Bushpig

Scientific name: Potamochoerus larvatus

How weight is recorded: Carcass weight

Field notes

Appearance

Dark brown to blackish coat with a distinctive white or pale stripe running from forehead to rump; males are stockier with prominent facial warts and larger tusks than females. Ears are tufted and upright.

Size and weight

Males 45–110 kg, females 35–80 kg; body length 60–110 cm.

Habitat

Bushpigs favour dense thickets, riverine woodland, and cultivated areas from sea level to 2,600 m elevation. They prefer areas with thick undergrowth and access to water.

Distribution

Sub-Saharan Africa from Guinea to South Africa, inhabiting forest margins, montane thickets, and agricultural zones across their range.

Diet

Primarily roots, tubers, fallen fruit, and invertebrates; opportunistically feed on crops, carrion, and vegetation depending on seasonal availability.

Behaviour

Crepuscular and nocturnal, most active from dusk through early morning. Solitary or in small family groups; move through dense cover with frequent stops to root and listen.

Hunting tips

Track sign includes deep rut lines, overturned soil, and fibrous droppings in clusters along regular pathways. Glass clearings and water sources at dawn and dusk; approach downwind using dense cover to close distance. Listen for rooting sounds and watch for animals emerging from thickets during low-light periods.

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 9 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.