Hunting baboon
Hunting the Chacma baboon (Papio ursinus)
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Best recommended caliber to hunt |
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First rifle handy! 22-250, 222, 223, 243, 270, 30-06, 308, 300 WM or any comparable caliber. |
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Hunting notes:
Hunting a baboon can be an extremely challenging hunt as these primates have incredible eyesight and always have a lookout perched somewhere where the hunter forgot to look. Baboons are gregarious, which means that they are always in a troop and have many other eyes and ears available acting like mini, effective alarm systems. When one barks, the whole troop without question disappear from sight. At other times it can be so easy to hunt one that it is almost laughable; they can be equally as stupid.
The best suggested caliber for hunting baboons is from a 243 and up. You need a flat shooting caliber because some of the shots can be at a distance from 100 yards and up and they are not the biggest targets.
It is almost impossible to do a traditional walk-and-stalk tactic (it has been done) but sitting well camouflaged with a steady rest can lead to success. Finding their habitual route to their feeding grounds early in the morning, and again when they return to their roost in the late afternoon, the hunter can set up a suitable ambush spot.
Males are distinguished from the females by shear body size. The wily males are much larger than their female counter parts.
Remember, baboons are CITES I animals (primates) and require a permit to be imported to your country of origin.
Description:
Baboons have dark yellowish-gray to dark brown and almost black fur. Their faces are black with white hair below the eyes and on the muzzle. It has a dog-like face and large, prominent canines.
Habitat:
Woodland, grassland, acacia scrub and semi-desert including small hills, cliffs and mountains close to a water source. Baboons are frugivorous (animal that eats fruit) but leaves; small vertebrates (like gazelle) and invertebrates also form part of the diet.
Reproduction:
Baboons have a promiscuous mating system. Lots of aggression between males exists because of competition for females. The Chacma baboon gives birth to a single offspring after eliciting the male she chooses to mate with.
General:
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Gestation period |
187 days |
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Avaerage shoulder height |
29″ |
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Average weight |
males |
70 lbs – 135 lbs |
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females |
35 lbs |
Horns: None
