Golden jackal

Scientific name: Canis aureus

How weight is recorded: Whole weight

Field notes

Appearance

Sandy to reddish-gold coat with darker markings along the back and tail; smaller and more slender than a wolf with pointed ears and a narrow muzzle. Males average slightly larger and heavier than females.

Size and weight

Males 7–11 kg, females 6–9 kg; body length 70–105 cm including a 20–30 cm tail.

Habitat

Golden jackals favour open and semi-open terrain including grasslands, scrublands, agricultural areas, and light woodland. They adapt readily to varied altitudes from sea level to montane regions, tolerating both arid and humid environments.

Distribution

Native to North Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, and the Indian subcontinent; expanding northwestward into southeastern Europe; inhabits open plains and scrub zones rather than dense forest.

Diet

Omnivorous opportunist consuming small ungulates, rodents, hares, birds, insects, and carrion; shifts toward fruit and vegetation seasonally when available.

Behaviour

Primarily crepuscular and nocturnal, active at dawn and dusk with occasional daylight movement; highly social, forming monogamous pairs or small family groups that communicate via distinctive howling and barking.

Hunting tips

Track droppings and pug marks along watercourses and game trails; approach upwind using grass, scrub, and broken terrain for cover. Hunt singly or in pairs during early morning and late evening; move slowly and pause frequently to listen for their characteristic yaps and locate vocal individuals.

Whole weight

This species is logged by whole weight — the animal weighed entire, as taken.

Where it is hunted

Listed as huntable in 10 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.