Animal Size?

[Buffalo1]

I know that common duiker and steenbok are both about 21-22" shoulder height. What is the chest width of the body around the vital zone area? Also how thick are the animals in the vital zone area?

 

[Hank2211]

In my experience (I've shot both), the common or gray duiker is considerably bigger than a steenbok. But can't give you the measurements you're looking for. Perhaps a taxidermist?

 

[Tra3]

A duiker is about twice the size of a steenbok. I’ve shot both and have the skins from both. I would estimate the steenbok to only be about 5-6” thick at the chest. The duiker probably about 7”. Think small dog size.

 

[Buffalo1]

Thanks for the feedback. How you compare the size of the common duiker and steenbok to the size of a klipspringer?

 

[Hank2211]

A klippie (I have one too) is a little bigger than a steenbok, but not by much. Some might say about the same size. That makes them both smaller than common duiker. Note that the common duiker is the largest of the more "common" duikers, with the other more common ones - say the blue and the red - being much smaller (the blue is the size of a well-fed Parisian rat).

 

[Buffalo1]

I appreciate everyone's feedback to my question. It helped me in developing a more realistic practice size target

 

[Tra3]

That is a great idea to build a target the appropriate size. Even better if it can be next to a larger animal target for comparison. The small antelope appear much farther away in the scope, so a guy could incorrectly estimate distance in the rapid process of a hunt... and then politely shoot over the back of a nice one. I experienced just that and enjoyed the cheek burning shame of my first miss of the hunt.

 

[Buffalo1]

 

[Buffalo1]

I took everyone’s input and scaled a target that should be about the size of what I call a “steenduiker”!

Thanks for everyone’s help.

 

[Tra3]

Nice! That will be a great training tool.

(And If you turn in 90 degrees the Texas heart shot only will offer about a 1/8” room for error...)

 

[Tra3]

This photo is the skins of a steenbok, duiker, Blesbok. For size comparison.

 

[Buffalo1]

The skins help to put the animal size into perspective. Also help in identifying coloration.

I have seen duikers while riding in a vehicle, but I did not pay them much attention because I was not hunting them. Hopefully, in the future they will have my undivided attention.

 

[lpace]

I don't know if this will help with size estimation and comparison, but here is a pic of a common duiker with a person for scale comparison.