Lets see some Kudu!

[Mtn_Infantry]

I think I meant cape??? I was told not greater as we were too far south. Does that seem right?

Many consider the Cape Kudu an extension of the Southern Greater Kudu. Rowland War for example doesn’t have a Cape Kudu category.

Others with more experience/knowledge can correct me but I think it was an outfitter invented term/species to get clients to hunt other areas and species. Kinda like Golden Gemsbok, or colored Impala, and Springbok.

 

[Rich s]

60 1/2 with Dalton & York in Zimbabwe 2023

 

[375Fox]

Many consider the Cape Kudu an extension of the Southern Greater Kudu. Rowland War for example doesn’t have a Cape Kudu category.

Others with more experience/knowledge can correct me but I think it was an outfitter invented term/species to get clients to hunt other areas and species. Kinda like Golden Gemsbok, or colored Impala, and Springbok.

I would consider it an extension like you said but still a subspecies because there are enough differences. You can note they are darker colored with less stripes and have more pronounced brown socks compared to normal greater kudu. These are natural characteristics. You can see a lot of the bigger “cape” kudu now though have standard greater kudu genetics bred in and have lost some of those traits for better horn size than the average cape kudu.

 

[Firebird]

according to Dr. Kevin Robertson “SCI recognizes five subspecies of greater kudu in its record books.” One of those subspecies is the cape kudu-

When I saw your photo I immediately thought, not lesser kudu but very
Likely cape kudu.

 

[jpr9954]

Many consider the Cape Kudu an extension of the Southern Greater Kudu. Rowland War for example doesn’t have a Cape Kudu category.

Others with more experience/knowledge can correct me but I think it was an outfitter invented term/species to get clients to hunt other areas and species. Kinda like Golden Gemsbok, or colored Impala, and Springbok.

I wonder if anyone has ever done testing to see if the DNA is the same for the Cape kudu and the Southern Greater kudu.

They did DNA testing on brook trout here in the mountains of western North Carolina. The fisheries biologists found that the Southern Appalachian brook trout had a totally different DNA pattern than the typical brook trout found in the north. The more isolated the stream, the more likely the native Southern Appalachian brook trout or specks as they are called by the natives.

 

[One Day...]

My 3 best ones... or 4 ? A question of "geographically distinct populations" ?

Eastern Cape, free range, 2018

Eastern Cape, free range, 2022

Southern Greater, free range, Kalahari 2022


And to complicate the question regarding sub-species, or more scientifically speaking: "geographically distinct populations", take a look at this Kudu, which the PH insisted was a "Karoo Kudu" taken in a small gully almost on top of the Sneeuberge. It is much smaller in size, although clearly fully mature, and quite interestingly, notice both the color, and how its pelt has the wholly texture of high altitude dwellers, typical of the Vaal Rhebok in Africa. I am not taking a position on whether this is, or not, a 'different' Kudu, but I must admit that the wholly pelt argument resonates...

And by the way, the PH also insisted that of all my Kudus, this is comparatively the best trophy. Maybe (?), I do not know(?), but admittedly it does look different, and I had never seen one like this before...

Karoo (?), free range, 2022

 

[Sika98k]

Eastern Cape last week

 

[Hornyman]

Eastern Cape with Nick Bowker.

 

[One Day...]

My 3 best ones... or 4 ? A question of "geographically distinct populations" ?

View attachment 601539
Eastern Cape, free range, 2018

View attachment 601537
Eastern Cape, free range, 2022

View attachment 601536
Southern Greater, free range, Kalahari 2022


And to complicate the question regarding sub-species, or more scientifically speaking: "geographically distinct populations", take a look at this Kudu, which the PH insisted was a "Karoo Kudu" taken in a small gully almost on top of the Sneeuberge. It is much smaller in size, although clearly fully mature, and quite interestingly, notice both the color, and how its pelt has the wholly texture of high altitude dwellers, typical of the Vaal Rhebok in Africa. I am not taking a position on whether this is, or not, a 'different' Kudu, but I must admit that the wholly pelt argument resonates...

And by the way, the PH also insisted that of all my Kudus, this is comparatively the best trophy. Maybe (?), I do not know(?), but admittedly it does look different, and I had never seen one like this before...

View attachment 601540
Karoo (?), free range, 2022

Argh! Dang auto spellchecker !@#$%^ I obviously meant woolly !!!!!!!!!!

 

[Hornyman]

Ty's kudu with Nick Bowker.

 

[Randy F]

Zeerust area in SA

 

[McKenzie Sims]

Central Kalahari Botswana
View attachment 601267View attachment 601268

Whatba beauty of a bull!

 

[McKenzie Sims]

View attachment 601544
Ty's kudu with Nick Bowker.

Congrats!

 

[McKenzie Sims]

I think I meant cape??? I was told not greater as we were too far south. Does that seem right?

Cape would seem corect depenidng on where you were at. If the Outfittter said not greatern than yes would be Cape Kudu. Lesser kudu are only hunted in Tanzania and Ethiopia.

 

[McKenzie Sims]

Old Eastern Cape bull, posted before but it’s a reminder of poaching being the scourge of Africa. Snare blinding him in one eye and the other broken end embedded in his temple.

View attachment 601276View attachment 601277

nice old bull, its crazy to see the effects of poaching even on the private land and game farms in South Africa.

 

[McKenzie Sims]

Zeerust area in SA
View attachment 601676

Congrats!!

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

I wonder if anyone has ever done testing to see if the DNA is the same for the Cape kudu and the Southern Greater kudu.

They did DNA testing on brook trout here in the mountains of western North Carolina. The fisheries biologists found that the Southern Appalachian brook trout had a totally different DNA pattern than the typical brook trout found in the north. The more isolated the stream, the more likely the native Southern Appalachian brook trout or specks as they are called by the natives.

I think I remember reading something about it being done, but can’t seem to find it and might be confusing it with a different species. I know they did some DNA testing with Bushbuck comparing Cape vs Limpopo. I’m not taking one side or the other just saying Rowland Ward doesn’t recognize them as separate. I know SCI does recognize them separately, but they also recognize the color variations of Springbok which are genetically bred for the most part. Would love to see if there are a lot of DNA differences.

That said I hunted a Kudu on my 1 trip to the EC. Just like I hunted them in Namibia, Zimbabwe and every area of South Africa that I’ve hunted. Kudu like Elk get out in a pedestal by me, so I haven’t taken one on every hunt despite opportunities every hunt. Kudu might be the animal I’m most picky about in Africa. As @375Fox states there were some physical difference between the ones I posted from Limpopo and the EC, including body size and coloration like he mentioned. I’m sure I’m not alone in saying I’ve seen similar in Whitetails from within the same few mile area. Sometimes you get the real dark chocolate horned ones and then you get the lighter horned ones. Double throat patch vs single. I’ve never registered a single animal so can’t say it really matters to me. Most people don’t even know what a kudu is let alone that there are multiple subspecies.

@One Day... beautiful trophies. The wooly coat that one has is pretty cool.

 

[Philip Glass]

Last year in southern Namibia with Frontier Safaris on their 130,000 acre game ranch. This was an old bull with heavy tooth wear.
I've taken plenty but never a really big one. Maybe some day.

 

[One Day...]

Beautiful bull Philip, who cares about the tape, it has a unique shape

 

[Martin77]

My Kudu in 2019