Puku

Overview

The puku is a sandy-brown antelope of wet grassland in south-central Africa, a relative of the lechwe that lives on marshy ground and dambos rather than in the water itself. Wikipedia's account lists it from southern DR Congo, Namibia, Tanzania and Zambia, with a concentration in Botswana's Okavango Delta, and notes that nearly a third of all puku now live in protected areas. For the hunter it is a specialized floodplain trophy taken by a classic stalk.

Identification & Appearance

Puku are uniform sandy to golden brown, a little lighter on the belly, with a rougher coat than a lechwe, reedbuck or impala of similar size. Rams carry stout, ridged, lyre-shaped horns; Wikipedia gives a shoulder height of about 80 cm and horns around 50 cm. They look like a stockier lechwe without the black leg markings.

Range & Habitat

They live almost entirely on marshy grassland and dambos, always near permanent water. In the wet season, when the floodplain goes under, they move to higher ground; in the dry season they stay close to the water.

Behavior & Sign

Puku are most active in the early morning and late afternoon. Ewes gather in herds - Wikipedia's account gives up to 20 animals, and around 50 in the rainy season - while rams hold territories and try to keep the ewes on them. A frightened puku gives a shrill whistle, over and over, and pressed animals run for the marsh. Sign includes grazed grass and tracks along the water.

Hunting Seasons & Timing

Hunted in the dry season when floodplains are accessible and animals concentrate on the remaining water.

Hunting Methods

Spot-and-stalk across floodplains and along river valleys, glassing for a heavy-horned ram and closing through the grass.

Gear & Optics

A flat-shooting .270 to .30 caliber with good glass suits the open floodplain shots.

Shot Placement & Field Care

Broadside lung shot on the shoulder; plan for a recovery in wet ground. The golden cape makes a fine mount.

Meat & Eating Quality

Puku venison is good, used in camp on floodplain hunts.

Habits That Spook Game

Letting a wounded ram reach the marsh and misjudging distance across open floodplain.

Regulations & Conservation

Hunted under strict quotas on managed floodplains. Confirm CITES and import rules. This is a reading guide, not legal advice.

FAQ

Puku or lechwe? Puku are stockier, rougher-coated and sandy brown, without the lechwe's black leg markings and white belly.

Where are they hunted? The floodplains of Zambia and Tanzania.

Sources

• Wikipedia, "Puku" (read 12 October 2026): range, appearance, habitat and behaviour.
• Wikipedia, "Lechwe" (read 12 October 2026): how the lechwe differs.