Where are some of the best places to hunt roan and sable?

Thank you,

Jim

You can get both in certain GMAs in Zambia's Kafue. The roan aren't the biggest, but the sable are top notch.

quote:

Originally posted by Singleshot03:
Where are some of the best places to hunt roan and sable?

Thank you,

Jim

Roan & Sable and a few other critters.

Roan- saw lots of them in Cameroon.

Western Tanzania and eastern Zambia have lots.

Zimbabwe has a very limited quota.

Sable-
Zimbabwe in the south has lots.

Saw some huge ones (when I didn’t have quota) in Zambia.

Mozambique and southern Tanzania have lots, but generally not that big. (Roosevelt sable).

You can shoot them in South Africa, but be very sure what you are getting in to.

For both at the same time, Zambia is probably best, with Zim and Tanzania also having them.

Zim Matetsi 2 & 3 for both.

Back when Burkina Faso was a hunting destination, I took my Roan there for a $950 trophy fee. My Sable was taken in Zambia.

Unless something has changed, roan has always been considered royal game in Zim. I know Buzz had the first permit that had been issued in Zim for a single roan about fours ago.

Charles Butler gave you a complete rundown. Zambia is probably the best place to take both on the same hunt. However, I did see good quality bulls of both species last year in western Tanzania. I wasn’t hunting roan, but saw a few good bulls. Shot a nice sable.

If you follow Dr. Butler’s advice, you’ll be on the right path. I’m sure Andrew Baldry can chime in with thoughts on this, especially since he’s presently offering a hunt in Sichifulo that includes both.

quote:

Originally posted by DLS:
Charles Butler gave you a complete rundown. Zambia is probably the best place to take both on the same hunt. However, I did see good quality bulls of both species last year in western Tanzania. I wasn’t hunting roan, but saw a few good bulls. Shot a nice sable.

If you follow Dr. Butler’s advice, you’ll be on the right path. I’m sure Andrew Baldry can chime in with thoughts on this, especially since he’s presently offering a hunt in Sichifulo that includes both.

They are sub-species - you have the western and souhtern.

I’ve seen a lot of both in the eastern Caprivi. In fact the outfit I hunt with killed a sable this week that was 47” with 38” between the horn tips. Their quota is low, though.

I have shot only three roan, and all in Tanzania.

No idea how many sable I have shot, both in Tanzania and Zimbabwe.

Only saw roan in Zimbabwe a few times, where they were not on license.

quote:

Originally posted by crbutler:
Roan- saw lots of them in Cameroon.

Western Tanzania and eastern Zambia have lots.

Zimbabwe has a very limited quota.

Sable-
Zimbabwe in the south has lots.

Saw some huge ones (when I didn’t have quota) in Zambia.

Mozambique and southern Tanzania have lots, but generally not that big. (Roosevelt sable).

You can shoot them in South Africa, but be very sure what you are getting in to.

For both at the same time, Zambia is probably best, with Zim and Tanzania also having them.

Good summary.

The Rungwa concessions are an excellent place for both. Make sure and confirm availability with the outfitter prior to booking.

quote:

Originally posted by Biebs:
Back when Burkina Faso was a hunting destination, I took my Roan there for a $950 trophy fee. My Sable was taken in Zambia.

Wow, you paid that much? I think I paid $600 in BF .

Both are beautiful animals but in my experience, and that depends on where you hunt and just luck, there is no comparison in hunting them. I've shot multiple nice sable and passed on numerous. Roan are my nemesis. I've tracked them for hours and never connected. Lost one group at a river crossing. They knew they were being tracked and swam it. Last year, I had a nice bull lined up, but killed a tree.

quote:

Originally posted by MJines:
Unless something has changed, roan has always been considered royal game in Zim. I know Buzz had the first permit that had been issued in Zim for a single roan about fours ago.

Matetsi 2&3 have them on quota. These days you see more roan there than Sable.

lavaca:

What was the trophy fee for that tree and did you need to get a Cites permit for it?

Cheers!

George

All the three roan I have shot were shot just before sun down??!!

Hunted Roan in Zambia back in August. We saw many females and more than enough old bulls. But they seemed to always be a step ahead. I will be back.

You can do both in namibia in caprvi area but very limited on how many are on quota in each area if any in some areas. From the info I got could be a fun tracking hunt for both.

Lane, interesting comment about more roan than sable on Matetsi 3 these days. I hunted unit 3 a bit in 1983 & 1986 and while sable were very common, but we never saw any roan. The only roan we saw were at Kazuma Pan.

Andrew, I remember those guys! Aussies if my memory serves me. Richard and I came across the river to visit on the morning you were taking those pictures. They had quite a successful hunt IIRC.

quote:

Originally posted by DLS:
Lane, interesting comment about more roan than sable on Matetsi 3 these days. I hunted unit 3 a bit in 1983 & 1986 and while sable were very common, but we never saw any roan. The only roan we saw were at Kazuma Pan.

Andrew, I remember those guys! Aussies if my memory serves me. Richard and I came across the river to visit on the morning you were taking those pictures. They had quite a successful hunt IIRC.

Yes and a buff each.

I have taken a beautiful Sable & Roan with Andrew in Zambia.

Singleshot03

The Kakue area in Western Zambia is the best destination for what you want with a couple of concessions being stand out. A mid 40 inch sable and high 20 inch roan should be expected.

Let me know if you'd like further info on this.

Mark

George,

I had that bull totally lined up, I thought and I thought I made a nice shot. At the shot, the bull ran and then slowly, the tree started to lean and eventually fall. We followed his tracks for a mile or so to make sure he wasn't hit. He wasn't. Tanzania doesn't have a trophy fee on trees and since I wasn't importing it, I didn't apply for a CITIES permit.

Pretty embarrassing as I watched that tree slowly sag and fall over.

As I mentioned above, all three roan I have shot were late in the day, where it is very difficult to see, especially with their color.

Last year was the worst.

The sun was getting low when we saw a herd running.

Luckily the wind was non existent.

We went after them.

Alan was looking at them with his binoculars, and all I could see was slight movement through the bush.

Never saw a complete animal at all.

I did keep my eyes on the bull once I saw him.

I was looking with my rifle scope, as I never carry binoculars.

It was getting worse, as the sun was gone.

Alan said the bull was looking at us, but I could not see him from the brush.

He suggested I get down and try to look from lower, against a tree.

I did.

I could see something through a gap.

Alan told me it was the bull, and if I have a shot I should take it.

The part I could see was his chest, looking straight at us, about 200 yards.

I fired and everything started running, including us.

Alan was saying I hit him.

As we got closer, the trackers looked back smiling, signaling that he was down.

Alan said "What a shot!"

I said "no, the poor guys was the unluckiest roan in the whole world!"

Saeed, unlucky pretty much describes any beast in your crosshairs.

I have killed sable in Mozambique and Zambia. But I have never killed a roan, or even hunted one.

If I am lucky, and the roan is not, that will change next year.

I saw Roan in Matetsi 3, but they weren't on quota in 2012.

Roan is one of the reasons I'd like to hunt Lord Derby Eland in Cameroon... Just having it on license is a great extra!

Met a man from South Africa, he almost had a heart attack when he found out I shot 6 sable on one safari!

Mark, thank you for contacting me. I will keep you in mind. Have a great week.

jim

Sable are one of the most stately and beautiful animals; but they are not that difficult, at least in my experience.

Roan, on the other hand seem to always be switched on.

If you want to be a “splitter” there are East African Roan in Tanzania, Sudan Roan in Uganda, Western Roan in Cameroon/west Africa, and southern roan in Zambia and points south.

In any case, they are a worthy addition to any hunter’s trophy room or memories.

quote:

Originally posted by crbutler:
Sable are one of the most stately and beautiful animals; but they are not that difficult, at least in my experience.

Roan, on the other hand seem to always be switched on.

If you want to be a “splitter” there are East African Roan in Tanzania, Sudan Roan in Uganda, Western Roan in Cameroon/west Africa, and southern roan in Zambia and points south.

In any case, they are a worthy addition to any hunter’s trophy room or memories.

You should see my Sable offer on the discounted hunts forum.