I've just finished a hunt with Mark from Nebraska...

Mark hunted the Eastern Cape 7 years ago and got a Cape Kudu that time but this was his first visit to Limpopo and after spending a day or two in the field - seeing several decent specimens of the Northern variety just "standing" there - he developed a new liking for Greater Kudu... Long and short of things are - Mark decided he wanted one...but not any one... He wanted a big one...

Well, as things go with hunting - the kudu now seemed to know they were on the wish list and were not standing still anymore.

In spite of seeing several shooters - it took us several days of hunting before we got a shooting opportunity at the bull in the picture below. As the bull was hunted in the mountains we had to cape it out up there - which added to my anxiety as I was eager to measure the animal and confirm (what I thought) I already knew...



After skinning, quartering and loading the kudu onto the back of my pick-up, I discovered that my measuring cable had mysteriously disappeared from my kit so I took care of the meat and drove to the nearest sporting goods store in town to get a new one. And as I pulled up at the store (with the kudu horns still on the back of my truck), a fellow PH and friend walked up to say hello and ask how I were?

"I'm great", I replied... "Just got a really nice kudu bull up in the mountains..." Well he took one look at the trophy I so proudly showed to him and said: "Beautiful bull Chris but that guy is not going to measure well... Horns are beautifully shaped but curls are not deep enough... You'll be lucky if he makes 50"- maybe 52"..."

I had no words... Could I have misjudged the bull that much? When I first saw him alive I thought he'd make 55" - easy - and when he was on the ground I was thinking - 56-57"... Here I had a seasoned PH tell me that my "great" bull was not so "great" after all!

Now there is nothing wrong with a 50" Kudu but when one is hoping for "55" there is a huge difference! All I can say is that the drive back to camp (the client With me) was a long one...

Well we got back to camp and reluctantly I unrolled my new cable to measure the bull.

Any guesses what it taped out at?

Best,

58 left horn

Wow Chris,
Personally, at first glance, it's an absolutely beautiful kudu. I love the one's that have that extra turn at the top. It also has pretty good curls, but maybe not "super deep".
That being said I thought it was every bit of 58"+ at first glance.
But, for you to be posting, I'm guessing that extra bit of curl and length up top where he finishes (which i personally LOVE on Kudus) have stretched past 60"?
I was very pleasantly surprised just like this on one in Zambia in 2012 that went 59.5" and we never even measured it till doing the final paperwork thinking it was around 55".
Regardless....Well done sir by you and your lucky client!
Here's hoping it's 60.5" on the right side but my first instinct was 58.5"...hope he went 60"+

Regardless of the tape results -- that is one beauty of a kudu!! He's very thick, tips out is fantastic, he's even and almost symmetrical. Curls are deceptive and the secondary curl may make the difference in the final number. Tips out makes me want to guess -- 57" left, 60" right horn.

Don't know, don't care. But I want one just like it!

Damn Chris
Beautiful kudu, I'd like that one even at high 40'
Congratulation on super trophy Chris and Mark

I'm no expert but THAT Bull doesn't need a score. Simply Magnificent.

I am no expert. Never shot a kudu & saw a few in the Chobe last year.

That bull is from my dreams, the right amount of twist, out pointed tips - full 2.5 curls.My guess 60.5 inches.

Congratulations to both of you!!

Excellent, beautiful Kudu. Nobody should even have to think about whether to shoot that bull or not. I'm guessing his longer horn, the right one, will go 57".

Chris that is a top bull. Not that I have ever seen a Kudu in the flesh but it is still a big bull.

Now put us out of our missery and tells the results.

PS I think your mate was pulling your leg.

Chris,

If those curls go as deep as it think he is a 56-58 inch bull especially with the horns turning again at the top.

Magnificent bull

Tape measurement is immaterial, he looks fantastic!

I'm certainly no expert but have shot a few
and seen a lot of them. I would be shocked if that bull was less than 55".

That is a beautiful bull! If you told me it was 60" I'd believe you!

Proper! Congratulations to all, except your
PH friend who guesstimated 50" or maybee 52"!

Fantastic set of horns and from that photo I would have easily called that in the high fifties.

Well done on a superb specimen.

How big do you think this guy is?

I also am impressed with that kudu bull and love the 3 full curls with tips flaring out. I am with Anton on this one and think the longest horn will touch 58 but regardless, a superb bull and exceptional trophy.

I have seen a few, and he sure isn't a 50 incher, probably 55 or so, but who cares?

Thanks for the comments. The right horn measured 58".

A very nice kudu bull indeed.

Best,

quote:

Originally posted by Ackley Improved User:
How big do you think this guy is?

Shot one which was almost identical and it measured 52 inches.

I was about to say THAT is a 50-52" kudu. I have one too.

You guys are good - he was just short of 50". He's a Mozambique bull and was smaller bodied than the mature bulls in RSA. The photo and smaller body make him look a bit bigger than he is. Kudu bulls are among the most beautiful trophies available in Africa.

Posted by Ackley Improved:

quote:

Kudu bulls are among the most beautiful trophies available in Africa.

Agreed. And that is a fine trophy in my book.

My bid is 56 1/2 - 57" with 12 1/2 " bases.

Ooops just read Chris' post of 23 May.......still I'm happy with my estimate.

Great head.

That is a great bull and very aesthetically pleasing with its shape and size.

I am glad it made your estimate ( as I am sure you are too) and over, but if it measured "only" 55, or even less, it would still be be a beautiful kudu.

I'm horrible at judging kudu on the hoof. I can't tell a 45" bull from a 55" bull. Luckily, I can rely on my PH (Jan du Plessis) to give me a conservative estimate before I shoot. My 2012 bull which Jan felt was 50" was actually 55" on the nose. Here's a picture of him: