Springbuck (White)
- Average weight male: 41 kg
- Average weight female: 37 kg
- Shoulder height male: 75 cm
- Shoulder height female: 75 cm
- Mating season: All year
The white variety of the springbuck species is a variation in color, rather than a true albino.
The springbok is one of the most common antelopes in Southern Africa, which still roams in millions. Both the males and females of this unmistakable little gazelle carry horns, the ewe’s horns being somewhat shorter and more slender.
The springbuck is the national animal of South Africa – His name means “jump buck”, an accurate description of his pogo-stick style of jumping when alarmed. This social herd animal is at home on dry, semi-desert, open grasslands, including the Kalahari desert. He is both a grazer and a browser and not dependent on water, although he will drink daily if water is available. When hunting springbok, trophy evaluation can be very difficult, as both rams and ewes carry horns, and herds can be very large, making it hard to approach with all those eyes and ears. Because of his phenomenal eyesight and his natural paranoia with regard to being approached, if you try to walk and stalk this little antelope, be prepared to do some crawling while hunting springbok.
If you can approach within 250 meters in open areas, you are doing well and best take your shot. The flat-shooters will be the ticket when hunting springbok. Look to calibers that will propel a 120-grain expanding bullet in excess of 2600 fps.
The 257 Roberts, 25-06 and the various 6.5mm’s are all good choices for consideration when hunting springbok. If you really want to reach out there, look to the 264 Win Mag or the .270.
A springbuck is a beautiful trophy, either way you mount it. The skin (tanned as a flat skin), skull/horns (mounted on a wood plate) or the mounting into a shoulder mount all make for impressive memories in your trophy room.
Hunting springbok for trophy calls for the high heart/lung shot right up the front leg, one third to one half into the body. Hunting springbok is exiting and will always be a challenge due to his size and excellent senses. Stalk carefully, keep the wind in your favor, get as close as you can, bring the right equipment and then shoot straight!
Recommended calibers: .243, 6,5×55, .270, 7mm, .308