Common Reedbuck hunting in South Africa

The Common Reedbuck is a medium-sized antelope with similar colouring to a White-tailed Deer and short heavily ridged forward curving horns. It is mostly a nocturnal feeder preferring tall grass often associated with water and attracted to green pastures during the dry winter months. They are most active in the early morning and evening and spend most of the day bedded down. Sometimes called a Southern Reedbuck, this species is best hunted in the Midlands and Zululand regions of KwaZulu-Natal. They tend to lay-up, even keeping their heads as low as possible when detecting danger and will only flush from a hunter at the last moment. They will sound a loud whistle like danger call before bounding off with the white underside of their tail showing in true White-tail Deer fashion. Rated as one of the best tasting venisons in the country, they are popularly targeted by meat hunters where locally abundant. They are classified as a species of least concern by the IUCN and no special hunting permits are required. However, Common Reedbuck are listed as a Threatened or Protected Species (TOPS) requiring a prearranged permit prior to hunting.