Determining sex of Black Wildebeest

[gillie]

Morning all

Just a quick question (I expect the answer to be a bit more complicated) about the determining the sex of a black wildebeest in a hunting situation. What are the major difference between bulls and cows?

Thanks

Johan

 

[monish]

Johan,

Its at times difficult to state between a cow & a bull when hunting , only with these little physical can make you diverse amongst the two . The wildebeest's head is large and both males and females have horns. The front part of the body is wider than the rear and the legs are long and spindly. The coat is gray, but the mane is black, has a beard which can be either black or white. Bulls are slightly higher at the shoulder and heavier than the cows. The horns of the bulls are on average larger, heavier and more robust than the horns of the female. their massive humped shoulders are slightly higher which slope to their lightly built hindquarters.
Some of these factors can make you opt out for the bull as the trophy target.

Monish

 

[LouisB]

Hi Gillie

The answer is like you said quite complicated and each ph has his own way of doing things.

The best way to determine male from female is to look at the thickness of the horns.

Males have got a lot bigger basis and generally thicker horns plus they tend to get a lot of thick hair in the front of their faces.

This is still no easy matter and would depend largely on experience.

Cheers Louis

 

[Jaco Zeeman]

All but one thing is said: Get a good pair of binoculars before you go hunt these animals!

 

[Dinsdale]

girl on left.....boy on right

 

[gillie]

Thanks for the pics Dinsdale, good visual comparison !!!

 

[chemarq]

Excelent...that is the best way...
Thanks !!!
Jose

girl on left.....boy on right

 

[Dinsdale]

Not the greatest pic,but the idea gets across;I've posted this before somewhere else here so sorry for the duplicate;

The horns show up more glossy under the flash than the form pics with just fluorescent lights and with some finishing done.