About the Persian Gazelle

General Information

The Persian gazelle, often called the goitered gazelle, is a slender, fast-running antelope native to the dry steppes, semi-deserts, and gravel plains of Central and West Asia, with a strong historical presence in Iran.

Physical Traits and Adaptations

Body size: Adults stand 20 to 26 inches tall at the shoulder and weigh 55 to 77 lbs.

Coat color: A light tan or sandy brown coat helps them blend into harsh desert landscapes, paired with white underparts.

Horns: Males grow distinct, ringed horns up to 12 to 13 inches long, while females are usually hornless.

Throat swelling: Males develop a noticeable enlargement or “goiter-like” swelling on the neck during the mating season to amplify deep calls.

Speed: They can reach running speeds up to 37 mph to escape predators.

Behavior and Habitat

Social life: They live in small groups of two to five animals during warmer months, joining into larger herds when winter arrives.

Diet: They feed on desert shrubs, grasses, and herbs, getting most of their necessary water directly from the plants they eat.

Conservation: Classified as vulnerable, their wild numbers drop due to hunting and loss of open grazing land, making protected reserves vital to their survival.

Persian Gazelle Species / Subspecies

Persian Gazelle: Found in southeastern Turkey, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, and western Pakistan.

Turkmen Gazelle: Found from Kazakhstan east to Lake Balkhash, Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan.

Yarkand Gazelle: Found in northern and northwestern China (including Xinjiang and Inner Mongolia) and Mongolia.

Note on Arabian Sand Gazelle: Formerly classified as a subspecies, genetic and taxonomic updates have often elevated it to a distinct full species rather than a subspecies of the Persian/goitered gazelle group.

Suitable Weapons

Any long range cartridge from .243 win up to any of the .30 caliber rifles will work great.

Hunting Area

You can hunt the endangered Persian Gazelle year-round at high-fence exotic game ranches in Texas.

Trophy Expectations

A Persian gazelle with horns 11 inches or longer is a trophy specimen.

Cost to Hunt

It costs between $8,500 and $24,000 to hunt Persian Gazelle depending on the ranch hunted, and current number of mature rams available.