The Duiker.
Male Female
  Photo Åke Sjöström ©
The Duiker is the biggest little trophy a walk & stalk bowhunter could harvest. It is a very shy small animal. It shows itself only in early morning and just before dark. It is the fastest stringjumper I have ever came across. I have taken five shots at Duikers and never harvested one. Now you probably think that I cant shoot or is a complete idiot. And that is maybe so, but I will give you the storys.

Shot nr 1.
I am walking on my way to camp when I see a movement 45/50 meters ahead. The road I walk have a canopy of trees that overgrows it so its almost like walking in a tunnel. Very fine sand covers the ground so my footsteps is whisper quiet. Slowly I walk closer and the Duiker walks out and stands in the middle of the road when I am at a distance of 40 meters from him. It is a big male with trophybook size horns (slightly bigger than toothpicks). He stands in the road for a short while then he heads for a small bush beside the road. He sticks his head in the bush to browse and horn it at the same time. I draw, aim and release as he horns the bush because i think that he make so much noise that he don´t hear my bow. When the arrow reach the 40 meter mark he have already turned 180 degrees and moved to the other side of the road. That’s how fast they are! I analyzed what happened and came to the conclusion that the “tunnel” of plants maybe could have channelled the noise from my bow and somehow made it louder. Further more I decided not to shoot at longer distance than 30 meters in prime conditions.

Shot nr 2.
I come walking in a mixed terrain of sanddunes and heavy brush when I see a Duiker baby and the rear part of his mother. I stalk them so I am about 25 meters from them, just enjoying the view, not a single thought of nocking an arrow. I stand and watch the little one and the rear part of his mother for a couple of minutes when the mother turns out to be the father, or at least a male! The female have no horns. Normally I don’t get buck fever but now I was not at all in hunting mode so my mind was not prepared. I fumble, nock an arrow, range the Duiker, 25 meters, draw, aim, shoot and miss. In my buckfever mode I aim for 35 meters and overshot badly! I found the arrow and not a single drop of blood on it.

Shot nr 3.
I know where the big duiker from shot nr 1 have his territory so I actively search for him in a dried out riverbed with dense bushes spread out here and there, perfect shooting lanes if he shows up. And he does! Weather is perfect with a mild breeze blowing in my face, just enough to make the leaves create a sound that I think will cover my bows noise. When he browse a bush I range him and he is 29 meters from me. When he goes behind the bush I draw and when he comes out on the other side I release my arrow as soon as he stops. He is faithful to his habit of avoiding arrows and is not standing around to greet the arrow. In the time it takes for the arrow to reach 29 meters he have moved about two meters! So I immediately discard my former theory about the sound and the tunnel. Duikers are incredibly fast in reaction! But I guess you have to be to be able to survive in Africa being one of the smallest kids on the block. I decide that maximum range for shooting at Duikers is now down to 20 meters for me.

Shot nr 4.
This day I am not after Duikers, I have seen some kudu cows and a nice warthog in my binoculars some distance away and I head in that direction. The warthog and kudus are gone when I arrive but a young male Duiker is heading my way about 100 meters away. I stand under a dense tree surrounded by bush so my camo works good in the shade. I decide to see if he will come my way or if I have to stalk him. Slowly he follows the gametrail towards me. The wind start to pick up and it is blowing quite hard. When he comes within 20 meters I draw my bow. He comes closer but I cant shoot because its hard to hold the bow still because of the wind gusts. When he is at 15 meters the wind dies and I aim, start to pull the trigger and when I release the wind comes back and shove my bow to the left as I release my arrow. A very surprised young Duiker quickly turns and run away, unharmed in the Duikers typical zig-zag manner of fleeing.

Shot nr 5.
A cople of days later I go back after the big Duiker from shot nr 1 and 3 to settle the score. I find him close to where I saw him in shot nr 3 in the dried out riverbed. Now my plan is to get really close. And close I get, after some stalking that I am quite proud of I am 13 meters from him.I draw, aim for a lung hit and release. He manage to dive when the shot goes and I hit him high, a little to high to make myself pleased with the shot. I am angry at myself for being so stupid that I aim for his lungs when I should aim for his heart as I know that he duck down before he jumps. To make a long story short, very little blood on the arrow, only one blade opened, one drop of blood is all we find. I searched every bush, hole, path and puddle of water in a diameter of 300 meters for him. Three days later I search the area for the buzzing of flies that is heard for at least 30 meters from a dead animal. We never find the duiker! The broadhead I used was a Tekan 2 and one of the blades most likely did not open. The bow is a very quiet Bowtech Allegiance with 550 grain arrow, set for 74 pounds. Average hit area of three arrows at 35 meters is 7 centimeters (aproximately 2.3 inch) or less.
 
Facts.    
Horns:   Only the male carries horns. Female have a hair tuft between ears that in bad light conditions could be mistaken for horns.
Weight:   Male and female up to 22 kilos  / 50 pounds.
Feeds on:   Browser, leaves, fruits, tvigs, flowers from small trees and bushes. Sometimes they even eat lizards, small birds and bugs. They dont need water so you rarely find them at a waterhole.
Active:   Morning and evening, rarely seen during day. The Duiker is regular as clockwork, if you figure out where he have his territory it is easy to set up an ambush. He come and patrol his territory regularly on the same path at the same time, so with some patience and a bit of luck you will get your trophy.