Kudu Bull Over 60 Inches Pictures

[Uintaelkhunter]

I remember reading something about this a year ago if it is the same one but I heard it was just south of hoedspruit in Limpopo by the farm owner. Lucky guy very unique and impressive kudu

 

[BRICKBURN]

Here you go.
Apparently Mpumalanga?

SEPTEMBER 2011 | PUBLISHED IN AFRICAN INDABA

The Legend Of Welverdiend
written by Marinda Groenewald as told to her by Dewald Joubert and translated by Peter Flack with permission of the author

If a person wakes in the middle of the night with drops of perspiration rolling down his forehead, it is not because you live in Hoedspruit, but because you cannot help of dreaming about the bull of all bulls, a genuine trophy kudu bull. I saw him for first time, shy and retiring, just as he disappeared behind a red bush at the sound of the hunters' shoes on the ground behind me. I quickly told them to be quiet and stand dead still. The bull peered at us as if to say, "Look and look carefully because you are not going to get me today." The clients still wanted to ask questions but I said quickly, "He's already gone." I could just not forget the kudu bull, the grey brown horns, one straight and the other with deep curls, his broad head and proud gaze.

The second time I saw him was from an air force helicopter. The Hoedspruit region is known for its air force base and, if we are lucky, sometimes us civvies can go along for a ride. That afternoon we flew backwards and forwards low over the town. I asked if we could look at the farm from the air and, because the base bordered the farm, it was not a problem. Woep, woep, woep, the helicopter blades echoed off the bush low beneath us. I saw giraffe, impala and blue wildebeest, even a shy steinbuck under the trees and then, suddenly, there stood my Kudu Bull! I could not believe it! And, just as suddenly as he appeared, so, in the blink of an eye, he disappeared ...

At a quarter to five one morning I was driving down a fence line. Summer mornings are best at Welverdiend, the fresh air and smell of the earth after the night's rain storm, birds in the trees singing their songs for everyone to hear. Suddenly, around a corner in the bush, something caught my eye, no, it could not be ... my Kudu! But something was wrong. He looked tired and sick. I quickly turned off the engine so he would not get a fright. Hunter and Kudu stared at one another. He had lost weight but his horns looked longer and thicker than ever. The big brown eyes looked attentively at me but there was no fight in them, nothing left of the legendary "Grey Ghost". He turned slowly and disappeared into the bush. I drove home to fetch my firearm. Roftie was still heading towards the bakkie as I left. That Kudu was not going to last long and he was going to be hunted today.

I followed his spoor. Slowly and calmly, because he was not going to go far. Or so I thought. Eventually, two hours before midday, I picked up his spoor again and knew it was not going to be long now. I walked with a tired tread, step by step. Where would the Old Man have gone at this time of the day? Water, that is where. He would drink quickly and then shoot off. I picked up speed and headed to the river. There were still pools of water and that is where he would drink and be able to walk softly, more difficult to walk but softer. And that's how I followed him for 15 minutes all down the course of the river. Suddenly his spoor disappeared in the river course. It would be difficult in the river course. It was thick along the sides and the Kudu could be anywhere. I walked carefully forward and then, just as the Big Uncle above wanted it, he walked out in front of me.

I hear my heart thundering in my ears and know it is now or never. There is no time to seek a rest against a tree, 180 paces, my 9.3x62 is in the nook of my shoulder and I am beside myself. Everything happens in the blink of an eye. The shot stirs up everything - monkeys scream, birds fly off screeching - everything is mixed up. And then the bull drops in his tracks and roars a strange roar, one that I have never heard before and, with the last of his strength, stands up, looks at me as if I owe him money, trots 50 yards and there bites the dust, roars again that strange sound and then everything is over. A dead silence reigns over the bush and all I can hear is the 9.3 cartridge case as it falls from the chamber onto the sand. The CDP 286 grainer has finally done its job.

That's when it sinks in that this is not just any Kudu, this is a Trophy Kudu. "Siegfried Osmers you won't believe me I got him" Siegfried first says nothing. There is silence on the other side of the line and then, "I am on my way." We went to fetch the farm workers and, when they saw the Old Man there was something strange in the air, unbelievable respect for the Grey Ghost that lay at our feet who, for so many years, had carried his horns on his powerful neck. Down his neck and over his face were marks made over the years from fighting over cows and grazing simply because he could.

I walked to the truck to fetch my measuring tape, 60 inches and the tape was at its end. "You are short 12 inches," said Siegfried. Then the moment became too much for me because, as a young boy, I dreamt of shooting a kudu that stretched beyond the limits of my tape. Siegfried clapped me on the shoulder in congratulations. My workers loaded the Kudu with such respect and regard; they were all quiet in honour of Nhoro the Great Uncle of the Bush. That evening it hit me as to what I had done, almost as hard as the bullet that had hit the Kudu.

A good and honourable end to the Legend of Welverdiend.

The Legend Of Welverdiend | Hunting Articles | Peter Flack

 

[James.Grage]

Those are some of the best (enhanced) photos I have seen of the kudu. I am sure that they have been enhance.

Just look at the deep curls on the one side of the brute.

 

[AfricaHunting.com]

Thanks for sharing Bushwack! This Kudu was talked about on AH a while back at the following link:

MONSTER KUDU

I am in awe! Have never seen anything like it in my life - and i have seen some! Unfortunately the piece is in Afrikaans - perhaps someone (Jerome?) can translate the text? The author is from Hoedspruit in South-Africa but it does not state where this leviathon was hunted. As the...

www.africahunting.com

 

[Wheels]

Very unique trophy. Thanks to those that supplied the photos and story.

 

[Environ]

Beautifully written and I love the respect you gave the old boy in its death

 

[bassasdaindia]

a nice story and wonderful kudu bull

 

[Buff-Buster]

Great story and wonderfully written! Such a bull deserved the respect given by the author and those that helped with his retreival. Well done.

 

[Breaker Morant]

I think my Kudu, taken in the Matetsi area of Zimbabwe in 2013 is in the 51 to 52 inch range. However, the one that got away will always haunt me. Unfortunately, I only saw his body, but the PH and trackers/skinners saw the horns and they got very, very excited!!!! I obviously don't know how big he was, but he was big. That is the one that got away and as I told my 12 YO daughter that is the special one.

She understands completely because she got to shoot at a whitetail buck this year that busted out of the trees about 10 feet away from her. She missed and as I tell her, she will remember that deer for the rest of her life, probably even more so than if she had gotten it.

 

[Big5]

'BRICKBURN', thanks for submitting the story. Enjoyable reading and truly "a good and honourable end to the Legend of Welverdiend."

 

[observe]

Can this be true, are there still of these 'monsters' left?

I got this photo from Limpopo
NOT A 60', BUT STILL...
seems some big ones are still around....

 

[BRICKBURN]

Absolute beauty 66.5 Look at the depth of that Curl. Wow!

 

[Wheels]

Impressive

Is there a story that goes with this Brick?

 

[BRICKBURN]

Impressive

Is there a story that goes with this Brick?

Just found it on FB. Made my jaw drop and wanted to share it with everyone.

 

[CAustin]

I love my 54 1/4 kudu but I will not hesitate to add a not her to the wall if he is in that dream class 60" range. Some of the studs pictured here are just outstanding trophies.

 

[Diamondhitch]

Absolute beauty 66.5 Look at the depth of that Curl. Wow!


View attachment 40581

I have never seen a more perfect or amazing Kudu!

Thanks for sharing Wayne.

 

[JohannS]

Our neighbor and good friends head mechanic has shot three 60+ inch kudu bulls while on the job. Here is one of them. Think this was the 63 inch bull. Lucky guy!

 

[CAustin]

WOW! That's a shooter for sure!

 

[Van de walle]

Kudu 60" 1/2

 

[James.Grage]

61.5 inch Kudu