Trophy Hunting Kudu in South Africa

Overview of this species and the hunt

While the impala might be the one animal that every new hunter visiting Africa comes to claim, the kudu remains the most popular plains game trophy. The only word to describe a kudu is majestic. This is a beautiful, powerful animal and it is the horns that give this animal such an impressive appearance. The coat of the kudu is pale grey in colour, although some have brown mixed in with the grey, and they have vertical white stripes running down the flank. Only the males have horns but both the male and the female have a distinct white marking between the eyes. White fur beneath the tail as well as a hump on the back, are also characteristics which make identifying a kudu really easy.

Kudu are browsing animals and they do this during the cooler parts of the day; early morning and late afternoon. They will rest in the shade when the sun is high. Kudu live in a habitat where plenty of leaves and grass are present, such as bushveld. This is where you will hunt your kudu. Kudu tend to live in families of 6 to 12 females and youngsters. Males will only join the family during mating season and for the rest of the year, the males live on their own.

Trophy Hunting Kudu in South Africa is a challenge. They are quick to flight when scared, they are capable of running exceptionally fast, and they are well-known for the jumping abilities. They have remarkable senses as well, so they will quickly pick up on any danger. Kudu is often spotted near to watering holes and pans. You will also find them in their natural feeding habitats.

When assessing the kudu, the curl of the horns can make things difficult. Usually, horns will measure in the 50-inch range and anything above the low 50s is impressive. When hunting kudu, quietly stalking the animal is your only option. When midday comes, you can make your way to a watering hole or pan, and wait for the animal to come for a drink. If you wait long enough, you will be rewarded. Hunting kudu with a 7mm or .270 rifle is really not ideal, consider using a deer rifle with a controlled expanding bullet.

Where you place your shot is important because the last thing you want to do is ruin the trophy. Aim for the heart/lung area, which will have you aiming up the foreleg and around a third of the way up the body. Should you aim higher than this, you will only wound the animal, meaning you’ll spend the day tracking it down. This is of course not ideal.

Hunting kudu in Africa is well-worth the patience it might take to shoot one.