About the Yak
General Information
The yak is a massive, shaggy-coated bovine native to the high-altitude, freezing environments of the Himalayas and the Tibetan Plateau. These incredible herbivores are perfectly built for life in the thin mountain air, possessing significantly larger lungs and hearts than standard cattle to transport more oxygen through their blood.
Yaks are highly specialized for surviving extreme alpine conditions, capable of withstanding winter temperatures that can plummet to -40 Fahrenheit.
They are insulated by a combination of a dense undercoat, a layer of subcutaneous fat, and an almost complete lack of functioning sweat glands. Additionally, their unusual digestive system allows them to consume and extract nutrients from the sparse, low-quality vegetation found in high-elevation tundras.
Description of the Yak
- Coat & Color: Extremely dense fur that acts as insulation, consisting of long, coarse outer hair and a thick, woolly undercoat. Wild yaks are generally dark brown or black, while domestic yaks can exhibit a much wider variety of colors (including cream, rusty brown, grey, and piebald).
- Horns: Present in both sexes. They are generally dark, smooth, and curve outward and backward. Wild bull horns are much larger, measuring up to 39 inches in length, and have a wider upward-curving sweep.
- Tail: Long and horse-like rather than tufted like a standard cow’s tail.
- Head: Broad forehead with small, low-set ears.
- Wild Yaks: Significantly larger and more robust. Males can reach 6.5 feet in height, up to 10.6 feet in body length, and weigh upwards of 2,200 pounds.
- Domestic Yaks: Considerably smaller. Males typically weigh 770 to 1,290 pounds, while females average 496 to 562 pounds. They have a shoulder height ranging from 41 to 54 inches.
Suitable Weapons
To hunt a yak use a .30 magnum caliber or larger.
Hunting Area
They are hunted on high fence hunting preserves in Texas and a few other western states.
