Puku are medium-sized antelope of the kob family which resemble lechwe but are smaller and lack the lechwe's brown foreleg markings.
Puku Trophy Minimums
| RW Minimum | RW Record | RW Measurement Method | SCI Minimum | SCI Record | SCI Measurement Method |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 163/4" | 221/8" | 7 | 45" | 586/8" | 1 |
Where To Hunt a Puku
The main large populations of puku only now occur in Kilombero valley of Tanzania and the Kafue and Luangwa areas of Zambia. Zambia is thecountry of choice for puku hunting success.
The odd puku turns up in the far east of the Caprivi area of Namibia and Zambezi area of northwest Zimbabwe.
Puku Hunting Prices (For Informative Use Only)
Puku Hunting Methods
- Walking and stalking in the likely habitat for puku which is never far from water.
- They are best found at dawn or dusk grazing on flood plains or in open woodland near water.
A Good Puku Trophy
- Look for good horn length and thick bases.
- If the first bend in the horns starts above the level of the ear tip, it is likely to be a good trophy puku.
Puku Hunting Shot Placement
- Puku antelope shot placement is similar to other antelope plains game species. (Look at Impala)
Puku Vital Statistics
- Shoulder Height: 31" / 80cm
- Weight: 150-180lbs / 70-80kg
Puku Habitat And Requirements
- Puku, which are pre-dominantly grazers, prefer open grass areas near water.
- They can also be found in bush areas and low woodland very close to water.
Puku Social Structure
- Puku live in mixed herds of about 6 + individuals and batchelor herds.
Puku Gestation Period
- After a gestation period of around 7 months, one offspring is born.
Puku Gender Identification
- The strongly ridged horns are found only in males.
- Males are larger and more heavy in the body.
Male Puku
Puku Trophy Permits (2015)
| CITES | USF&W | EU | AUS |
|---|---|---|---|
| N/A | sN/A | N/A | N/A |
Puku Trophy Taxidermy
- As with most medium-sized African antelope, most hunters go for a shoulder mount as the best taxidermy display. However a skull mount on a shield looks very effective. Don't forget to instruct your taxidermist not to blacken the horns if you want them to look natural.
Puku Shoulder Mount
What About The Name?
- Why is this antelope called a puku? 'Puku' is the Tswana name for this animal.
- The antelope was named Kobus vardonii by David Livingstone in honour of fellow explorer, Major Frank Vardon. Major Vardon was hunting with William Cotton Oswell in South Africa when he met Livingstone.
- Livingstone was apparently the first to discover the puku on the upper Zambezi river in 1851.