Judging Gemsbok / Oryx

Judging Gemsbok / Oryx

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Excerpt from a post in the AfricaHunting.com Forum, to read the full thread click here.

When discussing Gemsbok / Oryx horn measurement here, I refer to horn length for a Gemsbok / Oryx in it's simplest form which is taking the measurement of the longest horn from the base along the front of the horn to the tip only. This, of course, is a basic method but for a primer on How To Measure Your Trophies you can read AfricaHunting article by clicking here.

Any horn over 40 inches (101.6 cm - one meter) in length for a Gemsbok / Oryx bull is exceptional. In terms of trophy size, when it comes to mature Gemsbok / Oryx bulls, I would say that horns above 35.5 inches (90cm) make for an amazing trophy, horns above 31.5 inches (80cm) make for a great trophy, horns above 27.6 inches (70cm) make for a good trophy and horns below 27.6 inches (70cm) make for a beautiful trophy and great memories!

The longer the horns of the bull and the more spread apart the ridges are the more the Gemsbok / Oryx is in it's prime size wise. The more the ridges are the close together and the shorter the horns are the older the Gemsbok / Oryx is. Really old Gemsbok / Oryx will have the ridges gather up so much that they fuse together in one solid mass. Gemsbok / Oryx horns on the way down will often gain mass at the top and usually one horn is shorter than the other.

I included a few Gemsbok trophy photos all of which came from Ozondjahe Hunting Safaris in Namibia. Length measurement only taken from the longest horn.


01. Gemsbuk / Oryx Male 39.5 inches exceptional trophy


02. Gemsbuk / Oryx Male 36.5 inches a truly beautiful trophy though has not reached his prime yet


03. Gemsbuk / Oryx Male 36 inches a perfect mature bull with thickness through the length of the horns and has been loosing horn length, the perfect if you want it all, an old, thick, long horned bull


04. Gemsbuk / Oryx Male 30 inches a great old bull, a trophy any hunter should admire and respect

Females Gemsbok / Oryx will usually have thinner horns all the way from the base to the top. Female horns have a tendency to get a bit wavy towards the top. They are hunted very seldomly and usually only if their horns are exceptionally long.


05. Gemsbuk / Oryx Female over 41 inches

Every Professional Hunters will have his own method of preference when it comes to gaging Gemsbok / Oryx horn length... Here are a few.

Face length about 15 inches (38.1 cm), then estimate horn length based upon the face as a reference.

Ear length in relaxed position about 6 to 7 inches (15.24 to 17.78 cm), then estimate horn length based upon the ear as a reference.


06. Horn size estimate according to 15 inch face 30 inches

While grazing, horns extending above the back line with the head down.


07. Horn size estimate according to 15 inch face 37 inches (if the horns were just reaching the top of the shoulder it would make 30 inches)

While drinking at a waterhole on firm soil, horns level with the back line with the head down. If the front hoofs are in the water or sunk in the mud, this can completely throw off this method.


08. Horn size estimate according to 15 inch face 27.5 inches (closer Gemsbok) and 35 inches (further Gemsbok)

While head is back, horns reaches the base of the tail.


09. Horn size estimate according to 15 inch face 35 inches

Using Rowland Ward Methods Of Measurement for species with unbranched and uncurled horns (Method 7) does require taking the spread measurement from horn to horn into account. However, using Safari Club International Methods Of Measurement for most animals with simple horns (Method 1) does NOT require taking the spread measurement into account.

Note that trophy size can differ from region to region and what may easily be found in one area may be unexpectedly large in another. As with most animals there is always localities where the bigger trophies tend to be found.