Are Sable a Hard Hunt?

[Nyati]

It depends...shot mine high fence in SA.

It was not on my list, but the outfitter told me he had one that was fighting all the other males in the property and he wanted to get rid of him ASAP, with a 50% discount.

Say no more, I´m your man, and we proceeded to hunt him , he was accompanied by a female, and it took us the whole day until we could line up a shot, not an easy hunt !

 

[JG26Irish_2]

I have found Sable to be too easy to approach and thus, would not present a challenging hunt so, I have never chose to shoot one. Kudu on the other hand is free range even in a high fence zone since they can jump about any fence. I found Kudu to be a far more rewarding hunt.

If you can hunt a low fence or no fence area such as parts of Namibia or Botswana, Zambia, etc, you might find Sable to be more interesting. That's my 2 cents.

 

[375Fox]

It depends...shot mine high fence in SA.

It was not on my list, but the outfitter told me he had one that was fighting all the other males in the property and he wanted to get rid of him ASAP, with a 50% discount.

Say no more, I´m your man, and we proceeded to hunt him , he was accompanied by a female, and it took us the whole day until we could line up a shot, not an easy hunt !

It’s a good opportunity but this is part of reason they are a different animal behind fence. In wild that’s animal that passes on genes. In a managed environment that aggressive animal is one landowner would prefer to see gone.

 

[FlyGuy]

Sable aren’t difficult.
Got mine in Zambia on foot with a bow, and even that was rather easy compared to other species.

 

[MarkB]

As most already stated. I think there are almost 2 separate animals. The sable on wild areas, wild born and unfenced areas of Zim were truly a great hunt. Track, stalk or bump into them but they were all truly spooky.

Cannot say same for any of the ones in SA farms, I got a 39" there. We saw many on most ranches, all behind fence and most stood still for a round of pics. Seamed a different animal.

Sable still haunt me, we seen a 44" monster 3 times on a safari in Zim, PH said shoot all 3 times, sable was not on my wish list at time so no shot taken. TF was $2800, dam why did I not shoot. My SA fenced sable was 39" and $3200.

On foot in an unfenced, born on that land area they are a great hunt and carry more trophy pride to me.

MB

 

[Art Lambart II]

What should have been a simple 80 yard shot turned into a 22K stalk. At the end of that 22K stalk I dropped him with a single shot from a 35 Whelen at 210 yards.

 

[RR 314]

There are no problems with sable in their native range. Numbers are very good in Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique, Tanzania. Wild dogs and predators can have a serious effect though.

Yeah, he was not talking about present day with management practices in place. He was referencing when there were true meat hunts that numbers could be decimated in a particular area.

 

[SCHUNTER73]

You all convinced me. I’ve been on the fence about adding on to my list of desirable animals. Damn what a beautiful animal.

 

[Schmidty]

Spot and stalk with a bow was fun.

 

[migrabill]

I personally feel the higher trophy fees for Sable relate to their beauty and hunters desires to have one mounted, and less to do with how difficult a hunt it is. I am fine with hunting Sable (and any other SA plains game for that matter) behind high fences in Limpopo as long as the property is big enough. I have one on quota for 2028. I was told a 50 incher is a possibility.

 

[Justbryan]

You all convinced me. I’ve been on the fence about adding on to my list of desirable animals. Damn what a beautiful animal.

I responded about how easy a hunt the Sable could be, but I have one mounted and would not hunt another. I love the mount!

So, if you are looking for a challenge then go with the Eland. But if you want a beautiful mount go for it.

 

[FB1416]

Sorry, had to work for a while. Hunting in Free State right on border with Eastern Cape. Yes, have seen Sable on both of previous Safaris. This will be my 3rd. Trying to finish all the plain game species and then hopefully move up to Buff and Leopard. Thanks to everyone. I am going to take one and I will report which hunt was better, Sable or Eland. Also looking to take bigger Kudu than I took on first Safari, Bush buck, Black Impala, and Golden Wildebeest.

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

I personally feel the higher trophy fees for Sable relate to their beauty and hunters desires to have one mounted, and less to do with how difficult a hunt it is. I am fine with hunting Sable (and any other SA plains game for that matter) behind high fences in Limpopo as long as the property is big enough. I have one on quota for 2028. I was told a 50 incher is a possibility.

There’s really no such thing as “quota” or “license” in South Africa, especially when hunting a game ranch of anything behind a high fence. The terms quota and license come from wild areas where the government game departments survey/study and tell the operators what game they can take/how many of each.

99% of hunting in South Africa is for privately owned game. Baring a few outfitters or operations if you told them you wanted a Sable (or most any animal) and they didn’t have one (or one the “size) you wanted they could have it delivered for you without you knowing, or coordinate to hunt one elsewhere. You’d be none the wiser if it arrived a few days before you got there, or even one night while hunting.

 

[matt vejar]

Sable and Common Lechwe are great bow hunt animals. Fenced or wild there much easier to approach than most medium and large common plains game. With a gun success is pretty much assured.They make great mounts and that’s what draws most people to take them. I’ve taken 3 Sable SA, Zim, Niassa. One fenced Lechwe. I missed a free range Lechwe at dark maybe 60yds off sticks (that hurt) last day and my wife took one early in hunt. None of those hunts were difficult, it’s spot and stalk till you take the shot.

 

[Jeff505]

I have only hunted a Sable once, it was in the Zambezi valley in Zimbabwe after i had taken a buffalo. Wild dogs and Lions had most of the plains game very wary. We tracked Sable for days before getting a glimpse of one. Was able to get a mature bull eventually. My hunting companion followed tracks for nine days without getting a shot. I guess it depends on where you hunt.

 

[Adam Stevens]

A sable in a wild country is definitely a hunt I hope to someday do.

Cant lie, reading that chapter in green hills of Africa hits ya hard!

 

[dchum]

A sable in a wild country is definitely a hunt I hope to someday do.

Cant lie, reading that chapter in green hills of Africa hits ya hard!

Just don’t accidentally shoot the “chestnut colored” one! Oops!

 

[Adam Stevens]

Just don’t accidentally shoot the “chestnut colored” one! Oops!

Haaa!

Reminded me of my first Cape buff hunt. In the thick Jess of the Zambezi valley, my first glimpse of 3 bulls only 50 yards away, I was surprised how grey they appeared vs was I assumed to be jet black.

 

[dchum]

Haaa!

Reminded me of my first Cape buff hunt. In the thick Jess of the Zambezi valley, my first glimpse of 3 bulls only 50 yards away, I was surprised how grey they appeared vs was I assumed to be jet black.

Ya Hem shoots a female on accident because one of his tracker gets excited and yells “shoot!” “This thing is chestnut not dark black!”

Trackers always getting overly excited! Still rings true today!

 

[wesheltonj]

They make an excellent trophy. Hard hunt, not really, no climbing, etc. finding a big one is the hard part.