Central American red brocket

Scientific name: Mazama temama

How weight is recorded: Carcass weight

Field notes

Appearance

Small compact deer with reddish-brown to russet coat; males possess short, unbranched antlers (4–6 cm). Sexual dimorphism subtle; females lack antlers and are slightly smaller than males.

Size and weight

Males 3.5–4.5 kg, females 3.0–4.0 kg; body length 60–75 cm.

Habitat

Occupies dense tropical forests and secondary growth from sea level to ~2,000 m elevation. Favors thick understory cover, forest edges, and areas with mixed deciduous and evergreen vegetation.

Distribution

Found from southern Mexico through Central America to northern South America (Colombia, Venezuela). Prefers humid lowland and foothill forests with dense understory.

Diet

Browses leaves, fruit (especially fallen fruits), shoots, and vegetation; diet shifts seasonally toward fruits and fresh growth during wet months.

Behaviour

Primarily crepuscular and nocturnal; solitary or in pairs, highly secretive with a preference for thick cover. Leaves small droppings and moves short distances, remaining within a small home range.

Hunting tips

Look for small, pellet-like droppings clustered in runs, and subtle rubs on saplings and low vegetation. Approach thick forest edges and stream corridors during dawn or dusk; move slowly through cover and listen for movement. Stalking requires patience; these deer are easily spooked and will flush into dense brush when alarmed.

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 2 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.