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    Hunting The Copper Springbok

    Hunting The Copper Springbok

    The copper springbok has efficient water retention abilities allowing it to thrive in dry, desert landscapes.

    An iconic African plains game trophy in southern Africa, the springbok (Antidorcas marsupialis) is a medium-sized antelope inhabiting Southern Africa. While the common springbok is often included in African plains game packages, three color variants are now available when hunting in Africa, namely the copper, black, and white springbok.

    These colored springboks are not a subspecies, but rather color variants that have been bred on Namibian and South African game farms employing selective breeding methods.

    The habitat of copper springboks is the same as that of the common springbok and the other color variants. While they have adapted to various habitats, they prefer arid and grassland regions. herbivores, consuming a. Vegetation is often sparse within their habitats for these herbivores that consume grasses and succulents. Springboks are water-independent and can for many days without drinking.

    Copper springbok hunting occurs in Southern Africa’s most arid regions of Namibia, and South Africa, and they are often included as part of an African plains game hunting package, with hunters targeting each of the different colored springbok as a unique set of game hunting trophies.

    Springboks have a unique way of jumping or bouncing, called pronking and stotting. It is characterized by the springboks straightening their legs, making them rigid as they jump. This propels them high into the air as if they were bouncing along. These jumps or leaps can reach remarkable heights of up to 6 feet at a time! It also assists them in evading predators, such as lions, cheetahs, wild dogs, caracal, crocodiles, and pythons, amongst others. Juveniles are preyed on by smaller carnivores such as raptors, black-backed jackals, and African wildcats.

    AT A GLANCE

    Name:
    Antidorcas marsupialis

    Male Weight:
    72-105 pounds

    Male Shoulder Height:
    27-35 inches

    Mating:
    Year-round

    Gestation Period:
    Southern Africa

    Life span:
    7-9 years

    Hunting Copper Springbok

    The copper springbok is perfectly adapted to its habitat, with keen eyesight and swift reflexes that enable it to detect and evade predators in open landscapes.

    Size and Appearance

    The copper springbuck has a prominent copper-red coat, making it a striking sight when on a hunting safari. It is a medium-sized, graceful antelope, with a slender body and long legs. The springbuck male is slightly larger than the female, weighing 72-108 pounds while the female tips the scales at 66-97 pounds. Both sexes have lyre-shaped horns, with the male’s horns being thicker than the female's. Horn length reaches 12-20 inches.

    Hunting Methods

    A springbuck hunting safari is always an exciting affair, regardless of which color variant you are targeting! These gazelle are extremely alert and wary, using their speed to escape predators (and hunters) at the first sign of danger. While springbuck hunting usually takes the form of a walk-and-stalk, hunters need exceptional patience and skill to be able to approach the herd undetected.

    Challenges and Rewards

    Springbuck hunting in Africa is challenging and tests the hunters’ skills while providing great memories for any hunter embarking on a copper springbuck hunting adventure! Their habitat of running at the first sign of danger, as well as bunching together when nervous or afraid, make springbuck hunting a challenging safari. The reward of this rare and uniquely colored springbok trophy is sure to be the start of many long and interesting hunting conversations!

    Rifles and Requirements

    When on a springbuck hunting safari, consider using a flat shooting rifle with a minimum caliber of 25 caliber (i.e., 243 or .270) to target the African plains game trophy. The bullet tip needs to weigh not less than 120 grains and travel at 2600 feet per second. A 308, 7mm, or 300 win-mag is a suitable choice for a trophy springbok, should possible damage to meat not be a consideration.

    MASTERING SHOT PLACEMENT FOR MEDIUM ANTELOPE

     

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