Finally got a shot on mature bull and I rushed the shot. He was at a slow trot heading to brush. I was leading him but squeezed the trigger too soon and hit forward of his shoulder, maybe slightly high too with 140gr AB out of 280rem, 100yards also slightly quartering away. Good blood and chunks initially aw well as lots of bone fragments. Some bubbly blood to so im guessing hit some lung. Blood on each side of trail also. But damn it clotted up after about 150 yards. Im sick over this.

Sorry for your bad luck sir, know it's a terrible feeling. If it's any consolation, you aren't the first and you definitely won't be the last. Nilgai are unforgiving critters if shot poorly, especially the mature bulls. They can travel a good ways, even with lethal shots. But, if you learn from the experience you can have a different outcome next time.

I have found many bull skeletons tucked up into brush near water holes. If you know the place well, I'd give him a few hours then go check around the nearest water. Decent chance he'll head for it. Failing that, watch the sky for birds. Don't give up hope yet, give him some time, and later look some more! Good luck, we're rooting for you!

Thanks. Circled the area a while yesterday afternoon after i lost the blood trail. I had to work today but a buddy looked around this morning after his hunt and didnt find anything.

A good blood trailing dog would help. Forrest

They are extra tough. I put a 225 gr. Horn. Interlock through a shoulder at about 150 yrs. running. Had to trail him about
500 yds. and it still took another shot through the neck to finish him. Neither bullet penetrated all the way through.

Wow that is ridiculous tough..280rem is my most powerful rifle now. I see midwayusa has some 160 partitions so i may have to switch but these 140AB shoot really well. Next time im definitely avoiding the shoulder. Their necks are huge too, i wouldnt be surprised if a neck shot doesn't drop one if you dont sever the spinal cord.

The outfitter I used preferred behind the shoulder shots to increase the odds of a passthrough. I think allot of places require a minimum of a 300 win mag. You can obviously kill them with less but this is one instance where more gun is beneficial. Sorry about your bad luck. You can get it done with 280, just be more selective on your shots. Be ready for a follow up if you can get another shot in.

FWIW, I asked the outfitter about a neck shot. He said they typically drop but there isn't always a passthrough.

I have used 338 and 375s when hunting nilgai, and large antelope...nothing like a 250 to 300 grain bullet to go in and out....hope you find him, lots of good meat on the hoof.

Ed

.280 definitely too small if caliber for nilgai unless you have perfect shot

Painful, I have been there even with .300 win mag.
We killed couple two days ago and didnt have to look for the, with .338 win mag w 225 grain Barnes TSX, best set up have used or seen to date with my experience.

Yeah I hear the same thing. I know its all about shot placement but 140 sounds pretty light for a nilgai.

I shot mine with a 300 and will probably bring more gun next go round. I think the 338, 35 Whelen, 9.3s are the sweet spot for them but the 375 is not too much. I wouldn't say the 280 is the best choice but people kill them all the time with archery gear. I'd be looking at Barnes, Gmx, Etips, or Aframes if the 280 was the biggest gun I had to bring.

I just shot one last week. I showed up with my .338win mag. The guide asked me to us the ranch gun because they lost a nice bull 2 weeks prior. He felt the win mag was on the light side. The gun I used was a .338 laupua ( not sure on the spelling) 280 grain Barns x bullet. I hit the bull 4 inches behind shoulder a 1/3 of the way up from the bottom. He took it like a champ and ran about 65 yrds. They are extremely tough and don't bleed much.

Did you get an exit?

I was drawn for the nilgai hunt at Laguna Atascosa. Be interesting.

Yes it did exit. I realize now that I did hit him a little to far back. The vitals are farther forward than I thought. It did the job but I would put it almost right on the shoulder. But you need a big gun if you hit bone. They have heavy shoulders.

For as big as they are, they disappear very easily. I shot mine on my honeymoon and it ran down a caleche road and into some cedars. My husband, the guide and I were trailing it.They both passed it up, but you could hear this sound...I looked down and tucked into some cedars laying there like a resting horse was this Nilgai maybe 5 ft from me. Got my heart pumping even more than what it already was!

Janis

When you walk up on one you just shot and it tries to get up just as you get there and gives that death bellow, it'll curl your short hairs.