Blue wildebeest
Scientific name: Connochaetes taurinus
- How weight is recorded: Carcass weight
Field notes
Appearance
Wildebeest have a robust, ox-like body with slate-blue to dark grey coat. Males are noticeably larger and darker than females, with prominent horns that curve forward and inward.
Size and weight
Males weigh 150–200 kg, females 130–170 kg. Body length ranges from 200–240 cm.
Habitat
Blue wildebeest inhabit open savannahs, grasslands, and semi-arid plains with reliable water access. They range from sea level to approximately 3,000 metres elevation.
Distribution
Found across eastern and central Africa, particularly in Tanzania and Kenya. Most abundant in open and semi-open savanna habitats.
Diet
They graze primarily on grass year-round but switch to browsing foliage during dry seasons when grass quality declines.
Behaviour
Mostly diurnal, active especially at dawn and dusk. Live in large herds that are highly mobile and undertake seasonal mass migrations in search of fresh grazing.
Hunting tips
Look for broad hoof prints and distinctive cubic droppings at grazing areas. Locate them near grasslands and water sources at dawn or dusk. Stalk into the wind—sight is excellent but their sense of smell is their primary alarm.
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 8 countries in Huntify.
Names in other languages
Current language: en
These field notes are general species knowledge, not legal advice. Always check the current seasons, quotas and firearm rules where you hunt.