North GroundHuntNorth Ground Hunt — return to North Ground
Species authority page

Nilgai

Boselaphus tragocamelus · Introduced/exotic big game · Big game

Nilgai (Boselaphus tragocamelus): Among the largest Asian antelopes: 120-150 cm at the shoulder, stocky body on slender legs. Adult males blue-gray; females and young yellow-brown to pale brown. This profile does not establish whether taking it is legal anywhere.

Check rules for a place and dateOpen the nilgai map

Certified rules currently represented in Hunt: coverage in development. This is coverage, not a legal answer.

Nilgai standing in a green meadow, looking back over its shoulder
Photo by Jaya Shukla on Unsplash
Scientific name
Boselaphus tragocamelus
Family
Bovidae
Range
Introduced: native to India; released on South Texas ranches around 1930. Most are on large ranches in Kenedy and Willacy counties, Texas.
Biology

How to identify it

Among the largest Asian antelopes: 120-150 cm at the shoulder, stocky body on slender legs. [1]

Adult males blue-gray; females and young yellow-brown to pale brown. [1]

White patches on the face and below the chin and a broad white throat 'bib'; males have a hanging throat tuft up to 13 cm. [1]

Males carry short black horns about 20-25 cm. [1]

White band from the brisket over the belly forming a narrow rump patch outlined in darker hair. [1]

Field knowledge

Where it lives

In Texas, South Texas brush country; native habitat is dry grassland, steppe woodland and hillsides in India. [1]

Field knowledge

How it behaves

Usually in herds of about 10, sometimes 20-70. [1]

Most active in early morning and late afternoon. [1]

Eyesight and hearing equal to or better than white-tailed deer, but a poor sense of smell; spooks easily and can run up to 29 mph. [1]

Grazes and browses; in Texas eats mesquite, oak, partridge pea, croton, nightshade and grasses. [1]

Regulatory handoff

Where it is listed for legal take

These authorities list this species for legal take in their own regulations.

Where legal take is listed

Being listed is not an open season. Seasons, zones, licences, methods and limits decide whether this animal may be taken on a given day and place — check Hunt or the authority before you go. Listings read 2026-09-30.

Geospatial intelligence

Where it is found

Introduced: native to India; released on South Texas ranches around 1930. Most are on large ranches in Kenedy and Willacy counties, Texas.

Biology

Sources

Every claim above is attributed to one of these published sources.

  1. Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology · reviewed 2026-09-30

    Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology