Sable hunts typically involve covering large tracts of Miombo woodland or savannah to locate a herd. Hunters use a vehicle to glass open glades for the distinct curved horns and then disembark to stalk quietly into position. Bowhunters may sit in blinds over salt licks or waterholes, but most rifle hunters prefer to spot and stalk during the cooler hours of morning and late afternoon. The dry season is generally favoured because sparse vegetation improves visibility and bulls are more active around water sources.

Approximately 75 000 sable live across 11 African countries. Habitat loss and competition with domestic livestock have caused local declines, and the giant sable (H. n. variani) of Angola is listed on CITES Appendix I and classified as Endangered. In some regions, community‑based conservation projects offer pastoralists premium prices for livestock if they protect wildlife and habitat. Although not specifically noted for the Roosevelt subspecies, regulated hunting in southern Africa funds habitat management and encourages landowners to maintain viable sable populations.