Sable antelope

Scientific name: Hippotragus niger

How weight is recorded: Carcass weight

Field notes

Appearance

A large, powerfully built antelope with a stocky frame. Males are jet black with white facial markings and underparts; females are rich chestnut-brown. Both sexes carry long, backward-curving horns; males' horns are substantially longer and more impressive.

Size and weight

Males 210–240 cm body length, 235–260 kg; females 200–210 cm, 160–180 kg. Horns in males reach 65–105 cm; females 40–60 cm.

Habitat

Sable antelope inhabit open woodlands, grasslands, and savanna with scattered acacia and miombo trees. They prefer areas with good grass cover and reliable water sources, typically at elevations below 2,000 m.

Distribution

Found in southern and east-central Africa, from Angola and Zambia through Zimbabwe, Botswana, and into South Africa. Prefer well-watered woodlands with open understorey.

Diet

Primarily grazes on medium to tall grasses; shifts to browsing leaves and shrubs during dry season when grass quality declines.

Behaviour

Active mainly at dawn, dusk, and night; rest during midday heat. Gregarious, living in herds of 10–30 animals led by a dominant bull. Males are highly territorial and patrol regularly.

Hunting tips

Look for tracks in soft ground near water and grazing areas; sable leave distinct hoof prints and rounded droppings. Glass open grasslands at dawn and dusk when sable move to feed. Approach into the wind, using terrain folds and scattered trees for cover; stalk methodically and expect sudden explosive flight if alarmed.

Carcass weight

This species is logged by carcass weight — the animal weighed dressed, the way hunting teams normally report it.

Where it is hunted

Listed as huntable in 7 countries in Huntify.

Names in other languages

These field notes are general species knowledge, not legal advice. Always check the current seasons, quotas and firearm rules where you hunt.