Judging Trophies in the Field

Judging Trophies in the Field


Here are some parameters used to assist in trophy judgment for Southern African species. Only experience and time will make you proficient.

Species	SCI Minimum	Approximate Horn Length / Spread	Parameter Used to Estimate
Buffalo	100	spread 40	between ear tips held out and up = 36"
Bushbuck	31	13	length eye to nose = 6"
Crocodile	9		length eye to nose in inches = length in ft
Duiker	11	4	length eye to nose = 5"
Eland	77	30	length eye to nose = 14"
Elephant	100		circumference at lip of tusk in inches x exposed length in ft
Grysbuck	5	1.5	if you can see them its in!
Hippopotamus	50		big protrusions of tusks under lip behind nostril
Impala	54	23	length eye to nose = 7"
Klipspringer	11	4	height of erect ears = 2.5"
Kudu	121	52	length eye to nose = 10"
Leopard	14		body length over 3' good! Pads 2.5"
Lion	23		body length over 4' good - MANE!
Nyala	63	26	length eye to nose = 8.5"
Oribi	13	5	erect ears = 5"
Reedbuck	34	14	length eye to nose = 8.5"
Sable	100	42	length eye to nose = 12"
Steenbuck	11	4	erect ears = 3.25"
Tsessebe	40	4	length eye to nose = 11"
Warthog	30	12	you'll know him when you see him! Males have 4 warts females 2
Waterbuck	70	27	length eye to nose = 11"
Wildebeest	70	spread 28	width between pointed ears = 26'

It would be great value to have the rest of the African species not listed added by some diligent fellow!

Ole Bally, thanks for the info.
Throw the ear lengths into your table and everyone will be set.
The eye to nose stuff will help all the taxidermists.

Good info.

Just out of curiosity does anyone know what the average base circumference of a mature Nyala bull and a mature Impala ram is?

Best person to ask will be an SCI measurer.
That is a measurement required for both trophies in that system of measurement.
Hope someone can pipe up here and answer.

Originally Posted by Diamondhitch

Good info.

Just out of curiosity does anyone know what the average base circumference of a mature Nyala bull and a mature Impala ram is?

Impala Horn Base: The base circumference of an average Impala ram will measure around 5 to 7 inches - for field judging 6 inches

Nyala Horn Base: Can someone provide this info?

Originally Posted by Ole Bally

Judging Trophies in the Field

Here are some parameters used to assist in trophy judgment for Southern African species. Only experience and time will make you proficient.

It would be great value to have the rest of the African species not listed added by some diligent fellow!

Thank you for sharing this valuable information with us Ole Bally.

I made an easy to print version...

(click on thumbnails to view/print the Judging Trophies in the Field guide)

Species	SCI Minimum	Approximate Horn Length / Spread	Parameter Used to Estimate
Gemsbok / Oryx	80	36 (Bull) - 38 (Cow)	face length = about 15 inches - ear length in relaxed position = about 6 to 7 inches

Gemsbok / Oryx Bull Horn Base: The base circumference of a good Gemsbok / Oryx bull will measure around 8 to 9 inches - for field judging 8 inches
Gemsbok / Oryx Cow Horn Base: The base circumference of a good Gemsbok / Oryx cow will measure around 6 to 7 inches - for field judging 6 inches

The ear lengths are not always clearly seen! It's easy to judge the horn length if you have something to measure it by! The eye to nose is the easiest to remember!
Just saying!

Ole Bally, I am such a poor stalker that they are always looking at me with ears erect when I get the shot.

Originally Posted by BRICKBURN

Ole Bally, I am such a poor stalker that they are always looking at me with ears erect when I get the shot.

yuk yuk yuk!!! We nicknamed noisy clients 'kellogs boys'...Snap Crackle and Pop
You know we valued people like you! How else was one to get an adrenaline rush when Mr Nyati was disturbed and swung around with a 'who said I owe you money' look?!
By the way a frontal heart shot on Buff was one of my favourites! "Use enough gun" someone clever said!!

Some really good advice given here, very helpful material!

This is going to help me in my next hunt !

Thanks for this information! I realize this is an old post but it is new to me.