Man likes order in all things. Therefore he tends to group things together in groups. In the hunting language there are so many groups of animals which most hunters will know well enough: The terms Plains Game, (PG) Dangerous Game (DG), Big 5, Tiny or Little 5 and 10 are all well understood, although maybe not accurately defined. Seeing the term ‘the big 5 of plains game’ used for waterbuck + kudu + eland + nyala + gemsbuck made me think about what the animals that occur here in the Free State grassveld could be called.

I suggest that we all have a bit of a discussion to come to some sort of agreement on which animals could be included in the “Far 5”. This group is defined as being those species living in such habitat and with such behavior that 'far' shots at them are the rule rather than the exception.

I have no doubt that springbuck will eventually be one of the members of the elite Far 5 group. Others that may be strong contenders are blesbuck and black wildebeest for the grassveldt species.

But the animals that live on mountain slopes are also often shot at longer ranges: Amongst this group the strong contenders include the mountain reedbuck and vaal or grey rhebuck. But what about Cape eland in the Drakensberg and klipspringer?

Where does the desert gemsbuck fit in? Then those lesser known to us South Africans; gerenuk, Thomsons gazelle and many others?

Let’s leave the jackal, pied and black crows, hyrax, meercat and other varmints out and concentrate on antelope to be included in an artificial and for fun only listing Far 5. As the list is intended for fun only the use of terms like 'desert gemsbuck’, 'Drakensberg eland' and 'Karoo black wildebeest' can be allowed.

Springbuck as a start and sure thing to be included. Then I suggest blesbuck as a very strong contender for inclusion.

Over to you guys!

In good hunting.

Andrew McLaren

Andrew,

Going a bit north to the base of the Horn....While Mt. Nyala can require quite long shots, they can also be taken rather close up since it's in the forest. The animal in Ethiopia that comes to mind as ALWAYS being taken at long range (at leasr these days) is the Abyssinian Greater Kudu.
Rich Elliott

How about my nemesis the Vaal Rhebok. Those pesky critters are always 350 - 400 yards out.

Springbok - all color phases includeing the Kalahare
Vaal Rehbok
MT Reedbuck
Klipspringer
Sitatingu

The above in their native habitat not trasnplanted to a game farm. Thinking of southern Africa not the whole of Africa ie Ethiopia or Tans etc (you know what tha means).

Vaal Rhebok
Klipspringer (observed but not taken)
Mt. Reedbuck
Tseebe
Red Hartebeest

My reasons for these choices I was able to hunt them in their native habitat. None presented a shot less then 200 yards.

I have a nice Gemsbok the skull and horns. Would that be inclued?

The Vaal Rhebok would have my vote!
Other suggestions good as well. I guess all species can offer long shots on occasion, so this might be a difficult task.

My klipspringer and black/white springboks also provided long shots only.

I have no experience with lechwes, but doesn't most of them live in open country were long shots normally are required?

I'd propose Lechewe

I vote for the merino in the top 5

quote:

Originally posted by Nzou:
I vote for the merino in the top 5

I agree that merino should be in the 'top 5' - for good eating!

In good hunting.

Andrew McLaren

I don't have a vote to cast, but I would like to say I really like the idea.

Andrew, you know what I'm going to say...

Springbok
Springbok
Springbok
Springbok
Springbok

C Ya soon,

I thought there is only 2 things in the Free state nl prostitute and rugby players lets call them the super 2

sorry mate i just had to

quote:

Originally posted by 375 fanatic:
I thought there is only 2 things in the Free state nl prostitute and rugby players lets call them the super 2

sorry mate i just had to

I'll show this one to Cecilia just before you are due to arrive here to shoot a springbuck!

In good hunting.

Andrew

quote:

Originally posted by Andrew McLaren:

quote:

Originally posted by 375 fanatic:
I thought there is only 2 things in the Free state nl prostitute and rugby players lets call them the super 2

sorry mate i just had to

I'll show this one to Cecilia just before you are due to arrive here to shoot a springbuck!

In good hunting.

Andrew

I didnt know she played rugby

quote:

Originally posted by 375 fanatic:

quote:

Originally posted by Andrew McLaren:

quote:

Originally posted by 375 fanatic:
I thought there is only 2 things in the Free state nl prostitute and rugby players lets call them the super 2

sorry mate i just had to

I'll show this one to Cecilia just before you are due to arrive here to shoot a springbuck!

In good hunting.

Andrew

I didnt know she played rugby

375, Considering the above comment you better HOPE she plays rugby!!!!

[/QUOTE]

I didnt know she played rugby[/QUOTE]

375, Considering the above comment you better HOPE she plays rugby!!!!
[/QUOTE]

I now understand what was ment by the remarks I heard in passing: "She's a good hooker!"

Andrew

Fly half i would say

Aren't all of the groups made up? Didn't somebody make up the Big 5, which became the Big 6 and the Dangerous 7?

How about the Dangerous 1/7th?

Right now I'm working on my Little 5, but once I get that done, I'm seriously thinking about the Dangerous 1/7th (Hippo).