Red brocket

Scientific name: Mazama americana

How weight is recorded: Carcass weight

Field notes

Appearance

Small solitary deer with reddish-brown to dark chestnut coat, darker on the back and lighter on the underside. Males possess short, straight antlers (4–6 cm); females are antlerless with a small frontal knob.

Size and weight

Males 3.5–5.5 kg, females 3–4.5 kg; body length 65–80 cm; shoulder height 30–35 cm.

Habitat

Red brocket inhabit dense tropical and subtropical forests, preferring humid lowland and foothill areas from sea level to approximately 2,000 m elevation. They favour thick understory vegetation and forest edge zones.

Distribution

Range extends from southern Mexico through Central America and into northwestern South America (Colombia and Venezuela). They occupy humid lowland forests and are most common in relatively undisturbed habitat.

Diet

Red brocket browse fallen fruits, leaves, buds, and fungi; fruit consumption peaks seasonally when availability is high.

Behaviour

Primarily solitary and crepuscular to nocturnal, becoming more active during dawn and dusk. They follow well-worn trails through dense cover and defecate in specific locations, creating visible sign.

Hunting tips

Locate animals by following worn trails, noting small droppings in clusters, and identifying hoof marks in soft ground. Hunt forest edges and dense understory during low-light hours, moving slowly and quietly into wind. Glass clearings and fallen fruit patches at dawn; approach is typically close-range stalking through thick vegetation.

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 7 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.