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O.k guys I am a total mess right now waiting for the next 8 days to pass before my first DG hunt. My wife is ready to tie me up and throw me outside!!! I was thinking I really don't know what the difference is between an o.k, good and exceptional bull. Either way no matter what I end up coming home with I will be happy no matter what but for those of you who have had a fair bit of experience with knocking down a few bulls what would you describe an o.k to exceptional bull to look like? I would love to see some pictures as well. It seems the magic 40" always comes up. To me what I get impressed about is no space between horn, big boss and heavy in the low part of the curl. I would love to hear your thoughts and see a few pictures guys to fire me up even a little more. Thanks | ||
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Some fully mature and great trophy bulls will have space between the horns so that isn't necessarily a good measure of a trophy. What you are really looking for here is that the very bottom front of the bosses are hard. Make sure there isn't an inverted "V" in the front with hair. For width, look at the horns in relation to the extended ears. The ears will be about 34" or so. That's just for a general guideline. Long, sharp tips usually indicate a young bull. I like them broomed off a bit which reduces their SCI score. But I'm not into the score. For me, I like big bosses, with lots of mass to the horns. Width being less important to some extent. | |||
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It's relative. All depends on the when and where you hunt and also for how long. I recently got back from SE Zim after taking a buff a shade over 40 with pretty much the exact look I wanted. That said, my buff was the runt of the litter for the buffs on that particular trip. Was I happy? Incredibly, particularly considering how close we got and how much fun I had with my PH. | |||
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I am on the same page Tygersman and will be happy either way. I don't care on what my bull will score and more into what he will look like. If he looks like I want him to I am going to stick a hole in him. Do you have a picture to put up on here for us of your bull? | |||
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Just go and enjoy your trip and don't worry too much about what your kill, but savor the experience. Let your P.H. know what you're looking for and don't pay a bit of attention to anyone here if you're happy with the results. As for me, I'm not really so concerned with width (so long as it's 36" or so). My "druthers" on a buffalo are those that have the below characteristics: Old is always desirable (btw, taken with a little Canon point & shoot camera with no zoom about 5 years ago on a PG hunt while, not incidentally, I was peeing in my pants):  Having a bit of excitement like the darn s.o.b. trying to kill you is good, but only after you survive it. An Unintended Buffalo  Hard bosses are pretty darn nice, particularly in a bull that has lots of "drop" too:  JudgeG ... just counting time 'til I am again finding balm in Gilead chilled out somewhere in the Selous. | |||
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Tygersman , great bull!! I also love the color on that Nyala. Judge you smacked a few good ones and I am thinking any of those would make me happy. Thanks for the pictures guys. | |||
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Hunting any buff fair and square by tracking is trophy enough for me. You look for an old hard bull with big horns just to keep hunting them. The pursuit far out stretchs any tape. Many Thanks HBH | |||
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Judge, everybody knows you can't hunt dangerous game with a bolt action rifle. you simply MUST have that fast second shot, otherwise you are screwed--NOT!!! Vote Trump- Putin’s best friend… To quote a former AND CURRENT Trumpiteer - DUMP TRUMP | |||
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nube Dont worry about trophy sizes. You are going hunting, not shopping. It is all very well and good to prepare yourself to a degree before you go, but enjoy learning on the ground when you are there. Getting in close and having your PH teach you through out the hunt is what it is all about. It is better to shoot a 36" bull on the last day of the hunt after lots of buffalo encounters than to shoot a 45" on the first day and miss out on all those experiences. Go with an open mind and have a great hunt. | |||
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What RJ said X10! Dave Fulson | |||
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Phil, Discuss with your PH what you'd like and what he thinks is realistic then leave it to him to make the call and you'll be happy. Buffalo hunting is not like your previous hunts in that you'll likely have zero time to judge the buffalo. When the PH throws up the sticks and says shoot trust his judgement and make the shot. Mark MARK H. YOUNG MARK'S EXCLUSIVE ADVENTURES 7094 Oakleigh Dr. Las Vegas, NV 89110 Office 702-848-1693 Cell, Whats App, Signal 307-250-1156 PREFERRED E-mail markttc@msn.com Website: myexclusiveadventures.com Skype: markhyhunter Check us out on https://www.facebook.com/pages...ures/627027353990716 | |||
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Shoot the one you are going to want to look at on your wall for the rest of your life & smile while remembering the experience, whether he's a scrum cap or 45in. It's the adreniline rush you should be after. LORD, let my bullets go where my crosshairs show. Not all who wander are lost. NEVER TRUST A FART!!! Cecil Leonard | |||
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Thanks for the comments guys but as I stated in my first post will be happy no matter the size. I am just trying to learn more about them and what does make an average to better than average trophy so if i do get a real good one I can appreciate it more. I had a whitetail hunter I guided once who shot a 182" buck once that really didn't know what he had or how lucky he was since he just bearly started hunting. I don't want to be that guy. Also it is nice to know more about the animals you hunt. Just thought I would throw the question out there as I know little about them and not that I am searching for a record book animal. Heck I don't even know how you would even score one for that matter. Sorry if it sounds like size matters in my post but it was not intended to be like that. I love pictures of buffalo and would love to see a few if you got any guys. | |||
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I'm one of those hunters that wants the experience more than the trophy. That being said, I shot a nice hard bossed <36" bull last year that had tremendous bosses and a good heavy drop, just what I had told my PH last year I wanted. He forgot the part about also wanting a 50" bull.(LOLOL) I did pass about a 39" with good heavy drop because his bosses were weak. It's your hunt. If you have a particular shape or requirement in mind, discuss it with your PH. He probably has seen most of the buff in his particular area and will do his best to find the one that makes you happy. I look at it this way. If I don't find the perfect bull on this trip, it gives me an excuse to go back and spend more hours and shoe leather looking for it. | |||
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Trophies are not made by inches. Tell your PH that you want to take mature animals with a hard boss and that you are there to hunt, not just shoot. None of the 3 buffalo I have taken are special by record book standards but they are all special to me. Personally what makes a great buff trophy is a hard boss that is polished like fine furniture. Next time I want to hunt for a scrum cap.   Have gun- Will travel The value of a trophy is computed directly in terms of personal investment in its acquisition. Robert Ruark | |||
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Not sure where you are hunting but when I hunt Tanzania, Lobo or Lokisaly ares, for buff I always hold out for bulls that have it all. You will see hundreds of buffalo every day in the grassy hills and savannahs in the later part of the year if the rains come and sometimes you will find "that bull". You will see huge herds in Western Tanzania of all shapes and sizes and can hold out as there as well. When I hunt in ZIM it can be long hot hours of tracking with very little game seen and when you finaly see that old hard bossed bull (usually on you hands and wore out knees from crawling) and get the oppurtunity to take him.... well its an overwhelming feeling. Tape measure not required. | |||
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This old boy had some space between his bosses but.......I didn't let that slow me down at all.  Shoot what you like man! Your happiness with your trophy is all that matters. Any mature bull YOU like is the trophy. | |||
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That's exactly the type of bull I was trying to describe in my post. Space between the horns is a non issue. This is an old bull with broomed off tips and great bosses. A trophy in anyone's book!! | |||
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Here is another old bull with great bosses!  | |||
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Very nice there JTEX. If you please, a little information on the rifle. | |||
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WOW guys, I love the pics!!! Nice bulls for sure. If they have a space between the horns it looks like it is just a genetic thing as those bulls look old and worn. Great stuff!! | |||
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please don't let inches in the way. a trophy is in you eyes, not on a ruler. for instance my best buffalo is only 35", but he was a old timer on his last legs, he had had a recent go around with lions, had his nuts torn off, more wcars that i would have believed possible and still living. a real old warrior. No fantastic inches, but in my eyes the trophy buff above all others | |||
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My preference is an old bull, craggy boss, drop to the horns and shot well so neither you, the PH nor any of his trackers are compromised. Emphasize that last part by staying calm and taking only a good shot. Save the "charges" for those who need to prove something. | |||
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The problem Nube has, is most of the stuff he shoots still has milk on their lips....bahaaaaaaa!!! Nube, I'm boarding in Mexico City right now!! I will have one all scouted and tied up for ya  See you in 9 days bro!! (p.s.-can you please bring me a couple pairs of socks? I forgot them...lol) Can't wait to see you in camp buddy!!! | |||
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Geez Dino, I got to bring your rifle and now your socks.. I should start charging you a premium now!!!! hahaha You need to start getting your wife to pack for you again bro. AS long as my Buffalo is bigger than Dino's then I will be happy!!!! lol | |||
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To put that in "Madams" or "Frostbits"terms, that will have to be one "Big Assed Buffalo" | |||
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Never never let the the trophy define the hunt. Let the trophy be a living memory of a great hunt Ask your PH what is the best that you can reasonably expect and let that number be your guide . Have a great hunt | |||
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Phil & Dean....good luck to you both. Besides Buff, whats on the menu? Where you headed? Rod -------------------------------- "A hunter should not choose the cal, cartridge, and bullet that will kill an animal when everything is right; rather, he should choose ones that will kill the most efficiently when everything goes wrong" Bob Hagel | |||
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Not sure where I am headed yet Rod. It will all be a surprise when Alistair picks me up from the airport. Either Arda or Nuanetsi in Zimbabwe. Most likely will be Nuanetsi and I think that is the better choice. Leopard,buff and plainsgame for me and Dean is going to shoot buffalo and a Croc and plainsgame. One other friend of mine is hunting the same as me as well. It should be a riot!! 6 more days to go but who's counting. | |||
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