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.

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

Take a cow if that is all you can afford now, but aspire to a bull some day.

 

[grand veneur]

I have often hunted buffaloes, so I don't know what can be exciting about shooting a cow from a herd. Looking for an old buffalo for days is a completely different action. Better to shoot more PG for the same money or to save more money and then to shoot a right buffalo.

 

[Tally-Ho HUNTING SAFARIS]

Hunt the cow and dont even think about it
We hunt a number of bulla and cows every year
The cows we hunt are selected for various reasons and we dont just shoot any cow
Buff cow hunts are as exciting and difficult if not more exciting or more difficult than a bulls hunt

You are welcome to contact me

Regards

 

[BJH65]

It’s really a personal and economical decision. You will not find agreement among everyone, each has their own thoughts on this. For me, it’s a combination of both personal and economical reasons. I personally value the thrill of the hunt over obtaining a trophy animal plus from an economical standpoint, I would hunt tuskless elephant and lioness if that’s what was within my means as opposed to no elephant or lion hunting at all.

Years ago, when I was younger, I valued obtaining an excellent trophy over anything else. That is no longer the case, I much more value the experience now. Time is fleeting now, the taxidermy I have will be given away or thrown away when I am gone, gun collection sold…..everything I do is for the experience now.

I recently did a cow buffalo hunt (see hunt report) with Derian Koekemoer Safaris on the wonderful 10,000 acre BuffaloLand concession, adjacent to the Great Kruger Area with the scenic Klaserie River flowing through it. It was a wonderful experience and challenging at times trying to locate the correct cow to shoot before they ran off. Crawling through the acacia thorns being within feet of the Buffalo herd was a thrilling and adrenaline filled experience!

Yes it was fenced (somehow this is always brought into the equation?) but the hunting, tracking and danger is the same. They still have leopard, lion and hyena that come onto the concession. Not as adventurous as our 1997 Mozambique hunt but still a satisfying and wonderful hunt I would highly recommend. We’re going back and booked for trophy buffalo in 2026, I plan on adding an additional cow or two, which was actually booked before this last hunt I just described, I was able to fit this one in kind of impromptu.

Personally, I would rather hunt multiple cow buffalo than a single trophy bull, strictly for the experience but I completely understand that most hunters, given a choice would always opt for the trophy bull. If it comes down to cow buffalo or no buffalo, the choice is easy for me, go with the cow buffalo. I think most hunters would prefer a nice bull if within their financial means and perhaps any subsequent buffalo obtained could be cow buffalo but ultimately only you can decide. As far as I’m concerned, these are good “problems” to have, debating on what animal to choose!

 

[VertigoBE]

I see no issues with hunting a cow. Of any species. As long as it is old and on its last legs, it is a good animal to take. Management hunting is still hunting, and it can’t be every day you hunt a big trophy animal.

For the nay sayers, would you then also object to female Oryx? To (tuskless) cow elephants? To female Gams?

Would I prefer old bulls? Sure, but old is much more important to me than sex or trophy size.

Now that does mean it might be a different hunting experience. Shooting a cow from a herd versus finding a lone bull. But both experiences can be fulfilling (or not, that is up to you after you have tried it)

 

[PARA45]

I've heard that trying to sneak into the heard to select an old dried out cow is exciting and dangerous. Cows are very protective of their calves and the hunt can be very exciting. I hunted a cow back in 2022, and it was every bit of excitement I was expecting. Lots of eyes looking at you. Next year, I'm going back to SA for a bull.

 

[Lumaberpat]

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.

View attachment 653642

I think those cow trophies are great looking! Thanks for posting your trophy room!

 

[375Fox]

I see no issues with hunting a cow. Of any species. As long as it is old and on its last legs, it is a good animal to take. Management hunting is still hunting, and it can’t be every day you hunt a big trophy animal.

For the nay sayers, would you then also object to female Oryx? To (tuskless) cow elephants? To female Gams?

Would I prefer old bulls? Sure, but old is much more important to me than sex or trophy size.

Now that does mean it might be a different hunting experience. Shooting a cow from a herd versus finding a lone bull. But both experiences can be fulfilling (or not, that is up to you after you have tried it)

I have no issues shooting a cow buffalo, but I think the more selective the hunt the better the experience. Most herds you approach will have a suitable cow to take. Bulls are generally a much more selective hunt. To your question though. I have no interest in taking a female gemsbok as a trophy regardless how long the horns are, but for a meat animal is fine. I’ve told my PHs I don’t care how long the horns are because they still lack mass of the bulls. I’d hunt a tuskless because it’s a very selective hunt to find a tuskless that’s already a small portion of population without a calf but it would be strictly for the experience. I wouldn’t consider it a trophy. For gams/chamois I’d hunt a femaie. A day on the mountain is still a day on the mountain in a wild environment and stunning scenery. When it comes to hunting cow buffalo on fenced farms though some would be a drive in and shoot experience and some would be a real hunt so it would really depend if it had any value to me or not.

 

[Tundra Tiger]

I think those cow trophies are great looking! Thanks for posting your trophy room!

I WISH I had a trophy room, but thank you. My oldest daughter has joked that since my ex moved out I have turned the house into a bachelor's pad. It is FAR from a finished product: I still have 2 shoulder mounts from Africa on the way and soooo many moose and caribou I never bothered to mount up.

 

[PARA45]

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.

View attachment 653642

TT, what are that skulls under the blue wildebeest, and on the bookshelves under the buff skulls, bear skulls?