Yucatan brown brocket

Scientific name: Mazama pandora

How weight is recorded: Carcass weight

Field notes

Appearance

Small, stocky brocket with reddish-brown to dark brown coat; males possess short, spike-like antlers (4–6 cm) while females are antlerless. Body compact and heavily built relative to size, with short legs and a small tail.

Size and weight

Males 16–20 kg, females 14–18 kg; body length 60–77 cm.

Habitat

Inhabits dense tropical and subtropical forests, including lowland rainforest, semi-deciduous forest, and secondary growth. Prefers areas with thick understory vegetation and proximity to water sources, typically from sea level to 1,500 m elevation.

Distribution

Endemic to the Yucatan Peninsula region of Mexico (Quintana Roo, Yucatán, Campeche). Restricted to lowland tropical forests where dense understory and humid conditions persist.

Diet

Primarily browses on leaves, buds, fallen fruit, and tender shoots; supplements with fungi and low vegetation depending on seasonal availability.

Behaviour

Solitary and crepuscular to nocturnal; most active at dawn and dusk. Territorial and shy; males mark territory with preorbital gland secretions and small rubs on vegetation. Moves cautiously through dense cover.

Hunting tips

Look for small, round droppings clustered on trails and bedding areas. Track the distinctive small, pointed hoofprints in soft soil or mud near water and fruiting trees. Approach quietly through dense understory cover during low-light hours; use wind to your advantage and move slowly, pausing frequently to listen and scan for movement. Focus on dense thickets and areas with fresh browse marks on low 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 1 country in Huntify.

Mexico

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.