Question about Cape Buffalo bosses

Congratulations on a successful hunt! I noted you are planning on returning to hunt with the same outfit in a year or so. PHs make mistakes like all of us. When I make a mistake I genuinely attempt to own it. I expect the same from my PH.

With some exceptions (on incredible animals with massive bodies, sunken hips, distinct dewlap and sheath etc.), most PHs will admit it is extremely difficult to properly age/evaluate a buffalo from the side. Again, mistakes happen on safari as in life. What would make me question hunting with these guys again is the fact that the PH doubled down and told you the bull was hard bossed and estimated age at ten. This is disingenuous (at best).

The PH should have been more forthright and admitted what just transpired. It should not take away from the hunt/experience, but error should have been conceded. For example, I had a PH tell me to shoot the kudu "on the left." I came up off the scope and asked him if he was sure? He assured me it was a nice bull. I shot the kudu he indicated, and as we made our way up to him we both kind of paused. We eventually called him the HIV kudu and he was not impressive in any aspect and was very sick/skinny. We laughed and he apologized. He was in such poor shape, and the meat was oddly discolored, that he was not even butchered. There was no charge for the mercy killing. ;-) I would have expected your PH to be honest and whether through humor, or perhaps consternation with himself, concede he should have waited to get a look at him straight on before giving you the green light.

Again, don't let this taint the memories, but the disingenuousness after the kill seriously would make me question hunting with these guys again.

Was it a great experience? Did it make you want to do it again? Do you think about it almost every day? Then all other discussion is moot. This was your Cape Buffalo hunt. One you dreamed of and planned for for a long time. Revel in it. Bask in the memories. Then...do it again now properly educated by experience. Congratulations! You are a Cape Buffalo hunter!

Muntjacer23 said:

Only seen one other shooter bull during the day. Saw quite a few at night. But they were all bedded down during the day due to the heat so was tough work. The one I took came on the 4th day and was the first one within range

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Makes sense. Sounds like you really enjoyed it.

I enjoyed my first Buff hunt thoroughly and look forward to my next one! Don’t worry about size, age, score.

You did good and have a great memory. It’s all part of the experience. You can form a different plan with a different goal on the next one if you want. You’re off to a good start…

NIGHTHAWK said:

Makes sense. Sounds like you really enjoyed it.

I enjoyed my first Buff hunt thoroughly and look forward to my next one! Don’t worry about size, age, score.

You did good and have a great memory. It’s all part of the experience. You can form a different plan with a different goal on the next one if you want. You’re off to a good start…

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Thank you for the kind words.
I had a great week and worked hard for my buffalo. Will always be a wonderful memory!

Muntjacer23 said:

Hi all,

I was very lucky to hunt my first Cape buffalo a few weeks ago and take a wonderful animal. But I just had a question about the formation of his bosses. As there is quite a big gap between them. Which makes him quite unique!

My understanding is that this gap is due to genetics as I know the bosses on some buffalo will never fuse together regardless of age. But would be great to hear all of your thoughts on it as he seems quite unique! And I’m always wanting to learn more!

He was judged by the Ph to be around 10, so a mature bull. And one im very proud of.

Certainly makes him an even cooler character to me! And the most wonderful part of my hunting career to date.

Thanks!

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Buffalo horn width and bosses are usually a result of the genetics that the bull was bred from. My point here is that if your PH said he was a good bull and you're happy and proud of him, then he is a fine bull. Congratulations!

Africa1 said:

Was it a great experience? Did it make you want to do it again? Do you think about it almost every day? Then all other discussion is moot. This was your Cape Buffalo hunt. One you dreamed of and planned for for a long time. Revel in it. Bask in the memories. Then...do it again now properly educated by experience. Congratulations! You are a Cape Buffalo hunter!

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The answer to all of those questions is yes!
it was a fantastic experience and a memory I’ll have for life

RIGBY said:

Congratulations on you first cape buffalo! May he be the first of many!

To contribute toward the discussions around aging buffalo, I have attached an article written by Dr. Kevin ‘Doctari’ Robertson, titled: “Aging Southern Buffalo Accurately.”

As many of you know, he is also the author of “The Perfect Shot.”

Hopefully, this is insightful.

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Thanks very much for the article.
Very good primer...and should be required study material for all who aspire to hunt (IMHO) the greatest game animal on Earth.
Best
Spike

DLSJR said:

Congratulations on getting to experience buffalo hunting, it’s an addiction many of us love, welcome to ‘the club’, so to speak. That said…

Your PH was not honest with you about the age of your buffalo. It’s a fairly young bull. It’s not close to 10 years old. BUT, it’s a Cape Buffalo bull and I’m sure the hunt was exciting no matter how old it was. You enjoyed a great experience and that matters a lot.

Next time you hunt buffalo, and I hope that time is soon, consider a hunt in Zimbabwe and there are many good operators there who will help you hunt truly wild, totally free range buffalo. And they’ll get you an old bull that you deserve. If you need any suggestions on PH’s to consider, just ask on this forum. Plenty of us can recommend quality, ethical PH’s that’ll get you that ten year old buffalo bull. I’ll suggest here that you don’t hunt with the same PH again, as he lied to you.

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Honesty that is brutal...but kindly applied.
Kudos.
Well done
Spike

I too finally killed my first buffalo this year just a month ago. I don’t remember the comments made on age at the time, but regardless…. I look forward to getting the skull back at some point so that I can be reminded of the hunt and the day and the feelings, not to impress anyone. Somebody else will always have something bigger or older. It’s just for me, just like yours is just for you. Maybe not private, but definitely personal.

Might not be really old but IMO plenty old enough and plenty big enough. Matter of fact probably fully mature at maximum body size. No question a mature bull. Some bosses grow up against each other and some don’t. They never fuse- that’s impossible. Some really old or never healthy or never on good nourishment bulls or those with different genes may have really large gap, no drop or no curl. They may even have fairly narrow bosses. Young bulls may have bosses tight to each other but the bosses will always be very smooth and may even have some hair poking out. The only sure way to precisely age mature animals is by tooth wear and tooth annuli analysis. Nothing wrong with that bull!

The PH on my first buffalo hunt said, as we were walking out after the shooting, "Now you know what it is like to hunt buffalo! People can try to tell you, but they can't tell you. You have to do it yourself."
Think about it--how small a percentage of hunters world wide get to do what you just did. Fraction of 1%?

Congratulations. Many of us wish our next was our first.

Congratulations on your bull! A first of the big five is always a pivotal moment in a hunters life.

Going to go against the grain a bit on the gap in the bosses, a lot of it is genetics but age seems to be the biggest factor. Here’s a picture of two emaciated old bulls that have a fairly substantial gap in their bosses so exceptions do occur.
My daughter looked at them and said theyjust look tired of living!

Hunt anything said:

Congratulations on your bull! A first of the big five is always a pivotal moment in a hunters life.

Going to go against the grain a bit on the gap in the bosses, a lot of it is genetics but age seems to be the biggest factor. Here’s a picture of two emaciated old bulls that have a fairly substantial gap in their bosses so exceptions do occur.
My daughter looked at them and said theyjust look tired of living!

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I'm sure you would like to help the one on the left with any issues about being tired of living!

Fortunately for him he resides in the middle of Kruger.

Congratulations on your first buffalo, I hope the hunt and tracking lived up to your expectations. The trophy isn’t everything, and I’ve had more fun on a cow buffalo hunt vs one of my bull hunts. I’ve also had some epic bull hunts that I enjoyed more but it came down to the tracking and the chase.

As for the “character” - he’s unfortunately young and not fully hard bossed or mature. The gap might’ve remained as he hardened with age. Unfortunately your PH was either very inexperienced or flat out lied to you. I’m not an expert on aging buffalo but given the horn tips, how high the horns were, no drop, and softness in the bosses I’d say he’s probably 6-7 years old. Plenty of time and learning that’ll let you keep on experiencing additional buffalo hunts. That said, it sounds like you had a well fought 4 day chess match with him.

Sometimes the hunt for a doe or spike is as fulfilling a hunt as the bruiser 8 or 10pt we see in our dreams.

Well done on your hunt. But yes, not a mature bull, you can see in one of your photos the teeth are not worm down.

Look up Dave Langerman, he was offering non trophy hunts. Do a search in the forum. Those bulls are all mature.

*worn not worm

RIGBY said:

Congratulations on you first cape buffalo! May he be the first of many!

To contribute toward the discussions around aging buffalo, I have attached an article written by Dr. Kevin ‘Doctari’ Robertson, titled: “Aging Southern Buffalo Accurately.”

As many of you know, he is also the author of “The Perfect Shot.”

Hopefully, this is insightful.

Click to expand...

His book can be hard to find, but it's worth it's weight in gold.