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Originally posted by Aspen Hill Adventures:
This is about all I'll have time to post this weekend but I wanted to show something of my trip.

I have, like most of us, pursued and looked for great kudu everywhere I have gone in Africa. I have seen many and gotten close to few. I was looking for an archery kudu and I chose the Limpopo Valley area because I knew the genetics were good and a bull meeting what I was looking for could be found here.

This bull was taken on the third say of a five day hunt at an archery only concession I have booked for over the last 5 years. This photo represents exactly how he was found. It looked like he just sunk down to the ground. Can you guess his length? His longest horn is his right one.



You can see the exit wound just behind his arm.

OK, here are the details....

This is an old bull who had been seen a few times over the past year. Now we all know they don't get this big by being dumb. So I knew I was in for a tough hunt. Myself and the landowner, Chris Brand, battled with rough winds and lightly built grass thatch hides. So it was day three at 1125 in the morning that I finally slipped an arrow through the side of this monarch.



The bull came in to water with several others. He took my breath away and I feared I would not be able to draw my bow. He had a large tree branch stuck in his right horn when he came in. As he came in another smaller bull approached and my targeted bull attacked him. This distraction allowed me to draw and pick a spot. He was just 20 yards when I let the arrow go, I had a wonderful pass through and the whole thing on video.

I knew I made a mortal wound on him the moment I let the arrow go. That's one of those "visuals" you never forget.

The bull took off and went out of sight within a few seconds. The remaining bulls stood around wondering what happened. We waited about 5 minutes and I said enough, let's go fetch him! Chris went to get his bluetick, Puma, to track the bull. He uses the hound on all game to keep her sharp in case a real tracking job is ever needed. The dog is amazing and worth her weight in gold.

Chris had Puma on a lead and we showed her my bloody arrow. Her eyes lit up and nose went to work. She took us 92 yards through the thick bushveld directly to the downed bull.



Puma admiring the bull!



My equipment is an older Parker bow that's seen a lot of action over the years. It's a piece of equipment that becomes a part of me when I pick it up, always reliable. Anyway, it's only set at 59 pounds right now due to a bad shoulder injury I suffered last fall, I popped the joint that holds your clavicle (collar bone) to your shoulder blade. I normally hunt at 65 pounds. I use a Whisker Biscuit for an arrow rest and Steel Force brooadheads (100 grain) and carbon arrows. I always get good results with this set up.

I will have a hard time finding a better kudu bull! He was taken on my birthday and oh what a gift he was!

Many thanks to Chris for not letting some other clients shoot this bull before I had a chance!

If you are an archery hunter and want this type of kudu, let me know, the property has his bloodlines all over it! One of the others in the bunch will be every bit as good as this guy next year. Rifle hunters don't fret, I got you covered too, drop me a line.

Later on I will be posting several photos of kudu showing a variety of horn shape and measurements.

I am off to do some farm work, my pasture needs brush hoggin and I will post more about my hunting exploits in the next few days!

Don't forget to guess the measurement on this bull.