By Don Adkins

May 21, 2019

On my second trip to south Africa all I had on my list was a record Kudu Aka the gray ghost. Once I arrived at Hunters Hills Safari I realized I wanted to take home something else. I added a Gemsbok and two Zebra but all my focus was on the Kudu.

We were in to our 4th day of our 10 day trip when my guide saw what he thought was a great Kudu so we put on a stalk only to be busted by the cows around him that we did not see. Two days later hoping the rain and the weather would give us a break and it did. We were on the lookout again. Finally my guide saw him and he got excited saying that this was the one. It took several hours and a couple of miles before I ever say him.

Once we finally got set up and waited for him to appear out from the trees I was ready. My guide asked at what distance was I comfortable shooting. I told him I am zeroed at 300 yds but can push it to 400 or a little more. We then tried to close the distance since we were over 800 yards away. We were able to get within 400 yds and again waited for him to step out into the open. My Pro hunter 308 was ready again.

After waiting close to an hour this beautiful creature made his move. I released the safety and waited on my spotter to give me the range, he said 330 yards. I was laying in a muddy spot and shooting up hill about a 30 degree angle. Once the Kudu took another step to his left which gave me the opening I was looking for, I tightened up the trigger and the round was off. Within a couple second the Kudu fell dead. Everyone but me was screaming with joy. I was so tired mentally and physically I could not do anything but sit back and try to regain my emotions.

We started this stalk about 1300 and it was almost 1800 before I made the shot. I shoot a Steyr Pro Hunter using Hornady 168 BTHP Match which I have been using for over 38 years and it has never let me down.

Thank you Hornady for producing such great ammo. Regards former SGT Adkins USMC. I also bagged a Gemsbok at 400 yards on the hunt.