Kudu

Kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros).   Mature but still young bull, and already the beginning of a 60" set of horns.

Perhaps South Africa's most known antelope and one of the most hunted, kudu is found from the Eastern Cape province all the way to the north of the country and beyond. They are present wherever large trees with edible leaves occur.

The photo on the left was chosen because it epitomises the "grey ghost" description local hunters have for it. Very often during winter when there are less leaves on the trees the hunter will pass within 50 yards of one like in the photo and unless the flicker of an ear attracts the eye it would remain unseen.

I have yet to shoot  a kudu which had not  seen me first - which  means you typically will have 5 seconds to slowly shoulder your rifle and about 3-4 seconds for a steady hold and putting the bullet through the bulge on the low shoulder into the heart.

Like with all big game a well constructed bullet not lighter than 180 gr in any .308" calibre or 170 gr in the 7mms is required at impact velocity of not more than 2,600 ft/sec. The 30-06, .308W, .303 Brit, 7x57, 7x64 Brenneke are by far the most preferred cartridges of local hunters for this animal because of the clean and effortless one-shot killing they do.