The gray duiker is found only in the tropical and subtropical regions of southern Africa. Due to their habitat preferences, duikers are split into two groups: forest duikers and bush duikers. The gray common duiker is the sole species of bush duiker, and it lives in savannas, while all other duikers are located in the sub-Saharan African rainforests.
Gray duikers are extremely reclusive and timid creatures that like to stay out of sight amid dense vegetation. When they feel threatened, even duikers who prefer to live in open areas will quickly flee into thickets.
The gray duiker is nocturnal, meaning it feeds primarily between the hours of twilight and dawn, and it spends the day sleeping in one of its preferred hiding spots in the scrub or grass. This tiny antelope can outrun most canines that chase it thanks to its incredible speed and endurance.
Males are extremely territorial, and they will use preorbital secretions to mark their territory and will aggressively protect it from other males. They are often spotted when resting on a high perch with a view of their domain.
About two animals can be found every square kilometre in natural settings. When young duikers are caught, they make a loud bleat that sends the parents scrambling to their rescue.
The coat can range in colour from light reddish brown to a weathered gray, depending on the animal’s latitude. White appears on the undersides with a black muzzle, nasal bridge, and front legs. The top of the short tail is black, making a stark contrast to the fluffy white underside. One long, pointed ear is separated from the other by a tuft of hair on the forehead.
Typically speaking, females are larger than males. Males often have longer, more slender horns that measure 7-18 cm (about 3-7 inches) in length. Because of the greater vertical space available, the horns of this duiker species are set in a more upright position than those of other duiker species.
The gray duiker is a tiny antelope that is notoriously difficult to hunt due to its exceptional hearing and vision, camouflaging coat, and propensity to hide in or near dense foliage.
Rifles of any hunting calibre, beginning with the .223 and moving higher, are suitable for hunting gray duiker.
Unlike some other duikers, the gray duiker (sometimes called the bush duiker) prefers the savannah to the jungle. South Africa has some of the best hunting in the world, and the species is found throughout most of Sub-Saharan Africa as long as there is cover.
When on a hunting trip, gray duikers are usually not the main focus of the hunt. Although it is not always sought after as a trophy, it is sometimes taken during a plains game hunt.
There is no “optimal” period to hunt a gray duiker, however many people find that the winter months of the Southern Hemisphere (May–September) are the most convenient.
As mentioned before, despite their small size and extensive distribution, gray duikers can prove to be devilishly tough prey. Being in a blind above a waterhole isn’t the best place to make contact with them because they may acquire all the water, they need from the vegetation they graze on.
Moreover, they like densely overgrown environments, making spot-and-stalk hunting difficult as gray duiker can sense the presence of the predator before the predator even spots it. Therefore, gray duikers are typically targeted as a chance encounter during the course of hunting for other animals.
The small horns of the gray duiker, which lie nearly flush on the animal’s back, make it difficult to judge the size of the animal, and the scant opportunities for sightings that trophy hunters typically have only add to the difficulty and excitement of the hunt.
You can trust our professional trackers to provide you the greatest possible chance of a successful gray duiker hunt in South Africa. We utilise an assortment of specialist methods and make it easy to hunt with both rifles and bows.
