Background
Blackbuck hunting in Argentina is synonymous of excitment and challenge. They are originally from India but now you can find them in other places like in Argentina and USA (Texas). They were introduced to Argentina in the beginning of the XX Century. The plains of this country became the perfect habitat for this species and the region where they live has no predators for them, that’s why they thrived in Argentina and their population didn’t stop growing.
Characteristics of Blackbuck
Size, Horns and Colour
It is an animal that weighs 40/45 kilos and has 70 centimeters 0f heights at the shoulder (male). The color of the skin varies according to the sex and age of each individual. The mature males present a brown color turning to black in the back, neck and face but their belly, chest and legs are whitish.
Since they belong to the family of goats the males have spiral black horns that grow along their entire lives and can reach a length of up to 70 centimeters in a straight line. Females are smaller, have no horns and their skin is light brown.
Speed, Behavior and Defense mechanisms.
They run at a speed of 90 km/h and they jump once in a while. Their sense of sight is remarkable though the other senses are also really good. They are naturally gregarious so they stay in big herds led by a dominant male or an old and experienced female. To live in big groups is their way for self defense since the individuals situated at the exterior limit of the herd are watching any potential danger in the surroundings.
Then, they protect the other members that are staying in the interior part of the group. To hang on in the open range is also their best way to be protected. When one of the sentinels feel that there is a close danger they start to jump to notice the other members of the group that something wrong happens and right after they warn the rest they start running fast to the opposite direction of the threat.
Matting season
Despite that you can observe males in heat almost all year round, the peak of the mating season in Argentina is during Fall and Springtime. The males rub their orbital glands in branches and bushes to notice to the females and other males that they are ready to work for their reproduction. The fights between males are not really dangerous, they are more a test about their strength and the strongest buck is the one that will keep the harem of females.
Hunting blackbuck with Argentina Big Hunting
Argentina Big Hunting manages blackbuck different hunting areas so our policy is to conduct the different hunts where hunting is best during our hunters’ visit. We hunt at our own ranch in the bush of La Pampa or in the plains of Buenos Aires province either way. Since we have access to the best hunting areas in Argentina our goal is to organize tailor made hunting expeditions suitable to the hunters’ needs and expectations. They have a long season, it is open almost all year round. In some areas blackbuck hunting is permitted from March 1st to November 30th of every year but in some others they can be shot throughout the year.
Although they are very abundant in Argentina, their trophy exportation requires a Cites permit because the population in India (where they are from) has decreased fast and it turned on the red lights for their preservation.
Main hunting methods for Blackbuck
Stalking
Stalking is the most difficult way to hunt them due that blackbuck herds always stay in open plains with short grass with some sentries watching all the area around them. Besides, they use some local birds like the Southern Lapwing that react under the first sign of danger screaming and flying around the occasional thread. This kind of hunt demands a big physical effort and a long range shot. Rifles with flat trajectory like a 243 Wing, 270 Win or even a 7 mm Rem Mag are ideal for this job. This hunting modality is easier in the bush of La Pampa because hunters have more concealment to make a good approach to a potential target but in one place or another the stalking includes long walks crouched or crawling to be able to reach a good position where the hunter can shoot from.
Still Hunting
Since stalking these animals represents a quite complicated task sometimes the hunters rather wait for them in some estrategic spots where they normally pass at shooting distance.
In cattle breeding areas with low fences those spots could be next to those pathways that blackbuck use to change from one lot to the next one.
In this way, hunters take advantage of a particular feature of this species: despite that they jump all the time when they run they don’t jump over the cattle fences, they cross underneath them. It is quite easy to find the places where they leave very clear tracks and a hole underneath the fence on their move over.
Besides, given that they hang around in big groups and walkways that we described are very narrow, they must cross one by one so they always delay to go over because they have to wait for their turn to do it and that is the exact moment when it is ideal to shoot them. To wait for them at waterholes is totally pointless because the moisture of the grass is enough for them, they spend many days without drinking water. When you hunt lying in wait the shooting distance is shorter and that’s why this modality is much easier for bow hunters.
For all what we explained here blackbuck represents one of the most challenging and pretty trophies that a hunter can shoot in Argentina.
Dr. Patricio Geijo
Argentina Big Hunting November 2020