Oribi

Oribi

  • Average weight male: 22 kg
  • Average weight female: 18 kg
  • Shoulder height male: 66 cm
  • Shoulder height female: 54 cm
  • Mating season: All year

The oribi is a small antelope, very similar in appearance, but slightly larger than the steenbok. He is rusty brown in color with a white throat and belly, having a few white spots next to the nostrils and above the eyes. The tail is black on top and white on the bottom, distinguishing him from the steenbok which lacks the black on the tail. Oribi is mostly found on the plains, and only the males carry horns, which are straight but tend to bend slightly forward at the tips. females lack horns, but tend to have a slightly larger body than the males. The oribi is normally a solitary antelope, but sometimes form family herds of up to 12 individuals. They prefers to graze when it is cool, so hunting oribi will probably be best during the early morning and late afternoon. Laying up during the heat of the day, when alarmed, the oribi will jump up and run away in a bouncing fashion.

Being inquisitive, they often stop after a suitable distance and turn to look back or even walk back – there is his mistake, and there is your shot! When hunting oribi, you will not need a lot of “gun”. Because this little antelope is another of the plains dwellers, shots may be taken at some distance. One of the flat-shooters will be the ticket here. Choose a caliber firing a bullet of at least 120 grains at a muzzle velocity in excess of 2600 fps.

If you are hunting oribi for the trophy, rely on the high heart/lung shot, straight up the foreleg about one third into the body and squeeze.

Recommended caliber: .270 or any flat shooting rifle