The common eland lives on home ranges that can be 174-422 sq. km. for females and juveniles and 21-75 sq. km. for males (Hillman 1988). But during the dry season the home range for females and juveniles shrinks to 9-58 sq. km. and 1-39 sq. km. for males (Hillman 1988). There is some disparity in males though, the completely mature males (grey males) will tend to have a smaller home range than their younger male counterparts (brown males) that have not yet fully developed all of their secondary sexual characteristics (Hillman 1988). A very old male may even become essentially sedentary, but yet he still will not exhibit territorial behavior (Moss 1982). Homes ranges of male eland will often extensively overlap even in times that the females are in estrus (Hillman 1988). There is no need for males to have a territory since their food is abundant and indefensible and since females tend to move around quite frequently.

Eland are seen in groups as little as 3 and as high as 500 with herds of 100 being common, but an average size group herd with juveniles is approximately 50 individuals (Estes 1991). However, throughout their entire range, eland are only distributed at less than 1 individual per sq. km., showing the fact that they are a very social and gregarious species (Estes 1991). Male groups are smaller than female and juvenile groups as a rule (Estes 1991). Males also appear to prefer to browse more than females and will stay in bushier areas when the females and juveniles move into the plains to feed on the grasses (Estes 1991).