Cape Kudu

Cape Kudu

The Greater Kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros) is a woodland antelope found throughout eastern and southern Africa. Despite occupying such widespread territory, they are sparsely populated in most areas, however they thrive well in areas managed for sport hunting.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

They have a narrow body with long legs, and their coats can range from brown/bluish-gray to reddish-brown. They possess between 4–12 vertical white stripes along their torso. The head tends to be darker in color than the rest of the body, and exhibits a small white chevron which runs between the eyes.

Male Greater Kudus tend to be much larger than the females, and vocalize much more, utilizing low grunts, clucks, humming, and gasping. The males also have large manes running along their throats, and large horns with two and a half twists, which, were they to be straightened, would reach a length of 1 meter on average. However, the male horns do not begin to grow until the male is between the age of 6–12 months, twisting once at around 2 years of age, and not reaching the full two and a half twist until they are 6 years old.

Males weigh 190-270 kg while females weigh 120-210 kg. Females do not have horns while the bulls have horns that average 120 cm in length with the record being 187.64 cm

STATUS

Kudus have both benefited and suffered from interaction with humans; they are a target for hunters, possibly due to their habit of stopping to look behind them after bolting for cover, making them an easy target. Humans have also destroyed woodland cover which they use for their habitat. However, wells and irrigation set up by humans has also allowed the greater kudus to occupy territory which would have been too devoid of water for them previously.

WEAPONS USED

Kudu are good sized animals. Any rifle suitable for whitetail deer or pronghorn antelope hunting will work well. .270 Winchester caliber rifles should be considered minimum for hunting these antelope. They typically inhabit areas of wide open grass veldt as well as plains mixed with wooded cover, so a long range, flat shooting rifle is recommended. Good quality optics are a must as shots might be long or you’ll have to pick an opening through the brush.

For archery hunters, any bow capable of downing a whitetail will work. 50 lbs. should be the minimum draw weight.