Thoughts on Cape Buffalo under 40"

gearguywb · Feb 25, 2026

I was fortunate to take this guy in July. He will never see a tape measure.

WyoBull · Feb 25, 2026

I “think” my PH told me my Buffalo was 38 inches. May be 36 for all I know but I never measured it and don’t really care. The experience was the important thing for me. What I did like about him is that he has huge bosses.
Enjoy the journey and the hunt and leave the tape measures to the porn industry!

Mtn_Infantry · Feb 26, 2026

WyoBull said:
I “think” my PH told me my Buffalo was 38 inches. May be 36 for all I know but I never measured it and don’t really care. The experience was the important thing for me. What I did like about him is that he has huge bosses.
Enjoy the journey and the hunt and leave the tape measures to the porn industry!

I love that base for your buffalo. Where’d you get it?

WyoBull · Feb 26, 2026

Mtn_Infantry said:
I love that base for your buffalo. Where’d you get it?

I had my taxidermy done in SA by Splitting Image Taxidermy and they had this pedestal mount as an option. It is very unique for sure and that marble base probably weighs 275 lbs, very heavy.

Sika98k · Feb 27, 2026

Hunting buffalo to my mind is the experience. The tracking, reading the wind, watching the trackers doing their thing and trying yourself to interpret their decisions on which way nyati has gone now.
In this instance size doesn’t matter !
Whatever size buffalo you shoot he will be impressive to you because you and only you will know what went into putting him in the salt.

Doug Hamilton · Feb 27, 2026

Sika98k said:
Hunting buffalo to my mind is the experience. The tracking, reading the wind, watching the trackers doing their thing and trying yourself to interpret their decisions on which way nyati has gone now.
In this instance size doesn’t matter !
Whatever size buffalo you shoot he will be impressive to you because you and only you will know what went into putting him in the salt.

That sounds exactly like my thoughts on it. But it may depend on whether you are a hunter or a collector. I like nice taxidermy as.much as the.next.guy, but in the end I am a hunter.as are you.

BGGMKLR · Feb 27, 2026

I respect the opinions of all...however mine is that... width is merely a measurement of the quantity of air that exists...between the "important" parts.
That said...If we all thought alike...we'd all be married to redheads...and driving Ferrari California's
Spike

Rare Breed · Feb 28, 2026

Ryan said:
I do not regret my Euro or skull mount you see above. If I went back and took another I would do that again.

my largest 43 is a shoulder mount one of my other three 37 inches is a Euro mount. My other two are pictures in my albums

Dhutson · Mar 3, 2026

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.

It is like we have all said before (at least those who call ourselves true hunters) it's all about the experience.

Philip Glass · Mar 3, 2026

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.

It is not size that you want to focus on but what type of hunt is it? Be careful and know what you want from the hunt. Ask many questions. Most of the "deals" are put and take bulls on game ranches. This is a contrast to a large property with self sustaining herds and of course the truly wild buffalo hunts in Zim etc.
Just decide what you are comfortable with and then decide.

DLSJR · Mar 5, 2026

When I first started going to Africa, I was focused on size. My first two buffalo were between 41-43”. But after that I realized that the act of hunting buffalo mattered to me a lot more than how wide the buffalo was. Since then, I’ve shot a couple more buffalo over 40”, but mostly under that. The 40”+ were simply a gift and the under 40”ers were every bit as much fun to hunt as the bigger ones.

The most recent Buffalo I shot is the smallest I’ve ever shot in terms of horn size, but also one of the oldest. I got to enjoy 4 days of ‘up close’ buffalo hunting in thick bush with daily encounters from 10-40 yards of multiple buffalo. In the end I pulled the trigger on the old bull pictured but what I remember most wasn’t his horns, rather it was being in amongst dozens of buffalo on 3 sides of us in super thick cover and having this old fellow come walking up on us from behind. I shot him as he came even with us. I couldn’t care less about his horns as the hunt was fantastic.

Art Lambart II · Mar 5, 2026

This Buffalo was just over 38", during the follow-up he charged us at 7 yards. That was far more excitment than I wanted on my first Buffalo hunt. I just booked a buff hunt for 2027 and I'll be looking for something a little older.

Flipper Dude · Mar 5, 2026

Going back with the single shot?

DLSJR · Mar 5, 2026

Flipper Dude said:
Going back with the single shot?

That’s what I was wondering. After getting charged on his first hunt, I’m guessing he might want something a little easier to get a second shot off with for next time.

Flipper Dude · Mar 5, 2026

You know I kinda meant that as a sorta funny remark, but am actually really curious what a fellow that faced a charge with a single shot feels about it after the fact.

Enquiring minds want to know

DLSJR · Mar 5, 2026

Flipper Dude said:
You know I kinda meant that as a sorta funny remark, but am actually really curious what a fellow that faced a charge with a single shot feels about it after the fact.

Enquiring minds want to know

It probably didn’t matter that much as any buffalo charge starting from such close range is only going to allow time for one very rushed shot before he’s to you. Of course, even with a double it’d be difficult to fire two shots in the couple seconds from go time to crunch time.

Rafiki · Mar 5, 2026

Art Lambart II said:
This Buffalo was just over 38", during the follow-up he charged us at 7 yards. That was far more excitment than I wanted on my first Buffalo hunt. I just booked a buff hunt for 2027 and I'll be looking for something a little older.

View attachment 750796

Nice buffalo, What caliber No 1 is that? Where were you hunting?

Rafiki · Mar 5, 2026

DLSJR said:
That’s what I was wondering. After getting charged on his first hunt, I’m guessing he might want something a little easier to get a second shot off with for next time.

I'm guessing he's just fine with the rifle.

Art Lambart II · Mar 5, 2026

For everyone wondering about my Ruger #1. It's a 416 Rigby and weighs 11-1/2 pounds. When the buff charged us I had hit him with three rounds, one soft and two solids, he was mad but hurt badly. Just after the charge we where run of by a bull elephant, like I said more excitement than I wanted.

Would I use my #1 for buffalo again, yes I would, but since that hunt I was gifted a CZ 550 Safari Magnum in 375 H&H and a Zastava L70 in 9.3x62.

If I could change a rifle for that hunt it would be my PHs rifle not mine. My PH carried a Blaser 93 in 375 H&H, not what I would call a stopper.

In 2027 I plan on taking my 375 and my #1 on my buff hunt, I'll let the terrain decide what rifle i use. If it's more open I'll use the #1, in close quarters I'll use the 375.

Art Lambart II · Mar 6, 2026

Rafiki said:
Nice buffalo, What caliber No 1 is that? Where were you hunting?

I hunted that Buff in the mountains of the Eastern Cape. The area in hunted that day was normally reserved for photograpic safaris and "Non Hunters" and had buff and and a small heard of 13 Elephants on it. That was the first time I had encountered elephant in the wild and it really gets the blood pumping. Thickest brush I ever had to move thru.

Thoughts on Cape Buffalo under 40"

gearguywb

WyoBull

Attachments

Mtn_Infantry

WyoBull

Sika98k

Doug Hamilton

BGGMKLR

Rare Breed

Dhutson

Philip Glass

DLSJR

Art Lambart II

Flipper Dude

DLSJR

Flipper Dude

DLSJR

Rafiki

Rafiki

Art Lambart II

Art Lambart II

Members online

Forum statistics

Proudly sponsored by

Latest posts

Latest profile posts

Share this page