Duiker Hunting
You will probably see the bush duikers all over the place as you hunt. You need to be quick to get a shot as they don't hang around for long before streaking off into the thick bush.
Duikers are small antelopes that inhabit forest or dense bushland. The smallest is the blue duiker and the largest is the yellow-backed duiker.
Duikers have low-slung bodies on slender legs, wedge-shaped heads topped by a crest of long hair, and relatively large eyes.
Only the huntable duikers are considered here - there are many more...
Duiker Trophy Minimums
| Cephalophus spadix (Abbott's Duiker) |
| RW Minimum |
RW Record |
RW Measurement Method |
SCI Minimum |
SCI Record |
SCI Measurement Method |
| 3" |
43/8" |
7 |
N/A |
11" |
1 |
| Cephalophus dorsalis (Bay Duiker) |
| RW Minimum |
RW Record |
RW Measurement Method |
SCI Minimum |
SCI Record |
SCI Measurement Method |
| 23/8" |
47/8" |
7 |
5" |
102/16" |
1 |
| Cephalophus niger (Black Duiker) |
| RW Minimum |
RW Record |
RW Measurement Method |
SCI Minimum |
SCI Record |
SCI Measurement Method |
| 23/8" |
67/8" |
7 |
3" |
1014/16" |
1 |
| Cephalophus nigrifrons (Black-Fronted Duiker) |
| RW Minimum |
RW Record |
RW Measurement Method |
SCI Minimum |
SCI Record |
SCI Measurement Method |
| 21/2" |
43/4" |
7 |
N/A |
515/16" |
1 |
| Philantomba monticola (Blue Duiker) |
| RW Minimum |
RW Record |
RW Measurement Method |
SCI Minimum |
SCI Record |
SCI Measurement Method |
| 11/4" |
27/8" |
7 |
4" |
614/16" |
1 |
| Sylvicapra grimmia grimmia (Grey, Common, Southern Bush Duiker) |
| RW Minimum |
RW Record |
RW Measurement Method |
SCI Minimum |
SCI Record |
SCI Measurement Method |
| 41/2" |
71/8" |
7 |
11" |
1312/16" |
1 |
| Sylvicapra grimmia hindei (East African Bush Duiker) |
| RW Minimum |
RW Record |
RW Measurement Method |
SCI Minimum |
SCI Record |
SCI Measurement Method |
| 37/8" |
61/8" |
7 |
11" |
13" |
1 |
| Cephalophus natalensis harveyi (Harvey's Red Duiker) |
| RW Minimum |
RW Record |
RW Measurement Method |
SCI Minimum |
SCI Record |
SCI Measurement Method |
| 21/2" |
5" |
7 |
6" |
1212/16" |
1 |
| Cephalophus maxwelli (Maxwell's Duiker) |
| RW Minimum |
RW Record |
RW Measurement Method |
SCI Minimum |
SCI Record |
SCI Measurement Method |
| 11/8" |
25/8" |
7 |
3" |
71/16" |
1 |
| Cephalophus ogilbyi (Ogilby's Duiker) |
| RW Minimum |
RW Record |
RW Measurement Method |
SCI Minimum |
SCI Record |
SCI Measurement Method |
| 33/8" |
47/8" |
7 |
5" |
712/16" |
1 |
| Cephalophus callipygus (Peter's Duiker) |
| RW Minimum |
RW Record |
RW Measurement Method |
SCI Minimum |
SCI Record |
SCI Measurement Method |
| 3" |
57/8" |
7 |
6" |
158/16" |
1 |
| Cephalophus rufilatus (Red-Flanked Duiker) |
| RW Minimum |
RW Record |
RW Measurement Method |
SCI Minimum |
SCI Record |
SCI Measurement Method |
| 21/2" |
41/8" |
7 |
7" |
11" |
1 |
| Cephalophus natalensis (Natal Red Duiker) |
| RW Minimum |
RW Record |
RW Measurement Method |
SCI Minimum |
SCI Record |
SCI Measurement Method |
| 21/2" |
41/4" |
7 |
8" |
11" |
1 |
| Cephalophus leucogaster (Gabon, White-Bellied Duiker) |
| RW Minimum |
RW Record |
RW Measurement Method |
SCI Minimum |
SCI Record |
SCI Measurement Method |
| 23/4" |
5" |
7 |
N/A |
62/16" |
1 |
| Sylvicapra grimmia grimmia (Southern Bush Duiker) |
| RW Minimum |
RW Record |
RW Measurement Method |
SCI Minimum |
SCI Record |
SCI Measurement Method |
| 41/2" |
71/8" |
7 |
11" |
1312/16" |
1 |
| Sylvicapra grimmia coronata (Western Bush Duiker) |
| RW Minimum |
RW Record |
RW Measurement Method |
SCI Minimum |
SCI Record |
SCI Measurement Method |
| 33/8" |
61/4" |
7 |
10" |
126/16" |
1 |
| Cephalophus sylvicultor (Yellow-Backed Duiker) |
| RW Minimum |
RW Record |
RW Measurement Method |
SCI Minimum |
SCI Record |
SCI Measurement Method |
| 41/2" |
83/8" |
7 |
13" |
1712/16" |
1 |
Duiker Facts
Habitat and Requirements
- Duikers are divided into two groups: forest duikers and bush duikers.
- The forest duikers frequent the open areas of the rainforests, only going into dense undergrowth to hide.
- Bush duikers prefer savannah woodlands and are not found far from cover.
Social Structure
Some duikers are solitary and others are known to live as monogamous pairs.
Gestation Period
- After a gestation periods range between 4-6 months, one offspring is usually born.
Duiker Gender Identification
- Even though the female bush duiker are larger than the males, they usually do not have horns.
- Male and female forest duikers are about the same size and both have horns.
- Duiker horns are small and spikelike, lying so flat against the head that they are not too useful in fighting.
Duiker Hunting Methods
- Walking and stalking in the likely habitat.
A Good Duiker Trophy
- Look for thick bases and good horn length. If the horns extend beyond the ears you have a good trophy.
Duiker Hunting Shot Placement
Duiker Pictures
(Place cursor over photographs to enlarge)
Recommended Reading
Duikers Of Africa - Masters Of The African Forest Floor by Vivian Wilson is the most in-depth study of duikers ever produced. It is based on 12 years of field work.
More African Game Animals
