Beisa oryx

Scientific name: Oryx beisa

How weight is recorded: Carcass weight

Field notes

Appearance

Tawny-gray coat with distinctive long, straight horns that are slightly longer and more slender in males. Compact, muscular build with a dark stripe along the back and white underside; males noticeably larger and more robust than females.

Size and weight

Males 100–120 kg, females 70–95 kg; body length 160–210 cm.

Habitat

Arid and semi-arid shrubland and grassland, typically in broken terrain with scattered acacia and sparse grass cover. Found from sea level to 1,500 m elevation.

Distribution

Endemic to northeastern Africa, primarily in northern Kenya, eastern Ethiopia, and southern Somalia; inhabits open, arid plains and low scrubland.

Diet

Graze on grasses when available; browse acacia leaves, shoots, and pods year-round; highly adapted to drought and can sustain on sparse, dry vegetation.

Behaviour

Diurnal but most active in early morning and late afternoon; gregarious, forming small herds of 3–40 individuals; nomadic and cover substantial distances in search of water and forage.

Hunting tips

Look for tracks in sandy soil and near water sources; spoor shows characteristic hoof prints in tight patterns. Approach from downwind over broken terrain using low vegetation and rocky outcrops for cover. Stalk slowly during cooler hours when herds are more predictable; use binoculars to glass open ridges and dry valleys where groups congregate.

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.