Thoughts on Cape Buffalo under 40"

Still searching for a bull like him… Photo taken in Kruger NP.
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vati said:
Still searching for a bull like him… Photo taken in Kruger NP.View attachment 747521
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Oh man, you owe that old bastard a lot of money and probably slept with his two daughters at the same time...

Look at this face starring at you...

I would walk a lot to get close to him...
 
You know, I wonder if the OP ever thought his post would ever start what this thread has become.

Oh, and since everyone else has the tape measure out the buffalo in my avatar is 43"; it is also the one of which I have least attachment.
 
Rafiki said:
You know, I wonder if the OP ever thought his post would ever start what this thread has become.

Oh, and since everyone else has the tape measure out the buffalo in my avatar is 43"; it is also the one of which I have least attachment.
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He must have been gay. Or a coward. :D Don't find them that long and pointy very often. Usually broomed off fighting.
 
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39.5" for my one and only. (According to my taxidermist.)
 
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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Formidable? Width is not the only detention to consider in a trophy buffalo. Depth of the drop and if the tips sweep back also are added into the score. I don't know if the first bull I shot went over 40", but I doubt it. I.never measured it that way but an SCI measurer did measure him for fun and said that he would qualify. The story of the hunt was what made him the true trophy. A shot through the lower part of the heart set off a series of events that could have ended the PH's life. The bull was down and looked finished, but he jumped up and started for the PH at about 10 feet. He pulled the trigger with a loud click (rifle malfunction) and I broke the bull's neck. Things had gotten pretty "Western" for a little bit. Good bull and who would care if he went over 40", but yes, he was formidable.
 
i didnt read all 6 pages of comments but do not worry about 40". But I would European mount any buffalo under 40". Cause once you shoot one you will shoot them anytime you can and will run out of wall space before your run out of a will shoot a cape buffalo. Wait to shoulder mount a 40" or bigger in my opinion. Have a fun.
 
Doug Hamilton said:
Formidable? Width is not the only detention to consider in a trophy buffalo. Depth of the drop and if the tips sweep back also are added into the score. I don't know if the first bull I shot went over 40", but I doubt it. I.never measured it that way but an SCI measurer did measure him for fun and said that he would qualify. The story of the hunt was what made him the true trophy. A shot through the lower part of the heart set off a series of events that could have ended the PH's life. The bull was down and looked finished, but he jumped up and started for the PH at about 10 feet. He pulled the trigger with a loud click (rifle malfunction) and I broke the bull's neck. Things had gotten pretty "Western" for a little bit. Good bull and who would care if he went over 40", but yes, he was formidable.
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The word was supposed to be "dimension." Fat fingers and auto correct teamed up.on me!
 
I shoot my Cape buffalo in Limpopo. Fenced area though only on perimeter or a large property then around crop fields inside the exterior fence. I was seeing buffalo most days of the two weeks. I knew would not bump into an ancient warrior with worn stubs for horns though these buffalo were born on the property. I always liked the look of horns that droop down to the ears. Skull mount. 42 5/8" wide.

tempImageDimuos.png
 
If inches matter more than the hunt; If soft vs hard bosses matter; If your ego and competitiveness matters; then why just go for a 40" bull unless your planned outfitter charges by the inch?

It should always be about the hunt!!

IMO, Any and all outfitters that charges by the inch should be avoided like the plague, measles, malaria, etc.

It's your hunt!
It's your decision!
It's your trophy!
It's your memories!
It's your campfire tale!

In essence it's size of horns should be second to how, where, when, hunted. A "pith" helmet bull hunted hard over several days of long stalks could be a an ultimate hunt vs a 40, 50 inch bull shot within 4 hours on the first day of a 10 day hunt because it was just standing there, in a clearing, beside the side the "two track".

An injured animal is a different story. By all means should a hunter and his PH encounter an injured animal regardless of horn size IF deemed necessary the animal should be humanely, and quickly, killed.

IMO, a good hunt, a 40" old bull buff with hard bosses, would be a good trophy bull.
 
Rafiki said:
I hunted there in October 2024, it sounds like we had very similar experiences. I wrote a report on the hunt, you may find it interesting.
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Yes Sir, I'll look that report up and read, Thanks, it is indeed very rough country, PH/PH's and I were sweating like a team of mules pulling a 4 bottom turning plow, anytime I turned to check on Wife she was smiling cool as a cucumber like a spring day walk in the park always with a handful of the little flowers that come up immediately after a burn off, another wonder of the continent.

We hunted there in 2020. also went in '19 and '22, thought was, if I could get us there and back during global retard plandemic lunacy, most any other time short of all out war would be easy, did call on the services of old logistics Buds to put together bootleg flight plans as neither of us had the covid shot.

First night there I awoke hearing a sniffle, turned to see Wife look at me with a tear and watery eyes, she had a little portable light, glass of wine, recording the days events in a journal, and every night thereafter, man, having a Woman intelligent enough to realize what's going on around her is a true blessing, even if it takes a couple hours to soak through that caveman crust most of us men have in our heads.

It's a beautiful thing to see.
 
50Gunner said:
Yes Sir, I'll look that report up and read, Thanks, it is indeed very rough country, PH/PH's and I were sweating like a team of mules pulling a 4 bottom turning plow, anytime I turned to check on Wife she was smiling cool as a cucumber like a spring day walk in the park always with a handful of the little flowers that come up immediately after a burn off, another wonder of the continent.

We hunted there in 2020. also went in '19 and '22, thought was, if I could get us there and back during global retard plandemic lunacy, most any other time short of all out war would be easy, did call on the services of old logistics Buds to put together bootleg flight plans as neither of us had the covid shot.

First night there I awoke hearing a sniffle, turned to see Wife look at me with a tear and watery eyes, she had a little portable light, glass of wine, recording the days events in a journal, and every night thereafter, man, having a Woman intelligent enough to realize what's going on around her is a true blessing, even if it takes a couple hours to soak through that caveman crust most of us men have in our heads.

It's a beautiful thing to see.
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Beautifully said.
 
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50Gunner said:
Yes Sir, I'll look that report up and read, Thanks, it is indeed very rough country, PH/PH's and I were sweating like a team of mules pulling a 4 bottom turning plow, anytime I turned to check on Wife she was smiling cool as a cucumber like a spring day walk in the park always with a handful of the little flowers that come up immediately after a burn off, another wonder of the continent.

We hunted there in 2020. also went in '19 and '22, thought was, if I could get us there and back during global retard plandemic lunacy, most any other time short of all out war would be easy, did call on the services of old logistics Buds to put together bootleg flight plans as neither of us had the covid shot.

First night there I awoke hearing a sniffle, turned to see Wife look at me with a tear and watery eyes, she had a little portable light, glass of wine, recording the days events in a journal, and every night thereafter, man, having a Woman intelligent enough to realize what's going on around her is a true blessing, even if it takes a couple hours to soak through that caveman crust most of us men have in our heads.

It's a beautiful thing to see.
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My wife shared all but my first Cape buffalo hunt with me, ultimately taking her own bull in Dande. My experience was similar to yours, although I can’t express it as eloquently. What a blessing to share these experiences with our wives.
 
My first one. Shot late afternoon. He was with 3 other bulls. When they ran off we started tracking. By this time it was getting dark. Go about 40 yds and hear bellowing, hoofs thumping, branches breaking. PH says let's back out and come back in morning cause the other bulls are whipping his ass due to him being hurt, they trying to get him out the herd. Come back next morning and about 30 yards from where we stopped the night before there he lay, he was all beat up, and looked like someone had a dozer clearing brush around him. PH looked at me and said if we would have kept going last night, we would have walked right in the middle of that. Still gets me a cold chill.
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I always liked the photo of this old timer...madala.

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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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Dont focus too much on the size, take the age, characteristics and maturity into account before width.

Secondly, if you choose to hunt a wild area with no fences, take what the bush gives you.

Prime example is this bull below.
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