Steenbok hunting in South Africa

Steenbok (Steenbuck) when directly translated from Afrikaans means “Brick Buck”, in reference to the reddish brick coloured coat. Some European hunters call them “Steinbok”. They form part of the “Tiny 10” pygmy antelope group. Although found in pairs, only the males have horns with white coloured underparts which can be distinctly seen when running away. They can easily be confused with Grysbuck. Steenbok are an open grassland species that require patches of long grass used to avoid and hide from predators. Steenbok populations are threatened by bush encroachment and poachers with dogs. They are predominantly found in arid to semi-arid regions and can be hunted in the Limpopo, North West, Northern and Eastern Cape. They are normally hunted as a trophy of opportunity during the earlier part of the day. Being a water independent species they can be found anywhere. During the heat of the day they rest up in a clearing under the shade of a tree which provides good visibility. Classified as a species of least concern by the IUCN, no special hunting permits are required.