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Lesser Kudu Hunting In Africa

A Nocturnal Herbivore, the Lesser Kudu Remains a Great Stalking or Tracking Game Hunting Trophy

The lesser kudu (Tragelaphus imberbis) is a medium-sized bushland antelope found in East Africa and is a natural choice for big game hunting in Africa. When planning kudu hunting in Africa, you will find them in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda. The International Union for the Conversation of Nature (IUCN) rates the status of the lesser kudu as “near threatened.”

When it comes to big game hunting, the lesser kudu is a remarkable trophy and they are hunted for their horns, skin and meat. Kudu hunting in Africa remains especially popular as their horns are used as musical instruments, as a honey pot or as a symbolic ritual object. Ask any South African and they will also add that kudu biltong is some of the nicest game biltong you will ever taste!

The lesser kudu prefers arid and semi-arid habitats such as scrublands and woodlands. They tend to avoid open spaces and those with long grasses, as these make perfect hiding spots for predators, such as the world’s fastest animal, the cheetah.

Lesser kudus are nocturnal and are most active during the night and early hours of the morning. During the day they sleep and rest under bushes or trees.

The female lesser kudus will stay in small groups of two or three animals while males will at times form small bachelor groups but are mostly solitary animals. They don’t express much territorial behavior and tend to spend vast periods roaming in search of food or water. Fights are rare and usually will only take place during mating season.

There is no specific breeding season for the lesser kudu, with births occurring throughout the year after a seven to eight-month gestation period. Females give birth to a single calf that they will keep away from the group for about a month.

The lesser kudu is herbivorous and feeds on a variety of vegetation including shrubs, leaves, shoots and twigs. They spend hours each night wandering the area in search of food and water sources.

Man is not the only one kudu hunting in Africa! African kudu hunts are popular and they are hunted for their meat, hides and horns. Natural predators for the lesser kudu and their young include leopards, wild dogs, hyenas, lions, pythons, and even eagles.

The lesser kudus have excellent hearing and that, combined with their outstanding camouflage behavior, protects them against predators. If they feel threatened or sense danger, they will stand dead still, which makes them extremely difficult to spot.

AT A GLANCE

Name:
Tragelaphus Imberbis

Weight:
120-210 pounds

Shoulder Height:
38-41 inches

Range:
East Africa

Gestation Period:
222 days

Hunting Lesser Kudu

A nocturnal herbivore, the lesser kudu remains a great stalking or tracking game hunting trophy

Size and Appearance

When big game hunting in Africa, the lesser kudu will certainly be one of the more striking species of antelope on offer. They are approximately about a third of the size of the greater kudu. Males weigh 120-210 pounds with a shoulder height of 38-41 inches while females weigh 120-155 pounds and have a shoulder height of approximately 35-40 inches. Lesser kudu males have more of a grayish-brown colored coat while females tend to have reddish-brown colored coats. They have a white stripe running down their backs with between 11-15 stripes coming from it and down the side of the lesser kudu. Only males have horns. Lesser kudus' tails are brown on top and white underneath and are held upright when the animal flees. They are known for their jumping abilities, reaching heights that exceed 6.5 feet!

Hunting Methods

African kudu hunts are best completed in the early morning or late afternoon and early evening before it gets dark. They are completed using either tracking or stalking.

Challenges and Rewards

African kudu hunts are pure adrenaline! This striking antelope is a worthy trophy for any plains game hunter, the challenge being you need to spot it first! The trophy size from a lesser kudu hunt in Africa is measured from the base of the horns along the spiral ridge to the tip, and then by adding the circumference of the bases. Be sure to make space in your trophy hunting room for a magnificent animal!

Rifles and Requirements

The minimum caliber for hunting kudu would be a .270 caliber having a flat trajectory and minimal recoil. It delivers sufficient energy. The shot placement in this smaller caliber would be critical. A 7mm or a 300 Win Mag fitted with decent optics works week and will has the capacity to shoot longer distance shots. A 30.06 loaded with 150 grains is an old favorite for kudu hunting in Africa.