What Is Plains Game Hunting In South Africa?
African plains game is a general term used among hunters to describe the African antelope species, as well as species of zebra, hogs, and pigs. Plains game can be any animal from a royal antelope to an eland. It includes animals that do not necessarily reside in the plains of Africa but can be found in forest, or mountainous environments. Plains game hunting is a well-practiced activity throughout the hunting regions of Africa, with plains game hunting in South Africa being an extremely popular pastime. A plains game animal is a great way for a foreign hunter to begin their safari hunting adventure during African hunts. Plains game is found in any hunting area and is almost a guarantee to be encountered in the wilderness. Plains game species can be hunted through essentially every game hunting method when executed correctly.
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How Much Does Plains Game Hunting in South Africa Cost?
The prices of hunting African plains game vary according to species and the outfitters’ pricing. An African plains game hunting experience in South Africa will generally cost between US$4,000-8,000.
Species may include:
Pricing will increase according to the value of the species and horn length. Antelopes such as sable and roan for example fetch a higher price when compared to other antelope species. Horn length is also a considerable factor: Kudu are common throughout Africa, but a 60-inch bull is very rare and will be more expensive than a 50-inch bull. It all boils down to what kinds of game hunting trophy the hunter is looking for, as well as the species.
What is the Most Popular African Plains Game Species on African Hunts?
The blue wildebeest is by far the most popular plains game species targeted on African hunts. It is a highly adaptive animal and occurs throughout Africa as different sub-species. They are tough and not easily taken down, earning their nickname “the poor man’s buffalo.”
This is due to the similarly shaped horns and the same dark coloring as a buffalo, but more so for being notoriously tough, just like the buffalo. It is extremely rare for a blue wildebeest to fall in its tracks with one single shot, not counting a perfectly placed headshot of course! Often a follow-up shot is required to put this beast down during a safari hunting trip. At the very least a hunter can count on following the blood trail or tracks of their blue wildebeest after the first shot, even if it is perfectly placed through the heart.
Do not let this discourage you from hunting the blue wildebeest though, just ensure your shot placement is adequate, and with a good set of trackers and dogs your game hunting trophy will be located and into the salt in no time! Blue wildebeest is one of the most well-priced and affordable African hunts, another reason why it is such a popular African hunting safari. Other very popular species when plains game hunting in South Africa include the impala, kudu, waterbuck, eland, blesbok, and springbok.
Shot Placement For African Plains Game
Shot placement on plains game hunting species is essentially the same across all species. A general rule of thumb is that a broadside position is the most ideal body position, where the animal is standing completely sideways with its front legs aligned.
A hunter should then imagine a vertical line extending up from the front leg, aiming here roughly one-third of the way up on the body. This is where most of the animal’s heart is situated. The lungs are also situated slightly higher than the heart and are another vital organ to target. This body position allows for the most margin of error, as the heart and lungs provide the widest area.
This means that if the bullet does not land where the shooter is aiming, there is still a good chance of successfully killing the animal. Another option when safari hunting is the frontal shot, where the animal is standing directly facing the hunter. This shot can be problematic if not executed correctly as there is a smaller area to work with when compared with the broadside body position. The hunter should aim in the middle of the body slightly above the lowest section. This will ensure a heart shot when completed successfully.
On many African hunts, a hunter will be presented with the shot where the animal is quartering towards them, in this instance the hunter should draw an imaginary vertical line on the closest
front leg, aim slightly inside of this line towards the other leg, one-third of the way up just like a broadside shot. This shot placement will ensure impact in the vital area and ideally break the front leg of the animal, making it more difficult for the animal to cover ground. The final body position which is recommended to shoot at is the quartering away shot. This shot is also arguably the most ideal body position for a hunter who utilizes a bow. This position can be challenging depending on the angle at which the animal is quartering away. The hunter should aim behind the shoulder while considering where the heart lies and the angle of the animal. When executed correctly this shot placement position can be flawlessly fatal, especially for the bowhunter.
Any other body position is not recommended, such as where the hunter can only see the rear end of the body. A shot where the animal is not standing still is not recommended.
Hunters who have not experienced African safari hunting often do not comprehend the toughness of African animals. A shot that is not delivered into the vital area, spine, or brain will likely result in a wounded animal, with little chance of another shot being presented. Always ensure you are comfortable with the position in which you are shooting and how the animal is positioned. In most hunting areas an animal that has been wounded will be charged for, whether it is found or not. Finally, and most importantly, always listen to your Professional Hunter, they will guide and direct you to the best of their ability to ensure a successful hunt. They are, after all, professionals at game hunting!
Types of .30 Caliber Rifles
The thirty-caliber bullet is an extremely versatile projectile that can be used amongst a variety of different plains game hunting species. A .30 caliber cartridge means that the diameter of the actual projectile is 0,3 of one inch. The length and weight of the projectile will change according to the caliber and purpose of the projectile and can be fine-tuned according to the hunter’s preference. Different calibers are designed and refined according to the parameters of the case, and will, as a result, perform differently both internally and externally. There are approximately thirty-six different calibers that utilize a .30 caliber projectile and that can be used on African hunts.
The most popular in modern-day hunting include:
- .30 Nosler
- .308 Winchester
- .30-06 Springfield
- .300 Weatherby Magnum
- .300 Winchester Magnum.
None of these calibers is necessarily “better” than another, they each serve their purpose for a different type of game hunting environment and target species. A hunter who is traveling from overseas into Africa ideally wants to choose a caliber that is versatile across the spectrum, and ideally bring one rifle to reduce the headache of processing firearms through customs.
So How Does a Person Choose One Caliber From a Choice of Thirty-Six?
The answer is simple: the caliber and rifle set-up with which you are the most comfortable and experienced shooting but that is still versatile.
Shooting a popular caliber such as a .308 Winchester adds the advantage that ammunition will usually be available, as well as information regarding ammunition reloading and ballistic behavior.
In most African hunting environments hunters do not shoot past 300 yards and hunting is usually done on foot. Therefore, it is suggested to leave the 26-inch bull barrel rifle with the scope that’s worth a kidney in the safe at home, because after a mile walking through the African bushveld, your shoulder will wish you did do exactly that!
Try to choose a rifle set-up that can do it all, a stock that is fairly lightweight but also durable, a smooth action and safety with which you are familiar, and the correct optic and reticle for your African hunts.
Many people book an African safari hunting trip and then buy a new rifle for the trip, but they make the mistake of not familiarizing themselves and practicing enough to establish a decent level of muscle memory. Then, when in the field, they are uncomfortable or do not switch the safety all the way and lose the opportunity for a shot. That good ol’ faithful rifle that you grew up hunting whitetails and hogs with will most likely do just fine. Remember the most important aspect of African hunts is shot placement.
Ideal .30 Calibers and Rifles For Different South African Hunting Terrains And Species
As previously stated, there is no “best rifle caliber,” but certain aspects of the firearm will be advantageous
in different hunting terrains while plains game hunting in South Africa.
African plains game hunting in South Africa is very popular, but very different depending on where you intend to hunt and what species you intend to target. Hunting in South Africa is truly a wilderness privilege to experience, with exceptional game hunting conditions. With massive levels of biodiversity in fauna and flora, as well as different terrains and topographical settings, the options are seemingly endless for game hunting adventures in South Africa.
A hunter who intends to travel between different terrains and hunt both small and big species of plains game should ideally choose the most versatile rifle, with potentially different bullet weights and different bullet types. An example when plains game hunting in South Africa could be that a hunter chooses to target a blue duiker, the smallest antelope in South Africa, as well as a Cape eland, the largest antelope in South Africa, both of which can be found in the Eastern Cape province. The hunter should choose a caliber such as the 30-06. For the blue duiker, he uses a non-expanding monolithic projectile and sends it straight through the heart, this will result in a tiny entry and exit wound preserving the cape. For the eland, he uses an expanding projectile, but still keeps the shot placement front of mind.
It is a good approach to use non-expanding bullets on small antelopes and expanding projectiles on larger antelopes and hogs.
Below are the ideal calibers and rifle set-ups according to terrain and are stated from the opinion of an experienced South African Professional Hunter:
Bushveld Hunting – The bushveld is the most commonly hunted terrain when hunting in South Africa and is situated in the northern areas of South Africa, extending into Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique. In this terrain, the foliage of trees grows relatively thick which limits visibility, hunters can generally expect to shoot between ranges of 50 – 150 yards. A lightweight rifle will be beneficial where walking is the main method of hunting. Equip your rifle with a scope that has a duplex reticle allowing for easy target acquisition. A magnification of 16 at most is recommended, with a maximum diameter of 44mm. A caliber such as a .308 Winchester or .30-06 will work perfectly as the hunting is all at relatively close ranges. This will also ensure your rifle is lightweight but still capable of shooting that kudu bull at 200 yards.
Mountain and Plains Hunting – Mountains and open plains make up a vast portion of South Africa and are home to many plains game species. The expected range of shooting widens significantly. In this terrain, the maximum distance you will be shooting is what you are capable of shooting on African hunts. The game can be targeted at distances of up to a mile if the hunter chooses to shoot that far, however, the Professional Hunter will always suggest moving closer, as this limits the risk of missing completely or wounding the animal. Hunting is also done at ranges of under 100 yards, but the efforts of a good stalk are needed. For hunters who choose to shoot close ranges such as in the bushveld, the same rifle set-up and caliber will suffice.
For the hunter who likes to get behind the long gun, it’s your time to shine! A bull barrel is not always necessary as the hunt will hopefully only consist of one well-placed shot, but if you choose to shoot a bull barrel it will obviously perform well in the environment. A caliber that shoots a flatter trajectory is ideal, such as .300 PRC, .300 Winchester Magnum, or .300 Weatherby Magnum.
The hunter should equip the rifle with a long-range scope, with a magnification of at least 20, a diameter of at least 50mm, and a mil-dot reticle if the hunter chooses to hold over instead of dialing in. A bipod would be ideal, as well as a muzzle brake or silencer. A note for plains game hunting in South Africa is that there is no law restricting the use of a muzzle device on the firearm.
Read more about African plains game hunting in South Africa with personal experiences or learn more about South Africa and other African hunting safari destinations.
Author K.C. van Wyk
Conservationist & Professional Hunter