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Pictures of your trophy Impala
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Hi Guys

I am on the hunt for a truly massive Impala Ram.

Please post your picture/s of your trophy impala and the pertaining details of the hunt.

Thanks

Aubrey
 
Posts: 605 | Location: South Africa | Registered: 07 February 2008Reply With Quote
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Get yourself the latest African Outfitter magazine there is a huge 15 page article about impala and doubt you will find any better trophy photos between the article. Some very big monsters in there.

Just a word of warning too find a 25"+ impala ram would be more difficult than too shoot those elsuvive bushpig of yours, you are treading on fine ground where you will hunt that impala with a big passion dancing Big Grin clap thumb

I have no trophy photo of it but have a 25" impala ram here at home shot when I was still in school.


Frederik Cocquyt
I always try to use enough gun but then sometimes a brainshot works just as good.
 
Posts: 2551 | Location: Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa | Registered: 06 May 2002Reply With Quote
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Many years ago I shot a real monster impala.

Hunted on foot since just first shooting light and saw this brute first at about noon. No chance of a shot after many approaches. He was just to smart. By close to sundown still no chance for a good shot. Unless ....? Well he eventually stood facing me at a distance from which a sensible person would not take a shot. At that stage all sense of "fair chase" had left me long ago. I just wanted to kill that bugger! Now I was not angry with him, but with myself for being so stupid to pass up a few easy shots at other impala while stalking this big brute.

A sturdy tree with a fork at just the perfect height gave me a good rest. The loaned rifle I used was very accurate and sighted at 200 meters with 180 grain Hornaday factory loads. Range was judged to be such as to 'require aiming just about between the tips of the horns' for a heart shot. I said he was way to far for a normal sane man to attempt a shot. But by now he had beaten me so many times that I was going to kill him, even from such a long distance.

On the shot he jumped almost straight into the air - just like a heart-shot animal often does. He came down out of sight behind a bush - and did not re-appear. In my experience animals that jumps high on taking a heart shot still runs quite a distance before going down. This one dod nor give another step. I found him exactly where he dropped. Stone dead. But where is the bullet hole? Nothing in line with the heart. Careful examination of the whole front of the impala revealed absolutely no bullet hole! Confused

Turned him over onto the other side and saw a bullet cut of about 1 1/2 inch into the skin on the stomach. Yes a cut into - NOT THROUGH, but just into the skin. [Remember a well fed Impala facing you squarely is on his widest at his stomach!]. This was a classic example of a very near miss!

Can a bullet that does not even go through the skin kill a very old and very big male impala? Yes! That 180 grain factory Hornady did it with a very almost miss that day so many years ago. Please do not ask me to explain: I simply do not know. You ask if I'm sure that the cut was made by the bullet, and not maybe some branch when he jumped up? Yes, I'm 100% sure that the cut on the side of his stomach was made by the bullet that I fired!

We had no facilities to weigh him, but he was the biggest impala, by far, that I've ever shot!
He was a big brute of a beast with horns that showed the fact that he was a real fighter.




The horns on the right just qualifies for Roland Ward. The other one is my trophy!
dancing dancing

458Aubs, I hope you do not mean that you are searching for an impla with very big horns? jumping

In good hunting.

Andrew McLaren
 
Posts: 1799 | Location: Soutpan, Free State, South Africa | Registered: 19 January 2004Reply With Quote
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Frederik - ya ya ya.... the pigs have moved off the bait with all of the feed. I've now got the cam on a rotten donkey bait - hoping to see what comes in.

Andrew, well thats a first, i shot a springbuck just behind the ear and it dropped to the shot, when i got to it i rested by rifle against a tree about 20 meters away, when i grabbed the ram by the horns to admire it the dam thing stood up - my cousin who was with my fell to the floor with hysterical laughter, was too useless to help out - i eventually managed to get my knife out and end it all.

ive heard of animals dying from septic shock after being cut by a piece of wire, but a bullet....

Yes i am planning on hunting a big ram, i have been invited to a farm outside of Thabazimbi to hunt on the 13th -16th March, it is a farm that is not used commercially and has not been hunted on before, it does not have a house, electricity, water, etc. the farm is 4000ha and app it is a real mission to get onto it. I will try and get some photo's of the animals that have been hunted there by a good client of mine. 28" impala and 63" kudu??? let see what happens
 
Posts: 605 | Location: South Africa | Registered: 07 February 2008Reply With Quote
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Here's a nice one. Nice photo too, I thought. Taken on Humani by Rick Rice.


 
Posts: 2270 | Location: Zimbabwe | Registered: 28 February 2007Reply With Quote
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This is a buddy of mine impala that he took in RSA in 2003. If I remember correctly it is over 26". The picture kinda of cuts off the top.



Good Hunting,

 
Posts: 3143 | Location: Duluth, GA | Registered: 30 September 2005Reply With Quote
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quote:
Yes i am planning on hunting a big ram, i have been invited to a farm outside of Thabazimbi to hunt on the 13th -16th March, it is a farm that is not used commercially and has not been hunted on before, it does not have a house, electricity, water, etc. the farm is 4000ha and app it is a real mission to get onto it. I will try and get some photo's of the animals that have been hunted there by a good client of mine. 28" impala and 63" kudu??? let see what happens


Best of luck you are in the right area especially if you are hunting around Rooibokraal. Wonder where that name came from ? Big Grin


Frederik Cocquyt
I always try to use enough gun but then sometimes a brainshot works just as good.
 
Posts: 2551 | Location: Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa | Registered: 06 May 2002Reply With Quote
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I "left" at least two that I'm pretty sure would go 26 inches or better at my Bombazi Wilderness cull (not too far from Cape Town) hunt back in Sept. I shot two that were 25 1/2 inches and figured I shouldn't get greedy. When I shot the second one, I passed on one that seemed somewhat bigger but had more crooked horns. It's damn hard to call an impala to the half inch even in hand, much less walking through the brush. We stalked a big one on a mountain side 3 times and he gave us the slip every time. Last day we were just driving around, hoping to cull one more doe and the big guy was standing up there on the mountain side looking at me broadside about 150m. Since I had two already, I let him go. I'm CERTAIN he is 26 inches or very close and he could be 27. Like I said, they are difficult to tell to the nearest inch.


xxxxxxxxxx
When considering US based operations of guides/outfitters, check and see if they are NRA members. If not, why support someone who doesn't support us? Consider spending your money elsewhere.

NEVER, EVER book a hunt with BLAIR WORLDWIDE HUNTING or JEFF BLAIR.

I have come to understand that in hunting, the goal is not the goal but the process.
 
Posts: 17099 | Location: Texas USA | Registered: 07 May 2001Reply With Quote
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We had no facilities to weigh him, but he was the biggest impala, by far, that I've ever shot!

What does a nice impala weigh? I haven't had a chance to take one, but I'm under the impression that they are very similar in body size to American whitetails.
 
Posts: 13266 | Location: Henly, TX, USA | Registered: 04 April 2001Reply With Quote
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They are, and not a big whitetail at that. I'd say a decent ram would weigh 125 to 150 live wt, maybe a bit more.


xxxxxxxxxx
When considering US based operations of guides/outfitters, check and see if they are NRA members. If not, why support someone who doesn't support us? Consider spending your money elsewhere.

NEVER, EVER book a hunt with BLAIR WORLDWIDE HUNTING or JEFF BLAIR.

I have come to understand that in hunting, the goal is not the goal but the process.
 
Posts: 17099 | Location: Texas USA | Registered: 07 May 2001Reply With Quote
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The ram below was taken in Sept 07. My PH said it was the biggest he had seen in the Selous. Never put a tape on him but perhaps I will when Jerry Huffaker finishes the mount next month. You can always tell that you have taken a nice animal when the PH is more excited than you are Wink



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The value of a trophy is computed directly in terms of personal investment in its acquisition. Robert Ruark
 
Posts: 3831 | Location: Cave Creek, AZ | Registered: 09 August 2001Reply With Quote
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quote:
Pictures of your trophy Impala


Well, OK, since you asked.



I've since sold it and replaced it with the trophy El Camino.
 
Posts: 8938 | Location: Dallas TX | Registered: 11 October 2005Reply With Quote
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What does a nice impala weigh? I haven't had a chance to take one, but I'm under the impression that they are very similar in body size to American whitetails.


The biggest impala I have shot weighed 40kg dressed, skin, feet, head and insides out only the clean carcass. Impala dress out about 50% of their weight so he should have been 80kg on the hoof. I've heard and seen of impala going close to 50kg dressed but that would be the exception.


Frederik Cocquyt
I always try to use enough gun but then sometimes a brainshot works just as good.
 
Posts: 2551 | Location: Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa | Registered: 06 May 2002Reply With Quote
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quote:
Originally posted by China Fleet Sailor:
quote:
Pictures of your trophy Impala


Well, OK, since you asked.



I've since sold it and replaced it with the trophy El Camino.


Sir, you are the entertainer and should be winning prizes for your posts.

Dave
 
Posts: 2270 | Location: Zimbabwe | Registered: 28 February 2007Reply With Quote
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Nothing special in the size department (22" maybe, didn't measure), but he's my first trophy from Africa. Shot him in Mahenge South OA in August 2006.



Brett


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Posts: 4551 | Location: Alaska | Registered: 21 February 2008Reply With Quote
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One of my best from the Eastern Cape of RSA. I've taken over 20 Impala just in the last 3 years and this one is an honest 24 incher. Stumbled across him while hunting Lechwe.
Cheers,
LDK


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Posts: 6825 | Location: Tennessee | Registered: 18 December 2006Reply With Quote
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This is a nice HEAVY ram taken last year with Mike Kibble in Northern Namibia. This concession of Mike's has some real MONSTERS. thumb







Verbera!, Iugula!, Iugula!!!

Blair.

 
Posts: 8808 | Location: Sydney, Australia. | Registered: 21 March 2007Reply With Quote
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quote:
Originally posted by David Hulme:
Sir, you are the entertainer and should be winning prizes for your posts.

Dave


I've got no problem with that. I'll be in Harare and available for any ceremonies the night of April 8th and 18th.

By the way, the trophy Impala in the pic measured 402 cubic inches with the overbore.
 
Posts: 8938 | Location: Dallas TX | Registered: 11 October 2005Reply With Quote
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quote:
Originally posted by Gatogordo:
They are, and not a big whitetail at that. I'd say a decent ram would weigh 125 to 150 live wt, maybe a bit more.


archer


Verbera!, Iugula!, Iugula!!!

Blair.

 
Posts: 8808 | Location: Sydney, Australia. | Registered: 21 March 2007Reply With Quote
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quote:
Originally posted by Blair338/378:
quote:
Originally posted by Gatogordo:
They are, and not a big whitetail at that. I'd say a decent ram would weigh 125 to 150 live wt, maybe a bit more.


archer


My Impala weighed considerably more than that. Especially with a full tank of gas.
 
Posts: 8938 | Location: Dallas TX | Registered: 11 October 2005Reply With Quote
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Here's one from the Limpopo taken in 2003. Respectable 24". By far the best I've shot, though all of the ones I shot recently have been for bait.
 
Posts: 1667 | Location: Las Vegas, Nevada | Registered: 12 May 2005Reply With Quote
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Here are a couple of mine, not monsters but fun to hunt none the less.




Good Hunting,

 
Posts: 3143 | Location: Duluth, GA | Registered: 30 September 2005Reply With Quote
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CFS: I love that red Chevy Impala! I drove a brand new white one for quite some time. 1966 Super Sport 396, four barrel carb and all. . . Big Grin
 
Posts: 18583 | Registered: 04 April 2005Reply With Quote
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I shot this one in 2007, it measures 24". We stalked him for about 1/2 hour, most of which was on our knees. He was facing me at 260 metres and as I pulled the trigger he dropped his head and I shot him right through the mouth, grass was poking out the back of his neck.

 
Posts: 475 | Location: Moncton, New Brunswick | Registered: 30 August 2003Reply With Quote
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Definately no monster, but my 1st animal taken on my only safari[so far], last summer in the limpopo.



Mad Dog
 
Posts: 1184 | Location: Indiana | Registered: 17 June 2002Reply With Quote
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He's nice and heavy MD.......I hate those spindly rams thumb


Verbera!, Iugula!, Iugula!!!

Blair.

 
Posts: 8808 | Location: Sydney, Australia. | Registered: 21 March 2007Reply With Quote
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An old Gentleman, taken with Ken Randall's (Harry Selby's cousin) SAKO .375 H&H in North Limpopo with my friend Kallie Visagie





 
Posts: 1134 | Location: Sweden | Registered: 28 December 2003Reply With Quote
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I've shot a handfull or two of impala in South Africa and Zimbabwe. This one and a few other brutes all came from the Limpopo Valley. I arrowed a larger ram than this guy a few years later on a different property.



This was one of the longest shots I have ever taken on a hunt and I dropped him on the spot. I was looking for bushbuck when a large herd of impala showed up with several big rams.





~Ann





 
Posts: 19672 | Location: The LOST Nation | Registered: 27 March 2001Reply With Quote
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Here is a 25" Ram taken by my hunting buddy.



This is a 27" Ram taken by one of my customers. Both taken with Limcroma Safaris.



Safari Taxidermy by:John Baker
www.safaritaxidermy.com
 
Posts: 278 | Location: Corpus Christi, Texas , USA | Registered: 30 November 2006Reply With Quote
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Wow! What a great collection of impala trophies!

Here's my biggest. Greenscored at 25 1/2. EC 2006.



Anders

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Posts: 1959 | Location: Norway | Registered: 19 September 2002Reply With Quote
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My sons impala shot last year Eastern Cape S.A.



My wifes impala also shot last year Eastern Cape. This one is a little over 24.5"


They were sure fun to hunt.
 
Posts: 162 | Location: Houston, Texas | Registered: 27 December 2005Reply With Quote
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quote:
Originally posted by J P Baker:
Here is a 25" Ram taken by my hunting buddy.



This is a 27" Ram taken by one of my customers. Both taken with Limcroma Safaris.



THAT 27 incher is a fantastic ram!!! What a great shape..............


Verbera!, Iugula!, Iugula!!!

Blair.

 
Posts: 8808 | Location: Sydney, Australia. | Registered: 21 March 2007Reply With Quote
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Here's ouma with her's from 2001.

a bit over 25 inches.


An old man sleeps with his conscience, a young man sleeps with his dreams.
 
Posts: 777 | Location: United States | Registered: 06 March 2006Reply With Quote
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Here's one my son shot last September:

 
Posts: 1445 | Location: Bronwood, GA | Registered: 10 June 2003Reply With Quote
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[QUOTE]Originally posted by Spring:
Here's one my son shot last September:



How do you get the meat back to the US?
 
Posts: 62 | Location: Temple Terrace, Florida, USA | Registered: 23 January 2009Reply With Quote
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quote:
Originally posted by meptampa:

How do you get the meat back to the US?


As I mentioned in the other thread, you do not.

US regulations would make it vey hard to bring meat in the country this way (if not impossible). It is eaten in camp, used as bait, or sold or distributed locally.
 
Posts: 8773 | Location: Republic of Texas | Registered: 24 April 2004Reply With Quote
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Another really fine set of Impalas.

How long are the ears on one? How would you judge horn length?

Thank you.
 
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