Free-Range Blackbuck Antelope

[Bob in TX]

I guided another free-range blackbuck hunt this weekend up near Camp Wood, TX on my friend's low fenced ranch. They had a few more bucks move in on some does on their land over the winter. I was able to put two of my friends on nice 17" bucks. I took a doe for the freezer with my 22-250. They were all very skiddish and the hunting was hard but fun! I will post some pictures when I get them back. I will be taking one more hunter in four weeks and that will be all that will be taken this year. There are an estimated 19,000 free-ranging blackbuck antelope in the Edwards Plateau region of Texas. They were introduced about 1930.

Blackbuck tenderloins for dinner!!!

Bob

 

[huntducks]

Bob

That's sounds like a great hunt no game fence's or timed feeder to shoot over.

What moves them from ranch to ranch? food water pressure.

Looking forward to the pictures and how are BB as far a table fair.

 

[Bob in TX]

Here are the photo's. The first one is yours truly with the 18 year old hunter who took his first blackbuck antelope.

Huntducks-The meat is excellent!!

This is the buck I took from the same ranch a couple of years ago:

 

[huntducks]

Bob

Great pictures thanks for posting them.

Some day i'll look you up for a hunt.

Greg>huntducks

 

[Bob in TX]

huntducks,

Sorry...I didn't answer the rest of your question. Sex is what causes them to move more than anything. Young bucks are pushed out and seek to build their own harem of does. Here is some info on free-ranging blackbucks in Texas:

The Mammals of Texas - Online Edition
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Blackbuck*
Order Artiodactyla : Family Bovidae : Antilope cervicapra (Linnaeus)

Description. A medium-sized antelope with ringed, unbranched, "corkscrew" horns that rise above the head of males in a tall, V-shaped pattern. Measured from base to tip, horns reach up to 79 cm in length, although Texas blackbuck rarely have horns exceeding 58 cm. Normally, females are hornless.

Coloration in mature males is black dorsally, while females and young males are tan. All blackbuck have white eye rings, chin patch, chest, belly, and inner legs. In the nonbreeding season, after the spring molt, adult males may lighten considerably and retain their darkest coloration only on the face and legs.

In Texas, adult males average 38 kg in weight, with a range of 20-57 kg. Females weigh 20-33 kg, averaging 27 kg.

Distribution in Texas. Blackbuck antelope were originally released in Texas in the Edwards Plateau (Kerr County) in 1932. In 1988, only eight Texas counties had free-ranging blackbuck, but these antelope were confined on ranches in 86 counties. Of the total number of exotics confined on Texas ranches in 1988, only the axis deer outnumbered blackbuck antelope.

Habits. Blackbuck are native to India and Pakistan where they were widespread in plains and open woodlands; wet coastal areas, western deserts, and northern mountains limited their distribution. Today, extensive hunting and habitat destruction have restricted blackbuck to only small, isolated populations in their former native habitat.

More than 80% of the blackbuck in Texas inhabit the Edwards Plateau region, where the patchwork of open grassland and brush provides both excellent forage and cover. Their range is restricted to the north and west by cold winters, to the south by coyote predation, and to the east by parasitism.

Blackbuck prefer to graze on short to mid-length grasses but also browse on common brush species. Forage selection is primarily determined by availability with sedges, fall witchgrass, mesquite, and live oak commonly eaten. Forb use by blackbuck is low.

Adult males are highly territorial and defend areas ranging from 1.2 to 12 ha in size against trespass by other males. Female groups may graze through male territories, and breeding activity may take place at such times, but other males are excluded. Young males, and bucks without territories, form their own all male groups. At physical maturity (2 - 2½ years of age) young bucks may split from the all-male group to establish or win their own territory.

Breeding may take place at any time of the year; however, bucks are more active in spring and fall. Fawns are born at all seasons, but fewest births occur in winter. The length of gestation is about 5 months and within a month of parturition the female may breed again. A single fawn is the rule.

Females reach sexual maturity by 8 months of age, but usually do not breed until nearly 2 years of age. Physical maturity is reached at 1 year. Males mature later than females, and are able to breed at 18 month of age. The lifespan is up to 15 years.