Kudu versus Elk

[Bobaru]

So, we will be going to Africa for the first time.  The guide's website says I will need at least 50 ft. lbs. energy for Kudu.  

So, I went to Stu Miller's calculator, and the most I have is 48.90 ft. lbs. out of a one piece bow. (58# at 29 1/2" draw)

My three piece bows all come in at 46 ft. lbs. and under  - bows for Elk hunting.  (the Brack is 54# at my draw. and 45 ft. lbs. of energy).

Should I be hunting with these bows, or scramble and get a 60# bow?  I just don't see many 60# bows in 64" or 66" readily available, and don't have time to order a Blacktail, et. al.  

Any suggestions?

[Prairie Drifter]

You'll be fine. KE isn't as important as momentum.
Check out this article on Tuffhead's site. There is a link in this story to an article about African game.

  http://www.tuffhead.com/education/formulas_momentum.html  

I hunt Africa for larger plains game w/ less than what you have. I only draw 26" and use bows from 50# to 56# at my draw. I use heavy arrows(over 650grs) w/ as much foc as possible.

This zebra was taken w/ 51# and a 500gr arrow. Quatering away shot, lodged in the opposite shoulder. I have upped my arrow weight since then.

   

[Prairie Drifter]

Oh, and all my bows generate under 40lbs of KE.

[Bobaru]

Thanks for the advise.  ...  

My wife put up her hand last night at an auction at the NY Bowhunters, and now we're going to Africa.  Gotta admit, I really feel I'm out of my element.  

Good news is that I have some time to get prepared.

[Prairie Drifter]

You'll have a blast!! I try to go at least every other year. Once you go, it's in your blood!

[2wfstlhunting]

In 2009 I was fortunate to go to Namibia and was shooting a Wes Wallace Royal 58#@28"longbow, with a draw a little under 28".  I somehow suspect that I did not get to full draw either shot.  I shoot 550 grain cedars with a 125 gr 2 blade Magnus2.  Both kudu fell to this bow, and the better shot didn't make it 60 yards.  They are not thick skinned.  Shot placement is the answer as usual.  I also took gemsbok and a large female eland who both went little time and distance until they went down.  I am shooting the same set up this July on  my return trip.  If you read back some of the trip reports over the last five years you will see some good game taken with even lighter bows.    Have fun

[fujimo]

i saw my friend calgary chef take a kudu out at about 30 to 35 yards with a 50 lb bow.

[Bobaru]

I've been shooting my 54# Brackenbury well (56# at my draw).  But, I went out and got some 60# limbs (65# at my draw weight) for my backup bow, a Samick Journey.  I wanted to see whether or not I could draw such a heavy bow at age 64.  Well, I'm shooting the blasted thing as well or better than the Brack.  

In the meantime I've been reading lots and lots of threads.  Some fellow on Trad Gang shot a bunch of stuff, including a Giraffe with a 54# bow.

Made up some arrows.  Maybe light by some standards.  ~ 550 gr.  They're flying well.  

The arrow thing is interesting.  ...  Stu Miller's calculator works well, and I match his results against bare shaft tuning.  So, in order for me to get a heavier arrow, I need to go from a 300 spine to a 250 spine.  ...  Tired of spending money on arrows ...  Think what I have will do fine the largest animal on my list is a Kudu or Zebra.

[Prairie Drifter]

You could always build out the sideplate area and add more tip weight to the arrows you have.

[Bobaru]

Thanks for the idea...  I did that about 5 years ago with a bow and now had forgotten all about using that to adjust my arrows.  

I will be taking both bows, but am leaning more and more toward the 65# bow.  If I can get my "cold shot" on target every time, that will be my first choice.

[Scitty]

Should not be a problem at all, as you know it's all about shot placement. The editor of the local bow hunter magazine published a couple of articles regarding poundage. Check out African archer.com. Select articles and scroll down to through and through..

[toxoh]

Shooting Eland is like shooting a pet cow!!

[JimB]

I also believe you can do well with your current setups but the side plate,point weight tip is a great option.
 http://www.africanarcher.com/momentumKENETICS.html

[Bobaru]

Interesting article, Jim.  

Unfortunately, any particular bow has a set amount of KE, like it or not.  

It's only after one has chosen the bow that one moves onto the issues of momentum.

Also, unfortunately for me, I'm not familiar with "Slugs."  But, I will bring myself up to speed with that when I get a chance.

What I will say is that I read on Trad Gang where someone killed a Giraffe, and he posted up the particulars.  My bow/arrow combination has, at this point 95.5 % of the momentum that his arrow had.  So, I think I may be good on a Kudu.

Right now, I've got a 554 grain Gold Tip Traditional out of a 54# bow.  I looked at lots and lots of different arrows, including Full Metal Jacket for Dangerous Game - and compared how they might tune using Stu Miller's calculator.  After all that, I'm thinking I might buy some Easton Gamegetter 2317 arrows.

My problem with some of the Carbons is that, if I put a weight tube in the center, the FOC goes down and I don't think I would want such an arrow.

One other point.  I've tested and tested and tested arrows with various weight and various velocity.  I have yet to conduct a test that demonstrates a statistically significant difference in penetration between arrow of differing weight.  The most radical test I did was a 390 gr arrow versus a 554 grain arrow, both tuned to my Brackenbury bow.  

While it does appear that there is a relationship to the momentum being the important factor, so far, that can't be demonstrated by evidence in my tests.

[Bobaru]

So, if shooting Eland is like shooting a pet cow, what is shooting a Kudu?

The thing I'm most paranoid about is a whitetail jumping the string.  ....  I hope to find out about Kudu (getting pretty excited).

[Benjy]

I shot through my Kudo at 15 yards. I was shooting 64 lbs at my drawlength of 29" I was using 2219 arrows at 30" with a Magnus I broadhead. I was using a 62" Jeffery Recurve with a B 50 string. This was 20 years ago. The fletchings where all that kept the arrow from completely passing through. The arrow fell out after 2 bounds.

The most difficult thing to remember is to shoot African animals in front of the crease and not behind it!

The cool thing about a Kudo is they have a stripe that marks the back of the kill zone!

[oldbohntr]

All true, based on what I've seen. It's normal that you're overthinking it. Any trip to Africa is a big hunt, and the first one is a lot to plan for.  But, they're all correct- shot placement is what it's all about.  My experience is that a big elk has a more significant infrastructure than a kudu....if that matters.  Shoot them where you should, and you're ok.  But, if you don't, even the smaller African species have a very strong vitality!

I shot this 54" Kudu with my 50# at my 29.5" DL Sarrels Blueridge longbow. It went about 100yds and was DRT!

 

Bisch

[Bobaru]

Birch: Impressive.

[calgarychef]

Impressive, DRT usually refers to an animal dropping at the shot doesn't it?