Blesbok
Scientific name: Damaliscus pygargus
- How weight is recorded: Carcass weight
Field notes
Appearance
Sleek antelope with a distinctive white facial blaze and dark chestnut coat. Males are darker and more heavily built than females; both sexes carry straight, parallel horns. The rump patch is white.
Size and weight
Males 55–65 kg, females 45–55 kg; body length 135–160 cm. Shoulder height 80–95 cm.
Habitat
Blesbok inhabit open grasslands and plains, typically in areas with short to medium grass. They favour well-watered valleys and plateaus at moderate to high altitudes (1,200–2,600 m).
Distribution
Endemic to South Africa, historically restricted to the Free State and Eastern Cape provinces. They prefer open highveld grassland with perennial water sources.
Diet
Primary grazers on short, nutritious grasses; they occasionally browse forbs and will seek green growth after rain.
Behaviour
Primarily diurnal, most active in early morning and late afternoon. They are gregarious, forming herds of 5–40 individuals; males establish territories on good grazing grounds.
Hunting tips
Look for fresh dung pellets clustered in grazing areas and worn paths leading to water. Approach from downwind across open terrain, using undulations and scattered shrubs for cover. Blesbok have keen eyesight; stalk slowly and keep the sun at your back.
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 3 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.