Unless they were both posing at the same time, I'd probably shoot whichever one I saw first. In the unlikely event that they were standing together, I'd shoot whichever one I liked the most.

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Contrary to popular belief bulls will bread far past 8 years of age. Certainly one wants to shoot the oldest bull he can, within reason, but a 8 year old bull that is hard bossed, and shows some baldness in his face with a 42" spread is a taker on the last few days of a safari. In the first place what you think is an 8 yr old may be a 10 yr old, and any 10 yr old has already passed his genes on certainly.

In a healthy herd, I would imagine the 10-12 year old bulls to be the primary breeders. Once a bull hits 14, I understand that is considered a very old dagga, as a wild buff's lifespan is considered around 15.

Based upon Keven Robertson's excellent book about aging buffalo, an 8-year old buff, will have a small piece of soft boss, on the forefront of his horns, and sharp horn tips, whereas a 14 year old buff, will probably be totally hard bossed and missing hair around his face, with more rounded horn tips and a smoother boss.

Of course these are generalities, and someone would still need to have the experience to field judge these animals, especially if they were not standing side-by-side.

Without being obsessed by horn length, I think a hunter should have some idea of what kind of trophy he wants to take; realizing that the ideal is just a goal, not a make-or-break hunting requirement.

I think the most important thing on a hunt is to enjoy yourself, and then try your best to accomplish your dreams to the limits of your abilities.

I've really enjoyed the pics and discussion.

BH63

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I think the most important thing on a hunt is to enjoy yourself, and then try your best to accomplish your dreams to the limits of your abilities.

Is that not the truth.

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Hunting buff is better than sex!

I truly love buffalo hunting, but BETTER THAN SEX?????? I don't know about that, but being in my 80th year I don't know if I remember enough to make that judgement!
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Don't get me wrong sex is good and sometimes it is great (still), but although I am only 63, I find that the memories of my buffalo hunts seem to last longer than the memories of great sex. (Perhaps because the individual hunts last longer than the sexual trysts?)

(Then again I will never forget that cold Kentucky night a girl and I spent in an old woman's home, lying under a quilt in front of a coal-fired fireplace. We were both about 18 then and neither one of us could get enough! Last I heard the girl married a multi-millionaire who owns an oil company.)

Well off to shoot the .416!

Good hunting,

BH63

I want the oldest ones regardless of their horns. I have lost the "trophy bug".

On my last buffalo hunt I also hunted a few plains game. I told the PH that we should look for old and worn out animals. I was in the mood for a nice leisurely week of moseying around in the bush veld .

Well, did I get an education! For example, we would spot an old limping animal with a broken horn, and would hunt him until we got him. Those old guys get old for a reason. They are smart and would lead us around in bush, sometimes, for hours. It was a ball. I am going to do it that way again, especially with buffalo. Brian