Grysbuck hunting in South Africa

South Africa boasts two species of Grysbok (Grysbuck), the Sharpe’s Grysbok and the more common in South Africa, the endemic Cape Grysbok. These small, shy and secretive animals form part of the “Tiny Ten” or “Pygmy Antelopes”. They are easily identified by their thickset body, large ears and coarse red hair with white flecks. Only the males have horns. Both species are very habitat specific with the Sharpe’s Grysbuck found mostly near the foothills of the Lebombo Mountain range of north-eastern Mpumalanga Province. The Cape Grysbok is distributed along the southern mountain valleys, old lands and coastal scrub-covered flats of the Eastern and Western Cape provinces where they feed on dense shrubs and succulents. They are best hunted walk and stalk style in the early morning or late afternoon when most likely to be active. Permits to hunt at night with a spotlight can be arranged through the nature conservation authorities, if necessary. In order to hunt a Sharpe’s Grysbuck a prearranged Threatened or Protected Species (TOPS) permit is required. Both species of Grysbok are listed as species of least concern by the IUCN.