Blackbuck antelope are graceful plains antelopes native to India, Pakistan and Nepal. Introduced to Western Australia in the early 1900s, males turn dark chocolate and white at maturity, while females remain tawny. Bucks stand roughly 80 cm at the shoulder, weigh 35–50 kg and carry striking corkscrew horns with three to four tight twists. Their reliance on keen eyesight and speed for defence makes them a challenging quarry in open country.
Blackbuck hunts occur in open plains, light woodland and savannahs, where hunters glass the horizon and then stalk within shooting range. Because these antelopes favour open country with patches of cover along riverbanks, semi‑desert and cropland, hunters often use vehicles to locate a herd before approaching on foot for the final stalk. There is no set hunting season for blackbuck in Australia, and hunts can be conducted year‑round subject to landholder permission. Shots are typically taken at moderate ranges, and quick reflexes are essential as bucks may bolt at the slightest movement.
Blackbuck were introduced into Western Australia in the early 20th century, and by the late 1920s wild herds near Perth reached pest proportions and were culled. Today blackbuck are declared pests in several states, and any remaining populations are carefully controlled to protect crops and ecosystems. Regulated trophy hunting helps manage numbers while generating revenue for landholders. Since blackbuck thrive on open plains and breed readily, hunters are encouraged to harvest mature males and avoid indiscriminate culling.
Blackbuck are browsers and grazers that prefer short grasses and are often seen grazing alongside sheep or cattle. Their horns grow continuously and are considered among the most elegant of all antelope trophies. Outside Australia they have been introduced to Texas and Argentina, and wild herds also occur in these countries. In Australia the species’ pest status means hunts may double as conservation work, and quick shooting skills are prized because blackbuck can disappear over the next ridge in seconds.
Blackbuck can be found in the following location:
Blackbuck has the following variations:
- (Varieties to be confirmed)
