Hunting chamois and kids begins on 1 September and continues until 31 December.
The chamois belongs to the bovid family Bovidae, which means that its horns grow throughout its life and are never shed.
The horns are skin structures consisting of a porous bony core, a nerve and a horn sheath made of keratinised skin. Both males and females carry horns, but in males they curve more strongly towards the crown, are thicker near the head and form pronounced hooks. Horn growth is fastest during the first four years, especially in the second and third years, after which it slows to about one or two millimetres per year.
Description: The body is strong and compact, highly agile and capable of crossing the most difficult terrain. Chamois are excellent climbers and jumpers because of their powerful muscles and elastic hooves. Their bones are light and porous.
The summer coat is light brown to yellowish, whereas the winter coat is almost black. Both sexes have a distinct dark stripe running from the muzzle across the eyes to the ears and horns. The upper part of the head, the cheeks, part of the neck and the area beneath the tail are light, ranging from white to cream. A thin line of darker hair runs along the spine.
Male chamois have a pronounced beard or dorsal tuft, a strip of longer hair extending along the back that is valued as a hunting trophy.
Size: Height at the shoulder is 75 to 80 centimetres, body length is 110 to 130 centimetres, and the tail may reach ten centimetres.
Weight: A female chamois weighs up to 35 kilograms, while a male may reach 45 kilograms.
Lifespan: 20 to 25 years.
Distribution: The chamois is native to Europe and Asia Minor, especially the Alps and the Carpathians. In Croatia it lives in parts of Gorski kotar and the Croatian Littoral. It once also inhabited Velebit and parts of Dalmatia, but intensive hunting led to the disappearance of those populations. It was later reintroduced to Velebit and Biokovo, where the populations have been successfully maintained.
Habitat: Chamois occur at elevations from 400 to 3,000 metres, mainly in mountain areas. They live on rocky peaks but also use gentle forested slopes. They favour mountain pastures, gorges, dense mountain forests and quiet areas with rich grazing, protection from enemies and shelter from adverse weather.
Diet: Chamois have modest requirements. They feed on grasses and berries from mountain meadows and pastures, nibble buds, enjoy licking salt and drink water only rarely.
Behaviour: Owing to their exceptional hearing and sense of smell – with a favourable wind they can detect an enemy from a kilometre away – as well as very good eyesight, it is almost impossible to approach them unnoticed on open ground. They notice every movement.
The animals live in herds. Females remain with young up to two years of age, while young males separate into groups with other males. Old males usually live alone. During autumn, however, herds of up to one hundred animals may form under the leadership of an old and experienced female. Chamois are active during the day and graze mainly in the morning and towards evening.
Mating: The rut begins in November and December and lasts for three to five weeks. The worse the weather, the shorter and more intense the rut. Chamois reach sexual maturity after 18 months but generally do not mate until their third year. Males sometimes fight for access to females. During the rut, the glands behind their ears swell and release a scented secretion used to mark territory.
The female carries the young for six months and gives birth to one or two kids in May or June. Only a few hours after birth, a kid can already follow its mother across difficult terrain. It remains with her throughout the year.
Vocalisation: Bleating between the female and the kid, whistling as a warning of possible danger, accompanied by stamping a foot, and a cry when the animal is wounded.
Hunting dates and methods are provided for information only. Final dates, permits and conditions are confirmed in accordance with the regulations in force and the rules of the relevant hunting ground.
