 inches. A record class is Gemsbok is over 40 inches.

The minimum score under Safari Club International for Gemsbok is 81. Add the length of each horn and the circumference of the bases to get your SCI score.

Males and females make spectacular trophies. Both sexes carry long spear-like horns. Gemsbok can be highly aggressive and dangerous when injured or threatened.

Gemsbok has been introduced into the Eastern Cape and is not genuinely free-ranging. We have an outstanding herd available on the Olivefountain hunting ranch.

Standard cattle and sheep fences are a partial impediment to the movement of a gemsbok.

Warthog holes provide the ideal escape plan for the Gemsbok. They flatten their horns and go through the warthog hole.

Gemsbok is common across the Eastern Cape. Hunts are conducted using ambush techniques in the open country and spot and stalk techniques.

Rifle Calibre for Gemsbok Hunting

This open country will demand one of the flat shooting rifle and scope combinations. Gemsbok is alert with excellent eyesight, hearing, and smell; your stalk needs to be carefully planned.

For those hunters who do not wish to go through the red tape of bringing a rifle into South Africa, Nick Bowker Hunting has a Sako carbon light 300 Winchester Magnum fitted with a suppressor.

Mounted on the rifle is a Swarovski DS with a built-in rangefinder. We have hand-loaded Hornady ELD-X 200-grain ammunition. The rifle, including ammunition, is available as part of all hunting packages free of charge.

Trophy Judgement for Gemsbok Hunting

The humped shoulder can result in a high shot. Therefore follow the backline of the front leg to about one-third into the body.

Never shoot above the horizontal midline of this beautiful antelope unless you require a good day’s hike.

Remember that the cow’s horns tend to be long and often out-score the bull when assessing the trophy. Remember that the body size differs remarkably from one Gemsbok to another.

Hunting gemsbok will provide a fabulous trophy, and its meat is one of the most delicious to be found on the African continent.