This is "KUDU" day, the only animal Kathy had come to Africa to harvest. We were hunting a friends farm in the Free State Du Toit wanted me to see which had a lot of Kudu but also 12,000 acres of thick bush and mountains.
He also has Leopards, White Rhino, Sable, Black Wildebeest, Impala, Nyala, Blesbok, Giraffe, Springbok, Warthog, just to name a few.
We drove around this huge ranch in some very thick bush that had some very rocky roads looking for the "Grey Ghost" of Africa. As you can see from this photo they blend in very well with the terrain an for the most part if they feel like they are not seen will stand very still even at close distances. This Kudu was only about 70 yards away at the time this was taken, but the photo was not taken on another ranch while hunting other animals.
At mid day it was getting hot an no Kudu had been spotted, but we did see an abundance of other game. Joe the Ranch owner decided we all could use a break an called back to the main Lodge an told them we were coming back for lunch an cool drinks. When we got back everything was ready an there was a fine buffet of hot an cold food. The African hospitality is second to none an everyone just goes out of there way to make you feel very special.
After lunch we were off again in search of Kathy's Kudu. Not far from the main lodge Joe an Du Toit at the same time spotted a group of Kudu on the side of the mountain. There were 3 bulls an a bunch of cows looking down at us as we all had our Nikon binoculars trained on them to judge there trophy quality. Kathy was finally all fired up, even though two of them were nice trophies Joe said he had bigger ones on his ranch an we should look a little longer.
About one hour later we rounded a turn an there in pretty much the open was 3 nice Kudu Bulls that had just come up the hill from a drinking area. After a survey of the three it was decided which one was a little better than the other two. Kathy was moved into a shooting position, but now the Kudu had started to make there way up the mountain. We whistled to get them to stop at 125 yards so Kathy could place a clean shot, but when they finally decided to stop an look to where all that nose was coming from Kathy did not have a clean shot at the larger bull, the other two were broadside in the open, isn't that the way it always seems to happen?
As they made there way in single file up the mountain Kathy was not comfortable with that type shot, an just goes to show you that she is a true hunting veteran, a less experience hunter with 3 nice kudu bulls would have let the lead fly an hope for the best.
A quick talk an a new game plan was formed, it was decided we would drive around the mountain an Kathy and PH would go up the mountain and cut them off. Everything seemed to be going well, we stayed in the safari truck and watched the stalk unfold through binoculars. Cody got off the truck and practice his game track knowledge in the dirt road that had many tracks crossing it.
Half way up the mountain was Kathy an Du Toit, the Kudu were just a few yards from the top when we saw the shooting sticks go down an Kathy readied for her shot. The Kudu knew they were there an stood very still in the brush, from our view the large bull was clear an we waited for the ring of the shot, nothing. I swung my binoculars over to where Kathy was an saw them moving to the left and once again set up the shooting sticks. The Kudu were 150-175 yards from them an well with in Kathy's shooting range. I swung my Nikon binoculars back to the Kudu so I could witness the shot location, an I waited and waited an still nothing. I swung back to Kathy and they were on the move again as the kudu stood there ground and watched what was going on below.
Once again the shooting sticks went down and Kathy steadied her gun for a shot, now the Kudu had enough and started to move up the mountain an over without any shot from Kathy. When they returned we got the whole story, the smart Kudu placed brush between them an the approaching danger. Even though they appeared to be in the open from our advantaged point they were hidden to Kathy an Du Toit. Once they went over the top they were gone never to be seen again.
Kathy was very disappointed as I had prepared her that Kudu are a hard animal an sometimes you are lucky just to get one chance at this magnificent animal, an this was the only animal she wanted in Africa. I have been lucky an have taken two record book bulls with a bow.
We looked high an low for more Kudu over the next few hours an I could see Kathy spirits sinking as she knew that may have been her one chance at a trophy Kudu.
The sun was starting to go down and it was decided we head back to the main Lodge as it would be dark when we arrived. On the way back on a side of the mountain we spotted a group of Kudu with a couple nice bulls in the heard. We stopped and viewed them all an only one was in a position for a shot, he was a nice trophy. Things are never easy the Bull was looking straight down on us an only his neck an just a small peace of his chest were in view. The shot had to be right on the mark for a clean kill, I ranged the Kudu with my Nikon Laser Rangefinder at 225 yards, still in Kathy's comfort zone. With the fading light an the difficult shot Kathy decided not to take the shot in fear of possibly wounding the animal that she had so much respect for. It was a very quite ride back to the lodge an if it were not for the Rhino we almost ran into not a word would have been said.
The ride back to Eland Safari Lodge that night was fairly quite, I think we all felt bad for Kathy, but there are sill more days left to hunt an Du Toit has other ranches with Trophy Kudu an a new game plan.
Africa's Only Bowhunting Magazine Africa's Bowhunter is a bimonthly magazine aimed at a world wide readership interested in bowhunting in Africa. The magazine is a complete guide on how, where and when to bowhunt in southern Africa, with articles such as how to track and hunt African game, what gear to use, and what to steer clear off.
Larry C. Reese, Wildlife Artistry Taxidermy 215 Lands End Road Centreville, Maryland 21617
