Kudu hunting v Elk hunting - comparisons?

Whilst I have never hunted either species I certainly hope to do so one day.
From what research I’ve done, I believe it’s considerably cheaper to hunt a trophy kudu than it is to do a guided trophy elk hunt in the US as a non-resident. (I’m from the UK)

But my first question is for those on this forum who have hunted both of these species. how does the actual hunt compare?

My second question is that if money was no issue would you rather have a life hunting elk or kudu?

From my understanding there are a few very basic comparisons to be drawn between hunting the two species:

- both are hunted in a spot and stalk style.

- both can be found in dense, hilly/ mountainous areas.

- both are large bodied animals with large horns/antlers


Interested in hearing everybody’s thoughts!

Main difference, to me at least. is you call Elk. They Bugle back - location now compromised. You stalk in (or the Elk comes in to the call), find the elk that bugled - dead elk. Kudu are not so vocal. They are harder to see. They are ghosts. Elk is 5 times the price. I'll take Kudu all day.

Muntjacer23 said:

Whilst I have never hunted either species I certainly hope to do so one day.
From what research I’ve done, I believe it’s considerably cheaper to hunt a trophy kudu than it is to do a guided trophy elk hunt in the US as a non-resident. (I’m from the UK)

But my first question is for those on this forum who have hunted both of these species. how does the actual hunt compare?

My second question is that if money was no issue would you rather have a life hunting elk or kudu?

From my understanding there are a few very basic comparisons to be drawn between hunting the two species:

- both are hunted in a spot and stalk style.

- both can be found in dense, hilly/ mountainous areas.

- both are large bodied animals with large horns/antlers


Interested in hearing everybody’s thoughts!

Click to expand...

I wonder if Red Stags could be thrown into the mix for comparison?

So a kudu is about 150-200 pounds lighter than a Rocky Mountain bull elk and about 200-400 pounds lighter than a Roosevelt bull elk. About the same size as a Tule elk.

I have hunted elk in the Rockies many times, never in the Roosevelt or Tule areas.

You could hunt kudu for less than $10,000 all in including airfare and a few more animals.

You will be hard pressed to find a successful bull elk anywhere for that price.

Elk hunts very from high fenced ranch hunts to fully wild wilderness hunts, and ever pedestal of cost and experience in between.

You can't do a DIY kudu hunt.

You can do a DIY elk hunt on public lands.

Any elk hunt on public land sub, $8000 is probably going to be 20-30% success hunt.

Any elk hunt on private in the $8000 will be worthless maybe 10-15% success.

Good private land elk hunts are $15,000-35,000.

Good reservation hunts are $20,000-50,000.

I have hunted both successfully. I would say that if money were not part of the calculus I would choose elk. Admittedly, that is mostly due to my American heritage and feeling a deeper connection to the North American species and hunting them on my native soil, so to speak. I also love the terrain/regions that elk are found in. I will second the notion of @migrabill that the interactive nature of elk hunting is second-to-none. While kudu ARE beautiful animals, I still find a true trophy elk to cast a tremendous shadow over the kudu. That's my totally biased opinion, but that's what I'm sticking with haha.

skydiver386 said:

I wonder if Red Stags could be thrown into the mix for comparison?

Click to expand...

There are stag hunts in England for sub $3000.

Most of the red deer are from deer parks and like shooting cattle.

Wild Scottish stags are $3000-5000 for the week for 2-3 stags.

Small stags sub 7kg can be had in Europe for less than $4000-5000.

Big stags quickly get into the $8000-50,000 range depending on the location.

Comparing wild elk, wild red deer, and wild kudu. I enjoy all 3.

The interactive aspect of red deer and elk is wonderful. But when you are done, you are done.

In kudu country you might kill 3 other animals before dinner.

Muskox said:

So a kudu is about 150-200 pounds lighter than a Rocky Mountain bull elk and about 200-400 pounds lighter than a Roosevelt bull elk. About the same size as a Tule elk.

I have hunted elk in the Rockies many times, never in the Roosevelt or Tule areas.

You could hunt kudu for less than $10,000 all in including airfare and a few more animals.

You will be hard pressed to find a successful bull elk anywhere for that price.

Elk hunts very from high fenced ranch hunts to fully wild wilderness hunts, and ever pedestal of cost and experience in between.

You can't do a DIY kudu hunt.

You can do a DIY elk hunt on public lands.

Any elk hunt on public land sub, $8000 is probably going to be 20-30% success hunt.

Any elk hunt on private in the $8000 will be worthless maybe 10-15% success.

Good private land elk hunts are $15,000-35,000.

Good reservation hunts are $20,000-50,000.

Click to expand...

Which is exactly why I prefer hunting Africa and Europe. I can fly round trip to Africa for $2,000, hunt half a dozen completely different animals, and still be in it for less than a trophy bull elk hunt in Wyoming. In Africa, even a working class guy can be like Rodney Dangerfield in a Golf Pro Shop.

Well I have 2x kudu, 2x elk and 2x red stag. That doesn’t make me an expert by any means, but for me I can drive 8-10 hours and be in a reasonably good elk country. My experience is not the norm, I have not hunted elk during the bugle, but after. I have hunted red stag once in the roar and once after. My first kudu was in the rut, the second cape kudu was after. Elk you may find one or two decent shooters during the bugle in a two or three square mile area. Red stag and kudu might have ten shooters in that same space. (Free range). Both my elk were taken on the first day, 6x6 300-310 inch which was quite good for the area. My kudu were both taken the first day we hunted them, southern 57”+ and cape 50”. My red stags were also taken the first morning of the hunt. One New Zealand and one Argentina. Advantage to the elk by driving to the hunt and taking meat home. Disadvantage elk now by cost. Kudu is a long trip but you can get several animals on one trip, cost is less. Red stag is a long trip and you can probably add another animal or two. Cost is in between. As I age the Rocky Mountains get a little taller and steeper. If I’m in Africa a kudu is always on the list. New Zealand or Argentina red stag is always high on the list. Personal choice for a favorite.

I’ve killed both. I’ve killed probably a dozen plus elk. I’ve never done a guided elk hunt, which means every one of my elk have been hard earned public land elk. They are a ton of work. I helped my buddy pack out a big bull last fall out of a rough canyon. Coming out I had about 140lbs of meat on my back. It was a good reminder that I’m not 20 years old anymore.

Only killed one Kudu. It was a great hunt. I got the hunt without the pain. I would say while it was awesome it probably wasn’t as fulfilling as a tough mountain hunt at 12,000’ of elevation in the Colorado Rockies for bull elk.

But, I would probably pick kudu these days. It’s just more fun. Plus I can just hunt without playing the public land pressure game. Just me and animals playing the cat mouse game. Plus I can hunt other animals along the way and after I take a kudu.

From a cost comparison it’s not even close. I took my family of 4 to Africa in 2024. All in with a dozen animals, air fair, plenty of shoulder mounts, shipping and actually getting a vacation out of the deal instead of a ton of work I spent about $23,000ish. So about the same cost of a single good bull elk hunt for just me.

I guess the elk thing has become a been there done that thing for me and hunting has changed for me to something I want to enjoy and share with friends and family instead of the grind that elk hunting can be.

I prefer Elk hunting. And the western US. mountains. But unfortunately so does every hunter in the U.S. its supply and demand. So far the ceiling doesn’t seem to be reached on what people are willing to pay for mature elk.

(And have a hunt this September with @Scott CWO CWO Comanche wilderness outfitters).

Kudu are experiencing a spike in prices but are still a bargain.

If you are paying for guided elk hunts then head to Africa and hunt kudu.

If you are a DIY hunter and don't mind putting in the time to learn how to hunt elk, then hunt elk plus you keep the meat.

I've hunted elk for 50 years and have killed way more than my fair share, both bulls and cows. But if you don't want to hunt your rear off and swear off hunting along with thinking that you are working on killing yourself then elk hunting isn't for you. At least until the next season rolls around.

You can hunt elk 5 years in a row without killing one. Kudu? Impossible

Ask me how I know.

muntjacer asked if coat was as no consideration so some of you may need to revise your comments. I’ve hunted killed both. Both were fun. Both make fabulous trophies. But- if cost no consideration— I don’t think there’s much comparison. A guided backcountry elk hunt takes you to lands you can’t imagine til you’re there and can’t forget when you’re gone. And you can bring the meat home. And you don’t have to contend with govt paperwork to use your own rifles. And you can use your own taxidermist. And you’re not gonna get too hot. Remember for this thread $ not a consideration. My 2 cents!

Elk is a one and done type of hunt...

Kinda depends on how you hunt them. I can tell you rifle elk hunt on public land is exponentially more difficult than kudu. My elk hunts vs kudu were very different experiences but I love doing them both. Costs will vary greatly with public vs private, DIY vs outfitter.

I wont hunt my first Kudu for another 11 months, but I have hunted Elk every year for the last 10 and a handful of times before that. I will keep hunting Elk every year that I can get a tag.

I do live in Colorado though, so the cost for me is the Tag (less than $100), my vacation time and the same gear I use to hunt deer, black bear, mountain lion, etc. I have never hunted elk with a guide or on private property and I don't foresee myself ever doing so. I love the challenges associated with chasing elk over hundreds of thousands of public land acres and wilderness areas. I see people here posting about "huge" 12,000 or 20,000 acre hunting concessions in Africa and Laugh.

I will hunt Elk for the 15th or 16th time this November, and Kudu for the first time next May. I'm probably more excited for the Africa trip, because it will be my first time in Africa, but just barely. I think about Elk hunting and the area we hunt almost every day.

All that said, my vote is for Elk. For now. I wont know for sure if Kudu takes the lead for a while yet, but I would be VERY surprised if it did.

Muskox said:

So a kudu is about 150-200 pounds lighter than a Rocky Mountain bull elk and about 200-400 pounds lighter than a Roosevelt bull elk. About the same size as a Tule elk.

I have hunted elk in the Rockies many times, never in the Roosevelt or Tule areas.

You could hunt kudu for less than $10,000 all in including airfare and a few more animals.

You will be hard pressed to find a successful bull elk anywhere for that price.

Elk hunts very from high fenced ranch hunts to fully wild wilderness hunts, and ever pedestal of cost and experience in between.

You can't do a DIY kudu hunt.

You can do a DIY elk hunt on public lands.

Any elk hunt on public land sub, $8000 is probably going to be 20-30% success hunt.

Any elk hunt on private in the $8000 will be worthless maybe 10-15% success.

Good private land elk hunts are $15,000-35,000.

Good reservation hunts are $20,000-50,000.

Click to expand...

Well, you just successfully talked me out of an elk hunt.

I am researching my first African hunt. However, I’ve grown up hunting elk every year since I was 15 (43 now). Elk hunting is work. Roosevelt elk on the west slope of the Cascade mountain range is mostly a heavy timber game. You can smell them before you see them. This makes bumping them a regular thing. You can usually sit tight and take up the trail once they’ve moved off a ways. Walking is usually difficult because of wet, unstable ground with lots of deadfall.

They are somewhat vocal during the rut (September/archery). Once rifle season starts, they aren’t making much noise. Be prepared to put in 10 miles of hiking a day. When you get one, you get to carry it out on your back, several trips too.

Rocky Mountain elk are mostly hunted in high desert environments. You can spot them from a lot farther off, but the herd can spot you too. Shots can be taken at long range, but it’s not necessary. This is what is typically portrayed in elk hunting videos. The temperate rain forests where Roosevelt elk live makes for difficult filming.

Neither species of elk I’ve taken requires big calibers. I have hunted them with the 270 Win, 7x57, 7mm Rem Mag, 308 Win, 30-06, 300 Win Mag, and 338 Win Mag. For my shooting skill, 400 yards is my cap and a 30-06 loaded with 165 to 200gr bullets and a fixed 6x or variable 3-9x is the easy button.

Typical success rates for elk in my area are 10%. None of the bulls I’ve taken have been “trophies”. Mostly raghorn bulls and cows.

That said, a DIY bull elk on public land is an accomplishment to be proud of.

Any 10 year old kid can kill a kudu every time they go on safari. Not to diminish it, and I’ve shot my share. But it’s not hard.