Judging Nyala

[PHOENIX PHIL]

I'd say find out after you get him, he's a great trophy!

 

[cpr0312]

@Josh Neal ,

Wow, great looking bull! No idea on measurement but who cares, its a hog!

 

[Josh Neal]

I'd say find out after you get him, he's a great trophy!

I'm 12,000 mile away now! I missed my chance!

 

[V.Veritas]

This Nyala bull is an excellent reason to go back. I would say 30"-31".
The bell shape is similar to the one 28" attached below, but the tips are flared significantly more.

 

[BigBore]

I passed on dozens of trophy size Nyala on a 10 hunt in Mozambique October 2017 before I finally settle of this 30 1/2" bull. ZDS had tremendous numbers of big bulls. Saw many shooters every day.

 

[enysse]

I have heard that there are some exceptional nyala in Mozambique! It's free range too!

 

[BigBore]

I passed on dozens of trophy size Nyala on a 10 hunt in Mozambique October 2017 before I finally settle of this 30 1/2" bull. ZDS had tremendous numbers of big bulls. Saw many shooters every day.View attachment 226634

Just got the official SCI Score, he came in at 75 2/8".

 

[Boela]

Same property in Zululand, taken two weeks apart. First bull, 28.25" with a very nice bell shape and the second came in on 27.75", the wide horns can be quite misleading.

 

[Ferruccio]

I took this nyala in Mpumalanga, near to the border with Limpopo. The trophy is 28 1/2 inches

 

[meigsbucks]

Good post Terminator...

i was looking for this information also...

+1
Definitely on my list for the next safari.

 

[BigBore]

I have heard that there are some exceptional nyala in Mozambique! It's free range too!

Yes at ZDS no fences there. I seen several shooter Nyala every day but held out for this 30-1/2" one. I passed on 4 or 5 that were in the 29" range. I primarily went to Mozambique to hunt buffalo where I did take 2, but I enjoyed hunting Nyala in the sand Forrest more. I would go back to ZDS just for the free ranging plains game. Amazing place.

 

[Warren Knudsen]

Yes at ZDS no fences there. I seen several shooter Nyala every day but held out for this 30-1/2" one. I passed on 4 or 5 that were in the 29" range. I primarily went to Mozambique to hunt buffalo where I did take 2, but I enjoyed hunting Nyala in the sand Forrest more. I would go back to ZDS just for the free ranging plains game. Amazing place.

I can also recommend ZDS, just back from 11 days there and it's just an amazing place to hunt, I took buffalo, a fantastic Nyala and great warthog.
We were over the full moon, so Nyala were a little slow apparently, probably seen 15 over 27 28, inch and took a wonderful one around 30.

 

[csmcclain]

Question on this one: the horns don’t flair out, but it has the physical characteristics I would expect of a mature lowland nyala. Is it young and immature or does it have a freak set of horns?

 

[dchum]

Question on this one: the horns don’t flair out, but it has the physical characteristics I would expect of a mature lowland nyala. Is it young and immature or does it have a freak set of horns?

I would say just "unique" horns

He is not Immature

 

[Nhoro]

Question on this one: the horns don’t flair out, but it has the physical characteristics I would expect of a mature lowland nyala. Is it young and immature or does it have a freak set of horns?

Antelope with spiral or ridged horns develop what many call secondary growth in maturity and old age. The natural ridges in the horm get closer together at the base and the diameter also seems thicker and weightier. That is a sure sign of maturity if it is present and old age if it is thick and maybe 1 inch plus up the horn. I guess it comes from the slower growth after all the teenage hormones are done. Yours has that secondary growth pattern. Probably not an old bull but mature for sure. Just an atypical growth of horn.

 

[Tally-Ho HUNTING SAFARIS]

Question on this one: the horns don’t flair out, but it has the physical characteristics I would expect of a mature lowland nyala. Is it young and immature or does it have a freak set of horns?

i would say that bull is fully mature even maybe getting old
he wont get any longer in the horn
nyala horn shapes vary a lot
some wide and straight up, other a nice bell shape, others a huge bell but tips never go up as this one, others tips go straight up others tips can point outwards
its purely what u prefer

one thing for sure, in my opinion, nyala are the most beautiful trophy, the a shoulder mount never looks bad

 

[Bushcat001]

I think 25" and under is below average. 26.5" is average. 28+ is above average and 31" is a exceptional species...rare.

I think anything in the 28 inch range is very good!

also bear in mind what area you hunting Nyala in. Eastern Cape a good bull is 24 to 27 mature. there are some pockets with some bigger make sure you shoot straight.
Zulu land you can find the 29 to 31 inch Northen Cape depends where they have introduced them from. But in the End of the day make sure your ph knows what you looking for. have a great day. my two cents look for nice mature animal, good bases, nice bell and some ivory you should have a nice bull in sight. Cheers

 

[Surgeon7]

30 inch w ZDS