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Targeting The White-Bearded Wildebeest On African Hunts

The White-Bearded Wildebeest is endemic to Kenya and Tanzania.

When we consider African plains game hunting, one of the popular choices for hunters is the blue wildebeest, which is often referred to as the “poor man’s buffalo.” The blue wildebeest has 5 subspecies, one of which is the white-bearded wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus). This beautiful animal is endemic to Kenya and Tanzania.

The white-bearded wildbeest is referred to as being “eastern” or “western” varieties, due to their geographical location. The Eastern white-bearded wildebeest is found in Kenya and eastern Tanzania, while the Western white-bearded wildebeest is found in Kenya and western Tanzania. It is listed as an animal of “least concern” by the International Union of Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and is available for African plains game hunting adventures.

They can be found in various habitats, including woodlands, savannahs, and the edge of open grasslands as well as short, grassed plains. They do migrate, which seems to depend on the rainfall pattern and grass available for consumption.

The white-bearded wildebeest travels in herds, ranging in size from a couple to thousands of animals. This makes targeting a specific bull quite a challenge on a game hunting safari and ensures that the hunter’s concentration is often tested.

These African plains game antelopes are herbivorous and prefer sweet grasses, although they will also follow other antelopes that consume the drier, longer variants of grasses. They are most active early in the day and later in the afternoon while resting in shady areas in the heat of the day.

They are known to fall prey to numerous carnivores, such as lions, hyenas, and Nile crocodiles, while their young, infirm, and elderly are preyed upon by wild dogs.

AT A GLANCE

Name:
Connochaetes taurinus

Male Weight:
250-650 pounds

Male Shoulder Height:
43-57 inches

Range:
Kenya and Tanzania

Gestation Period:
240-255 days

Life Span:
20 years

Hunting The White-Bearded Wildebeest

The White-Bearded Wildebeest offers game hunting enthusiasts an exciting African plains game hunting safari.

Size and Appearance

While identifying a white-bearded wildebeest on African hunts is relatively easy due to their distinctive white beards, they prove to be quite a challenging hunting adventure! They are medium to large antelopes, with heavily built forequarters and reach up to 8 feet in length. Males weigh up to 250-650 pounds, standing between 4ft 7in at the shoulder. Both sexes have horns. They are grayish-brown in color, with the eastern white-bearded wildebeest being the palest of the subspecies and the western white-bearded wildebeest being the darkest of the blue wildebeest subspecies.

Hunting Methods

The best time of the day to arrange your wildebeest hunt is early morning or late afternoon when they are most active. Immense concentration is required to target the specific bull that your PH has indicated from the large herd before you! Patience, a steady hand, and good shot placement go together to ensure a successful walk-and-stalk hunt, or a hunting safari from a blind overlooking a water source, if so preferred.

Challenges and Rewards

When hunting in Africa, you need to remember that nothing comes without a challenge or a bit of effort. This is especially true for a wildebeest hunt, where your walk-and-stalk skills will be challenged to the nth degree, but you will reap the rewards and enjoy the satisfaction of a true African game hunting safari.

Rifles and Requirements

African hunts featuring the white-bearded wildebeest should not be conducted with any caliber less than .270. Flat shooting .300 magnums loaded with 200 grains to 220 grains are the best option for this type of hunting safari. A .308 with a bullet weighing not less than 165 grains can be used, but shot placement remains critical with these African plains game antelopes. As mentioned, the white-bearded wildebeest is a subspecies of the blue wildebeest, which is notorious for being tough and known for their ability to “eat lead.” The hunter can also consider using something larger, such as a .338, .375, or a .416 Rigby to ensure a successful game hunting safari.