Caracal Characteristics | Scientific Name : Felis Caracal |
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Weight : 18 kg (m), 14 kg (f) |
Shoulder Height : 45 cm (m), 50 cm (f) |
Breeding Season : Year round |
Minimum Calibre : 223 |
Widespread throughout South Africa and Southern Africa. Caracal feed on birds, small mammals and reptiles but are capable of taking a fully grown springbuck and similar size African plains game. Male and females pair up briefly during the mating season and then separate after.
Due to its regional classification as vermin, hunting caracal with dogs is legal in the Eastern Cape. In areas where the bush is dense and the terrain flat, it is a highly successful way of hunting caracal.
Caracal are also successfully hunted at night where it is legal to do so with a spotlight, although the success rate is lower than with dogs.
When hunting caracal with dogs, a 12 gauge shotgun is used to shoot a treed cat. Caracal are soft-skinned and a .223 is effective at night for caracal. Wind may affect the bullet, so use a heavier for caliber bullet on the lighter vermin cartridges.
The cost of caracal hunt is $950 including the use of a pack of hounds for the day