Kudu Shot Placement

Hunting Kudu Shot Placement

Post your questions, comments or pictures relating to hunting shot placement.

Hunting Kudu


Hunting Kudu

I agree that is the place to shoot a kudu. I probably shouldn't tell this story but it is true. On my first safari we were calling it a day as it was very hot & we did a lot of tracking, As we were heading to the lodge I spotted 4 kudu bulls in the brush. We jumped off the truck & were going to trail them. After we proceeded 40 yds we heard a lot of brush busting & out these Kudu came running into the open. My guided hollered shoot the 2nd bull. I led him slightly & shot and he went down like a ton of bricks he animal was 50 yds away when I shot.
As we approached it carefully, it kicked a few times & flipped over on its side. We noticed 3 bullet holes. 1 in the heart, 1 in the lungs & 1 in the spine. We turned around and seen 1 tree with one long spindly branch that was shot off. The bullet split up into 3 pieces, It looked like I shot it with 00 buckshot! Those spots will do it , but I doubt that will happen again in a million years!

I have a very similar story to tell, but instead of a kudu it was with an impala. My bullet hit a small branch and split in two. The impala dropped dead on the spot, and when i aproached it i found two entry holes.

The recommended shot would be the centre of the vital triangle.

The spine and neck shot does not provide with a very big target and its a high risk shot although very effective when you connect.

Originally Posted by Gerhard

The recommended shot would be the centre of the vital triangle.

The spine and neck shot does not provide with a very big target and its a high risk shot although very effective when you connect.

Hello

Can you tell me what the vital triangle is. You have mention it a couple of times

THANKS

Thanks Jerome, shall be very helpful for my Kudu hunt this year In SA.

Monish

Originally Posted by pudgy

Hello

Can you tell me what the vital triangle is. You have mention it a couple of times

THANKS

The triangle is the area on the shoulder...It's kind of hard to describe but it's outlined by the shoulder bone in a sideways V. Maybe someone can describe it better.

Pudgy,

Look at the picture below of the kudu with the skeleton overlay. Imagine the bull is standing perfectly broadside (not taking a step forward). If you follow the leg bone up the front leg you'll see that a few inches above the "belly line" the elbow begins to move towards the neck (rather than continuing straight up). It forms a "sideways V" with the scapula. The triangle is the two bones forming the "sideways V" and an imaginary line down the crease of the shoulder.

When aiming at a broadside animal, I take my pins or reticule straight up the front leg about 1/3 of the way up the body.



Hope this helps (I know a picture would be better).

thanks I got it now

Hi Pudgy,

Shot placement is a very important topic that we have to discuss. But where to shoot changes from situation to situation. You can study a book on this where all the shots in that book is frontal and broadside shots. What about quatering away shots and quatering towards? Those shots aren't shown in books and you will find yourself often in situations where you have to make shots like this.

A very important factor for making a perfect shot is not to shoot at the vital area on the animal but to take your time and pick a spot on the animal, like a mark or a stripe or a spot that is in the centre of the vital area. The smaller the aiming point the better the shot will be.

This Kudu is quatering away and on these tipe of shots your line of aim should be for the front leg on the other side, and your aiming point should be the first stripe behind the shoulder 3 inches above the elbow.