Sable Antelope Trophy hunting is readily available in South Africa, with both sexes having long, sweeping scimitar-like horns. A large antelope with mature males being predominantly black with a white underside. There are no seasonal restrictions on the Sable Antelope in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. Nick Bowker Hunting offers Sable Antelope African hunting safaris year-round.
The sable bull horns are exceptional and the longest of any African antelope, except the kudu. A pitch-black mature sable bull is one of the finest trophies Africa has to offer. No hunter should leave without one. Hunters to South Africa will have no problem finding one.
Table of Contents
- Sable Hunting Cost
- Interesting Facts about Sable
- Difference between Male and Female
- About the Sable
- Sable Hunting in South Africa
- Trophy Judgement and Rifle Calibre
Sable Hunting Cost
The average cost of a Sable Antelope is $4000. African hunting packages often include a Sable Antelope Trophy.
All-Inclusive $7500 Plains Game Package for seven trophies and eight days hunting. (Inclusive of a Sable Antelope)
- Sable
- Nyala safari hunt
- Impala
- Springbok
- Blesbok safari hunt
- Warthog
- Red Hartebeest safari hunt
Included in the Sable Antelope trophy hunting package is a licensed hunting guide. As well as a hunting license and all permits.
Sable Antelope in Pictures
Interesting facts
- Sable congregate in herds of 15 to 20 individuals with a matriarchal social structure.
- The group will have a dominant female who will be the leader.
- The herd has only one bull and jealously guards his harem against intruders. The juvenile males are exiled from the herd at about three years old.
- All the female calves remain. When the herd gets too large, it divides into smaller groups of cows and young.
- These groups will form new herds and again with only one adult bull.
- The young males, separated from the herd, form bachelor groups.
- The most dominant bachelor will be the first to join a new group of females when the position is open.
- Very seldom, during their fights for supremacy, are they able to inflict bodily harm to the contender.
- If threatened by a predator, including lions, they will confront it, using their scimitar-shaped horns. Many of these big cats, for example, lions have died while trying to bring down a sable.
- In Ernest Hemingway’s book, The Green Hills of Africa, he describes the habits of sable antelope, which he used to hunt.
- Sable antelope hunting should be on every hunter’s bucket list. Like gemsbok and wildebeest, sable is a uniquely African trophy.
The difference between a male and female sable antelope
A male sable is jet black with a white underbelly, and the female is dark brown. The local Dutch dialect name for the sable can be translated as “the black antelope with white underpants.” Males have longer and heavier horns.
About the Sable Antelope
Description of the sable antelope
The sable antelope is sexually dimorphic, with the male heavier and about one-fifth taller than the female. The length of the sable is typically between 75 and 100 inches.
Males reach about 46–55 inches at the shoulder, while females are slightly shorter. Males will weigh around 550 pounds and females approximately 490 pounds.
A thick neck and tough skin, and a compact and robust build characterize the sable,
It has an upright mane on its neck and a short “beard” on the throat. The coloration is rich chestnut to black.
Females and young are chestnut to dark brown, while males begin darkening and turn black after three years.
However, in southern populations, in particular, the Eastern Cape females have a brown to black coat.
This results from the vegetation they eat, which causes skin pigmentation to be much darker.
The common sable or African sable should be differentiated from the rare giant sable, which is endemic to Angola.
Information for sable antelope hunting
Calves less than two months old are a light tan and show faint markings. The underparts, cheek, and chin of the sable are all white, contrasting with the dark back and flanks.
The sable has long, white hairs below the eyes and a wide, black stripe running over the nose.
Both sexes have ringed horns that arch backward. In females, these can reach 24–34 inches, while they are 32–48 inches long in males.
The average lifespan of the sable antelope is about 17 years in the wild and longer in captivity.
They live in savanna, woodlands, and grasslands during the dry season, eating mid-length grasses and leaves.
Sable antelope hunting will involve a careful stalk through the savanna and woodlands.
Sable antelope visits salt licks and chew bones to collect minerals.
They are diurnal but are less active during the heat of the day.
We offer a dedicated sable antelope hunting package which includes a nyala.
Sable Antelope Hunting in South Africa
Your sable antelope trophy should have an average shoulder height of around 50 inches, weigh about 550 pounds, and have a Horn Length of approximately 38- 42 inches.
The Safari Club International minimum score for a sable antelope is 96. This is measured by adding the length of each horn as well as the circumference of the bases.
Nick Bowker has a sable herd. Sable is not indigenous to the Eastern Cape but has been introduced.
They are now widely spread across the Eastern Cape, and prices are much more reasonable.
Sable antelope trophy hunting should be on every hunter’s wish list.
A sizeable magnificent antelope with shoulders higher than hindquarters.
Facial markings and underparts are white, with both sexes having long sweeping scimitar-like horns.
The horns of the sable bull are exceptional and the longest of any African antelope, except for the kudu.
Dependent on water, they prefer open and sparse woodland areas close to grasslands.
Like the roan, sable bulls can be very territorial, and the herd bull will engage with the challenger in a ferocious battle.
Hunters should also be mindful of the sable. He can be very aggressive when wounded or cornered and will not hesitate to charge.
When sable antelope hunting, look for the bull somewhere on the sideline and not amongst the cows.
Trophy Judgement and Rifle Caliber
Shot placement must be in the bottom third of the animal, directly above the front shoulder, where the front leg joins the body. This will ensure a heart or lung shot. Avoid head and neck shots which are high-risk.
The side-on presentation calls for the high heart/lung shot straight up the foreleg, about one-third into the body. We recommend the 300 magnums for sable hunting.
For those hunters who do not wish to go through the red tape of bringing a rifle into South Africa, Nick Bowker has a Sako carbon light 300 Winchester Magnum fitted with a suppressor.
The rifle is mounted with 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.
A jet-black Sable antelope trophy bull is undoubtedly one of the most impressive African trophies.
The skin color indicates trophy quality; always ensure the bull is of jet black color and not a tanned chocolate color, thus showing immaturity.
The horns must be solid black with dominant ridges following the length of the horn.
Look for the climb from the base, the hook backward, and lastly, the length of the tips when game hunting sable.
Sable is hunted safari style employing spot and stalk. All in all, sable antelope hunting is every hunter’s dream. Shoot straight!
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to hunt a Sable Antelope?
The trophy fee as a standalone Sable Antelope hunt is between $3000 to $5000. Daily rates vary from $250 to $500 a day.
Included in the Sable Antelope trophy fee is a licensed guide. As well as a hunting license and all permits.
How to hunt a Sable Antelope?
Sable Antelope hunting is in the early mornings and late evenings and spotted from an elevated vantage point in the thick brush and then stalked. Alternatively, hunters use ambush techniques at watering holes or as they move back to cover from feeding.
Where do you shoot a Sable Antelope?
Shot placement must be in the bottom third of the animal directly above the front shoulder. This will ensure a heart or lung shot. Avoid head and neck shots which are high-risk.
What is a trophy Sable Antelope?
Sable Antelope trophies have a Horn Length of approximately 38 – 42 inches. The minimum qualification score under Safari Club International for a Sable Antelope is 96. Add the length of each horn and the circumference of the bases to get your SCI score.
How do you judge a Sable Antelope trophy?
As with all African animals, a thick heavy, darkened neck is the first sign of maturity and often the most visible maturity characteristic when observing at a distance.
The skin color indicates trophy quality; always ensure the bull is of jet black color and not a tanned chocolate color, thus showing immaturity.
Look for the climb from the base, the hook backward, and lastly, the length of the tips.
Seasonal Restrictions
When can you hunt Sable Antelope in South Africa?
There are no seasonal restrictions on Sable Antelope hunting in the Eastern Cape of South Africa.
References:
Animal Diversity – Antelope
Seaworld – Sable Antelope
Animalia – Sable Antelope
Encyclopedia of Life – Sable Antelope articles