Bates' Pygmy Antelope Hunting

Bates' pygmy antelope is also known as the Dwarf Antelope, Pygmy Antelope or Bates' Dwarf Antelope and as the name suggests, is very small. In fact it is the second smallest antelope species, the royal antelope beng the smallest in the world.

Bates' Pygmy Antelope Trophy Minimums

Where To Hunt The Bates' Pygmy Antelope

• The Bates' pygmy antelope occurs in the rainforests of Nigeria, south and south-east Cameroon, south-western CAR, Gabon, and northern Congo.
• There is a subspecies, Harrison's pygmy antelope, Neotragus harrisoni which is only found in north-east Congo.
• So the only place available to hunt this rabbit-sized antelope is in the rainforests of Cameroon.

Bates' Pygmy Antelope Hunting Prices

• This antelope is usually hunted while on a Cameroon forest hunt for one of the prized species such as bongo, forest elephant or forest buffalo. The Bates' pygmy antelope is a Group C species (when the groups include all huntable animals of Cameroon) from which you are allowed to hunt all the small animals listed.
• Note, when an outfitter is offering a Cameroon forest only hunt, the Bates' pygmy antelope may be in Group B.
• This hunt is not for the faint-hearted and it is usually the experienced hunter who attempts these hunts. If you think you could manage to walk or crawl through dense forest with sharp prickly vines, in 100% humidity, 100 degree temperature, with mosquitos and biting ants all over your body, trying to keep up with your pygmy tracker...well, rainforest hunting could be for you!
• There are a few hunters that do these uncomfortable rainforest hunts just to collect the Bates' pygmy antelope and the rarer duikers that occur there.
• Though very small, the Bates' pygmy antelope can command a hefty US$1000 trophy fee with some outfitters. Others charge less, with trophy fees ranging from US$250 to US$750. Trophy fees are also often quoted in Euros.

Bates' Pygmy Antelope Hunting Methods

• Hunting Bates' pygmy antelope can be time-consuming and takes patience.
• They are occasionally spotted while hunting other game, so if you want one, don't miss the chance.
• These antelopes usually stay in thick cover so spotting and stalking in dense forest is virtually impossible.
• However you may get lucky if you walk along logging roads, near cultivated patches of land or in newly regenerated forest areas. The Bates' pygmy antelope sometimes frequent these more open areas as they are known to eat crops.
• Still hunting on the edge of a forest clearing and using beaters may also work.
• The highly skilled pygmy trackers may find fresh dung sign of the Bates' pygmy antelope, so still hunting nearby might work as they move around their territory.

A Good Bates' Pygmy Antelope Trophy

• Any male Bates' pygmy antelope would be considered a good trophy.
• If the sloping back horns look to extend past the top of the ear - even better!

Bates' Pygmy Antelope Hunting Shot Placement

• Whether using a shotgun or rifle with a solid, aim at the chest area.

Male Bates' Pygmy Antelope Vital Statistics

• Shoulder Height: 20 - 22" / 50 - 57cm
• Weight: 4 - 7lbs / 2 - 3kg

Bates' Pygmy Antelope Habitat and Requirements

• Bates pygmy antelope live in moist lowland rainforests among dense, low undergrowth particularly along rivers. They eat leaves, buds, shoots, fungus and grass.

Bates' Pygmy Antelope Social Structure

• Bates' pygmy antelope is a solitary species inhabiting its own territory.

Bates' Pygmy Antelope Gestation Period

• After a gestation period of 6 months, one offspring is usually born.

Bates' Pygmy Antelope Gender Identification

• Only the male Bates' pygmy antelope has horns which slope back over their head.
• Both sexes have a shiny dark chestnut coat which becomes lighter toward the flanks.
• Males are slightly larger than females.

Bate's Pygmy Antelope Picture

Bate's Pygmy Antelope Trophy Permits (2015)

Bate's Pygmy Antelope Trophy Taxidermy

• Most hunters go for a full mount for their Bate's pygmy antelope trophy with surrounding habitat.

So Who Was Bates?

George Latimer Bates (1863- 1940 was an American ornithologist and botanist who lived and farmed in the south east Cameroon, He collected natural history specimens in his travels and sent many of these to the Natural History Museum in London. The Bates' pygmy antelope is only one of several species named after him, including a nettle, 5 birds, bat, tree mouse and shrew.

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Waterside Hunting

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Spiral Horned Antelope Hunting

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Large Antelope Hunting

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Medium Antelope Hunting

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Small Antelope Hunting

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