The black form of the common springbok is the result of a genetic mutation. Many outdoorsmen regard the springbok as the most aesthetically pleasing species of gazelle native to South Africa.
The springbok is the official animal of South Africa. Its name, “jumping buck,” describes the animal’s flight behaviour when it is startled. The springbok’s fame stems from the fact that it is widely regarded as the tastiest of all African gazelles.
The springbok is a herd animal that thrives in semiarid environments like the Kalahari and Karoo Deserts, as well as broad grasslands. They can survive on grass and leaves alone, and they don’t need to drink water to survive (but they will) if there are ponds or other sources of water nearby.
While melanistic offspring do occasionally appear in herds of free-roaming springbok, hunters have a better chance of success by targeting game farms in South Africa and Namibia, where selective breeding is sometimes used to increase the likelihood of the occurrence of rare and desirable colour phases.
Black springbok present a formidable challenge to even the most seasoned hunter of plains game. It is usual for this highly sought-after trophy to be found in the midst of a huge group of common springbok, much like the rare white springbok.
Hunting black springbok can be challenging due of the high density of eyes, ears, and noses that must be avoided before the hunter can come within shooting range.
Black springbok have short horns that are difficult to judge, so unless you have a great deal of experience, you should let your Professional Hunter make the call. The fact that both rams and ewes have horns only adds to the difficulty of this undertaking.
It’s not uncommon for black springbok hunting to require shots of more than 300 yards. The hunter will have to do a lot of walking and maybe even some crawling due to the fact that this buck has excellent eyesight and is reluctant to accept any approach that could be construed as menacing.
Springbok are best hunted using the spot-and-stalk technique, as they are creatures of the open plains.
On their quest for a worthy prize, the hunter and his will PH make their way through the concession in search of a black springbok trophy.
Since both sexes of the springbok have horns, and because females are often larger than males, it can be difficult to determine how big a springbok trophy should be.
It is best to target smaller males with the thicker horn bases. Luckily, a PH’s job description includes taking note of such nuances. Since the springbok is a small animal (often less than 50 pounds), it is best to use a flat-trajectory cartridge and a rifle capable of making long shots.
A flat-shooting rifle of at least 25 calibre and a 120-grain bullet travelling at roughly 2,600 feet per second is optimal for hunting black springbok. The hunter will do well to equip him or herself with either a 6-power or 3-to-9 variable scope, as they will allow for the long shots that are usually necessary.
It can be difficult to predict at which time of day the springbok will be most active. Aside from the months of February through November in Namibia, hunting is possible in many parts of South Africa year-round.
Since the springbok is one of the few species whose rut occurs at no set time of year, this is also irrelevant.
In South Africa, spot-and-stalk is the preferred hunting method for black springbuck. Hunters may have some consternation when faced with the decision of which sex of springbuck to take as a trophy because both sexes sport horns.
But if you book your springbuck safari in Africa with Hunt24, you can rest assured that you will be matched with only the best and most experienced professional hunters in the industry. Our hunting areas are rich in animals, so you have a good shot at bringing home a spectacular black springbuck trophy.
South Africa’s springbuck is a popular quarry for first-time African hunters, and the pursuit of this species is often the stuff of hunting legends.
