quote:

Originally posted by raamw:
What you will encounter is basically 3 age classes of bull bison other than calves < 2 years old
9 years old and older...over the hill bulls basically unable to stay with the herd, can go as large as 2500 pounds or more

Herd bulls, 5 to 8 or 9 years old considered in their prime and able to defend and maintain a herd, probably 1600 pounds to 1800 pounds, referred to as Trophy Bulls

Hooligan bulls 4 to 6 year old bulls, roughly up to 1500 pounds or so, generally will have decent horns and mane. Most ranches offer deals on this class since there are more of them than a stable population needs and these are the animals that kill or injure other buffalo especially younger ones when they are fighting and also kill or injure herd bulls which they gore during the herd bulls breeding.

I took a herd bull several years ago and when he went down 3 of the hooligans came over and started goring him...pretty brutal to see a big animal getting pushed ad lifted by the other ones, I guess it was there way of evening up the scorecard from previous thumpings they got.

The younger class bulls are a decent bull to take since they are in their prime or just short of it, their horns are almost as big as they will get and shouldn't be damaged and the meat will be very good. If its a trophy then a herd bull, if its size than the old over the hill boy but the meat won't be as good.

[URL= ][img]http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/16560_19.jpg[

quote:

I killed one about 10 years back that was a big fully mature bull about 8 years old.There's a big difference in appearance of a shoulder mount between a 3-4 yr old and say a 7-8 year old or older. You see a big mature bull in their Winter coat and you get that big beard and big mop top of thick hair that you wont get otherwise.