Kudu Pics

20 March 2007, 04:43

RIP

Tuli Block, Botswana,July 2001, Kudu shot while stalking those pesky impala. was he 52" or 62"? With his horns tilted back like that, hard to judge.

He was indeed massive of body and jumped over a six foot tall brush heap on three legs. Amazing animals. I'll be looking for more kudu, next time on purpose.

I was sighting on an impala ram at 100 yards, when I saw a flash of sunlight glinting off this kudu's horn 50 yards beyond the impala. So I shifted the scope a bit and fired at the kudu. Brush deflected the bullet but I still hit him in that mangled left leg seen above, just below the shoulder. He eluded us for 5 hours of tracking, three-legged tracks and pieces of bone left along the trail. Brush deflection on a snap shot at the "accidental kudu."

Trophies are not dead animals...they are living memories.

20 March 2007, 07:19

reddy375

57 1/2 and 58" taken 2005 in Chewore North with 375 H&H at 60 yards, as he ran up a hillock with his cows. I had been on a roll, we left camp everyday saying what we were going to hunt and returned with the trophy each time! So we set off saying we were going to return with a Kudu bull, Ian (Gibbo) said nah atleast three days of hard hunting before you can get a good one. On my return with the 3rd biggest Kudu ever shot out of that camp, that evening he greeted me with two words "Lucky Bastard". My PH was Mitch Bunce.

Another pix showing the deep curls which have to be there to make the length of a big Kudu.

An old bull shot in a lovely valley, Namibia 2006, with Dirk Rohrmann. Note the shallow curls and thus only 50". A very long stalk and 200+ yard shot made it a trophy of a lifetime for me. He rolled down the hill and the skin got pretty rubbed up all over!

20 March 2007, 07:38

L. David Keith

Boghossian: "BTW can someone enlighten me on 'ivory tips'. Is that a sign of age? Of horn wear? Or is is just a feature that some animals never have?" I can't give you the scienticfic, biological answer, but it appears that the older "spiral horns" get the ivory tipped horns with age. Our Pronghorn Antelope has the same phenomenum. Younger males won't have it as a rule, but once they get some age on them, the ivory appears. I've examined some where the ivory was semi-transparent. From my observations, it appears to begin at the age of 3.5 to 4 years of age. I see this mostly in Kudu, Nyala, Sitatunga and Bongo. Although related to no other animal, and not a true Antelope, the mature Pronghorn Antelope of the western USA will usually have ivory tips. 100% of the "bucks" I've taken over 13 inches have them. The 15" plus bucks will get more transparent. They are the only horned species (that I'm aware of) that annually shed their horn sheaths. Lots of fantastic bulls in this thread; congrats to you all!
Ann: Your Kuku should be on the cover of a magazine (was it?)

Simply a super, super bow kill bull. Congrats, David

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20 March 2007, 07:52

nomrcy

quote:
Originally posted by L. David Keith:
Boghossian: "BTW can someone enlighten me on 'ivory tips'. Is that a sign of age? Of horn wear? Or is is just a feature that some animals never have?" I can't give you the scienticfic, biological answer, but it appears that the older "spiral horns" get the ivory tipped horns with age. Our Pronghorn Antelope has the same phenomenum. Younger males won't have it as a rule, but once they get some age on them, the ivory appears. I've examined some where the ivory was semi-transparent. From my observations, it appears to begin at the age of 3.5 to 4 years of age. I see this mostly in Kudu, Nyala, Sitatunga and Bongo. Although related to no other animal, and not a true Antelope, the mature Pronghorn Antelope of the western USA will usually have ivory tips. 100% of the "bucks" I've taken over 13 inches have them. The 15" plus bucks will get more transparent. They are the only horned species (that I'm aware of) that annually shed their horn sheaths. Lots of fantastic bulls in this thread; congrats to you all!
Ann: Your Kuku should be on the cover of a magazine (was it?) Simply a super, super bow kill bull. Congrats, David

I have wondered the same thing. Here is another photo of mine-it has 6" of ivory on each side, but is only 48" on each side.

Trophies are not dead animals...they are living memories.

20 March 2007, 08:06

L. David Keith

nomrcy, nice looking bull. That is exceptional ivory and really gives him character. It's possible genetics plays into the picture, but I believe age is a more determining factor. What were the base measurements? Circumference looks to be quite good all the way up. He looks to be in the 5 year old class. Good hunting, LDK

20 March 2007, 17:36

Ivan

I hope you guy's don't get sick of looking at this one... I don't.

I shot this bull on day 6 of a 9 day hunt. Killed him 2 hours before I took a monster bushbuck. To say I was lucky was an understatment! I doubt I'll have this much luck again in any one day of hunting. Anyway.... I shot him about a mile from the Limpopo and about 40 miles west of Mesina. He goes 58x57 with 14" bases. Second biggest bull to come off thier place in 18 years. The biggest was a mear 1/2" longer on the short side. Going back to try my luck again next summer some time.

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20 March 2007, 22:46

Hutty

This Kudu was taken by my buddy Keith last summer in RSA, Limpopo province. It was the last day of the hunt. Keith and the PH Hugo De Pleiss had spent the last few days looking for Kudu to no avail. They had decided to call it quits and were walking back to find the truck, when Hugo told Keith there was an kudu that had just stepped out from behind a tree ahead. With little light, the sticks went up and Keith dropped him at 230 yds with one shot from his 30/06. Upon walking up on him they realized just how big he was and how old he was. Both his ears were all torn up and he had scars all over his sides and belly. His horns measured 59 1/2 and 60 1/4 with 13 inch bases. Not bad for your first hunt in SA on your last day.

The danger of civilization, of course, is that you will piss away your life on nonsense

20 March 2007, 23:00

L. David Keith

I love seeing them Ivan, that's a Toad for sure. Hard to get tired of looking at the Gray Ghost.
DPM: How wide is your Daughters bull? If I may ask, what was her take on getting such a good one?
Hutty, I would take the shells out of Keith's rifle next time you hunt with him. Outstanding bull! LDK

20 March 2007, 23:41

DPM

L. David Keith

Honestly I don't know how wide that bull was. We taped it after the skinners were done with it. It was just over 54". There were 4 bulls together and she said that she would be happy with any of them. I don't think she even understands how big he is. She was just happy that she had to work hard for it. Her and her PH (Rodie Tourle) made a great stalk on the bulls, while I stayed behind to run video.

21 March 2007, 01:15

Hutty

LDK:

Tell me about it. Myself and my 2 other buddies were back at the lodge having a cold one wondering where Keith was. After about 2 beers the radio spoke and said send the tractor. We all went to the skinning shed and needless to say our jaws hit the ground. My two buddies also took 2 nice kudu of 55" and 56" while I did not even get one in the scope.

The danger of civilization, of course, is that you will piss away your life on nonsense

21 March 2007, 23:45

nampom

We had a veldt fire last year September during a hunt and my hunter, Roger snr. offered to help, so he joined me and we both played fire fighter in our camo.

For his efforts I said he could shoot something at no cost and this is what he got, a beautifull 56" Kudu bull, double lung shot and expired at 60 yards.

All the best
Roger

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22 March 2007, 03:05

Aspen Hill Adventures

Here's some more big bulls from Namibia to check out, three are from A-R member TSJ. He probably can post some more details, such as measurements.

This is Tony's big Namibian bull from 2005.

Here's a true "stallion" hanging in a Namibian taxidermy shop.

Tony's Namibian farmer/ friend sent this in recently. Pretty cool, eh?

This one was shot by one of my PH's in Namibia, it's a 60 incher, yes, he has good ones!

22 March 2007, 10:56

Safari-Hunt

As for Ivory tips on the horns all I can say is that it is all about genes. You can go trough these photos of all the trophies. YOu will get youngish bulls with very sharp tips with no ivory and some with long ivory. Then look at the old bulls with blunt tips some of them have and some not. My bull only had 1/2" of ivory and other bulls I have shot had some more and some of them none.

So this is how I think that ivory is in the genes I'm not an expert on this topic just someone who has seen a lot of kudu and these pictures help to prove a point.

Frederik Cocquyt
I always try to use enough gun but then sometimes a brainshot works just as good.

Verbera!, Iugula!, Iugula!!!

Blair.

"...Them, they were Giants!"
J.A. Hunter describing the early explorers and settlers of East Africa

hunting is not about the killing but about the chase of the hunt.... Ortega Y Gasset

23 March 2007, 10:30

Blair338/378

quote:
Originally posted by TSJ:
Thanks Ann,
Mine was 59 1/2 X 59, the nearly 12" bases were what impressed me with it.
The one at the taxidermy was a pick-up. It was taken in to be ground up for fertilizer but was rescued and given to the taxidermy shop. 68" and the Namibia No 2 kudu.

TSJ,

That bull of yours is a bloody bewdy!!

Great stuff.

Ann, where in Namibia did TSJ shoot that bull????

Regards,

Verbera!, Iugula!, Iugula!!!

Blair.

23 March 2007, 10:47

Safari-Hunt

quote:
Bwanamich

That is a perfect example of a very good looking bull with the tips pointing outwards again but doesnt have the long measurements. As all of you know kudu doesnt stand around for along so what would it be would you shoot it or not ?

I would ! He just looks so good.
Anyway the trick to judge the horns quickly is the ears see if the first spiral stretch beyond or at the eartips notice this bull the first spiral turn doesnt even go past half the ears.

I have made a mistake with CChunter two years a go shooting a perfectly good looking bull but only 43". He stood up was ready to run off and I told CChunter to shoot. Just shows you kudu hunting aint easy. Didnt have time to check on my own tip about checking the spread.

Frederik Cocquyt
I always try to use enough gun but then sometimes a brainshot works just as good.

23 March 2007, 11:31

Blair338/378

quote:
Originally posted by Safari-Hunt:
quote:
Bwanamich

That is a perfect example of a very good looking bull with the tips pointing outwards again but doesnt have the long measurements. As all of you know kudu doesnt stand around for along so what would it be would you shoot it or not ?

I would ! He just looks so good.
Anyway the trick to judge the horns quickly is the ears see if the first spiral stretch beyond or at the eartips notice this bull the first spiral turn doesnt even go past half the ears.

I have made a mistake with CChunter two years a go shooting a perfectly good looking bull but only 43". He stood up was ready to run off and I told CChunter to shoot. Just shows you kudu hunting aint easy. Didnt have time to check on my own tip about checking the spread.

Just learned something, Safari-Hunt.

Good point, mate.

Verbera!, Iugula!, Iugula!!!

Blair.

23 March 2007, 12:05

Bwanamich

Safari-hunt,
i passed up close to a dozen kudu before taking this one half way through my stay on a friends ranch. I took him because the shape of the horns was what I wanted, we were running short on time as we had a schedule to keep and he was an old boy. After I took the shot, we lost sight of him due to thick cover. When tracking, there were tracks all over the place from various kudu. We realised that there were actually 2 bulls that had been fighting over a female and for a while we followed the wrong bull tracks and feared we lost him when we found no blood trail. I was sure I couldn't have missed from 40 yards on a broadside shot. Sure enough after searching further found a blood trail which led us to where he lay.

"...Them, they were Giants!"
J.A. Hunter describing the early explorers and settlers of East Africa

hunting is not about the killing but about the chase of the hunt.... Ortega Y Gasset

ur 3 greatest hunts r ur first ur last and ur next

26 March 2007, 09:42

Blair338/378

quote:
Originally posted by TSJ:
Blair 338/378,
That Kudu was shot over towards Gobabis. I've never seen so many big kudu as over there.
My friend there in Namibia has shot well over 1,000 kudu and hadnt shot one as heavy as the one I lucked out on.

TSJ,

He's a absolute cracker. Congratulations....

Verbera!, Iugula!, Iugula!!!

Blair.

Frederik Cocquyt
I always try to use enough gun but then sometimes a brainshot works just as good.

There is hope, even when your brain tells you there isn’t.
– John Green, author

30 April 2007, 02:18

Uglystick

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8AZNXDhq3atFEgg

This is a picture of mine from Tanzania in 2003.
It measures 53-54.

It was one of the few times that I just "dumb shit lucked into" something.

We were looking for buffalo when I saw a grey spot in the bush. I wanted to shoot a baboon and that is what I thought I was seeing, so I threw up my rifle and tried to find a target. The PH whispered " what do you have ??" Just as I said baboon this guy showed some right shoulder and his head. I am not a great judge of trophies but I figured he was big enough. Also it was thick and he was moving. I gave him one to the shoulder and now he is on the wall.