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Hunting The Black-Fronted Duiker

Hunting The Black-Fronted Duiker

Black-fronted duikers have delicate horns and a sleek, dark coat with subtle, refined markings.

The black-fronted duiker (Cephalophus nigrifrons) is a territorial and monogamous antelope found in Central and West-Central Africa, including Kenya, Cameroon, Nigeria, and Angola. Five subspecies of the black-fronted duiker are recognized and targeted when hunting in Africa.

The black-fronted duiker flourishes in habitats of montane forests, and swamps, as well as regions with rivers and streams. They thrive in densely vegetated, wet areas and environments. They live mainly solitary lives, although sometimes an ewe and fawn are spotted or a pair of duikers. Territories are shared by a pair and marked with secretions and dung. These duikers have habitual paths that lead to sleeping areas and feeding areas, allowing them to be active both day and night.

These herbivorous antelopes feed on a variety of leaves, fruits, seeds, and other plant materials. Lichens are important for mountain-dwelling subspecies. Apart from man on a hunting adventure, predators of the black-fronted duiker include crocodiles, baboons, pythons, and eagles.

Listed by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) with a status of least concern, this duiker’s habitat is diminishing, and it is being targeted with both legal and illegal hunting safaris.

AT A GLANCE

Name:
Cephalophus nigrifrons

Male Weight:
31-40 pounds

Male Shoulder Height:
17 inches

Mating:
Year-round

Range:
Central and West-Central Africa

Life span:
7-9 years

Hunting Black-fronted duiker

The black-fronted duiker is known for its elusive nature and preference for dense forest habitats

Size and Appearance

The black-flanked duiker is a short, necked antelope that derives its name from the wide black streak that runs from its nose to its forehead. Its tail is short and black, with a white tip. Its coat is reddish to dark brown. Both sexes have short, sharp, pointed horns. Their hooves are elongated when compared to other duikers, perhaps an adaptation to the swampy, wet habitats that they prefer and thrive within, but even within these wet conditions, the black-backed duiker is an agile African plains game antelope.

Hunting Methods

The black-flanked duiker proves to be a testing hunting adventure, challenging a hunter’s tracking skills in the wet terrain. Spot-and-stalk techniques are also utilized, as well as ambush methods, by targeting the antelope from a blind.

Challenges and Rewards

As with any game hunting adventure, the thrill is in the hunt itself, targeting the antelope and successfully harvesting it, is a great reward. The challenge with such small antelopes is ensuring correct shot placement. The black-fronted duiker is known for being very alert, testing the hunter’s stalking skills to ensure an undetected approach.

Rifles and Requirements

When on a black-fronted duiker hunting adventure, a high caliber such as a .375 loaded with a solid can be used with good results. Hunters can make use of a shotgun but need to avoid using high calibers. A .308 or 30.06 loaded with solids is also an option on this game hunting safari.

MASTERING SHOT PLACEMENT FOR SMALL ANTELOPE

 

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