Springbok

Scientific name: Antidorcas marsupialis

How weight is recorded: Carcass weight

Field notes

Appearance

A small antelope with a tan to reddish-brown back, white undersides, and a distinctive dark lateral stripe separating them. Males carry heavier horns than females.

Size and weight

Males weigh 37–56 kg and measure 130–156 cm in body length; females weigh 30–44 kg and measure 120–145 cm.

Habitat

Springbok inhabit arid and semi-arid savanna with scattered brush and sparse grassland, typically at elevations between 600–2200 metres.

Distribution

Springbok range across southern Africa, principally in Namibia, South Africa, and Botswana, occupying arid and semi-arid savanna ecosystems.

Diet

Springbok graze on grass and browse shrub shoots, but depend heavily on water availability; they also seek succulent vegetation after rainfall.

Behaviour

Crepuscular, most active at dawn and dusk, living in small herds of 10–30 animals that can aggregate into larger groups during droughts. When alarmed, they perform characteristic high, stiff-legged jumps (pronking) up to 2 metres.

Hunting tips

Look for small, rounded pellet droppings in clusters and fine, parallel hoof prints in soft substrate. Approach during dawn feeds along natural cover lines; they are extremely alert, so use wind and low profile to your advantage. Springbok are swift and vigilant—glassing waterholes during dry periods often yields sightings.

Carcass weight

This species is logged by carcass weight — the animal weighed dressed, the way hunting teams normally report it.

Where it is hunted

Listed as huntable in 4 countries in Huntify.

Names in other languages

These field notes are general species knowledge, not legal advice. Always check the current seasons, quotas and firearm rules where you hunt.