Buffalo bull or cow?

[SCHUNTER73]

After my first safari this summer, I am consumed by all things Africa. I am planning a return trip in a few years, and I can’t get a buff out of my head. Obviously a pretty big cost difference between the sexes. Based on my research, it seems like a cow hunt is very rewarding and every bit of an exciting hunt, just with smaller head gear. If I go the “cow route”, I can easily add more animals to my trip. Is it really worth the extra cost to go after an old dugga boy and exclude the possibility to hunt other animals?

 

[375Fox]

I have no interest in hunting a cow unless it’s for bait. I think selectively hunting for a trophy bull gives a very different experience and is a much better trophy. However, if it’s a question of taking only one animal to financially allow taking a bull or hunting a cow and other PG during the rest of your hunt, I think you should go for the cow option especially if it’s only your second trip. What I like most about Africa is being able to hunt all the days booked instead of being done once the primary animal is down. I think you’d be very disappointed if you took your bull on day 1 and your hunt was over even if it was a great bull. It will also help you better define the type of hunt and area you are looking for once you can better afford a bull hunt.

 

[Flipper Dude]

Buy once, cry once. Shoot the bull. It’s cheaper in the long run.

 

[Firebird]

I don’t see a wrong answer to your question. It’s a personal decision and no one who answers it is going on the hunt with you or paying the bills. In your shoes I would go for the bill even if I had to put the next trip off for a year or two in order to have money for all the things I want to do while I am there.
You can (most likely) always add a cow to another hunt another time. But hunting a bull this next trip will stay with you if you don’t get back there while life happens in the meantime

 

[Racer00]

Just got home today from a tuskless and bull buffalo hunt in Zimbabwe.
I hunted 2 cow buffs in Limpopo back in March.
Both were exciting hunts in their own right. Obviously the bull ended with a better trophy and was a fun and exciting hunt. But the cow hunts had their own merit and I thoroughly enjoyed them. For me, the budget helped determine my hunts. I found a great deal on the cows and the experience gained was priceless. The bull was an add on to the tuskless hunt and also at a very reasonable price.
I have decided, though, that going forward all hunts will include a bull buffalo hunt if they are available. I would have probably hunted a second bull this trip if there had been any more on quota.

 

[Tundra Tiger]

I will hunt a bull someday, and look forward to it.

I have been to Africa twice and have 2 cow buffalo to show for it. It was strictly an economical decision, but I have zero regrets: both were exciting hunts and cherished memories that I will always be glad I experienced.

I think it's a money thing. If you have the financial means to hunt everything you want and still add a bull, go for it. However I don't think there is anything wrong with hunting a cow.

 

[mark-hunter]

After my first safari this summer, I am consumed by all things Africa. I am planning a return trip in a few years, and I can’t get a buff out of my head. Obviously a pretty big cost difference between the sexes. Based on my research, it seems like a cow hunt is very rewarding and every bit of an exciting hunt, just with smaller head gear. If I go the “cow route”, I can easily add more animals to my trip. Is it really worth the extra cost to go after an old dugga boy and exclude the possibility to hunt other animals?

Cows can grow bigger horns then bulls. (If I am not mistaken, biggest horn ever was cow).
The thrill I believe is the same.
The only consideration is this: I am aware of buffalo cow hunt offers only in South Africa. This most likely would be a hunt in a fence.
Nothing wrong with that, of course, but some people are touchy on this. Just do your research, and find reputable outfitter with large property.

I went different route.
I completed 3 PG safaris, then I went to safari no.4 for a a buffalo bull in a wild country., total free range and no fences. Caprivi.

My reasoning was: maybe I will hunt buffalo only once in a lifetime. I dont know what the future brings, this year I could afford it, and if that is the case, and if that buffalo was the only DG animal I will ever hunt, a symbol of wild Africa, then I will do it.
I dont want to tell stories to my grand children about fences. I want to tell them I was in wild Africa!

Now, when this is all done, and my wild buff is in the salt, I am totally open to hunt buffalo cows in the future, in South Africa.

 

[mark-hunter]

@Tundra Tiger
Wonderful trophy room!

 

[Frederik]

Cow hunts on a proper property where they are hunted can be fun and rewarding.
It's still a buffalo and they can still kill you.

 

[RichD]

After my first safari this summer, I am consumed by all things Africa. I am planning a return trip in a few years, and I can’t get a buff out of my head. Obviously a pretty big cost difference between the sexes. Based on my research, it seems like a cow hunt is very rewarding and every bit of an exciting hunt, just with smaller head gear. If I go the “cow route”, I can easily add more animals to my trip. Is it really worth the extra cost to go after an old dugga boy and exclude the possibility to hunt other animals?

I'm hoping to go on my 2nd safari to Africa in 2025 and have been weighing the same bull/cow option. Anywhere from $7-10,000 price difference makes a more budget friendly trip with option for more PG. I'm leaning heavily towards a cow at $2,000-3,000.