Pyrenean chamois

Scientific name: Rupicapra pyrenaica

How weight is recorded: Carcass weight

Field notes

Appearance

Both sexes are compact and muscular with a dark winter coat turning reddish-brown in summer; they display a distinctive white face with dark eye stripes and white rump patch. Males are noticeably larger and heavier than females, with both sexes bearing short, slightly hooked black horns.

Size and weight

Males: 45–55 kg, 75–85 cm body length. Females: 30–40 kg, 70–80 cm body length.

Habitat

Pyrenean chamois inhabit rocky, steep mountain terrain between 1,500–3,000 m altitude, preferring alpine meadows interspersed with cliff faces and scree slopes. They favour areas with short grass, low shrubs, and lichen-covered rock for foraging and escape terrain.

Distribution

Endemic to the Pyrenees (France and Spain), with populations concentrated in the central and eastern ranges where steep, rocky peaks provide ideal habitat.

Diet

Chamois are grazers and browsers, feeding primarily on alpine grasses, clover, and low herbs in summer; in winter they shift to lichen, woody shrubs, evergreen foliage, and bark.

Behaviour

Diurnal and most active during early morning and late afternoon; they are highly agile, moving in small herds of 5–15 animals year-round, with males sometimes solitary outside the rut.

Hunting tips

Look for fresh droppings (small, oval pellets) and hoof prints on scree; approach from below on steep slopes, using rock outcrops for cover to minimize silhouette. Stalk slowly into the wind during feeding periods, pausing frequently to glass meadows and cliff bases; chamois will often stand on ridgelines, making high-elevation vantage points valuable for spotting.

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 3 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.