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Impala (Aepyceros melampus) Rowland Ward minimum: 23 5/8"
The photo is typically how the hunter will see his impala ram, allowing him about ten seconds for an off-hand shot. This is a good, representative four year old specimen with beautiful, already straight up horns - no more inward angled tips. It will not make the Rowland Ward 23 and 5/8" minimum measurement but a ram which must not be passed up.
This is the most common antelope of the bushveld regions of South Africa. A very graceful, rufous-fawn antelope, with white underparts, measuring approximately 35" at the shoulders. Rams weigh around 150lbs . A black stripe extends from the top of the rump down the back of each thigh. The lower hind legs have glands beneath tufts of black hair. Only the rams have horns which are lyre-shaped, and reach an average length of 25". The record is just touching 32".
Herds seldom wander more than eight km from permanent water supply. Renowned for their spectacular leaps over shrubs and bushes, when alarmed. Rutting occurs during early winter months. Young rams live in bachelor herds, and those strong enough to be successful in establishing territories, become solitary within their respective domains during the rut. Females live in breeding herds.
The Impala is preyed upon by most of the large carnivores and the young often fall prey to Pythons. The Impala are therefore on constant alert. Should one of them spot danger, it will snort an alarm and the whole herd will scatter. It is one of the treats offered by nature to see this antelope perform their incredible 3 metre high and 12 metre long leaps.