Waterbuck Hunting

Waterbuck is a large popular plains game trophy animal found in most parts of Africa. The common waterbuck has a large elliptical ring around the rump while the defassa subspecies have a solid white rump patch.

Waterbuck Trophy Minimums

Kobus ellipsiprymnus (Common Waterbuck)
RW Minimum	RW Record	RW Measurement Method	SCI Minimum	SCI Record	SCI Measurement Method
28"	39¹/₄"	7	67"	77²/₈"	1

Kobus defassa unctuosus (Sing Sing Waterbuck)
RW Minimum	RW Record	RW Measurement Method	SCI Minimum	SCI Record	SCI Measurement Method
27"	36¹/₄"	7	68"	74⁶/₈"	1

Kobus defassa defassa (Typical, East African Waterbuck)
RW Minimum	RW Record	RW Measurement Method	SCI Minimum	SCI Record	SCI Measurement Method
27"	35"	7	60"	74⁵/₈"	1

Kobus defassa ugandae (Ugandan Defassa Waterbuck)
RW Minimum	RW Record	RW Measurement Method	SCI Minimum	SCI Record	SCI Measurement Method
33⁷/₈"	39¹/₄"	7	N/A	N/A	1

Kobus defassa crawshayi (Crawshay's Waterbuck)
RW Minimum	RW Record	RW Measurement Method	SCI Minimum	SCI Record	SCI Measurement Method
25"	31¹/₄"	7	55"	66⁴/₈"	1

Waterbuck Facts

Habitat and Requirements

Waterbuck, as the name suggests, need to live close to water.
Prefers grassland for grazing adjacent to woodland.

Social Structure

Batchelor herds of between 5 and 40 males are often found associating with female herds.
There is a strict ranking between the males, though the herd changes with frequent comings and goings.

Gestation Period

After a gestation period of around 8-9 months, one offspring is born.

Waterbuck Gender Identification

The most conspicuous feature of this antelope is a large white 'halo' or hollow ring which surrounds the base of the tail on the rump. In the defassa waterbuck, the area within the circle is covered with white hair, creating a rump patch.
The body is heavyset, and the strong legs are black in colour.
The heavily ridged horns are found only in males and sweep in an arc backwards and upwards, with the tips pointing forwards

Waterbuck Hunting Methods

Walk and stalk in the likely habitat.

A Good Waterbuck Trophy

Horn length, thick bases and symmetry will all go to make a good trophy. Horn length can only really be judged from side view of the animal.
The best trophy quality is generally found in outcast, solitary old bulls.