What would be considered an average horn size for gemsbuck that is shot with archery equipment in South Africa.
I an headed there with intent to arrow one in five weeks.
I really don't know what horn length I should look for. I know the PH will help me decide, but pre advice by some of the experts here will help me.
thanks
Thanks

Probably high 30s would be a real trophy, especially if it's a bull. 40 inches plus would be great, but hard to come by especially with archery equipment.

Got into a conversation last month with an old South African game and cattle rancher, who really is well versed in such things. He estimated that to reach 42 inches in a female is less than 5% of all gemsbok. and much less than that for bulls. For what it's worth, I've taken two (with rifles) that were 37 (bull) and 42 (cow).

Did spot and stalk with a bow, but never connected. Good luck !!

quote:

Originally posted by H T:
Probably high 30s would be a real trophy, especially if it's a bull. 40 inches plus would be great, but hard to come by especially with archery equipment.

!!

+1

df06,

I think 36"-37" on a good property in RSA would be a reasonable expectation for a bull. A female might be notably larger.

Mark

It's your hunt, take what makes you happy.
Consider the quality of the hunt & not so much the inches.
I have later found myself ashamed of myself over putting inches over quality of the hunt. Just my opinion.

I prefer the males horns shorter but mass.

Mike

Thanks for all the comments.

40" is the ultimate quest for a bull, but rarely taken except a few places in Namibia and Botswana

Whatever makes you happy, it is your trophy.
Enjoy the adventure.

However large the one you eventually shoot, under no, NONE, circumstance, should you allow the tenderloins to escape your supper plate, after having been exposed to olive oil, garlic and salt, and been quickly seared over a mopane wood fire.

That boys, is good eating!!!

I think you'll agree, the horns are secondary at that point.

Just completed a 2x1 10 hunt in Namabia for gemsbuck and kudu. Took a 36" and 37" bull and missed out on one estimated to be ~40", which my PH said was rare/exceptional for area. Not hard to take a gemsbuck but hard to take a good one. Also took a 55" kudu on 9th day of the hunt. Lucky me.

Congrats on the fine trophies.

I think my first Gemsbock with a bow was just over 34 inches and I thought he was a stud, when you are 20 feet away they look really big, every time I have been able to do a little better, number 6th with my bow was just under 38 inches,,, I will take another just like him any day I get the chance. Like they say, females are longer generally but less mass. Get one that you like, forget the tape measure.

One of the hunters in our party took an honest 40" male on our recent South African hunt and I took one in Namibia in 2009 but I'd say 36" is a realistic goal.

Totally agree with the exceptional eating quality of the gemsbuck. Consider the best piece of beef steak you have ever eaten and throw it away and have the gemsbuck. Ate it in various ways on 10 day Namibia hunt May/June '13 and every meal was excellent. Beats kudu, croc., zebra - all very easily. No question on that.

quote:

However large the one you eventually shoot, under no, NONE, circumstance, should you allow the tenderloins to escape your supper plate, after having been exposed to olive oil, garlic and salt, and been quickly seared over a mopane wood fire.That boys, is good eating!!!I think you'll agree, the horns are secondary at that point.

I shoot representaive trophy quality animals; ..... but, Yessiree, Mike's words above the Real Thing, you don't wanna miss any Oryx Tenderloin or T-Bones - Yummy.

Perhaps a little jaded but I have a small Trophy room, it's my room and it's where I'm sitting at my desk right now in my glory ..... I wait for the "Short & Stubbies" (PH's always give me quizzical look). I just prefer the old, broomed, thick-based, thrown outa the herd single Bulls - everyone else can chase the 40"+ females.

quote:

Originally posted by wotnxt:
Totally agree with the exceptional eating quality of the gemsbuck. Consider the best piece of beef steak you have ever eaten and throw it away and have the gemsbuck. Ate it in various ways on 10 day Namibia hunt May/June '13 and every meal was excellent. Beats kudu, croc., zebra - all very easily. No question on that.

Our PH had my young 'un almost convinced that it was lion's tail. VERY tender and light in taste -- backstrap grilled whole over open fire on braiser pan then finished off in butterfly pieces.

We were spending a few days on my PH's ranch, the girls had went home at the halfway mark, just shooting the odd cull Gemsbok and looking for kudu, before going to SA, after the elephant/hippo portion in the Caprivi.

By lunchtime, we'd be asking each other : "any more gemsbok for tonight?" Nope, Hmmmm OK, oh, LOOK, there's one that needs culling! Bang flop, tasty bits first out, and marinating until supper time.

Without the ladies, we did not feel that we had to keep specific mealtimes, just hunt until we felt like stopping, very relaxed, and the perfect man meal at the end of the day - going back again men, and having some more of it!

Back to the OP original question though, anytime you get close enough to use the bow, that is a pretty good trophy. 38"+ is exceptionally so.

Gemsbok liver is extremely good !!!

quote:

Originally posted by drwes:
I think my first Gemsbock with a bow was just over 34 inches and I thought he was a stud, when you are 20 feet away they look really big, every time I have been able to do a little better, number 6th with my bow was just under 38 inches,,, I will take another just like him any day I get the chance. Like they say, females are longer generally but less mass. Get one that you like, forget the tape measure.

Spot on.

A 40" animal would be top-ten with a bow. 36" is gold level SCI (approx).

quote:

Originally posted by bwana cecil:
It's your hunt, take what makes you happy.
Consider the quality of the hunt & not so much the inches.
I have later found myself ashamed of myself over putting inches over quality of the hunt. Just my opinion.

It's my opinion too..

I've been fortunate with archery gear and gemsbok. 41.5 cow in RSA and a 40 inch in Botswana. Regardless, have fun and shoot the most mature animal you can. To be honest, I like my curly horned freak gemsbok better than my big ones. To each his own. Have fun!

34-36" for a bull, anything better is starting to get really good

Shot a 40 inch bull with 8 inch bases at kanana safaris in botswana with jason bridger this week

Was crossbow and rifle (to close the deal)

Shot from a bow blind and a average bowhunter could have shot it with a bow. I just started bow shooting and suck at it.

Hunting for cull gemsbok and this one showed up

Also shot a 41.5 inch cow cull hunting

There are some big gemsbok at Kanana

I will try and write a hunt report in next few weeks

quote:

Originally posted by MikeE:
However large the one you eventually shoot, under no, NONE, circumstance, should you allow the tenderloins to escape your supper plate, after having been exposed to olive oil, garlic and salt, and been quickly seared over a mopane wood fire.

That boys, is good eating!!!

I think you'll agree, the horns are secondary at that point.

Nicely said and true, Mike.

Conventional wisdom about bull gemsbok is that if the horn tips reach the top of the shoulder while its grazing, they are 36 inches.

Regards, Tim

PM NPD345. He took a pretty nice one a couple years ago with a bow.