Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Africa I'm Waffling A Little Bit.....

...as to hunting giraffe. Up until two weeks ago,I never gave it a second thought until I started reading about the hunting of the animals.Further adding to the allure were some of the beautiful mounts I saw on the AH forum. I saw one shoulder mount that stood up in the double entrance foyer of the hunter's home. Truly beautiful and a real eye-catcher.

I'm still back and forth on the idea but I'm now on the fence rather than "no way, it's a frikken giraffe".

For you gents who have hunted giraffe,educate me a bit if you will as to the hunt and shot placement. Also, if you've heard or seen other mounting ideas that really looked aesthetically pleasing, toss that comment in as well, if you will.

Haven't shot one Bob...and won't.Just me. Wait till you see them to make up your own mind..everyone has different opinions on them, and none are wrong...

what ingwe says.....but I gotta admit it'd make a hellava hallway rug....


maddog

I think a .22 rifle would take this one out!

I see no problem in shooting a giraffe. They make for a beautiful taxidermy piece and a great excuse to use your big gun.

As soon as April Fools Day is over and AR gets back to normal, there is an excellent pedestal mounted giraffe pictured in one of the trophy rooms. The base is a jagged looking rock that extends up into the back part of the mount (the part that goes on the wall on a shoulder mount). Hopefully I can find a photo of it. Otherwise, if you've got the room, life-size giraffes make quite the conversation piece.

Wait until you see one in the wild before you make up your mind. I've seen several, and no way I would set out to kill one, personally. But, it's your trip and your call.

II don't want to shoot anything that takes that long to hit the ground...and yet, if it really needed to be done...Timber!!!!!!

Like the guys said about making your mind up when you see them. Do that with any game. If you are locked in you miss a great deal of the spontanaity. My only absolute is a Gemsbok. That is why I went over. I got a butt kicking here for showing a huge Roibok(thanks J.J.) that I chose not to shoot. I also did the same with a monster springbok(relative term with them). I did shoot a smallish kudu because the stock was spectacular and we got to whithin 120 yds when he scented or spotted us. I shot as he turned to run and he fell in his tracks. We wee hunting gemsbok that morning but cut his tracks crossing a dry river bed.

If you shoot one show us the photos with story so we can get a fix. Please.

Randy

I offered up a huge bull giraffe for 1500 bucks about two years ago. It was on an open cattle ranch hear the only water hole for miles. The cattle would not drink with this big bull there. The rancher called and offered it to me for my hunters. I had 6 guys in camp and not a single one wanted it. That is the biggest animal you will ever shoot for 1500 bucks!

I took the boys over in the cruiser and we snuck into the water. No bull? We waited a bit and saw his head above the trees about 70 yards out looking at us. I took a solid rest in the fork of the tree, and when he turned his head sideways I shot him that giant odd shaped noggin. He fell out of site like somebody pulled a run from under him.

Left the boys there for a few hours of disassembly and came back for him later. My partner redid his entire living room furniture in Giraffe skin, and I have the skull here in my trophy room. That is the biggest thing to date I have killed with my 30/06.

Most of the time giraffe are not complicated to hunt or shoot. But try doing it on foot walking up to them. From the truck it's easy, on foot they don't see you the same way. I'm going to shoot another one with my bow. I would love to take something that big with an arrow!

Okay, found the photo. Ignore the leopard and such.


Photo is thanks to Adam Clements of Safari Trackers. Link to the original thread:
Adam's San Antonio Trophy Room

The is little doubt I'd put a bullet in one for $1,500 but not for much more than that.

JJ
I have been told they are hard to handle as the skin is very thick which makes skinning hard. Any truth to that?

Randy

The skin in the chest of a giraffe is as thick and any skin of any animal I've seen including elephant and Rhino. I would guess in some places it's 3-4" thick. I have a photo here someplace with my fist next to the skin and you can see it above and below my hand.

It's skinned with a penga chopped off as you go, not a knife. It's also complex to salt it because the alt will not penetrate the several inches of gristle and skin to get to the hair roots. When it's a known event and we have a plan ahead of time the taxidermist and his crew are at the camp and we get them to the site after the harvest as soon as possible.

I'd whack one, no problem. Giraffes BTW are considered pachyderms, their hides are 1" thick and make stunning rugs for you den/trophy room.

Ummmm...it's kinda hard to ignore that springbok. Don't want to hijack the thread, but do you have any details?

There is no springbok in that picture?

There is a blackbuck, Thompsons Gazzelle, Bushbok

It's not a springbuck it's a Grant's.... or rather almost certainly a Grant's. I guess it's not impossible it could be a close relative but that's fairly unlikely.

Viewing a rug made from a giraffe hide will make your decision.

I'm pretty sure it's a Grant's Gazelle too (or else a huge Thomson's Gazelle). Grant's always have huge horns like that.

I'd lay odds it is a huge Tommy!

TT