Roan hunting takes place in open woodland and tall grass plains near waterholes. Outfitters often walk and stalk along game paths in the early morning or late afternoon, glassing for the telltale black and white face of a mature bull. Roan are wary and will quickly move off if disturbed, so hunters may spend hours tracking a herd and then running to intercept it for a clean shot. In South Africa, the roan is classified as a TOPS animal, and hunts are limited with special permits; some countries completely prohibit roan hunting, so opportunities are scarce.

Approximately 60,000 roan survive across Africa, but the species has vanished from parts of its former range and now mainly occurs in national parks and large reserves. Poaching, habitat loss and competition with livestock have driven regional declines, and roan is already regionally extinct in two countries. Five subspecies are recognised (southern, western, East African, Angolan and Sudan roan), and trophy hunting is carefully regulated with quotas or bans depending on the country. Sustainable hunting fees provide revenue for anti‑poaching patrols and encourage landowners to conserve the extensive grasslands required.