Game

Game on Goudfontein and the neighbouring farms includes various indigenous and non-indigenous animals that roam freely across the boundaries. Animals available for hunting are:

Springbok: These beautiful and graceful antelopes, probably the only true gazelle in the subregion, are inhabitants of the more arid western parts of South Africa. They are unmistakable animals; both males and females carry horns (up to 45 cm), although those of the females are smaller and thinner. They are gregarious and form small herds. Normally they move slowly but can gallop at speeds of in excess of 80 km per hour. Their shoulder height is some 75 cm. Males reach a weight of 40 kg and females 35 kg. In the Karoo areas Springbuck are smaller than in the Kalahari region but can reach a carcass weight of 20 kg. On Goudfontein and neighboring farms there is also a black and a white variety, which are mutations, available for hunting.

Blesbok are easily mixed up with the more colourful bontebuck. Both sexes carry horns and during colder seasons aggregate into very large herds, sometimes up to as many as 600 individuals. Their shoulder height is some 120 cm. Females may reach a weight of up to 120 kg and males up to 140 kg. The horns reach 45 cm. The carcass weight may go up to 50 kg. There is also a white variety available for hunting.

Mountain Reedbuck: This medium to small (shoulderheight 73 cm) antelope is overall greyish to greyish brown with pure white underparts. This makes it difficult to spot in the Karoo winter landscape as they often hide dead still and only run once approached to within several meters away. Their preferred habitats are rocky hills, steep river banks and the slopes and terraces, rather than the summits, of hills and mountains. Only the males carry horns of up to 32 cm. Males may weigh up to 30 kg and females up to 25 kg. <Top>

The Vaal (Grey) Rhebuck is a slender and graceful antelope associated with rocky mountain slopes and plateaux and rocky hills with good grass cover. They are accomplished jumpers, able to leap gracefully over quite high obstacles. They can reach a shoulder height of 75 cm and a mass of 20 kg. Only males carry horns (up to 28 cm long) which are almost straight but curve slightly forward. Vaal Rhebuck usually live in small parties of up to 20 animals, with various other groupings including solitary males and family groups. <Top>

Steenbok are small antelopes (shoulder height up to 50 cm) inhabiting open country, but not occurring in forest, dense woodland, rocky hills or mountains. Only males carry horns (up to 18 cm long). Steenbok are solitary except when the female is with calf or, when in oestrus, is accompanied by male. They lie flat to escape detection, hide in grass and will only flush at the last moment, running off rapidly. Female weigh up to 12 kg, males up to 11 kg. <Top>

The Common Duiker, also known as the grey or crowned duiker, is a small antelope (shoulder height 52 cm) inhabiting all but desert areas and favouring bush cover. They are solitary, mainly diurnal animals, active usually in the early mornings and late afternoons, with activity extending late into the night. They are habitually secretive and, if disturbed, will steal away with head lowered and tail up, or will leap away at the last moment. Only males have horns, maximum length about 18 cm, but very occasionally the females have short stunted horns. Males can reach a maximum weight of 18 kg, while females may weigh up to 20 kg. <Top>

The Blue Wildebeest prefers the open grassland, floodplain grassland and bush savanna habitat, but will also utilise light woodland. They are diurnal and are most active during the morning and late afternoon, resting in the heat of the day. Both sexes carry horns with those of the female being less robust (70 cm long). Males may reach a mass of 250 kg with a shoulderheight of 150 cm. Females reach a weight of some 180 kg and stand at 135 cm. <Top>

The Black Wildebeest, also known as the white-tailed gnu, once ranged in their hundreds of thousands accross the central open karoid plains of South Africa, but have been decimated by persitent hunting and agriculture. These peculiar animals are bad-tempered and dangerous when cornered. Both sexes carry horns, with those of the females being shorter and less robust. Males can weigh up to 180 kg and stand at a shoulder height of 120 cm while females weigh up to 145 kg at a shoulderheight of 110 cm. <Top>

The Gemsbok is one of the most beautiful antelope on the African continent and once roamed large parts of it. Their habitat predominantly is desert and semi-desert, but also open savanna and bush savanna. They are mainly diurnal, with some activity on moonlit nights. Gemsbok are gregarious animals forming herds of up to 12 animals and smaller bachelor herds. In seasons of plenty they tend to congregate into larger herds. Both sexes carry horns, with those of the female being longer and thinner (up to 110 cm). Otherwise they are difficult to distinguish from each other. Male gemsbok can reach a mass of 235 kg. Females are usually somewhat lighter at 210 kg. Both reach a shoulder height of 120 cm. <Top>

Next to the gemsbok there is only the Kudu that can match the beauty and grace. This large lordly antelope of the African veld loves mountainous areas with rocky, broken terrain with water nearby and prefers scrubby woodland for food and protection. A fully grown male can weigh up to 250 kg and the female up to 200 kg. Characteristic of the males are the beautiful, symmetrical spiral horns with a maximum length in excess of 175 cm. Generally only the males carry horns. Males reach a shoulder height of 150 cm and females 135 cm. <Top>

The European Fallow Deer can be found in a variety of habitats but have a preference for deciduous and mixed woodland. It is not indigenous to Africa but has adapted well in the Karoo. Fallow adhere to an annual cycle of antler shedding and regrowth.  As a buck gets older the antlers become larger and more palmated until the animal reaches its prime. The adult male or buck stands about 90-95 cm at the shoulder and can weigh upward of 70 kg, depending upon the time of the year and condition. Does are slightly smaller than the buck, standing 80-85 cm at the shoulder and weighing about 45 kg. More information about the fallow deer can be found at the Deer-UK website.

Animals to be seen on the farms, but not necessarily available for hunting include:

The Bushpig is a denizen of forest, riparian undercover, thick bush, reedbeds or tall thick grass. Proximity to water is essential. They are rarely seen due to their secretive and nocturnal habits. They can weigh up to 80kg and reach a shoulder height of 65cm. Bushpigs are agressive and dangerous and will, rather than retreat, move forward and are more than able to inflict serious wounds with their sharp tusks. <Top>

The Black-backed Jackal is often regarded as a problem animal which is relentlessly hunted by farmers, who claim serious stock losses. Jackals have a wide habitat tolerance, favouring drier bushveld and savanna grassland types, but not forests. They actively hunt smaller prey such as small antelope and the very young of larger antelope as well as hares, mongooses and a large variety of rodents. They will take young sheep and goats but also snakes, lizards, insects and scorpions. <Top>

Caracal are unmistakable and are best known for the tuft of hair on their ear tips. They are secretive, probably strictly crepuscular and nocturnal and are very rarely seen during the day. Caracal are relentlessly persecuted because of their reputation as stock killers. Where this does occur and even where mass killings have been recorded, the incidence of stock destruction is sufficiently scant to overlook these depredations and allow the animal to be left to its niche in nature. Mammals, reptiles and maily birds comprise their food. On occasion they also kill domestic stock and poultry. <Top>

Most of the above pictures and text are adapted from Southern African Mammals; A field guide by Robin Frandsen; 1992. <Top>