Roan Antelope Hunting

Roan antelope are highly sought after trophy animals like their cousin, the sable.

There were five accepted subspecies of roan in Africa - southern, western, East African, Angolan and Sudan roan. These still all stand in the RW and SCI record books except SCI has amalgamated the Angolan roan into the southern roan category. IUCN finds all roans, except possibly the western roan, to be genetically the same subspecies - the jury is still out.

Roan Antelope Trophy Minimums

Hippotragus equinus equinus (Southern Roan)
RW Minimum	RW Record	RW Measurement Method	SCI Minimum	SCI Record	SCI Measurement Method
27"	39^"	7	67"	86³/₈"	1

Hippotragus equinus koba (Western Roan)
RW Minimum	RW Record	RW Measurement Method	SCI Minimum	SCI Record	SCI Measurement Method
27"	36¹/₄"	7	63"	89⁵/₈"	1

Hippotragus equinus langheldi (East African Roan)
RW Minimum	RW Record	RW Measurement Method	SCI Minimum	SCI Record	SCI Measurement Method
27"	32³/₄"	7	58"	84⁶/₈"	1

Where To Hunt A Roan Antelope

Roan was a CITES II animal some years back but were subsequently downlisted. Roan populations are still under some pressure and dwindling in some parts of Africa but not enough to be elevated above 'Least Concern' by IUCN.

The Sudan roan does occur in the far west of Ethiopia and northern Uganda but is not huntable in these countries.
The Angolan roan, which are no longer recognised by SCI and IUCN, technically could be the roan hunted in the Caprivi of Namibia and the roan that was huntable in northern Botswana before the moratorium on roan hunting and the later complete ban on hunting on public land.
You can hunt a western roan in Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon and Central African Republic (CAR).
You can hunt a southern roan in Namibia, South Africa and Zambia. The southern roan in Zimbabwe and Mozambique are protected and not huntable.
You can hunt an East African roan in western Tanzania.

Roan Antelope Hunting Prices

In Benin, the western roan has a trophy fee of between 1200 Euros and 2400 Euros.
In Burkina Faso the western roan trophy fee is between 460 Euros and 2950 Euros.
In Cameroon, the western roan is in the Group A savanna trophy list with a fee usually about 2000 Euros but can be found for 760 Euros and 3500 Euros.
In Central African Republic (CAR), the western roan has a trophy fee from 2000 Euros to 2600 Euros.
In Tanzania, you can hunt an East African roan on a 21 day licence. The Government trophy fee for a roan is US$2550. With the added Community Development/anti-poaching fees, the full trophy fee will be between US$3250 and US$4230.
In Namibia, there is a limited quota of free-range southern roan that may be hunted in the Caprivi. They also may be hunted on some private game ranches. Roan trophy prices are between US$8000 and US$12000.
In South Africa the southern roan is a TOPS animal, needing a special permit to be issued before the hunt. Most roan are hunted on private game ranches and the trophy fees are between US$9500 and US$13950.
In Zambia, you can hunt a southern roan for between US$7000 and US$10500.

Difference Between Roan Subspecies

There are no obvious physical differences between the roan subspecies. They all are roughly the same size and may vary slightly in colour from a more reddish to a grizzly grey colour.

Click Image To Enlarge

Southern Roan

Southern Roan

Roan Antelope Hunting Methods

Walking and stalking in the likely roan habitat of open woodland or grassy plains with water nearby, in early mornings or late evening.

A Good Roan Trophy

Horn length with thick bases will make a good trophy. Horn length is better judged from a side view of the animal.
If you see the horns curving down at the tips, it is likely to be an excellent trophy.

Roan Antelope Hunting Shot Placement

As roan antelope shot placement is similar to other antelope plains game species, go to Shot Placement On Plains Game.

Roan Bull Vital Statistics

Shoulder Height: 51-55" / 130-140cm
Weight: 534-661lbs / 242-300kg

Roan Antelope Habitat and Requirements

The roan antelope inhabits open or lightly wooded grassland, with medium to tall grass and access to water.
It avoids areas of short grass, and prefers locations where there are few other herbivores and predators.

Roan Antelope Social Structure

Roan associate in herds of up to 20 individuals.
Amongst the females, the more dominant is the leader.
There is only one adult bull in each herd, the juvenile males being evicted at the age of about 3 years.
The young males evicted from the herd and associate in "bachelor groups" of up to 12 individuals.
Roan antelope are very courageous animals. If threatened by predators, including lion, they will confront them.

Roan Antelope Gestation Period

After a gestation period of around 9 months, one offspring is born.

Roan Antelope Gender Identification

The black/brown and white facial mask is slightly lighter in females.
The arched, ringed horns are found in both sexes, though slightly smaller in females.
Females have two pairs of teats between their hind legs.
Males are larger and built more sturdily than females.

Roan Antelope Trophy Permits (2015)

All Roan Antelope
CITES	USF&W	EU	AUS
N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

Roan Trophy Taxidermy

If your budget can stretch to it, a roan is one of those handsome antelope that simply demand a full mount display. If a full mount is not possible, of course roan make great pedestal or shoulder mounts.
Don't forget to tell your taxidermist not to blacken and polish the horns, if you want the horns to look natural.

Click images to enlarge

Roan Full Mount

Roan Shoulder Mount

Taxidermy photos courtesy of Life-Form Taxidermy

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