Jackals are members of the canine family genus, which encompasses wolves and coyotes. Sub-Saharan Africa is home to two jackal species: the Side-striped Jackal and the Black-backed Jackal. This article focuses on the Black-backed Jackal, the more prevalent of the two, found in Southern and Eastern Africa. These jackals can be hunted in several African countries, including Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe (particularly the southwestern region), Mozambique (mainly the southern areas), Uganda, and Tanzania.
On private lands, these creatures are often considered vermin and can be pursued as opportunistic trophies without charge across many territories in Namibia and South Africa. However, if specifically targeted as a trophy or during a nocturnal hunt, a trophy fee ranging from $50 to $150 may apply. Daily rates for plains game or night hunts in South Africa and Namibia generally fall within the range of $350 to $450 per day. In Zimbabwe and Mozambique, a minimum 7-10 day hunting booking is required, accompanied by a daily rate of $600 to $700 and an approximate trophy fee of $200 for a jackal. In Tanzania, trophy fees range from $540 to $700, with a daily rate of approximately $1,200 per day.
Jackals can be hunted year-round in South Africa, Namibia, and Zimbabwe. However, in Mozambique, jackal hunting is limited to the designated hunting season, which runs from April 1 to November 30. Similarly, Tanzania aligns most of its jackal hunts with the hunting season, which spans from July to December. The optimal months for jackal hunting are the dry winter and autumn months in Southern Africa when vegetation is sparse, coinciding with the main hunting season.
Numerous private landowners in Namibia and South Africa actively encourage hunters to eliminate jackals on their properties. Hence, if you are not stalking your prey, you might be requested to assist the farmers by taking down jackals. Since these animals are primarily active during the early morning and late afternoon as they search for food, bagging one during these times is considered a fortuitous trophy. Nocturnal jackal hunting involves employing a predator caller while the hunter remains seated in a well-camouflaged shooting chair mounted on a vehicle. Once the jackal appears, a spotlight is used to illuminate the animal, allowing the hunter to locate it through the scope and take a swift shot. However, jackals quickly wise up to such tactics, and if the initial shot is missed, they will no longer respond to the predator caller. Bowhunting from a blind positioned near water sources can also yield successful results. It is important to note that jackals displaying abnormal behavior may be carriers of rabies.
Jackals are medium-sized omnivorous scavengers, known to feed on carrion, fruits, and a variety of prey, including large insects, hares, mice, rats, and small lambs. Hunting jackals can prove to be a demanding task, especially in areas where they are frequently pursued. These creatures possess exceptional alertness and cunning, often detecting your presence when approaching from upwind while using a predator caller. Therefore, it is advisable to employ a remote-controlled device to maximize your chances. For dedicated bowhunters, this presents a genuine challenge, as luring jackals close enough for a shot using a caller is no easy feat. Fully mounted jackals make for captivating displays, and if you manage to gather sufficient pelts, they can be fashioned into a remarkable local skin blanket known as a kaross.
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