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Like the kudu, the blue wildebeest (Conochaetes taurinis) or gnu is a true icon of Africa. When spread out in a large herd family members communicate with one another with a nasal "gnu" sound and they recognise each voice.
Two young bulls fighting
Two mature trophy size bulls face the camera. The raised horn bosses are family genetic and not a common occurrence. The bull on the right is a Rowland Ward entry.
When hunting blue wildebeest in dense vegetation a heart shot through the shoulder with a well constructed bullet of not lighter than 165/8 gr is imperative. In open plains a well construted, (bonded or premium) expanding bullet of 165 gr and heavier is O.K. but nothing lighter. In dense vegetation a bullet of minimum 180gr in the .30 calibres and 170 gr in the 7mms isrequired. Choose the cartridge/bullet combination that will ensure not higher than 2,500 ft/sec impact velocity, and use a premium bullet in any magnum designated rifle.
That was a very observant observation by frhunter13. I was keeping my eye on the bull we intended to shoot and did not at first pay attention to this social behaviour - only when it happened a second time did Michael point it out and it was obvious to me too.
What really surprised me when we approached a small herd of wildebeest and my having the intent to shoot the Patriarch, he was immediately surrounded by the other herd members to protect him. The a large matriarch separated from them and stared right at us looking like "so take me instead". Well this might have been a pure coincidence, except the same thing happened two different times! It finally took the distraction of a watering hole for the Patriarch to become separated so that I could take him.
Update on hunting the blue wildebeest - often they congregate, staring at the movement of the approaching hunter. This is the time to pick your animal and wait for a perfect opportunity. A frontal shot into the hollow of the throat will miss the heart but will cut the main arteries above. We may need to track it for a while but there will be plenty blood. The animal dies of gradual blood loss and not immediate oxygen depletion to the brain as caused by a heart shot.