I want a specialist in big kudu!

[Frederik]

On balance and after seeing the so many helpful posts on this thread I think the following.
Limpopo has gone the way of the charge per inch system which I'm not interested in doing.
The area sizes and chance of newly released animals at a high price seem to be there...however small and not dissing anything or anyone. There is a demand and this is being met and hunting in one form or another along with wildlife preservation is thriving- so great!
For myself I think I'd be better off hunting for southern Greater kudu in Kwazulu natal where there is a chance of a 55plus and if it doesn't happen then fine...no worries. Its a genuine hunt that i need with the chance of genetics for large kudu being present and that too at a much much more reasonable price than what limpopo outfitters are offering.

But what about Limpopo bushbuck now if you go to KZN?

I know of a few more than 5 properties that I have been on myself personally where kudu are not introduced in Limpopo where you have a chance of a 55" plus bull and a proper limpopo bushbuck.

Considering the sliding scale would you rather spend 12 days and walk away without a bull or pay a bit more and have a crack at a good bull it makes more economical sense.
I also dont enjoy the sliding scale but if a farmer/owner wants to make sure the big ones get bigger and gets time to pass on the genes it is one way of doing it.

You are competing with local hunters also and we also would love to hunt a 55" plus bull but they are not for everyone's pocket.

Speak to the outfitter let him package you a hunt for 12 days without a sliding scale I'm sure that would be negotiated. You can even private message me and I can point you to those properties or outfitters.

You are now changing your quest for a proper Limpopo hunt due to economics instead of following your heart.

 

[SAVANNA HUNTING SAFARIS]

We can help you forsure.
savannahunting@gmail.com. i can send you more pictures for big kudu.

 

[McKenzie Sims]

Just following this to see if you'd made this hunt happen yet or had one planned? Love to see photos upon your return, I love hunting Kudu and big bulls are truly somehting special!

 

[alimufti]

54.5 inch kwalzulu natal 2023.
It took 23 years to find a kudu like this. The only larger one ive ever seen i injured and lost. It was the first animal ive lost in over 90 big game animals hunted so far.
Still addicted to kudu, bushbuck and impala, still always thinking about the next hunt for these three species.

 

[BigKev15]

Who exactly are "they"...if such statements are made then name then instead of putting out a blank warning about shooting kudu in a pen...........

I agree with you completely.

 

[375Fox]

I agree with you completely.

The PM function was offered and not used. This is no different than politics. The evidence can be clear as day but if it doesn’t support your side it won’t be acknowledged. I’d be willing to give 80-90% of hunting in Limpopo is from reasonably self sustaining animals but farms with disproportionately large numbers of bulls or only bulls, 12 ft crocs, CBL lions, etc only arrive there one way. Put and take hunting of various levels and degrees of fair chase have been normalized as acceptable in South Africa and Limpopo in particular. It’s a simple fact. A 60” kudu may not be as widely available as large sable but it is available and not difficult to locate an outfitter/PH willing to organize the hunt. There is a large effort to say it’s only a small number of outfitter’s participating in these practices when it’s actually a majority just some on a larger scale than others. There is a reason Limpopo outfitters generally don’t participate in these threads.

 

[19_A_CPT]

Gerhard Pretorius with GPFootprint Safaris in Limpopo had some very nice kudu when I was over there last summer.

 

[alimufti]

It seems increasingly often that queries regarding hunts get taken over by the question of fence sizes and put and take hunting. To me its rather simple. South Africa is what u make of it. If one wants to pay alot and just get an animal that can be arranged, if one wants to shoot from a bakki one can, if one wants to hunt a tiny property where the animal with or without hunters knowledge is placed recently for the hunt...one can.
On the flip side if one wants to walk the Bush...stalk...stay away from the vehicle, hunt hard and fair and make it clear to your pH that a hunt is what one is after...one can do that. Its easy to tell via research and correspondence initially what sort of a setup one is going to hunt in. I have no issues with how folks wanna approach their hunts...its their money and their choice...and nobody had the right to run anyone down. The hunting world has enough adversity for us not to be picking hairs at each other.
I've always tried to hunt in a way that to my mind is sporting and fair - it would not have taken me 23 years to get a rowland ward kudu had I not taken this approach over 5 hunting safaris over this period of time. In fact had I bought a massive pre arranged kudu in a small property from the outset it probably would have worked out alot cheaper than 5 safaris! But then the mount on the wall would have looked at me accusingly rather than being something on the wall I am proud of. I have hunted 6 kudu of both the Eastern Cape and southern Greater variety and in the future god willing will hunt more kudu....in the way I find enjoyable. This means always finding the right outfitter and concession where real hunts within the confines of the South African hunting experience are possible.
Next hunt again will be focused on my 3 favourite species....kudu, bushbuck and impala.
Cheers everyone
Ali

 

[LIMPOPO NORTH SAFARIS]

Hi,

I am interested in areas (Thabazimbi?/Limpopo) and hunters/outfitters who specialize in big (55 inch plus) Southern Greater Kudu. I would 10 -12 full days hunting to ensure we have enough time to find such Kudu.

Other species Id like to hunt are

Limpopo bushbuck (important)

Impala

I would like two each of the above species on quota.

I will probably take more animals if we come across exceptional trophies while hunting the above. But the focus on exceptional Kudu and bushbuck are core requirements.

The hunting must be real Spot and stalk/tracking hunting only. – no small camp predecided animals, shooting from vehicles or similar tactics please.

Would like to time the hunt in the kudu rut (may?) over the dark phase of the moon.

I will be renting a rifle and prefer a moderated one.

Please advise what can be suggested for the above hunt requirements.



Thank you

Ali Mufti

Hi AliMufti

We are based in Thabazimbi Limpopo and can help you with a bull guaranteed to be 55 plus or even 60” depends on what you want.
We have a large are that is renowned for some of the best kudu in Limpopo will send you a direct message.

 

[IvW]

You are acting like this does not happen but it does. There are ads at the hunting shows for specific animals at specific measurements! There are plenty of "They's" out there. Sorry.

I never said or act like it does not happen I said name them.....simple or not???

 

[IvW]

Hi AliMufti

We are based in Thabazimbi Limpopo and can help you with a bull guaranteed to be 55 plus or even 60” depends on what you want.
We have a large are that is renowned for some of the best kudu in Limpopo will send you a direct message.

No outfitter can guarantee a 60 inch kudu unless it is put and take simple as that.......
I would love to know what your guarantee entails....

I shoot 10 sub 60 inch kudu the cost is on you?????

You could give yourself a good chance for one in some areas including Botswana with a repution of consistantly producing 60 inch kudu freerange.....but I would not accept a guarantee hunt for 60 inch kudu.....

 

[LIMPOPO NORTH SAFARIS]

Thank you for your thoughts. Our hunting area does not engage in "put and take" practices. We focus on strict management principles to maintain a sustainable kudu population with high-quality bulls, and we take a selective approach to culling or hunting out bulls that does not meet our criteria or traits we desire .We do not aim for high volumes, as our goal is to support an environment that can naturally sustain the species, maintaining equilibrium between different animals and the available grazing.

In our area, we manage the land and game with careful attention to habitat, grazing, and genetic diversity. We have worked hard to reestablish a strong kudu gene pool from various regions, building on the foundation of animals with exceptional traits that will increase the chances of producing bulls that surpass the 55" mark. However, surpassing 57" is a rare achievement, and while we continuously strive to improve the overall trophy quality, we do not always hit that benchmark in every season. But we can proudly say that we have been able to accommodate a small but fair amount of hunters to reach that magical length they had in mind more or less.

Historically, kudu populations in this region were heavily impacted by hunting pressures of older hunters , both for their ivory tips which the older generations believed was real ivory , and due to conflicts with agricultural practices. Today, our goal is not just to preserve the species, but to cultivate a gene pool that reflects the traits of the once-wild ( still is on open lands but with very limited bulls even reaching 55+) specimens that roamed these lands before they were displaced by domesticated farming practices. Fences and managed areas, while often criticized, are a necessary step to restore balance and ensure the survival of species like kudu in a world where human intervention is unavoidable. Lands become ever more marginalised or claimed by previously disadvantaged groups that decimate the wildlife numbers and species completely.

As a result, while we cannot guarantee a bull above a certain size, we will have a close enough idea of a bull that will at least b within a inch or two of a given size, our hands-on management and dedication to maintaining the health and quality of the kudu population offer a realistic chance at hunting mature bulls in the 55"+ range. We only offer a limited number of hunts for these bulls each season, as we know that only a few hunters will be able to hunt such a specimen. As animals of that size aren't easy to come by nor a cheap hunt.

We understand your perspective on guarantees, and agree that offering such a guarantee in the hunting world can be problematic. It’s important for us to protect our reputation by being transparent about what’s realistic, and maintaining the integrity of our hunts and the animals we manage. We also want to ensure that each hunter’s experience is genuine, fulfilling, and in line with our conservation goals.

We appreciate your understanding and interest in the principles behind our hunting approach, and we look forward to the possibility of hosting you if we have a suitable bull available.

 

[LIMPOPO NORTH SAFARIS]

 

[LIMPOPO NORTH SAFARIS]

Here is a few pictures what a typical summer looks like if we do not intervene as we do now, species like kudu will vanish from certain reserves or game farms due to parasites they are very sensitive animals. Ticks are natural parasites but domesticated animals and the movement of these animals globally led to various species being introduced to areas they do bot necessarily occur.

With ticks causing damage like this to animals as stewards we need to intervene in enclosed areas not only to maintain animal populations but also play our role as “parasite” control measurements this is not a single event to a single species it happens to Eland , Nyala , Bushbuck and a multitude of other animals.

I hope you have a better understanding now of the work we put in to ensure quality animals that might reach the requirements set out by a interested or potential hunters.
And why we might make the statement of saying that we can “guarantee” a respective bull .

I fully agree that put and take is something that is frowned upon and I share that feeling.

 

[alimufti]

I

Here is a few pictures what a typical summer looks like if we do not intervene as we do now, species like kudu will vanish from certain reserves or game farms due to parasites they are very sensitive animals. Ticks are natural parasites but domesticated animals and the movement of these animals globally led to various species being introduced to areas they do bot necessarily occur.

With ticks causing damage like this to animals as stewards we need to intervene in enclosed areas not only to maintain animal populations but also play our role as “parasite” control measurements this is not a single event to a single species it happens to Eland , Nyala , Bushbuck and a multitude of other animals.

I hope you have a better understanding now of the work we put in to ensure quality animals that might reach the requirements set out by a interested or potential hunters.
And why we might make the statement of saying that we can “guarantee” a respective bull .

I fully agree that put and take is something that is frowned upon and I share that feeling.

Fully understand and appreciate what managing wildlife populations on a limited area entails being a breeder of game birds and having read botha and other texts on game ranch management extensively for my own work.
The prices in limpopo however are now very high for kudu putting the species in the range of what sable used to be. Of course this just means a shift in the hunter income bracket that would be paying these prices for kudu. Alot of hunters will shift to Eastern Cape kudu and experience the joy of kudu hunting while accepting the smaller subspecies horn wise.
All of us must balance what we can afford with our hunting aspirations. For me limpopo prices for kudu are now out of my average African hunt.

 

[WAB]

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No outfitter can guarantee a [emoji6][emoji[emoji6][emoji6]] inch kudu unless it is put and take simple as that.......
I would love to know what your guarantee entails....

I shoot [emoji[emoji6][emoji6]] sub [emoji6][emoji[emoji6][emoji6]] inch kudu the cost is on you?????

You could give yourself a good chance for one in some areas including Botswana with a repution of consistantly producing [emoji6][emoji[emoji6][emoji6]] inch kudu freerange.....but I would not accept a guarantee hunt for [emoji6][emoji[emoji6][emoji6]] inch kudu.....

@IvW, you may have an answer to your previous post…