I know that no one here is silly enough to try to judge a roan without your PH's assistance... But assuming you want to judge a roan on your own, just how would you go about it?

I would think a mature roan will show secondary growth like the one in the photo below. The roan in the photo is 28+ inches, but the horns don't quite make a 90 deg. bend. Some go 90+ degrees and don't go over 27".

So I guess my question is: if you shoot a roan with secondary growth you are going to get a trophy that scores well, or a trophy that is mature but worn down(either is a great trophy IMO). Is this correct?

With Sable, secondary growth comes "hand in hand" with the worn down horns of a mature bull. That's why the Ecologists want secondary growth on trophy Sable from Niassa Reserve.
Not sure if secondary growth occurs with Roan though?

quote:

Originally posted by ozhunter:
Not sure if secondary growth occurs with Roan though?

Well I thought that I was looking at secondary growth on the roan pictured above(the 3-4" at the base). It is pretty clear that I don't know what I am talking about.

I just hope some of our PHs weigh in... Fairgame?

secondary growth and worn tips is all you have to go on.

Ivan or Andrew or any other PH, do you care to share any tips?

Bwanamich, thanks of the info. Is there anything else you can look at to judge the horn length(horn length compared to head/ear length)?

quote:

Originally posted by Bwanamich:
secondary growth and worn tips is all you have to go on.

That definitely indicates a mature animal sir!

The smoother that secondary growth becomes the older, combined with blunt tips or tips angling / tapering in sharp. Tips that gradually tapers off as the animal in the pictures left horn normally indicates an animal reaching prime. It might be that such a horn has not been used allot but usually they both wear off as by Red Hartebeest.
By looking at a species you will also be able to estimate from the body mass, especially in the neck, front quarter and some species in the back quarter that it is full, heavy and musculus, which also indicates maturity.
Fighting marks by species like Springbok, Oryx, Zebra, Roan and others will also assist in estimating age (except animals that have been kept in solitary confinements in pens to protect them from each other).

This info will not help you make a trophy size judgement but at least you will know what age group the animal is that you are shooting at.

As with many other topics, it is only a personal opinion!

quote:

Originally posted by JBrown:
Ivan or Andrew or any other PH, do you care to share any tips?

Bwanamich, thanks of the info. Is there anything else you can look at to judge the horn length(horn length compared to head/ear length)?

Jason that will come with experience. There are many variables on horn.

Many hunters want a magical 40 plus Sable and to judge a 40 and not a 39 can be tricky.