The Problem With Kudu

Just returned from a fabulous couple of weeks at Eden and the Caprivi in Namibia. As usual, trying to judge the length of kudu was very challenging. The three in the photo all measure within a quarter of an inch of 54". Deep curls or not, wonder how many would have taken the middle animal.

Its hard indeed, the number of curls is easy. The size of the curls is a different matter completely.

I would take him because the shape of his horns is very pleasing to my eye.

Thanks for the post Red Leg, Everyone of those kudu is a trophy. But most would have passed on the narrow spread one, he had a lot of mass! In the end everyone was beautiful!

Red Leg

All of the kudu are trophy's.

The question becomes, what were you spotting daily, and the amount of time to study the Kudu before you made the move to select him.

I am sure that you had frontal, quartering and side viewing situations on all the Kudu, that would help you in making your decision.

A frontal picture does not do the horns justice.

What does it for me is when the tips point out. Saw one last Dec. while moving cows, his tips went out a foot. The left was broken off about six inches but he was a monster anyhow. Maybe I'll see him next week.

What does it for me is when the tips point out. Saw one last Dec. while moving cows, his tips went out a foot. The left was broken off about six inches but he was a monster anyhow. Maybe I'll see him next week.

Well you want to make sure the last curl is complete and not still growing...if you see the start of a third curl...he is definitely special! I would look for 2 complete curls, mass and that he looks like a king kudu! I envy your hunt for kudu...wish I was going too . Everyone of the kudu above is a monster to me!

Deep curl is perhaps more important than out pointing tips. I have a kudu with nice pointed out tips that only goes just over 47 inches. Its very handsome and symetrical but small. My RSA kudu barely has two turns and is over 51 inches but has very deep curl.

I really like the looks of wide kudu with ivory tips. It's just personal preference, but I'm not as excited about kudu that have parallel horns.

Originally Posted by Thunder head

I would take him because the shape of his horns is very pleasing to my eye.

I said something similar to this regarding my ex-wife before I got married.

Good photo and a great comparison. I'm going back in 2014 specifically for a larger Kudu and this helps a lot. Thx.

Yes I was talking about the third curl. It was on Johnny Schickerling's out fit. Agarob horseback hunting. I hunted there in Aug. then went back in DEC and punched cows for a month. HE was A 60 INCHER on one side which can happen in the Khomas region.

The second picture adds a 55 on the left that was also in the shed. The middle set in the first photo are from my bull, and it is indeed the deep curl which gaves him the length. The attached shows him in the field.



Note the very small body. When we saw him we were both were convinced he was even larger.

Hi guy's

I picked up this bull on my place two day's ago.

Anybody care to guess his size?

Best Regards
Louis van Bergen

Originally Posted by Spiral Horn Safaris

Hi guy's

I picked up this bull on my place two day's ago.

Anybody care to guess his size?

Best Regards
Louis van Bergen

Not real deep curls, but starting to turn back out again. My guess is 53".

Any idea what got him Louis?

louis I would guess 53"

Would guess maybe 51".

Hey Red Leg, I recognize Kimati in that picture. I hunted at Eden with Jamy Traut before he left to start his own outfit. Great place.

Originally Posted by Spiral Horn Safaris

Hi guy's

I picked up this bull on my place two day's ago.

Anybody care to guess his size?

Best Regards
Louis van Bergen

I'll guess around 51".

Hi guy's

He measured 55" on the dot, he died of old age his horns were warn down a lot at the tips. I have a 58" that died about two years ago as well.

I will make European mounts of both and hang them in camp.

Best Regards
Louis van Bergen