Kudu Tails.

[TStone]

I have often been told that if you shoot at a kudu and its tail curls up, showing a white tail, it is a sure sign that the kudu is hit. That is, in my experience, one of the many beliefs based on half truths that are accepted as fact, because it is repeated so often.

If you shoot at a kudu and hit it, the tail will indeed go up but it is not necessarily a sign of it being hit, it is often just a sign of alarm. A significant percentage of kudu that take off because they are alarmed will show a white tail, whether they have been shot at or not.

The bull in the photo's below took off while being photographed, there were no shots fired.

[knipmes]

True. The white is a alarm signal to the other herd animals.
I have also observed this behaviour with Impala as well.

[treeman]

First ever kudu "thing" I was told/taught. If the tail flash's its a hit.

If the Kudu gets hit the tail does flash white, if the tail flash's white it does not mean a irrefutable hit.

I have never used it as anything other than a tail being lifted observation.