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A lot has been said about shooting green/ soft bossed buffalo, but it seems like no one ever says anything about the huge % of immature kudu bulls that are shot. Looking at recent hunting magazines, posts on internet hunting forums, etc. made me decide that someone has to speak up about it. As I have mentioned on another post, I think its worse to shoot an immature kudu than a soft bossed buffalo, as in the case of a buffalo, at least your taxidermist can make him look “hard.” An immature kudu will ALWAYS look incomplete. As a matter of interest, I took the latest African Outfitter magazine (Dec/ Jan issue), and counted 20 kudu where you can see the whole length of at least 1 horn. This included mounted specimens, hunted animals, as well as live animals. Of the 20 I counted, at least 7 were immature. Now I have done it before, and let a client under pressure of time shoot a slightly immature animal, but to be honest, I should not have done it, and neither should other PH’s allow the shooting of immature bulls FOR TROPHIES. A Kudu bull takes 6-8 years to become a real trophy, and if we start shooting immature ones like the 40% in the mentioned magazine, we are actually starting to shoot next year’s trophies. Now to be considered mature, I believe a kudu bull should have one of the following horn shapes: a) long, sharp points that point upwards, not inwards anymore  b) shorter, blunt points that point upwards  c) Long or short points that point out again.  If the horns are still pointing to each other, that bull is immature, and should be left to breed, especially if it is very long.  If that tips are pointing up but short,or still pointing to the back, the bull should be left alone, as above.  Please note that I am talking strictly about trophy hunting. I have shot literally hundreds of other young bulls on huge open areas for meat only. Also, this is not a dig at anybody, just my opinion. If you have a different opinion, share please. Karl Stumpfe Ndumo Hunting Safaris www.huntingsafaris.net karl@huntingsafaris.net P.O. Box 1667, Katima Mulilo, Namibia Cell: +264 81 1285 416 Fax: +264 61 254 328 Sat. phone: +88 163 166 9264 | ||
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Nough said....  Charl van Rooyen Owner Infinito Travel Group www.infinito-safaris.com charl@infinito-safaris.com Cell: +27 78 444 7661 Tel: +27 13 262 4077 Fax:+27 13 262 3845 Hereford Street 28A Groblersdal 0470 Limpopo R.S.A. "For the Infinite adventure" Plains Game Dangerous Game Bucket List Specialists Wing-Shooting In House Taxidermy Studio In House Dip and Pack Facility In House Shipping Service Non-Hunting Tours and Safaris Flight bookings "I promise every hunter visiting us our personal attention from the moment we meet you, until your trophies hang on your wall. Our all inclusive service chain means you work with one person (me) taking responsibility during the whole process. Affordable and reputable Hunting Safaris is our game! With a our all inclusive door to door service, who else do you want to have fun with?" South Africa Tanzania Uganda | |||
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I've got one with one point pointing straight up and one point pointing inward. What about that? Indy Life is short. Hunt hard. | |||
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Indy, He had a very troublesome youth, and struggled through he's teens. His horns got confused....  On a more serious note. Genetics do play some role in how the horns develop, but in general Karl is spot on in his assesment. We get a LOT of these bulls with the one horn back and the other up or out. I do not have scientific proof for this, but we have noticed, that these "defects" relate to something dramatic that happened in the animals life in his earlier years of development. You can tell this by a narrowing or ridge like thickening (looks like a wire cut) somewhere on the "odd" horn. Can be anything, with us it ussualy drought, wildfires, or when they jump a game fence and get caught. Both bulls with odd horns shot with us this year had these markings on the odd horns. The owner of the one ranch recalled recovering a Kudu bull with narrow horns out of a canal about 4 years ago. If you look at the growth rate of this 62" bull's horns, it is very possible that it was the same animal. That would make him about7 years old when he was shot. As I said I have no prove, and this theory is purely speculative. We have noticed deformities in other species as well because of some or other trauma earlier in the animals life, where the horn got damaged, or the animal's bio rythms were up set by someting.... It cannot be 100% genetic, or I would have had lots of them walking on the ranch! Charl van Rooyen Owner Infinito Travel Group www.infinito-safaris.com charl@infinito-safaris.com Cell: +27 78 444 7661 Tel: +27 13 262 4077 Fax:+27 13 262 3845 Hereford Street 28A Groblersdal 0470 Limpopo R.S.A. "For the Infinite adventure" Plains Game Dangerous Game Bucket List Specialists Wing-Shooting In House Taxidermy Studio In House Dip and Pack Facility In House Shipping Service Non-Hunting Tours and Safaris Flight bookings "I promise every hunter visiting us our personal attention from the moment we meet you, until your trophies hang on your wall. Our all inclusive service chain means you work with one person (me) taking responsibility during the whole process. Affordable and reputable Hunting Safaris is our game! With a our all inclusive door to door service, who else do you want to have fun with?" South Africa Tanzania Uganda | |||
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I echo Charl's words: Nough said! Andrew McLaren Andrew McLaren Professional Hunter and Hunting Outfitter since 1974. http://www.mclarensafaris.com The home page to go to for custom planning of ethical and affordable hunting of plains game in South Africa! Enquire about any South African hunting directly from andrew@mclarensafaris.com After a few years of participation on forums, I have learned that: One can cure: Lack of knowledge – by instruction. Lack of skills – by practice. Lack of experience – by time doing it. One cannot cure: Stupidity – nothing helps! Anti hunting sentiments – nothing helps! Put-‘n-Take Outfitters – money rules! My very long ago ancestors needed and loved to eat meat. Today I still hunt! | |||
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Isn't this the same as saying that the bull needs two full curls? Mike Wilderness is my cathedral, and hunting is my prayer. | |||
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yes and no. Some kudu go past just 2 full curls. Karl Stumpfe Ndumo Hunting Safaris www.huntingsafaris.net karl@huntingsafaris.net P.O. Box 1667, Katima Mulilo, Namibia Cell: +264 81 1285 416 Fax: +264 61 254 328 Sat. phone: +88 163 166 9264 | |||
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What about diameter of the bases? Also what if the white tips are worn off? Do either of these traits account for anything? | |||
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I was always told the big bastards will have '3 sides showing'. that being when you face the bull you will see three 'sides' really tangents or outsides of horn curl. Thr third kudu down is closest. Not to say I wouldnt shoot a great 2 and a half curler. _Baxter | |||
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Bases no, that purely a genetic thing, worn tips yes, but it is still very important that the tips of the horns point up or out. If they are lying back like the two last bulls in KarlS post, they are simply still "green" bulls and to young! KArl have it spot on in his original post. I just try to explain the situation where one horn is up or out, but the other is lying back or still curling in? The 62" bull we shot earlier this year had such a right horn. Charl van Rooyen Owner Infinito Travel Group www.infinito-safaris.com charl@infinito-safaris.com Cell: +27 78 444 7661 Tel: +27 13 262 4077 Fax:+27 13 262 3845 Hereford Street 28A Groblersdal 0470 Limpopo R.S.A. "For the Infinite adventure" Plains Game Dangerous Game Bucket List Specialists Wing-Shooting In House Taxidermy Studio In House Dip and Pack Facility In House Shipping Service Non-Hunting Tours and Safaris Flight bookings "I promise every hunter visiting us our personal attention from the moment we meet you, until your trophies hang on your wall. Our all inclusive service chain means you work with one person (me) taking responsibility during the whole process. Affordable and reputable Hunting Safaris is our game! With a our all inclusive door to door service, who else do you want to have fun with?" South Africa Tanzania Uganda | |||
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With the many different Kudu horn shapes very few first time clients can accurately judge their horns. Because of this hunters are totally dependent on the guide to give them a truthful description of a Kudu horns and what the client can expect on the ranch or concession they are hunting. You can't over look the fact most outfitters make money when the client pulls the trigger. If the client's happy, the outfitters makes money, most of the time a Kudu is going to hit the dirt! ( A bird in the hand pays better than one in the bush ) We also can forget some land and concession owners charge additional fees for top trophy's. Sometimes theres more money to be made when a client shoots a nice but immature animal. Robert Johnson | |||
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Robert, unfortunately that happens, but it does not make it right Karl Stumpfe Ndumo Hunting Safaris www.huntingsafaris.net karl@huntingsafaris.net P.O. Box 1667, Katima Mulilo, Namibia Cell: +264 81 1285 416 Fax: +264 61 254 328 Sat. phone: +88 163 166 9264 | |||
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All this means that the following 57" (2 different phots)was immature.   Johan, the outfitter told us that in a year it could become a 60". Interesting topic. bye Stefano Waidmannsheil | |||
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Immature might be the wrong choice of words, as this bull is fully matured, and in his prime breeding term of his life. A very good example of a top trophy that should have been left alone for another year (and the points would have straightend out to about 3 to 4 inches)making your Kudu an exeptional 61" trophy. I left a bull that we estimate about 56" at the moment, and he is very much younger than this bull of yours. Safari hunt and CC hunter will know which one I'm talking about. WIDE horns....and he will be one of our next 60" ers in years to come, if he does not move on, but then it bad luck.... But it is up to the PH. My PH's WILL not shoot bulls under 6 years, not matter what the lenght of the horns. I have done it in the past, and some of our PH's still do it, but it is not right. Charl van Rooyen Owner Infinito Travel Group www.infinito-safaris.com charl@infinito-safaris.com Cell: +27 78 444 7661 Tel: +27 13 262 4077 Fax:+27 13 262 3845 Hereford Street 28A Groblersdal 0470 Limpopo R.S.A. "For the Infinite adventure" Plains Game Dangerous Game Bucket List Specialists Wing-Shooting In House Taxidermy Studio In House Dip and Pack Facility In House Shipping Service Non-Hunting Tours and Safaris Flight bookings "I promise every hunter visiting us our personal attention from the moment we meet you, until your trophies hang on your wall. Our all inclusive service chain means you work with one person (me) taking responsibility during the whole process. Affordable and reputable Hunting Safaris is our game! With a our all inclusive door to door service, who else do you want to have fun with?" South Africa Tanzania Uganda | |||
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Charl, I thin I will stick to my word of immature, just as a soft bossed buffalo of 46 inches is not mature. Sorry Steve, IMO your PH should not have let you shoot that bull. Just one more reason why inches is not everything. Karl Stumpfe Ndumo Hunting Safaris www.huntingsafaris.net karl@huntingsafaris.net P.O. Box 1667, Katima Mulilo, Namibia Cell: +264 81 1285 416 Fax: +264 61 254 328 Sat. phone: +88 163 166 9264 | |||
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Interesting points you have made Karl. Thanks for this thread... The crux of the problem for the client is if an immature bull pops up and he measures 56-57 and it is probably his only chance to take such an animal, what does he do? He'll probably want to take him. Unless he is behind a game fence that bull could be kilometres away the next day, let alone in a year when he has had the chance to mature. So then the problem for the PH is, keep the current hunter happy or a future hunter REALLY happy.................. I believe it comes down to hunting pressure and THAT is up to the landowner or concession holder. If too many kudu are taken from a population you will end up shooting the mature bulls and then the immature bulls to the complete detriment of that population. Verbera!, Iugula!, Iugula!!! Blair. | |||
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Ditto to everything Karl said. I shot a 61" Kudu last season with a German client. Myself being very impressed with our actions, was completely stumped by my client asking me " yes, it is a nice Kudu, but is it old?". My answer was "No, he's in the prime of his life". The client informed me, as politely as only a German could be, that he would rather have had a smaller one that was really old. Now he has a 60 plus inch European mount hanging on his wall. The trophy was not, according to him, worth having shoulder mounted. The worst part of it all is that he was right and I’ve learned a lesson. We've taken out a breading bull that was in the prime of his life and was worth a lot more alive than dead. Clients put a lot of pressure on PH's in this regard, we obviously try to get the client what he wants but its not always the right thing. The big problem is however not the overseas trophy hunters, meat or "biltong" hunters do a lot more damage to our recourses. There is no control over the animals they shoot. For me personally they should classify Kudu in Namibia as Special Protected, stopping farmers and meat hunter shooting kudu at the rate they are doing. Johann Veldsman Shona Hunting Adventures www.facebook.com/shonahunting www.AfricanHuntingNamibia.com www.conservation-hunting.com Mobile: +264 81 128 3105 P.o. Box 564 Outjo Namibia Africa | |||
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Using your criteria, how would you rate this one:  _____________________ A successful man is one who earns more money than his wife can spend. | |||
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DesertRam, I'm sorry to have to make the judgement that your beautiful kudu is, in human terms, just about as old as your are: In prime breeding age! Just as the 4th photo posted by Karl shows a man in prime breeding age behind a kudu in prime breeding age! I'm very glad that Karl made this statement, as I have developed a "pity" feeling for the clients posing with beautiful 54" to 57" long-horned kudu that shoud have remained alive for two or three more years to pass those long horn genes on into future generations. The way my mentor in my early days of professional hunting explained it to me was: You look for horn-tips that point outwards, and then don't worry to much about the length. Now the third photo posted by Karl is a real trophy horn tips pointing outwards and beautiful deep curl plus some ivory! Thats what a kudu should look like! Once properly dead, photographed and just before loading it on the Cruiser you can then take out a tape to measure it. Karl, how did that one shape in the tape department? Now for some  -ing. Shona and Karl and other PH's have all admitted that "We do it, but it is not right!" I agree! Let's here on AR start being more honest and saying about the postings of people with nice mature but prime breeding age kudu with horn tips pointing decidedly inwards: "Wow, that is a nice kudu, and I see from the blood sopt that the bullet struck in the right place. Congratulations on making a good shot. Pity you did not see him in two/three year's time!" A culture has developed where most, or at least many, clients going on a buffalo hunt will tell the PH "I want and insist on only a hard-bossed bull, and hope for some inches to." Let's help develop the culture where clients tell their PH beforehand "I don't want a prime breeding bull, but one that is past that age with horn tips pointing outward." It can be done. It should be done. Let us not teach the young up and coming PH's that "Anything goes, as long as it got the inches!" But such a culture would only be developed if clients take up the issue and demand from their PH's that they want horn tips pointing outwards kudu only. Now I've really said enough. In good hunting. Andrew McLaren | |||
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Well some of the bulls I've taken were immature then, obviously.......... But I've taken some very old bulls as well, that wouldn't have made it through to next year. How do you PH's age them.......Karl gave us some criteria, any other? Verbera!, Iugula!, Iugula!!! Blair. | |||
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Hi Karl, Charl, and other PH's here... Thank you for bringing this topic up! Its a tough topic to discuss here but I commend you all! As some of you know I went to Namibia this year with my son...I managed to take (2) Kudu Bulls and my son took one! It was a wonderful challenging hunt for each of them and I will forever remember the hunts for many years to come... If I had known the information that is presented here,...I would not have shot any of our Kudu Trophies...The horns do not match your description of a MATURE bull in my opinion... The next time I go I will know better and will inform my PH that I only want to take a MATURE Kudu Bull as you have described... Thank you for informing me...I just wish I had known prior to my trip...  I hope others will take advantage of this very informative thread and heed the counsel... Long live the strong genes of The Grey Ghosts... Thank you gentleman it will not ever happen again on my hunts...  Roland | |||
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Lift its lips and check its teeth if too young let it go  "Buy land they have stopped making it"- Mark Twain | |||
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Blair, it is very difficult to age thm, but a kudu with BOTH straight up horns, which are not worn down, are normally about 8 years, a bull with worn tips as above, or one that starts to turn out, are 10-12 years. It might be interesting to note, that not all bulls turn out again, even when very old, say 12 plus years. The one in my photo 3rd from the top, was extremely old, having tottaly worn teeth, and measured a tad over 53 inches. Bulls with 1 horn not completely making the turn up, are normally between 6 and 7 years old, thus too young. Karl Stumpfe Ndumo Hunting Safaris www.huntingsafaris.net karl@huntingsafaris.net P.O. Box 1667, Katima Mulilo, Namibia Cell: +264 81 1285 416 Fax: +264 61 254 328 Sat. phone: +88 163 166 9264 | |||
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This is a very interesting thread. Can you really judge a kudu's age purely on horn shape? I've killed one kudu, so I'm not expert there, but with most herbivores, tooth wear or pattern is the final determinant. With deer, there's a very well studied progression of enamel wear that can age the animal within a year or so with an experienced observer, and antler measurements are notoriously unreliable for that purpose. Anyone from africa with more experience with kudu ever tried that angle? Andy | |||
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 I want to see you do that, Rudi. I'll bet you a case of Klipdrift you can't......... Verbera!, Iugula!, Iugula!!! Blair. | |||
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Thanks Karl, once again.......bloody interesting Verbera!, Iugula!, Iugula!!! Blair. | |||
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They age and mark them at the auctions and somer measure them so that they can tell you how big it is  ill pm my adress Lmao "Buy land they have stopped making it"- Mark Twain | |||
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Blair, Never underestimate the power of a case of Klippy to the Ka-Boerer! If I know Rudi, he's probably out there in the bush right now, trying to wrestle one to the ground and he'll probably have his mate filming it!  | |||
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Dear Fellow Members, I agree that a number of immature Kudu are harvested as trophy's each year in fact a number of species could be added to the list. I do however respectfully disagree with some of the statements/claims made above. In particular the use of tips to age an animal. Over the years, I have seen and had hunters bring Kudu bulls into various camps with tips that did not always point out or straight up, though were without a doubt, old bulls. The bases were hard and solid, tips "broomed" down and even in some cases the sides of the horns where they like to rub in the dirt and trees were worn through to the inner membrane. Even if Kudu are not old but mature and in their prime, I am still of the opinion that they will not necessarily grow into shapes where the tips point out or even straight up. IMO it is more about the individuals genetics. There are Kudu bulls that go through 3 turns, I saw one set at a taxidermist in Otiwarongo that went through 4 turns on one horn and the other horn was of average shape. I was actually there to see another set of Kudu Horns that I had been told about by Steve Tors (Namibian ph for over 20 years). This set of Kudu horns measured 68" and did not go through the classic 2 1/2 turns. That Kudu was old and would not have got any longer. For interest sake I was told that this Kudu was shot by a farmer for meat and just by chance a guy who buys up skins and horns for furniture etc. bought them up when buying at this farmers place. The longest measuring Kudu that one of my hunters took, did not have tips going straight up or pointing out but was in fact similar in shape to the 4th from top of the photos above. A fellow AR member on this board was a good friend of that hunter and can attest to the shape and age. The Namibian record is has a non-typical shape, look at the SCI record book, a number of those have tips pointing towards each other. I guess what I am trying to say is that IMO there is no hard and fast rule as far as aging a Kudu using the shape or direction that the tips point is concerned. Not all "old" Kudu bulls go through the turns with tips pointing up or out, like not all "old" Springbok have tips that hook backwards or "old" Hartebeest that have tips flaring outwards or "old" Buffalo with horns dropping down and tips pointing back or no tips at all, etc. I think it is fair to say that one can look at the tips of a Kudu bull as one of the indicators or references but do not make it the deciding factor of whether the Kudu Bull is old or not. After sexing an animal, I normally look at the horn bases of almost all the antelope species first before moving to lengths, shapes etc. IMO, it is advisable to use a combination of things to look for when deciding on the animals age and "shootability", horn bases(colour not thickness), general shape and coloration of horns, "tips", as well as general appearance of the body such as coloration, body and coat condition (Things like bones showing, lack of hair, etc.), etc. Also remember when you're hunting and a Kudu bull suddenly steps out or you pick each other out at almost the same time and a decision has to be made quick before he bolts or the opportunity for a shot is lost,......... Also we should remember that one cannot take away the experience of a hunt because the measurements were not up to scratch or the age was questionable as the animal has been killed and you cannot bring it back to life. A friend once said to me the best trophy is the one on your wall...I think all true hunters try to do the right thing but things happen....... | |||
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I know that mate I just want to see you drink that case of Klippie and have a laugh with you.....you'll have a 70" hangover and about 5 bloody curls! Verbera!, Iugula!, Iugula!!! Blair. | |||
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Steve, I figured as much!  Let the games begin Verbera!, Iugula!, Iugula!!! Blair. | |||
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Good post Vaughan, learnt some things from that. Thanks mate. Verbera!, Iugula!, Iugula!!! Blair. | |||
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Vaughan, thank you for injecting your wisdom into the discussion. Whenever you shoot an adult, trophy-quality animal there will always be "more mature" animals around somewhere. If we hunters wanted, we could propose to our PH to shoot only animals which have matured to an age beyond any further reproductive potential for the herd. Of course this would mean we wouldn't be shooting very many animals. What I am suggesting is that in many cases, this would not mean hunting the better quality horns, but rather horns with already worn-down tips. The big old eland grand daddy loses horn length every year. The old geriatric dagga-boy buffalo may have hardly any curl left. These old relics are undoubtedly good trophies, but in many cases they will not hold a candle to the enormous horn size of the younger animals. I think this reasoning certainly applies to kudu. This whole discussion really goes to the heart of the relationship between a hunter and his PH. My suggestion is that we should let the PH know we want the highest quality he can find, and that we as hunters do not feel under pressure to shoot an animal at all. Then all we have to do is let him do his job. I occasionally will disagree with a PH or suggest we wait a bit longer before pulling the trigger, and I always dialog extensively with a PH in advance about trophy quality. I also have to remember that I chose to go hunting, and I can only do so much to influence chance and opportunity and trophy judgment. I can set the stage and raise the bar, but ultimately I know that he's the pro. We're paying for his expertise. He is certainly capable of making mistakes, but at some point if he finds that he is full of enthusiasm and makes the decision that this is the one, then "batters up;" we are now being called to do our part of the bargain, to make a clean kill. I am suggestinig that after the animal is down is not a time for regrets and second thoughts. That trophy in our photo represents the best that chance and opportunity and PH judgment could produce. I am all for taking the most mature animal in the herd, but I will not second guess the hunter who takes the PH's advice and shoots the animal with the best horns the PH can find. That which is not impossible is compulsory | |||
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Karl I have always felt that this might be regional. I have shot three old kudu in the Omitara area. One had only stumps, the other two went 53 and 54 with deep curls, medium spread and tips turned out. Most all of the large kudu I see in this are have this formation. The kudu I saw on Westfallenhof were more or less the same. But it seems that many kudu coming out of SA have tips still pointing back. I would say the majority have tips pointing back, at least form the photos posted here on the web. Maybe they are all too young. I guess that could make sense as the pressure on a fenced property is much different from a wild property. Regardless I think Namibia has the best kudu of any country on average. Jason Jason "You're not hard-core, unless you live hard-core." _______________________ Hunting in Africa is an adventure. The number of variables involved preclude the possibility of a perfect hunt. Some problems will arise. How you decide to handle them will determine how much you enjoy your hunt. Just tell yourself, "it's all part of the adventure." Remember, if Robert Ruark had gotten upset every time problems with Harry Selby's flat bed truck delayed the safari, Horn of the Hunter would have read like an indictment of Selby. But Ruark rolled with the punches, poured some gin, and enjoyed the adventure. -Jason Brown | |||
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Karl and Charl, the one in the photo is a friend of mine, at that time I had already taken mine. This bull has been searched with trong persistency for two full days, because the third day it was in program to travel to south in the Kahalari, near Aroab. At about half past ten of the third day it was bagged by Giuseppe, the hunter in the photo. I think that is very difficult on a hunting package with transfers to manage in a different way the client. We saw other kudus, but they were too young or far or Giuseppe didn't have enough time to shoot or anything else it happened last year......remember that it was the third day, we have to return to Windhoek (about two hours far) preparing car and luggages and from there there was a travel of how many 600km or more? What has Johan to say a Giuseppe? "Ok my friend,don't shoot today, get back in a year or two and we will hunt it"? Giuseppe lives in Milan and already difficulties had in taking part in the trip. For someone a hunting trip in Africa is THE HUNTING TRIP OF THE LIFE, how to manage this problem? In a daily rate and trophy fees hunt, well, is different and something like that I wrote above is possible, but on a hunting package, where any animal left (not bagged), at the end of the hunt, is "lost" even if payd ..... is difficult, or impossible, imho, to manage. Thank you for this topic, it is interesting bye Stefano Waidmannsheil | |||
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Steve, Please remember that this post is only to educate hunters and if more people were aware it wil only mean that we will end up with more older kudu trophies that has passed on their genes. Same as saying rather try and shoot an older elephant with less nerve in the ivory. If you can do it fine perfect, if not then its not the end of the world. But I'm sure that Karl, Charl and myself would rather let our clients shoot the older ones any day before the younger ones. Depends on the circumstances. Frederik Cocquyt I always try to use enough gun but then sometimes a brainshot works just as good. | |||
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Steve, as I said in the beginning, this post is not intended to critize, just to educate. We have already seen different opinions from Vaugnn. Maybe I should tell you what happend with the shooting of the kudu which I have posted as immature. The hunter, which I consider a friend, hunted with me the previous year, and shot and wounded a kudu, which we never recovered. This was his second trip with us, and he brought a few friens along, all of which he prefered to give more oppertunity than himself. this led to the situation that he did not get a kudu in their 5 days with us. They where packed to leave early, as they wanted to go to a jewelry store in Windhoek, as well as go past the taxidermist on their way to the airport. I told my driver to bring the camp staff up to the chalets earlier than usual, to help with a few of the chores around getting clients ready to leave. He came and told me, about to get in the shower, that he saw a nice kudu bull on the drive up. I went to the hunter's chalet, told him Gottfried has seen a nice kudu, and if he wanted to go and have a look. He was out of bed in a flash, and we drove off to try and find the bull again. we found him on an opposite hill, and also found out that the hunter forgot his rifle's bolt in the chalet. He ended up shooting the bull with my 7x64, and in this situation, I think it will mean a lot to him as a trophy. Karl Stumpfe Ndumo Hunting Safaris www.huntingsafaris.net karl@huntingsafaris.net P.O. Box 1667, Katima Mulilo, Namibia Cell: +264 81 1285 416 Fax: +264 61 254 328 Sat. phone: +88 163 166 9264 | |||
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Great post, thanks to Karl, Vaughan et al. This aging of Kudu is something that I have not seen addressed in literature, although I'll admit that I all to often skim through such stuff and may have missed out. As many of you all know, the aging of whitetails here in the US, especially in Texas, is almost a science. I was fortunate enough to hunt as a guest on the King Ranch some few years back, and the guides we had were truly amazingly accurate. They tend to use body shape to do this, and it is rare for them to miss age one. At that time, the management of the herd, what was shot, was strictly by age. There are a number of "books" on this subject and if you look through the pictures, you can start to see what is going on. Spending a few days riding around looking at deer with a biologist or guide who knows what he is doing will really clarify things. Has anyone done any work on correlating body shape with age in regard to Kudu?, I suspect that like whitetails (as Vaughan points out) horns can fool you often enough. Also, does the tyoe of country lead to horn variation that might deceive you and must be taken into account. This is a question, not a criticism of any previous posts, which are the kind of posts I would appreciate seeing more of. SIC TRANSIT GLORIA MUNDI | |||
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I think this subject is a bit bizarre. To pass up a 56" kudu because it's "immature" is ridiculous to me. Do you know how much I have to work to get the time and money to go to Africa? If we applied this same reasoning to all hunting, nobody would shoot an elephant unless the tusks were 100 pounds, nobody would shoot a 6X6 elk unless it had 360 SCI points, and nobody would shoot an Alaska bear, after paying $15,000 for the right to do so, unless the hide squared 10 feet. For that matter, very little plains game would be shot. I have a warthog with longer tusks than practically any I have seen posted here. What right do I have to criticize someone else for taking a smaller example of perfectly legal game? Incidentally, regarding my prior post about one horn sticking up and one horn pointing inward, this horn tip definitely points inward, not back. Is there a difference? From the side it points as much "up" as the other horn tip. Indy Life is short. Hunt hard. | |||
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A trophy is in the eye of the beholder. If one shoots a kudu and is happy with it then it is a fine trophy for him. Good Hunting,  | |||
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