Jackal hunting is a favorite challenge for many sportsmen. These clever and elusive survivors are wary and tough to find, but their mystique and strikingly-patterned coats drive many to pursue them through the savannas, forests, marshes and mountains they call home. If you’re itching to chase Africa’s cunning coyote, read on!

The Quarry

Jackel Hunting

There are three varieties of jackal found in Africa, the closely related black-backed and side-striped jackals and their more distant cousin the golden jackal. Nearly every country on the continent is home to at least one of these three, with the black-backed occurring in mainly in the south and the central east around Somalia, the golden in the north (also ranging far into Asia and Eastern Europe), and the side-striped in between. GSS represents outfitters who offer the opportunity to go on a black-backed and/or side-striped jackal hunt in South Africa, Namibia and Zambia.

Side-striped and black-backed jackals have distinctive, attractively-patterned coats. The former’s ranges from grey to buff to tawny, and while its patterning can vary widely, it usually has a darkly-colored back and a white stripe flashing across its flank. They have white-tipped tails. The latter is much more certain to live up to its name: the back is almost universally black and interspersed with silver-white. The majority of the coat is tan to reddish, the under parts are white, and the tip of the tail is black.

Black-backed jackals are the smallest in the world: standing only about a foot and a half tall and three feet long at their biggest, they can be dwarfed by a large vulture. Despite this, they are extremely aggressive and won’t hesitate to attack larger prey. The side-striped jackal is slightly larger, growing up to 20 inches tall at the shoulder, and has a more even temper.

There are few discussions of exact measurements for jackal trophies; most hunters look for larger individuals but the difficulty of a jackal hunt means that any mature male is worthwhile.

The Hunt

Jackal hunting is far from easy. These guys possess few exploitable traits: they aren’t dependent on water, they’re adaptable and opportunistic, and persecution by farmers and ranchers has made them wary of mankind.

Where legal, many sportsmen prefer a nighttime jackal hunt using predator calls and spotlights. This is an exciting option and one of the most likely to succeed. Otherwise, hunters generally only take them as targets of opportunity. If you won’t settle for anything less than bagging a jackal in broad daylight, though, GSS will gladly connect you with an outfitter who can take you on a spot-and-stalk hunt through some of the best jackal hunting areas in Africa.

Call Global Sporting Safaris today at 888-850-4868, Extension 701 and let us know what type of jackal hunting experience you are looking for. We’ll send you information on opportunities that match your goals. Our experienced outfitters are second to none and we’re happy to share personal experiences with you.