Eland - Who Loves Hunting Them?

BTP-KennethWRoyce said:

My South African PH told me that some 10% of his clients' elands are wounded and never found.
Use (slightly more than) "enough gun".
I wouldn't risk it with any .30, even a Magnum. .35 Whelen minimum, IMO.

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I find that number hard to believe, especially in South Africa and on such a high value animal.

Sabre said:

I find that number hard to believe, especially in South Africa and on such a high value animal.

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I also find that number very difficult to believe. Eland are big but they die pretty easily with decent shot. You might find this interesting though, I know of several wounded and lost lord derby eland. The shot can be very difficult because they often don’t stop walking. They get hit in dewlap. Likely non-fatal but blood is drawn.

I’ve never hunted them, but I think they are the best tasting antelope, even better than elk…which until that moment was my favorite meat.

On my last trip we snuck up within 10 yards of a big bull eland munching on some browse. Very cool experience, we could just hear him chewing. Definitely want to eventually hunt for one.

Also, props to the folks who knuckled down and went for the LDE. That is such an amazing trophy.

Sabre said:

I find that number hard to believe, especially in South Africa and on such a high value animal.

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Checking my book Safari Dreams to confirm my recollection of 10% (from a conversation I had with him some 20 years ago), and I realized that my 10% figure was the wounded trophy fee. (It is known up front, in the contract.) However, the percentage of his shot and lost Eland was even higher at one-third! (I consider that an accurate notation from a then-recent chat.)

I don't know the probable causes, but such could be any combination of poor shot placement, ineffective caliber and bullet, or unsuccessful follow ups (which would surprise me, having worked with that diligent crew for two summers). Next time I speak with him, I'll ask for more details.

Not being as tough and vindictive as Buffalo, Eland are pretty docile but easy to shoot poorly from the wrong angle and often with a light PG caliber. I've never taken a PG caliber larger than .30-06, and my PH said that he'd trust my shooting one if the angle/distance were favorable, but that normally he required a larger caliber such as .338 Win Mag. I asked him why, and he mentioned the high loss rate. I passed on a .30-06 shot, but took one the next year with my .45-70 Marlin Scout (very handy and effective in the Limpopo brush).

BTP-KennethWRoyce said:

Checking my book Safari Dreams to confirm my recollection of 10% (from a conversation I had with him some 20 years ago), and I realized that my 10% figure was the wounded trophy fee. (It is known up front, in the contract.) However, the percentage of his shot and lost Eland was even higher at one-third! (I consider that an accurate notation from a then-recent chat.)

I don't know the probable causes, but such could be any combination of poor shot placement, ineffective caliber and bullet, or unsuccessful follow ups (which would surprise me, having worked with that diligent crew for two summers). Next time I speak with him, I'll ask for more details.

Not being as tough and vindictive as Buffalo, Eland are pretty docile but easy to shoot poorly from the wrong angle and often with a light PG caliber. I've never taken a PG caliber larger than .30-06, and my PH said that he'd trust my shooting one if the angle/distance were favorable, but that normally he required a larger caliber such as .338 Win Mag. I asked him why, and he mentioned the high loss rate. I passed on a .30-06 shot, but took one the next year with my .45-70 Marlin Scout (very handy and effective in the Limpopo brush).

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I may be misunderstanding what you are saying. Are you now saying that 33% of all eland shot are wounded and unrecovered in South Africa?

If so, I would be highly skeptical of that figure.

The PH was commenting about his experience on his ranch (about 8,000 ha).

Studying my book further on this, he charged 10% of trophy fee for any missed shot, learning from experience that 1 in 10 will wound (though without sound or blood spoor, seemingly a clear miss). This seems a very logical policy, though I imagine it rankles some clients.

Clearly wounded, and lost, animals: 100% of trophy fee

My all time favorite! I have chased all 4 species and taken multiples of each except Cape Eland. LDE is my favorite!

Hunting Lord Derby is truly a privilege! This bull was old, heavily broomed; a wonderful bull I was fortunate to take.

And a big Zambian Livingstone bull.

Nyati said:

Took me 4 safaris until I found what I was looking for...



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that is a gnarly old bull-great animal. !

kdenn said:

I wanted an eland each trip to Africa, finally had success on the third. Incredible experience. Seeing them run and jump is something.

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375Fox said:

They are top trophy in Africa to me. I’d choose a proper eland hunt over a buffalo hunt any day. Far superior trophy to a kudu to me too. These are from Namibia, Zimbabwe, Cameroon, and Uganda. I’ve taken one more in South Africa not attached.
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The horns are like tree trunks on the bull in pic #4 . Well done. I still marvel at how animals of that size are able to move so easily thru bush and thorn.

That is a great selection of fine animals. Do you plan to contnue hunting eland? They are far and away my favorite game meat. what about the trophies? The longer horns of a mature but young-ish male display well as a european skull mount . A shoulder mount better captures the size and rugged glory of the old battlers with thick worn down horn. not many have your depth of experience with eland-what is your preference?

Top Photo:

My second Cape eland taken in 2025.
I spotted him bedded down in shade. Within minutes he was down. I used my CZ 458WM with 500 grain Hornady DGX bullet at roughly 80 yards.

What made this interesting hunt was this eland had been badly goarded days earlier by another eland fighting during the rut.

Lower Photo:

My first cape eland taken in 2021. This guy was one of three we had observed in a herd of 20+, actually 3 herds that hang close together. On the third day this herd broke left coming down the mountain. At roughly (IIRC) 100 - 120 yds he walked into an opening for me to make the shot using my Remington 798, 375H&H, with a 300 grain Hornady SP, DGX(?).

Bill Thom said:

The horns are like tree trunks on the bull in pic #4 . Well done. I still marvel at how animals of that size are able to move so easily thru bush and thorn.

That is a great selection of fine animals. Do you plan to contnue hunting eland? They are far and away my favorite game meat. what about the trophies? The longer horns of a mature but young-ish male display well as a european skull mount . A shoulder mount better captures the size and rugged glory of the old battlers with thick worn down horn. not many have your depth of experience with eland-what is your preference?

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Hopefully I’ll have another 30 or 40 years of hunting Africa. I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of hunting them. They wear their horns down differently in different areas. A big fully mature bull with a huge neck is what I’m looking for. The horns are irrelevant to me as a trophy. My biggest requirement is they be free range. Some animals are the same behind a fence on a game farm, but there is a major difference between a wild free range eland and a game farm eland to me. I included a Livingston bull from Zimbabwe in my photos. It wasn’t an old bull, but it was one of my favorite hunts. The area is fringe area for eland. They like the Mozambique side better, but we had 4 eland in the concession. We tried tracking several days but each time something went wrong. On day we got him, we actually lost the track, then the two bulls started sparring in front of us in thick brush. We got really lucky 1. To find them 2. To get a shot. I generally expect I’ll kill a buffalo when I go buffalo hunting. I find there are a lot more variables and some luck needed for an eland. That makes it a much more satisfying hunt than buffalo to me.

Good looking bull.

Do the boss bulls work the fringes of the herds keeping the younger and challengers in check, or do they just meld in with the ladies and calves?

I never appreciated them until a couple months ago. Now, I find eland constantly occupying my thoughts.

So many antelope, so many questions, so little time.

Bill Thom said:

that is a gnarly old bull-great animal. !


The horns are like tree trunks on the bull in pic #4 . Well done. I still marvel at how animals of that size are able to move so easily thru bush and thorn.

That is a great selection of fine animals. Do you plan to contnue hunting eland? They are far and away my favorite game meat. what about the trophies? The longer horns of a mature but young-ish male display well as a european skull mount . A shoulder mount better captures the size and rugged glory of the old battlers with thick worn down horn. not many have your depth of experience with eland-what is your preference?

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To me, this will be the one and only, which is why I didn´t shoot until I had the right animal.

I just don´t have the space to display another Eland

Betterinthebush said:

Do the boss bulls work the fringes of the herds keeping the younger and challengers in check, or do they just meld in with the ladies and calves?

I never appreciated them until a couple months ago. Now, I find eland constantly occupying my thoughts.

So many antelope, so many questions, so little time.

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Seems like every area has a very different rut time. I’m told June Namibia. October Zimbabwe and Mozambique. Late January early February Cameroon. My lord derby was from a big herd of cows and some trailing bulls during the rut. I’m told during the rut you’ll find eland with the herds like that. My other eland have been lone bulls, small groups, a big bull herd in Uganda (saw herds up to 40 bulls).

375Fox said:

Seems like every area has a very different rut time. I’m told June Namibia. October Zimbabwe and Mozambique. Late January early February Cameroon. My lord derby was from a big herd of cows and some trailing bulls during the rut. I’m told during the rut you’ll find eland with the herds like that. My other eland have been lone bulls, small groups, a big bull herd in Uganda (saw herds up to 40 bulls).

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So (for example)in Moz, month of June, the good big bulls are batching up with younger bulls?

Follow up question for everyone. Excluding the LDE (the pinnacle of ((eland)) antelope hunting achievements), which eland subspecies has proved for you all to be the most challenging to hunt?

@ftrovato do please forgive me. I’m not trying to hijack your thread.

Betterinthebush said:

So (for example)in Moz, month of June, the good big bulls are batching up with younger bulls?

Follow up question for everyone. Excluding the LDE (the pinnacle of ((eland)) antelope hunting achievements), which eland subspecies has proved for you all to be the most challenging to hunt?

@ftrovato do please forgive me. I’m not trying to hijack your thread.

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Hijack away! This is all fun stuff.

The two times I hunted Mozambique in late August to mid September the bulls were still in bachelor groups and starting to go in a check the herds.

A friend was just in Moz taking a great bull last week and they were still not sure if they wanted to be with the herds all of the time.

Best,
Frank

Betterinthebush said:

So (for example)in Moz, month of June, the good big bulls are batching up with younger bulls?

Follow up question for everyone. Excluding the LDE (the pinnacle of ((eland)) antelope hunting achievements), which eland subspecies has proved for you all to be the most challenging to hunt?

@ftrovato do please forgive me. I’m not trying to hijack your thread.

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I’m not sure their characteristics in each area.

For the 3 common eland species. I’m most impressed with a big Livingston eland. I’ve taken two. The hunting for a cape and Livingston eland is identical when they are in area, but Livingston eland are much more transient. They might not be in a concession all year then appear. I’m not sure if that’s a characteristic of Livingston or reflective of low population densities where they are found though. Cape eland are much more predictable and more numerous. They still cover a huge area, but you’ll find them. East African eland are a different temperament to me. I’ve hunted them in Uganda and seen in Massailand Tanzania, but it’s not the same degree of challenging to me.

2019 with a 300 grain A-Frame from a CZ550 375H&H on the point of the shoulder. Had a beautiful blue color and thick rug.