Hunting The Lord Derby's Eland

The Lord Derby's Eland is the Largest Antelope in Africa

You know that you are looking at a really majestic beast when you set eyes on the giant eland, the world’s largest antelope. Weighing more than 2,200 pounds, Lord Derby’s eland (Taurotragus derbianus), also known as the giant eland or greater eland, is native to numerous African countries, including Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Guinea, Mali, Senegal, and South Sudan. They are no longer found in Gambia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, and Togo. This Africa plains game trophy is on the bucket list of many game hunting enthusiasts, keen to add this prized specimen to their collection while hunting in Africa!

Lord Derby’s eland is named in honor of Edward Smith-Stanley, 13th Earl of Derby. It was due to his efforts the giant eland was first introduced to England between 1835 and 1851. There are two sub-species of the giant eland, namely the western and eastern giant eland. Eastern giant elands are listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as being vulnerable, while the western giant elands are classed as critically endangered.

Elands are sociable animals, the females more so than the males. They live in small herds of 15-25 animals, with both male and female members. Mating happens throughout the year, but a peak in births during the wet or rainy season.

Their territories are large and varied, and they survive on grasses, leaves, branches, seeds, herbs and fruits.

Lord Derby’s elands are preyed upon by lions, spotted hyenas and crocodiles. The young or weaker members of the herd also fall prey to other large carnivores, such as leopards, wild dogs, and cheetahs.

If a herd of eland is attacked, they will bunch their heads together to form a ring of kicking legs facing the predator. The males will take the prime positions in front, thus protecting the herd’s calves, adolescents, weakened and pregnant females. They also rely on their size and bulk to intimidate predators.

Their main defence against predators, however, is their speed. They can reach up to 43 miles per hour, and have the ability to trot indefinitely without becoming tired.

AT A GLANCE

Name:
Taurotragus derbianus

Weight:
2,200 pounds

Shoulder Height:
4.2-6 feet

Range:
Central Africa

Horns:
Both sexes

Life Span:
Up to 25 years

Hunting Lord Derby's Eland

The Lord Derby’s Eland is the Largest Antelope in Africa

Size and Appearance

When hunting eland in Africa, look for a very large, cow-like creature with a reddish-brown coat and a short, darker mane. The coat has white vertical stripes across, and both sexes have spiral-shaped horns. The male’s horns grow up to 4 feet while the female has shorter horns reaching 2 feet. Males are larger than females, weighing in excess of 2,200 pounds versus females weighing approximately 1,300 pounds. Both have a large flat of hanging skin under their chin called a “dewlap.” Both males and females have the characteristic spiral horns, white lips, and dewlaps. The giant eland is slightly larger than the common eland, but is called giant due to the size of its horns compared to the common eland. Eland also possess the ability to jump up to 4 feet from a standstill, as well as maintain a trot speed indefinitely.

Hunting Methods

January to March are the best times to hunt Lord Derby eland, as this is before their breeding season, and they are in peak condition. Hunting in Africa is not for the faint-hearted - or unfit – and tackling the giant eland on a game hunting safari requires active pursuit, many times on foot for many hours! These antelopes are notoriously wary and bolt without hesitation, so get that those fitness levels up, as you will be glad when the time comes! Early mornings are spent on the safari hunting vehicles looking for tracks or spoor, should you be hunting near roads. Once spotted, the tracker will need to follow the spoor through bush and natural vegetation, and could take a few hours or longer.

Challenges and Rewards

These nocturnal grazers are naturally wary and alert, making it difficult to sneak up on them while on a game hunting safari. Their speed also makes them very difficult to hunt, as when scared, they make a fast getaway. The reward of hunting the greater eland is knowing that you managed to successfully harvest the world’s largest antelope!

Rifles and Requirements

A .270 caliber or a .308 caliber is just not going to be enough to bring down this magnificent antelope. A larger caliber 300, such as a .338 or 300 win mag would be needed. A 7mm loaded with soft expanding bullets can get the job done. Sometimes with the smaller calibers there is a difference in what can be done and what should be done. Based on the size of the Lord Derby and the terrain they inhabit, a .375 H & H would be first prize for this prized African plains game trophy.