Any suggestions as to how old this bull is

On this old bull (same bull in my avatar photo) you can see the sagging skin under the chin and torn ears.

The front hoofs are not pointed, but a bit squared off from dragging thier feet as they walk. This is much more pronounced in a rockier area.

These are the molars of that same bull, which is another indicator of age.

It’d be very interested to hear Kevin Robertson’s opinion. I’ve used the incisors to age thousands of cattle, but never a Cape buffalo. Cattle have adult incisors erupt in pairs starting with the center teeth at 2,3,4,and 5 years of age and the five year incisors are fully in by six years of age. We call those cattle full mouths. The gums start to recede exposing the roots at 8-10 years of age and the crowns start to wear down after that. It really gets difficult to age cattle after 10 years of age because that tooth wear varies depending on diet. Based on my experience with cattle, I think 16 would be very reasonable. Again, I don’t have experience with buffalo, but I’m suprised that one could live to see 25.

I can say without a doubt, that the bull is exactly as old as it is ever gonna get. Well done!

Solid boss. Corrugations worn down but not smooth. Still has fairly sharp tips. My estimate is 9–10 range.

Congratulations. Great bull and trophy.

Keelebilly said:

It’d be very interested to hear Kevin Robertson’s opinion. I’ve used the incisors to age thousands of cattle, but never a Cape buffalo. Cattle have adult incisors erupt in pairs starting with the center teeth at 2,3,4,and 5 years of age and the five year incisors are fully in by six years of age. We call those cattle full mouths. The gums start to recede exposing the roots at 8-10 years of age and the crowns start to wear down after that. It really gets difficult to age cattle after 10 years of age because that tooth wear varies depending on diet. Based on my experience with cattle, I think 16 would be very reasonable. Again, I don’t have experience with buffalo, but I’m suprised that one could live to see 25.

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My PH sent those same photos to Kevin. He wasn’t comfortable aging it without seeing it in person. In the wild, 16 is an extremely, exceptionally old buffalo - it’s fair to say in most wild areas they do not get that old.

Kevin was very helpful at aging my bull from the Eastern Cape earlier this year as being in his 8th year based on the wear on his teeth. Whilst not as old as I’d hoped, an animal I am nonetheless very proud of and an incredible experience!

Keelebilly said:

It’d be very interested to hear Kevin Robertson’s opinion. I’ve used the incisors to age thousands of cattle, but never a Cape buffalo. Cattle have adult incisors erupt in pairs starting with the center teeth at 2,3,4,and 5 years of age and the five year incisors are fully in by six years of age. We call those cattle full mouths. The gums start to recede exposing the roots at 8-10 years of age and the crowns start to wear down after that. It really gets difficult to age cattle after 10 years of age because that tooth wear varies depending on diet. Based on my experience with cattle, I think 16 would be very reasonable. Again, I don’t have experience with buffalo, but I’m suprised that one could live to see 25.

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She was a cow and their life obviously is not as demanding as bulls. I'm sure females typically live longer, just like humans. Also I shot her on a breeding operation, a large farm but not as immense as the ones I usually hunt. Her age was known with certainty, either because she was born there or, more likely given the quality of her horns, she was purchased. She had not produced a calf in four years and lost the last two. The old gal was only wasting grass. I suspect they kept her on the range as long as possible out of respect for job well done over the years. But, as I said, the protracted drought was making her suffer. I wasn't real crazy about the idea but the price was hard to turn down. Figured it was a cheap way to get my feet wet hunting buffalo. Turned out to be quite exciting. The herd bull took exception to me killing granny. He came for us three times. First two times her death bellows brought the herd back. Third time the herd wouldn't follow and he gave up. But they never got far off. They are about 300 yards away in the background of that photo. I'm glad I wasn't able to shoot in the thick stuff where we first encountered them ... VERY close. Instead I shot her at 100 meters which gave us a better distance window to avoid a deadly confrontation.

Many may poo-poo the idea of culling on a fenced operation. But it's not as easy as it sounds. First, Cape buffalo don't like people. Period. No matter what the situation it will still be flight or fight when they are encountered (on foot). Second, usually a designated animal is to be culled. When they are in a herd, picking out the right one to shoot in time to get a shot can be hard. Sometimes it can take days of pushing them up and still strike out. This last safari I culled an old dry cow giraffe and it is was one of the most challenging stalks (several stalks actually) I've yet experienced ... and I have a LOT of experience. This particular ginormous property is estimated to have at least two hundred giraffe. It was very hard to get within range of any of them, let alone the right one to shoot. Quite challenging.

Gday @Luminous Ham
Congrats
10 ish is my guess
Here’s my oldest that was estimated 15

Might have been older?
He was still in good condition & is proudly displayed in my troom


Cheers

318AE said:

In the wild, 16 is an extremely, exceptionally old buffalo - it’s fair to say in most wild areas they do not get that old.

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I was going to add something similar. I think in most wild areas a bull older than 12 is difficult to find. Older than 15 is the needle in haystack. They need to survive a lot of droughts, fights, predators, hunters, and poachers to make it that long.

Opinions on this one?

Killo said:

Opinions on this one?

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No clue, but the awesome factor is up there!

Killo said:

Opinions on this one?

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Old! But I don’t know how to age Niassa or Selous bulls. They seem to wear down their horns and polish their bosses more than other parts of Africa. I don’t think they are all as old as they look.

Killo said:

Opinions on this one?

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Wow the dishing of those molars is significant, what a brute! Smooth like bowling balls.

Yall keep the old bulls coming! I’m having fun drooling over here

My PH estimated this one 12-13 for two reasons. First he looked at his teeth and body. Second when they cut him up they found a bullet inside and we think we know when he was wounded which was two years earlier and at that time was a mature hard bossed bull. That’s because my cameraman happened to have video on his laptop of of a very similar looking bull also with no tail being shot and lost over two years ago.

I think yours is likely similar age.

https://www.africahunting.com/threads/field-aging-buffalo-bulls.66854/

https://www.africahunting.com/threads/judging-cape-buffalo.378/page-2

If I’m hunting for old dugga boys only, I’m looking for two things. I want the points below the boss, and I want a boss that is growing smooth. That may not result in the oldest bull in the area, but it won’t result in a young one. If the points are bloomed and the dips are flattening, so much the better. I got lucky.

Wasn’t always the case. I’m trying.

I will add that an assessment by the PH is often to be taken with a grain of salt. No PH wants to walk up to a downed animal and say “Oops. That one is a little too young, small, etc. My bad” I’ve shot game that wasn’t what the PH thought it was when he called the shot. That’s hunting. It’s in the salt, so roll with the flow.

Amazing bull OP. Keven Robertson rough aged mine at 12 years old. Regardless if that’s accurate or not, he looked old to me.

See that smooth boss? That’s what your looking for

It seems that Buffalo in some areas get much smoother bosses. Whether in genetic or because of the vegetation they rub on I don’t know. But I’ve seen pictures of old caps in areas that aren’t smooth at all and pictures of bulls in other area that are younger but smooth. But I do agree a smooth boss will ways be hard and old enough.

I don’t know if it is like whitetail where in some areas the antlers are very white and in others very dark because of the type of vegetation they rub on.

Original OP picture, horns tips not worn, I'm saying 8-9 yrs.