Common Blesbuck hunting

Common Blesbuck, or Blesbok in Afrikaans, is endemic to South Africa This dark brown antelope, with its characteristic white muzzle that gave it its name (from the Afrikaans for ‘blaze’), can be found in the open grassland, especially in the provinces of Free State, the Karoo and the Northern Cape, but it was also introduced to game farms elsewhere in South Africa and also in Namibia.

Highveld plains and open grasslands is Blesbuck’s preferred habitat, although on game farms they can thrive in other landscapes, including bushveld. They live in family or bachelor groups. The rut, when the oldest and biggest males protect their territory and try to assemble a harem of females, is perhaps the best time for stalking Common Blesbuck. Aside from the breeding activities, it takes a trained eye to spot a true trophy among its large herds. Both rams and ewes carry horns, and while the rams are bigger and their horns are longer, the difference is not as dramatic as in some other species. The hardest part of the hunt is the approach, across an open plain, and with many eyes and ears that can detect danger. Bowhunters may prefer to hunt Common Blesbuck from a blind set over a waterhole, as these grazers need to drink on a daily basis.