Here in the states its not all that unusual to shoot or see deer, elk or even antelope with nontypical antler/horn deformations. What about strange/unique horn formation on the African animals? Any pics?

Well, it's not in Africa, but it's an African animal.

Oryx that my wife killed a few years ago in New Mexico:

I have seen a few. I saw a kudu with a horn that went straight down. I also saw a sable with a horn that went to the side.

I have a picture of the kudu somewhere. I'll see if I can find it.

I saw an Nyala last fall in South Africa with one of his horns that went straight out front and curved down some. An early age accident I would think. Boy would those Spanish clients have shot it quickly.

Nontypical Gemsbok cow:

I have seen quite a few in most species, the one that has a lot of non-typical horns is the eland, mostly in the cows. I have shot a kudu bull with one normal horn and the right horn was curved back like a sable horn. Have shot impala with a horn twisting around and growing back into the skull. You also find a number of deformed tusks on elephant, again mostly in the cows.

I saw a waterbuck, and have him on video, that had 1 horn curling down like a ram.

Charles,
I saw one very similar to the one in your pic in Namibia just west of Etoshia.

Not sure what is causing the deformed horns in the cows, but when I went through "Hunter training course" to get my (Jagdshein) German hunting license way back in 1975, they were teaching that the main cause of horn deformation was from testical damage due to injury or birth defect. I'm therefore very suprised to hear of "non-typical" horns and tusks on cows. What seems to be the concensus on the cause of this?

Just an ignorant North American hunters question, I make no claims on knowing anything about African game.

quote:

Originally posted by Brain1:
Charles,
I saw one very similar to the one in your pic in Namibia just west of Etoshia.

Brian,

I believe Charles took that picture on Vaughan's concession in 2005, so it may have been the same one.

quote:

Originally posted by Lhook7:


Brian,

I believe Charles took that picture on Vaughan's concession in 2005, so it may have been the same one.

You are correct.

One of the ph's I hunt with in RSA has a kudu on his wall with one normal horn and the other one like sable's. Very interesting. I'll see if I can find a picture of it.

He always tells me the European hunters tend to like the ones with odd horns. Is that true?

Yes, the europeans are schooled to cull the defective and old from the gene pool. The most recognized "tell" of a defect is what we would call a non-typical or abnormal horn/antler configuration typically caused by testicle deformity. This can be attribuited to birth defect or injury and usually effect the off side horn/antler, i.e. defective right testicle, abnormal left horn/antler. It is an ingrained part of their hunting history.

Jim

Posting one I received from Soroko:




We are unsure of the provenance of the picture, so if it is yours and you either want credit or to have it removed, just let me know.

Dinaka Limpopo Province RSA 2006 Drew Hufstedler

Eastern Cape 2001