Thoughts on Cape Buffalo under 40"

You’ve gotten some really good advice already. When they’re priced in brackets by the inch, I wouldn’t ask questions about the inches, but about the property, the herd and the hunt.

I’ve taken eight. I honestly don’t know the width of any of them. This one is the narrowest, oldest and the one I decided to use for my avatar photo. We sent photos of the lower jaw teeth to Kevin Robertson to try and better ascertain the age.
 

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migrabill said:
I am making plans for my 2nd trek to South Africa. It will not occur until 2028 (I'm a planner). On my first trip, I took 10 heads of Plains Game. On my return trip I will also be mainly Plains Game hunting, but I have a pretty good price available on a "Male Cape Buffalo less than 40". Here is my question- is a buff under 40 still considered a formidable specimen? Will it look smallish when shoulder mounted? As stated, I am new to Dangerous Game hunting and just want to get an idea if that is too small or not.
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Age and character is what's important along with the thrill and experience of the hunt.
 
cwpayton said:
so for the benefit of inexperieneced DG hunters [me] how are the horns measured, tip to tip plus lentgh or do the bosses count for something , just trying to determine what the 40' magic is about.
thanks
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The 40” being discussed here is an outside width measurement, I believe. Tips often curl in and sometimes break off. SCI has some type of system that aggregates multiple measurements, including the boss. A bull without broken tips will measure better in that system.
 
cwpayton said:
so for the benefit of inexperieneced DG hunters [me] how are the horns measured, tip to tip plus lentgh or do the bosses count for something , just trying to determine what the 40' magic is about.
thanks
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It only refers to the spread. Rowland ward measurement is spread plus bosses ignoring shape. SCI measurement is tip to tip around curve and bosses, but it favors younger bulls that aren’t worn down. A 38” bull with drops is more impressive than a flat 40” bull. An older bull with character is more impressive than a pretty younger bull.
 
40" is just a rule of thumb for a big one that would go into the record books. Like a 55" kudu or 60" Alaska moose. Now whether that is the end all beat all reason for taking an animal is up to you.

MY requirement was an mature bull with good hard bosses and I got what I was hoping for. It's something like 36" width as I recall unofficially measuring. Looks just fine by me on the wall.
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So again too the subject will a EURO DO or will one regret not getting a shoulder mount.
 
Rowland Ward is the "gold standard" and takes into account greatest overall spread and "tip to tip" spread.



SCI does too, but it is much easier to "make the book," with SCI methodology.




Maybe I'm an "elitist," without reason.

But, IMHO, I think SCI is into selling books.



I made "Who's Who" in high school and college. We didn't buy the books...
 
cwpayton said:
So again too the subject will a EURO DO or will one regret not getting a shoulder mount.
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I do not regret my Euro or skull mount you see above. If I went back and took another I would do that again.
 
cwpayton said:
So again too the subject will a EURO DO or will one regret not getting a shoulder mount.
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Depends on whether you are trying to gift a natural history museum to your heirs. :unsure:

I prefer the euro mounts. Never a regret. Just a matter of personal taste. Even had a nyala done that way.
 
migrabill said:
I am making plans for my 2nd trek to South Africa. It will not occur until 2028 (I'm a planner). On my first trip, I took 10 heads of Plains Game. On my return trip I will also be mainly Plains Game hunting, but I have a pretty good price available on a "Male Cape Buffalo less than 40". Here is my question- is a buff under 40 still considered a formidable specimen? Will it look smallish when shoulder mounted? As stated, I am new to Dangerous Game hunting and just want to get an idea if that is too small or not.
Click to expand...
1771544488782.jpeg

This bull was my first ever, and although he only goes 35”, his boss is quite impressive. I think any hard bossed bull is a trophy regardless of the width of horn or breadth of boss.
 
cwpayton said:
so for the benefit of inexperieneced DG hunters [me] how are the horns measured, tip to tip plus lentgh or do the bosses count for something , just trying to determine what the 40' magic is about.
thanks
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AFRICAN INDABA

Thread 'Cape Buffalo: Is The SCI Trophy Scoring System Wrong'

Cape Buffalo: Is the SCI Trophy Scoring System Wrong?
by Dr. Kevin Robertson, South Africa.

There can be no doubt. Syncerus caffer caffer, the Southern buffalo is by far Africa's most popular dangerous trophy game species. In fact, the demand for sport-hunting these formidable black bovines seems almost insatiable. So much so that most reputable safari operators offering buffalo are sold out years in advance. Buffalo hunting is not cheap. Even for a two on one hunt (this is two hunters with one PH), a hunter can expect to pay at least $10,000 for the experience of securing...
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This should answer your question. Scroll down for a diagram.
 
I'd take this
1771546827987.png


or this
1771546856720.png


over the fella on the right any day of the week, and twice on sundays (PH estimated him at 46)
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318AE said:
Depends on whether you are trying to gift a natural history museum to your heirs. :unsure:

I prefer the euro mounts. Never a regret. Just a matter of personal taste. Even had a nyala done that way.
Click to expand...

My taxidermy philosophy is to do Euro mounts on everything except for my best specimen of a particular species, unless there's a great story to tell.


I have a shoulder mount of very unimpressive 6-point White-tailed deer.

The reason I had a shoulder mount done was that he was completely underwater when I found it. I saw a tine about 10" underwater had to swim out to get him. Not an impressive animal, but I don't often swim for them!
 
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sgt_zim said:
I'd take this
View attachment 747230

or this
View attachment 747231

over the fella on the right any day of the week, and twice on sundays (PH estimated him at 46)
View attachment 747234
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A lot of hunters say this, but I’d like to see how many follow through actually given the option and at the same pricing. I personally have zero interest in a scrum cap except maybe on last day. I’d rather take an old bull with worn horns. Not every scrum cap or broken horn bull is old, but it seems to automatically make every hunter call them 15 years old.
 
375Fox said:
A lot of hunters say this, but I’d like to see how many follow through actually given the option and at the same pricing. I personally have zero interest in a scrum cap except maybe on last day. I’d rather take an old bull with worn horns. Not every scrum cap or broken horn bull is old, but it seems to automatically make every hunter call them 15 years old.
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I was thinking everything equal I’m smacking that one on the right
 
I couldn’t tell you how wide either of these bulls are. Both a certainly under 40. Both would kill you for sure given the chance. Both spent their entire lives having to survive lions, hyenas, etc…. In both of these hunts I passed on younger wider bulls, one was probably 43-44 inches wide but soft bossed. Never even considered shooting him. My first buffalo is over 40 inches but doesn’t have the age these two do. For me, going forward, all my buffalo hunts will be about the area I hunt and the age of the buffalo. Don’t get me wrong, I’d love a 46 incher that was 12-14 years old. That is what will keep bringing me back to Africa looking for one bit I’d be just as happy with a true scrum cap bull. As for your hunt, communicate what you want to your PH, shoot what makes you happy and go have the time of your life. Just make sure to write a hunt report.
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You likely won’t know the difference between 38” & 40” or 40” and 42”. Until someone actually measures it for you…

Old hard bossed bull should be the goal…
 
I was lucky. I got an old, arrogant, passed its prime, and a difficult hunt on my bull. Single buff bull hunt. Didn’t look at the horns. Just focused on making a good shot.

BTW: I wasn’t hunting buff, I was just open to the possibility…

Sometimes you take what is given.

Even though it was a little over 42”, I didn’t know that until my Taxidermist told me back in the states.

60559421128__0DE5BE16-00C1-4B16-B0C1-C55191795DDA.jpeg
 
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