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African Hunting The White Springbok

White springboks have elegant horns and a striking, pale coat with subtle, refined markings

The springbok (Antidorcas marsupialis) is a medium-sized antelope inhabiting Southern Africa. While the common springbok is a welcome sight in Southern Africa and often included in African plains game packages, there are now numerous color variants available when hunting in Africa. These color variants include black, white, and copper-colored 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 white springboks is the same as that of the common springbok. They have adapted to various habitats but prefer arid and grassland regions. These gazelles are herbivores, consuming a diet of grasses, succulents, and shrubs. Vegetation is often sparse within their habitats, resulting in wide areas being covered while searching for food and water. They are water-independent and can for many days without drinking.

White springbok hunting in Africa 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.

The springbok has a unique pronking or stotting behavior that is characterized by their ability to straighten 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!

The springbok is prey for many predators such as lions, cheetahs, spotted hyenas, caracals, leopards, crocodiles, pythons, and wild dogs. 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:
5-6 months

Life span:
7-9 years

Hunting White Springbok

The white springbok is noted for its swift reactions and impressive speed.

Size and Appearance

The white springbok is a unique sight on the African savanna. It is a medium-sized, graceful antelope, with a slender body and long legs. It has a solid white coat, with dark patches around its eyes. Both sexes have horns, with the male’s horns being thicker than the female's. Horn length reaches 12-20 inches. In terms of size, the springbok male is slightly larger than the female, weighing 72-108 pounds while the female tips the scales at 66-97 pounds. The male stands approximately 27-35 inches at the shoulder.

Hunting Methods

While African hunting safaris targeting this graceful antelope often utilize the walk-and-stalk method, hunters require exceptional stalking skills to approach the alert and wary springbuck without being seen.

Challenges and Rewards

Any game hunting safari targeting these unique antelopes is a great reward. They are iconic and certainly provide great memories for any hunter embarking on a white springbuck hunting adventure! The antelope’s habit of crowding together when nervous or scared can make choosing a prized specimen a challenge, while their speed is also a problem, as they tend to run at the first sign of danger.

Rifles and Requirements

Choose a flat shooting rifle with a minimum caliber of 25 caliber (i.e., 243 or .270) for a white springbuck hunting adventure. The bullet tip needs to weigh not less than 120 grains and travel at 2600 feet per second. If meat damage is not a concern, a 308, 7mm, or 300 win-mag is a suitable choice for a trophy springbok.