According to a recent survey, Impala is the most popular trophy for international hunters in South Africa. It is one of the most prodigious African antelopes, with population pushing 2,000,000 animals. This abundance provides harvest opportunities for hunters of any income or skill level. Landing a really impressive impala trophy is a great challenge. Impala are graceful, beautiful creatures, particularly a large, mature buck with long, lyre-shaped horns. These horns grow over the creature’s lifetime, and make a spectacular trophy. With its delicious flesh, Impala pleases not only the eyes, but also the taste buds, and is a popular object not only for trophy, but for meat and biltong hunters, too. In short, this antelope should be on the bucket list of everyone who plans to hunt Africa.
When to hunt Impala in South Africa
Impala hunting can take place all year round, especially on game farms. But in some places December and January may be too hot for comfortable hunting. The best time to hunt any species of Impala is May, when, during the rut, the biggest males fight for dominance.The rest of the African winter, June to October, is also a good time for a plains game hunt.
Impalal Hunting Methods in South Africa
Impala inhabit shrub and savannah type habitat where a hunter and the PH can see far to spot the animals, and yet there’s enough cover to stalk them. Impalas can be active in either day and light but is most conspicuous in the morning and in the evening. This behavior makes Impala one of the best quarries for spot-and-stalk hunting. When alarmed, the herd of impalas forms a tight group, when it is easy to lose track of the trophy you’ve chosen, and, the bullet might easily pass through your target and hit another Impala that stands behind. It’s also not the best idea to shoot Impala on the run, as they can leap in zig-zag, effectively avoiding predators. Impala never venture far from water sources, and must have a drink on a regular basis. This offers a bowhunter an opportunity to hunt this animal from a ground blind or tree stand positioned over a waterhole.