The duiker is endemic to the dense forests of sub-Saharan Africa. Duikers are classified into forest duikers and bush duikers, depending on their preferred environment. The only known bush duiker, the grey common duiker, lives in savannas, whereas all forest species are found in the rainforests of sub-Saharan Africa.
Duikers are incredibly secretive and shy animals that prefer to hide in thickets or other deep cover. Even duikers that prefer to dwell in more open settings will quickly escape into thickets if they feel threatened.
The grey duiker is sometimes referred to as the common duiker. The blue duiker is the smaller of the species and can be found across Africa in regions including the continent’s centre, south, and east.
Little is known about duikers because of their scarcity and dispersed population; what little is known is based on the few species that have been extensively examined, including the red forest duiker, blue duiker, yellow-backed duiker, and the common grey duiker. As such, large-scale taxidermy of duikers is a stunning keepsake to commemorate a memorable hunt.
Duiker is a small antelope with keen hearing and eyesight, a brown coat that blends well with its surroundings, and a tendency to hide in or near dense vegetation, all of which make it particularly challenging for hunters.
In terms of the appropriate rifle when hunting grey duiker, almost every hunting calibre, starting with the .223, and going higher, will suffice.
When it comes to hunting blue duiker in Africa, a shotgun with a smaller gauge, such as a 20 gauge or .410, is the best option. The problem with using a rifle is that the duiker’s hide will be ruined by any expanding bullet. Due to time constraints, the hunter will have to take the best available shot.
When hunting blue duiker in Africa, the effective shooting range is 20-30 yards.
Dogs are used in the hunt for blue duikers in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. The hunter will be stationed at the end of an escape passage through thick vegetation, and the hounds will be set loose to drive the duiker down this bushy corridor.
Blue duikers are abundant across much of western central Africa and are therefore not at risk of extinction. As a result, you should expect a high success rate when hunting blue duiker in Africa.
The common or grey duiker, also known as the bush duiker, is distinct from other duikers in that it is more at home on savannah than in rainforest. South Africa is home to excellent hunting conditions, and its range encompasses much of Sub-Saharan Africa as long as there is adequate cover.
Rarely do hunters make the common duiker their primary target during a safari. While it is not always a target of a plains game hunt, it is sometimes taken as a trophy.
While there is no definitive “best” time to go on a hunt for a common duiker, many hunters find that the winter months of the Southern Hemisphere (May–September) are the most convenient for planning a hunt of any plains game.
Despite their diminutive stature and widespread distribution, duikers can prove to be devilishly tricky targets, as already noted. They can get the water they need from the plants they graze on, so it’s difficult to connect with them from a blind above a waterhole.
Furthermore, they prefer habitats with dense undercover, where they can detect the presence of hunters before the hunters even see them, which makes spot-and-stalk hunting difficult. As a result, common duikers are usually taken as a byproduct of hunting for other species.
The duiker’s short horns, which rest nearly flush on the animal’s back, make it difficult to gauge their size, and the few glimpses which trophy hunters usually get of the animal add to the challenge, as well as the excitement.
Our expert trackers will provide your best chance at succeeding in the exhilarating and challenging process of hunting duiker in South Africa. We employ a wide range of specialized tactics and facilitate hunts with both rifles and bows.
