Reading a couple of other threads on Kudu got me thinking about hunting Africa's grey ghost. I guess I have spent more time chasing kudu bulls around the bush than any other African big game animal...and I've enjoyed every minute of it! I've shot nine kudu bulls on my trips to Africa and good Lord willing, I may take one in Zambia if the opportunity presents itself in August. Folks tell me there are a few good heads coming out of the Luangwa Valley on occasion and I've always fancied myself an opportunist.

Anyway...I'd thought I'd share some of my bulls with you...please add your pictures and stories to this thread and sit back, close your eyes and remember chasing that big spiral horned dream through the dry thornbush....



This was my first kudu bull shot in the Lemco in Zimbabwe in July 1994. Man, he was the culmination of a boyhood dream to make it to Africa to hunt some day! I took him on the 5th day of a 14 day hunt on a dry hill with my Sako Finnbear .375 H&H shooting 285 grain Grand Slams. Did John Greeff and I celebrate that night with plenty of cold Castle Lagers.....



My second kudu bull taken in Namibia in September of 1999. Diethelm Metzger of Makadi Safaris got so darn excited when he saw this bull...you know, that German thing of shooting culls as trophies! Well, alot of talking on his part and explaing how desirable undesirable traits are and I negotiated the trophy fee in half and a stalk through some thick catclaw on this bull...one shot at 75 yards in the neck with a .338 shooting 210 grain Nosler Partitions was all she wrote for this unusual bull...his skull resides in my reloading room.



In 2000, it was off to the East Cape to hunt various RSA critters including the East Cape Kudu. This is an Uh-Oh bull...I will never forget Russell Lovemore telling me "he is standing by the green bush next to the rock", I shot and he said "you missed,the big bull is running up the hill" ...the tracker and I both said "he fell in his tracks"! Uh-oh, THAT green bush and THAT rock! Oh well, another skull mount for the reloading room.



I made up for it three days later when I shot this bull that taped 49"...not 50" but damn close enough as you can see from the smile on my face...East Cape Kudu can be tough to judge and tougher to chase up and down those steep hills covered with brush and prickly pear! Both bulls were shot with a custom .30x.338 shooting 180 grain Swift A-Frames...both were one shot kills.



This is a nice SG Kudu bull I took in the Limpopo near Thabazimbi. The ranch was called Atherton and was a 60,000 acre game paradise. That said it was thick and hunting was tough. I was hunting with Eugene Visagie when he still worked for Numzann Safaris. I took this 51" bull late in the hunt. My dad went home without a kudu bull...and hunting the RSA is easy? Shot with a .338 with Nosler Partions in 210 grain. High shoulder shot dumped him in 5 steps.




Another big South African Kudu bull killed on the last day of the hunt at 4:30 in the afternoon...53" and real mass made him one of my favorites of all times. I thought Brad Rolston was going to pull his hair out...we were so close a couple of times and had the wind shift, twig break, etc. I shot this bull at 125 yards with my Brno custom .375 shooting 270 grain Failsafes. This bull was killed right next to KNP next to the Balule Reserve.





And last but not least are the two bulls I shot in the Save last year with Buzz Charlton...a really fun hunt and a 53" and 55" bull...for details check out my report in the African Hunt section....

Thanks for going down memory lane with me, folks...I've shown you most of mine, now show me yours!

quote:

I've shown you most of mine, now show me yours!

That is beaucoup Kudu!

Here is a helpful hint for old Kudu in Namibia -- do not rest in the shade in the afternoon if someone with a rifle shows up!

I have hunted too many kudu for myself and with clients to even try and publish the photos. Here's 2 recent ones hunted with Ndumo Hunting Safaris, first one shot in Namibia about 2 weeks ago, second one shot in Natal, about 2 months ago.




(Dont know what happened to bottom part of last pic????)

From a rookie at Lemco last September:

Nice Kudus and nice topic idea.

It has been four Kudu bulls so far, but I hope to ad on my list soon.



Messina, South Africa 2002



Messina, South Africa 2004



Ellisras, South Africa 2005



Ellisras, South Africa 2005

My cousin went to Namibia two years ago, and shot 2 bulls that both meassured to gold in one evening - actually within the same hour. How common is that?

Here is a photo of my one and only kudu. I took it in Namibia last year on day 5 of my 7 day safari with Vaughan Fulton's Classic Safaris. My PH, Thorsten Meier, and I had seen several kudu in previous days and had a few failed stalks. Kudu was the one animal I wanted more than any other and I was beginning to sweat it with only two days left. We caught this bull along with several cows and one or two smaller bulls coming off the mountain late in the day. They knew something was up and headed back up the mountain. After a lot of scrambling, jogging and tearing through thorns, we eased to a point about 150 yards from this bull and I dropped him with one shot from my Model 70 300 WM shooting 180 Gr. TBBC.

bwanamrm,nice bulls man .kindly tell me where will u go for bigger bulls if given chance again,as i shot both in eastren cape,pics dont know how to send in here one was 49x 50 inches the othe was 48/47,i love to have one over 55 inches.thankx

Here is my one and only from RSA in October 2003, it only went 50". Last year when I was in RSA we were driving to the mountains to hunt klipspringer and a 60" plus bull ran accross the road but by the time we stopped it ran on to a property we did not have permission to hunt on. But hopefully in the future I will be able to get a monster like that.

Okay, I'll play.

Thirty years after leaving Africa for college in the States, I got my first kudu at Blaauwkrantz Safaris on the Eastern Cape. Total score 108 3/8 (green) for what that's worth to someone else. To me he is the "bee's knees" and I/m ready to re-experience the feel of horns and hide before preserved as a trophy.

quote:

bwanamrm,nice bulls man .kindly tell me where will u go for bigger bulls if given chance again,as i shot both in eastren cape,pics dont know how to send in here one was 49x 50 inches the othe was 48/47,i love to have one over 55 inches.thankx

Hogdeer,
If I were to get specific on a search for big kudu bulls I would concentratrate in the Limpopo province of the RSA, the Save Conservancy in Zimbabwe, Namibia or the southern part of Botswana.

Big kudu are where you find them...kinda like whitetail, some areas just have better genetics than others...but occasionally you will see a big bull where you don't expect to. That's why I am an opportunist when I hunt Africa...if something big pops up and is on quota...I am on him regardless if I have taken one or nine before. I don't hunt with a trophy checklist or a tape measure in my hand but simply for the sheer pleasure that comes with hunting a mature animal fairly. I don't want to be in an inner circle or wear a ring to signfy what I have done...horns on my wall are trophy enough!

Bwanarm: I will be seeing Brad in a month and he has told me that he has seen some good Kudu in Zululand. I will ask him to tell me your story on your magnificent bull that you shot with him in the Limpopo.

Just one so far but they sure are fun to hunt. I've always said if they were more rare they would be the most expensive animal on the planet. The beauty, grace and unusual look make them a very impressive animal.



Don't tell Russ Gould but I took my wife on that trip and she enjoyed every minute of it!

Kyler

Bwana, thanks for this thread. I have only killed two kudu, one an East African, too small by any standard, unfortunately, and the other, a Southern, in Namibia.

I will post a photo of the Namibian, which taped at 53.5, but which might as well have been a foot more, for all I cared or care:



He is on top of a high kopje, and behind him is an impassable cliff, which took us a half hour to circumvent and surmount.

you have probably seen this one - but just for a story behind it:
It was in Namibia back in uhm 95 I guess - however - The day was closing in and we were on our way back to the vehicle – with a brief stop and look over the water hole upon our way. Approaching – approximately 400 yards away from the water hole, we spotted two kudu bulls that were hanging around. A brief glimpse through the binoculars discovered young bulls with horns going into their second turn. I was still busy observing the youngsters – when I felt a hasty pulls on my right hand. It was a PH that was anxiously showing me something between the bushes some 50 yards to the left of the bulls. I raised my binos just to uncover (IMO) another rather average horned kudu bull. PH was amased by the bull`s appearance (not me at the moment). Since it was my first day hunting I unwillingly agreed to give it a try (expecting that something would come in between) – in the meantime bull headed away – behind the shallow ridge so we did not see him anymore. With last sunbeams behind our backs, we slipped between bushes and carefully approached the ridge. When we peeked over, at the first glimpse there was nothing in the valley below that would catch our eye. But there – on the darkening of the horizon some 250 yds away, one can hardly separate the majestic contour of the “gray ghost†in the jess - standing broadside with head turned our way – he sure knew we were there. The moment of truth came faster then expected and there was not time for any excuse left. PH offered me a shoulder and corked his ears – Sauer 202 in 7mm rem. Mag. topped with Schmidt & Bender 3-12x56 set to 6 x - 4A was put high on the shoulder – it looked awfully far – and I let RWS TIG a go. At the bang the bull disappeared and all I saw was PH departing in fast run over to the fallen bull. That looked quite strange to me since I was accustomed to wait at least 5 minutes before approaching the downed animal. When PH saw that I am not following he yelled at me to come over as fast as I can. So I did. Later PH told me that he saw a bull went down indicating a high shot and that he was worried about shot being too high (grazed the spine – client lost one that way a month prior my hunt). When we arrived to the downed animal it was hit just where the aim was - still alive tho so I put another one in his neck. It turned out it was a great old one and I am quite happy with it.

I am sorry about the carnage picture, but that is all I have from the bull – I carried my Nikon F50 on that hunt and damn flash on the camera sabotaged me right at that moment (it worked flawlessly when we got back to the farm of course ).

I dont know how to post a picture, but I shot a beauty last year in namibia. My pal there has shot well over a thousand, and it was bigger then any of his 38 yrs worth of shooting. It just missed 60" but the 12" bases make it fantastic mass wise. I think it's my twelth kudu and along with piggies, my favorite thing to hunt.

TSJ

If you would like your picture up email it to me and I'll post it for you, I always like to see a good Kudu!

ron1955@earthlink.net

Here is TSJ's Kudu Bull:


As said by TSJ - - -
shot a beauty last year in namibia. My pal there has shot well over a thousand, and it was bigger then any of his 38 yrs worth of shooting. It just missed 60" but the 12" bases make it fantastic mass wise

bwanamrm,

Fantastic thread.

You guys have all taken some really great Kudu bulls! Congratulations all around!

mrlexma, That is one awe inspiring photo!


I hope to contribute to the list one day.

Thanks!
Dave

Thanks David...I hope you get your big bull some day soon. I agree on mrlexma's photography. Mine is usually the "guy smiling behind dead animal" trophy pix. mrlex's are very uniquely staged to display animal and terrain! Plus he does black & white on occasion and it is very classy!

mrlexma,

Excellent photo!! And excellent bull!

Here's my three Kudu Bulls:

All 3 were taken with a Interarms MarkV in a .270 calibur, Federal factory ammo

My first ever bull, took it in 2001 with Buffalo Range Safaris 54 inches



Kudu Bull number two, taken with Buffalo Range Safaris in 2002 51 inches



Third Bull taken in 2005 measured 53 inches taken with Buffalo Range Safaris



Can't wait to go after number 4

All are very nice bulls. Love those ivory tips! I too can't seem to get enough Kudu.

Great post Bwanamrm!!!

I have hunted Zim twice (Chewore North) and on both trips took a kudu on the last day each time.

Kudu number 1, October 2001




Went back to the same camp in August 2004 and met this kudu on my last day





I'm heading back with N'gagi in July/August 2007. Can't wait to see what the last day brings to me


Tim


HEY! After posting, I just realized I was wearing my lucky Boaring Experiences www.boaring.com Hat each time. It was given to me by our very own Kyler Hamann. I better be sure to pack it again on my next safari!

Wonderful photos of your fine kudu bulls fellas. I look forward to having a grand bull to add some day too. What time of year would you consider to be the best to hunt kudu and does it vary throughout Africa?

Guys,

These kudus are the most wounderful trophies i have ever seen.Thanks for sharing.I hope one day to get a nice one.

Hamdeni

A very wide 48" kudu taken with 7mm Rem Mag, Barnes X at 70 yards after a 30 minute stalk with PH Jannie Spangenberg. Trackers estimated his age at 14 years. The location was east of Gobabis, Namibia on the Botswana border in August 2002.

quote:

What time of year would you consider to be the best to hunt kudu and does it vary throughout Africa?

In southern Africa the kudu rut is usually in May and early June, however, they are available all through the hunting season. I've shot mine in May through September.

With only two kudu hunts to my credit, I hardly feel qualified to answer what the best time is. The first time was in Sept and the second time was towards the end of the rut in JUne. Without question, we worked a LOT harder for the kudu in June than we did in Sept. Below is my "september kudu". He went 58 1/2". As you can see, really tight curls, but I'm partial to wider spreads. jorge

Here is my one and only kudu. It measures 52 3/4". Though it is not the biggest kudu, it holds a special place in my hunting heart as it was the first african animal I had taken.

Here's 30ott'6 with his Kudu - - - - - - -

This Kudu was taken on the first day of my first African trip. Taken in May 2005 in Namibia with a Sako .375 using 285 grain Speer Grand Slams. One shot in the neck at about 80 yards. The neck was all that was visible and I wasn't gonna let him get away! Measured 54".

Thanks for posting the pic Ron.

John

My first kudu... from the Limpopo last september. Hopefully I'll get to shoot a 'wide' one next year when I go back.

Ivan,

How much did that kudu measure and by the looks of things the kudu wouldn't have made October so you helped him out

quote:

Originally posted by Safari-Hunt:
Ivan,

How much did that kudu measure and by the looks of things the kudu wouldn't have made October so you helped him out

Yeah he was in pretty poor shape from the drought, my warthog was in the same kind of shape...

"Green" lenght was 58x56.5 and 12" bases...

The odd configuration of the horns made it dificult for my PH and tracker to judge at 400 yards when we first spotted him, and even at 250 when I/we decided to shoot, he was still pretty sure that he was no 'monster'.

They told me he'd probably only go 52ish"... I joked around with my PH a month or so before we went hunting and tossed out a 56" or better number and he thought I was serious so he told me if I wanted a bigger one I should pass. I said I was more than happy with this one as I was joking before, and since this is the first one that we would have a ligitimate shot at killing after 4 days of hunting he would do nicely. Actually we were on a 54-55" two days prior but because he though it was to small for me, we dinked around and he got to far out of range. Oh well next year if I find one with wide horns and looks good to me he's toast!

Here's my 51 bull from the Khomas mountains in north of Windhoek.

Shot him badly tracked him 2 miles and shot him to death in a canyon.

Question-- when the tips are pointed out, I assume that is a completion of the 3rd curl. How common is this completion, and do most of the highest scoring kudu possess it? Thanks

My first and only. But I hope not my last!

RAC

All I see is a red X in a box, no pic

quote:

Originally posted by Widowmaker416:
RAC

All I see is a red X in a box, no pic

Try it again. I messed up posting and it should be there now.

Beats me! I can see it but I don't why you can't.

No Go RAC - - -