Kudu Bull Over 60 Inches

Lovely Kudu...did your PH give any indication of it's age?

Here is two I took on the farm last year. The one with the sideways horn measured in at 60.5 I think. Might have to make sure again and the other one came pretty close too. But I agree with everyone. The big kudu's come out of the bush here in the Limpopo.

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Great looking bulls!

Originally Posted by KMG Hunting Safaris

Frederik,
The East Cape Kudu is actually a Sub specie. It just has not been recognised yet. I've been to the farm where the tests were done and proven that the East Cape Kudu is a sub specie to the Southern Greater Kudu. Blood dont lie... but for some reason Roland Ward do not want to accept this... little bit of useless

information , I guess

Not again all scientific proof point in the opposite direction even with the differences found in mt DNA (mitochondria DNA) difference in DNA do not constitute a sub species.

Thabazimbi Impala and Waterberg Impala also have Mt DNA differences, so do every single animal on this planet and so does every single human, with the latter being classic examples as we have no subspecies, these would include different eye structure, jaw, nose, skin tone color and so on.

Very true blood do not lie....

My best always

Originally Posted by Jaco Strauss

Not again all scientific proof point in the opposite direction even with the differences found in mt DNA (mitochondria DNA) difference in DNA do not constitute a sub species.

Thabazimbi Impala and Waterberg Impala also have Mt DNA differences, so do every single animal on this planet and so does every single human, with the latter being classic examples as we have no subspecies, these would include different eye structure, jaw, nose, skin tone color and so on.Very true blood do not lie....

My best always

Come on Jaco, scientific studies have proven time and time again that coffee is good, wait no it's bad, no I think I'm getting it wrong it's good for you, no it's bad,,, O.K. this year it's good for you and next year it will be bad, that's it.

Same here in the US, last I heard there were somewhere around 19-20 subspecies of Whitetail,,,,, Really???,,,,, The Northern deer I ate tasted the same as the southern and they looked damn near the same (body size).
Very true blood do not lie....

that sums it up..... Pretty much.

My best always

So what is the verdict? EC Kudu different to Southern Greater?
My feeling is that it is all to do with Environment which will dictate horn length and width. Thankfully SCI recognize EC kudu so we have a valuable species.

Originally Posted by Frederik

Bosveld, I'm not picking a fight but the only reason why the Eastern Cape are producing bigger kudu is because of outfits like Johnny Viviers Safaris who are importing and buying big trophy bulls from up north and dropping them in the eastern Cape to be hunted by clients.

If this keeps on we will eventually loose the cape kudu even if it not a subspecies. Or maybe not, time will tell.

As far as I know WJV safaris conduct most of their hunts in NC. But I think there is a sliding and overlapping distribution between diff. kudu populations. Some parts of EC there are released bulls from further nort east, mainly in high fenced farms. IMO a old kudubull are a fine trophy, whether it is 40 or 60 inches. Why this obsession with the inches? It really makes me sick when I hear of hunters carrying a tape with them. Even try to measher the animal before it stops kicking! That is plain sick! Do they have small dicks......?

Originally Posted by Wolverine67

IMO a old kudubull are a fine trophy, whether it is 40 or 60 inches. Why this obsession with the inches?

I agree, I have moved away from the tape and now look for symmetry. Horns the same length, good clean shape etc. Length is good but there is many other factors to consider when judging a trophy. What could be a better trophy then the bull you glassed for an hour, then gave you the slip a couple of times while stalking and after many hours of trailing it, you finally get to take a clean shot. I think I will go hunting this afternoon...

Originally Posted by Fletch

I agree, I have moved away from the tape and now look for symmetry. Horns the same length, good clean shape etc. Length is good but there is many other factors to consider when judging a trophy. What could be a better trophy then the bull you glassed for an hour, then gave you the slip a couple of times while stalking and after many hours of trailing it, you finally get to take a clean shot. I think I will go hunting this afternoon...

Fully agree! And yes, go hunting! I wish I was there....

Originally Posted by UxbridgeSafari

Here is two I took on the farm last year. The one with the sideways horn measured in at 60.5 I think. Might have to make sure again and the other one came pretty close too. But I agree with everyone. The big kudu's come out of the bush here in the Limpopo.

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I wouldn't argue with you, if I was solely going to hunt huge kudu it would be in the Limpopo.

There is something to be said about hunting kudu in the East Cape, the prices are usually cheaper and the topography makes it a different hunt...still super exciting.

I would also say that the quantity of kudu are higher in EC. The numbers of kudu I saw at Thornkloof (Bowker) was astonishing.

All Kudu in the entire Eastern cape are called east cape kudu but when I search for distribution maps they all show a circle separated from traditional Greater Kudu habitat by hundreds of miles extending from the southern tip of Lesotho along southern Free State to the South Eastern corner of the Northern Cape and down halfway to the coast through the Eastern Cape. If this is accurate then it would seem that all other Kudu in the East Cape must have been brought in from various areas. Maybe this is where some of the confusion lies? I dunno.

I looked at the map on the SCI site. I think maybe this maps are some years old. Correct me if I am wrong, but I think the kudu population and the distibution are far greater now, than just 20 - 30 years ago. According to the SCI map, there shouldnt be kudu in Northern cape at all...

Originally Posted by Wolverine67

I looked at the map on the SCI site. I think maybe this maps are some years old. Correct me if I am wrong, but I think the kudu population and the distibution are far greater now, than just 20 - 30 years ago. According to the SCI map, there shouldnt be kudu in Northern cape at all...

I may be wrong but I think those maps reflect historic distribution, they have been transplanted all over the place.

Originally Posted by messmate

Lovely Kudu...did your PH give any indication of it's age?

He did give a age and I think it was around seven but can't be certain. I remember thinking that it was not that old. The hide was perfect and the horns showed no wair what so ever of the ridges.

Originally Posted by Diamondhitch

I may be wrong but I think those maps reflect historic distribution, they have been transplanted all over the place.

Texas even has a few!

Originally Posted by BRICKBURN

Texas even has a few!

I heard you reluctantly 'transplanted' one to Alberta!!! LOL

Originally Posted by Diamondhitch

I heard you reluctantly 'transplanted' one to Alberta!!! LOL

I think you mean, I transplanted a reluctant one!

I'd volunteer to transplant a reluctant one that looks like some in this thread!

Originally Posted by Wolverine67

I would also say that the quantity of kudu are higher in EC. The numbers of kudu I saw at Thornkloof (Bowker) was astonishing.

I agree some of the properties in the East Cape are absolutely loaded with kudu. I know of a few places that I have a price structure, the first kudu costs this much and then is goes down from there. Makes a person want to jump on a plane and go hunt.

I have been on the Bowker property, they know how to run a safari camp!

There are a few properties in the Limpopo though that have a lot of BIG kudu, SS Pro Safari is one them.