It depends on where you are. Best rule is when the PH gets excited, it's a a trophy. My PH Johann was noticeable excited when he saw my gemsbok, it went 36" which is very good for a bull in Limpopo but just avg. for the kalahari. We looked at a lot of wildebeest, many looked big to me until we saw my bull alone in the shade of an acacia, Johann got excited then too, he went 29 1/2" wide. It's true, the big ones Look Big. I don't even know what most of my animals measured and my 28 x 30 inch eland is the best trophy to my heart because he was big, old, worn down horns, almost hairless on the shoulder, scarred and had a doormat on his forehead. They figured he was 10 to 12 years old. He'll never "make the book" but I prefer him to a young long sharp horned bull.

I agree that you should leave the tape measure at home. However it is good to have an idea of what an average size animal is. You dont want to set your standards so high as to be dissapointed but at the same time you dont want to shoot something that is too small. It is important to know what a good representative animal is. You dont want to shoot an immature animal just to have one. Knowledge is a good thing. Just dont let the size become the most important thing. Last trip I took 4 or 5 that would end up being in the top 25. At the same time I took a small female warthog and a a really old gemsbuck bull that only went 29 inches. I wouldnt trade that broomed out old bull for anything.

Guys,

What are good representative sizes for Common Blesbok, Blue Wildebeast, Gemsbok and Southern Kudu? When should one get excited with these species?

Leaving tomorrow and just realized I have no concept of what makes a reasonable trophy and what's a good'n.

As always ... Sincere thanks (even thought it's been a task for the bank balance!),

Aw come on Mike, size isn't everything!

These can vary depending where the animal comes from. What may be a trophy head in one area, may not be so in another. You PH will point out the best in his area for each animal you hunt.

Go have a good hunt!

Don't worry about the sizes too much.

Just go for the really old ones. They at least give you a second chnace if you miss, as they cannot run that far

'Representative':

Blesbok - 14"-15"
Blue wildebeest - 25"-27"
Gemsbok - 36"
Kudu - 50"

'Trophy':

Blesbok - 16"-18"
Blue wildebeest - 28"-30"
Gemsbok - 38"-40"
Kudu - 53" and up

The above is my opinion, for animals indigenous to where they are being hunted.

George

Go to the site below and print out the forms for the animals you are after.



SCI measuring forms



Below is a website that lists most of the SCI (and Rowland Ward) minimums.



SCI minimums



Size definitely is not everything. I consider age important. I'm after a good representative of the species and that is what I tell my PH. You can trophy hunt on later safaris but starting off with that attitude will probably reduce the experience and that is BAD.

Guys,

I do understand that size isn't everything!

I read alot about 57" kudu and so on ... don't have any expectations of that sort of thing. Beginner's are easy to please. Just wanted a ball park idea of how big these fellas are.

Am very much looking forward to the adventure ... as Cooper said, "It's a good day when you're hunting." Sound's like it will especially be so in Africa.

Thanks again!

Ditto to what Ann said. Lat August, I wanted an Impala real bad. The PH said that was fine, but the area we were in didn't have a good reputation for size over 20" (which is just okay for Impala). He found me an old male that went 22-1/2" and provided me with a very memorable hard stalk and shot. It may not be a record holder, but I'll always remember that hunt... 10 minutes later on the way back to camp, we spotted an old Common Springbok about 250 yds. off the road. The PH said he was a monster. With a little stealth and a spine shot later, I had a hell of a Springbok. But, that's Africa...