Waterbuck hunting in Zimbabwe

Waterbuck are a heavy mule-like antelope with a long shaggy coat. Males carry impressive forward curving horns and are an easily identifiable animal with their white trademark ringed rump. This animal is very clumsy on its hooves, often kicking over stones in hilly areas and is sometimes heard before being seen. Waterbuck are found countrywide but are especially prevalent in the Matetsi area, Zambezi Valley, Limpopo Valley and Lowveld regions. They inhabit areas like the open woodlands, grasslands, hilly country, reedbeds and Kariba floodplains. They are seldom found far from water. Waterbuck have a foul-smelling oily secretion on their coats that can often be smelt on a cold winter’s morning in areas where they bedded overnight. They are hunted mainly for their horns and have only recently been accepted as a meat animal as many believe that the meat is tainted, which may occur if not skinned properly when the fur touches the meat. They have been known to become aggressive when wounded so always approach a shot animal with caution. Classified as a species of least concern by the IUCN, no special hunting permits are required.