Found in tropical Africa, the Water Chevrotain is the largest of the 10 species of Chevrotains and is a small antelope-like mammal, slightly larger than a small hound. Inhabiting coastal regions, it prefers a habitat of tropical lowland forests and closed-canopy forests. The Water Chevrotain can be found in many African countries, including Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Togo.

This tiny nocturnal creature prefers a solitary lifestyle and only interacts during mating. They spend their nights foraging for food, aided by their sharp sense of smell. The animal enjoys an omnivorous diet that includes fruit, foliage, insects, and fish, and they are also known to scavenge and consume carrion.

Days are spent resting and sleeping while hiding in the thick undergrowth. If they feel threatened, they flee to the water, where they swim and dive, staying underwater for up to 4 minutes to evade predators. Being so small, this mammal has many predators, including crocodiles, leopards, servals, genets, mongooses, eagles, hawks, and snakes.

The IUCN lists their conservation status as “least concern.”

AT A GLANCE

Name:
Hyemoschus aquatious

Male Weight:
15-35 pounds

Male Shoulder height:
14 inches

Range:
Sub-Saharan Africa

Mating:
Throughout the Year

Gestation Period:
7-9 months

Life span:
8 years

Size and Appearance

During your African hunt, be on the lookout for a tiny animal with a hunched back with a red-brown coat. Its underbelly is pale. The red coat has a pattern of pale whitish stripes that run from the shoulder to the tail, with the tail being short. The chin, throat, and chest have small patterns across them. The Water Chevrotain has a small head, with short rounded ears. The animal’s legs are short and thin. The female of the species is larger than the male, with neither sex having horns.

Hunting Methods

Be prepared to work hard for this minute game hunting trophy. Water chevrotain hunting methods include ambushing the animal at water sources, baiting with the fruit, or tracking it through the dense forest vegetation.

Challenges & Rewards

Being nocturnal, the Water Chevrotain is often hard to spot during daylight hours, and this, together with the dense forest undergrowth makes for a challenging stalk. Plan your African hunting safari for early morning or late afternoon when they are more active.

The reward for harvesting this tiny trophy and adding it to a trophy room is immense and is sure to be a talking point for years to come.

Rifles & Requirements

Water chevrotain hunting safaris require accurate shot placement for an ethical hunt and the correct rifle choice to harvest this game hunting trophy. Depending on conditions and terrain, suggested calibers include a .22, .243 Winchester, or .30-03 Winchester.