Impala Hunting: The Oft Under-appreciated Gem

[Ardent]

Some thoughts and experiences with the beautiful Impala, hope you enjoy folks:

http://www.morrisonarms.com/2013/01/306/

-Angus

My 'lil brother's SCI Gold class Ram, I'm on the right.

 

[Dogleg]

Ahh, the roybok. If they weren't so common they would be the most expensive thing in Africa.

 

[Ardent]

A veritable Roan in the making. I'm working on making it less common one trip at a time, it's a racket, I'll buy my own herd and one day I'll be rich... or covered in unbelievably numerous little rams.

 

[Dogleg]

I find it hard to pass up a good impala too.

 

[jjohnwm]

Beautiful animals, for sure. However, I have shot one and doubt that I would shoot another unless it were a world record...maybe not even then, since I don't really care about scores and measurements. Time and especially money are always in short supply, especially when in Africa, and the impala just doesn't turn my crank to that extent.

Now, Springbok? I can't see ever becoming bored with hunting them! To each his own...

 

[mossyhorns]

I leave next week for a trip to South Africa and I'm squeezing In a few days of hunting. Impala is number one on my list. I know they're common but to me nothing says African Plains Game more them an Impala Ram. Next on my list is Springbok and maybe a warthog or Wildebeast. I can't wait.

 

[jjohnwm]

Mmmmm......warthog......

 

[Ardent]

Congratulations mossyhorns, have a ball and show us your pics when you get back. Blue Wildebeest is a fun hunt, and I really enjoy Warthog hunting, depending the pressure they face Warthogs can be extremely tricky to get up on a good one.

And nothing wrong with Springbok John!

 

[Longwalker]

Thanks for sharing your story! and I liked the pictures too. I had the opportunity to photograph some impala last January in northern Kenya. I would certainly like to go back to africa with rifle in hand next time and hunt them. Beautiful animals. How are they to eat?

 

[c-fbmi]

They are excellent table fare! Yep they are the whitetail of Africa, everywhere there is scrub brush or plain you'll find the impala. I have shot many as we used them for leopard bait and camp meat. Next one will be an East African trophy one which are significantly bigger than the SA ones. This Sept in Tanzania.

 

[Claybuster]

From a one-day camera safaria in northern Namibia last year while on a business trip. Unfortunately it was outside hunting season. Lots of these around. Locals called them springbok but they look more impala.

I did make some local contacts to potentially do some hunting on my next trip. What I'm really interested in is one of these. Kudu meat is excellent.

Warthogs might be in the plan too. We saw dozens of them along the side the highway going north out of Windhoek. They are a real roadway menance. So are these. This one ran across right in front of our car. Scared the crap out of us.

 

[Buckmastr]

Ardent, congrats to you and your brother. That is a great impala thanks for posting.

They make great leopard bait too.

 

[BigUglyMan]

Mmmmm......warthog......

Nothing "Mmmm" about the warthog I've eaten.

And if Angus doesn't stop promoting Impala hunting eventually people will realize how great they really are.

 

[Remington country]

Here is a picture of Impala shot with bow few years ago in the Limpopo Province.

 

[Ardent]

Great stuff guys glad the Impala fans are sharing, and great photos Longwalker! Claymaster, buck, and Remington thanks as well.

Hehe I'll ease up on promoting Impala BUM, til I bag a big one.

Longwalker, Impala as mentioned by c-fbmi is fantastic, antelope in general are my favourite meat in Africa, and I really like Impala. Nothing beats Eland for me though. I have a pic of the meal made around my humble first ram I'll put up a pic of soon.

 

[jjohnwm]

Nothing "Mmmm" about the warthog I've eaten.

Oh, I agree...they are crap to eat! What I meant was that, for whatever reason, I just love hunting them. Along with zebra, springbok and kudu, warthogs are one of the first things that just leap to mind when I hear "Africa".

 

[Dogleg]

Eland is my favorite as well. Straight across the board Ill take practically anything in Africa over whitetail, but on that tastey list impala is well down from the top. Considerably better than buffalo though.

Just to show how high the bar is set, many of the old timers consider waterbuck inedible. I thought it tasted like elk.

 

[Longwalker]

I just realized that I should have captioned the first photo I posted as a male Impala following a female, in front of a herd of Grant's Gazelle. They do look similar, and I should have pointed out the difference. I'd like to hunt both!

 

[Claybuster]

Eland is my favorite as well. Straight across the board Ill take practically anything in Africa over whitetail, but on that tastey list impala is well down from the top. Considerably better than buffalo though.

Eland is excellent followed IMO by kudu and gemsbok. A vegetarian would starve in that part of the world.

 

[c-fbmi]

I've had warthog that was, the most melt in your mouth, wonderful food I've eaten. Prepared by the old German wife of my PH in Namibia. Eland it good fare but I've had both good and tough of it as well. I've found none of the antelopes to have an offensive or bad flavor but preparation varies greatly and some can be pretty tough when just fried up and served.