Blesbok (Damaliscus dorcas phillipsi)

Blesbok males have a body weight averaging 70kg and stand 95cms to the shoulder, whilst female Blesbok average a body weight of 60kg, standing around the same height to the shoulder as the male of the species. The Blesbok lives on the plains of the South African highveld. Blesbok are grazers and they form herds consisting of the female ewes and young. The male rams lean toward a solitary existence. Blesbok are brown on the top of the back and neck, a little darker on the flanks with a white belly.

Blesbok have a small white blaze above the eyes and a larger blaze below, divided between the eyes. Since both Blesbok sexes carry horns, care must be exercised when selecting the Blesbok you will hunt, to make sure that the Blesbok selected is the Blesbok taken. Blesbok should be hunted in the morning and late afternoon, when they are feeding, as like many species, Blesbok lie up during the hottest part of the day. Hunting Blesbok in the Eastern Cape is challenging, as shots may well be taken from longer ranges.

Water is essential to the Blesbok and hunting Blesbok near the approaches to waterholes can prove productive. At one time, the Blesbok faced extinction but since reintroduction to the game farms of Southern Africa, the Blesbok now have a population of hundreds of thousands. Hunters can use their favourite deer rifle when hunting Blesbok. Calibres like .270, .308, .30-06, 7mm or any of the .300 magnums using good quality partition or bonded  bullets of 150 grains, give excellent results for the longer shots that may be required on the plains. As with any hunted species, the point of aim is paramount. Your Professional Hunter can be relied upon to advise you as to the correct point of aim.

Minimum Trophy Measurements:   SCI 39   RW 16½”