I have a mature bull buffalo question...

[Frederik]

For me age and the hunt itself is more important than the actual horns.
I haven't hunted a bull for myself yet still short on funds but it must be hot I must be sweating and track him down. If at the end of the trail its a 49"or 36" bull and old with good hard boss broken horn or not I will try to take him down.

Scumcap I would shoot and pay for after shooting a proper trophy first which is defined above.
But if on a 7 day hunt and that scumcap is standing there on day 6 its fire away and a reason to hunt buffalo again.

 

[zip4644]

agreed, mass is what trips my trigger.....and that comes with age.

tried to attach this the first time, my one and only, he had what I was looking for age , mass, and width...

 

[grand veneur]

I shot that recently. Seems to be an old buffalo.

 

[AZDAVE]

It is each persons dream hunt so it is up to them to decide what "Is MY Bull".

On my first buff It took 9 days and 125miles under my boots to put him down , was a old mature bull with a big boss and just under 40 inches.

My next bull I want to be the oldest and ugliest buff my PH and I can find, a scrum cap would be the dream but a worn down set of horns, completely gray face old warrior is acceptable. Willing to spend 14 days and walk farther than last time if that is what it takes.

 

[AZDAVE]

Something like these.

 

[WAB]

Those are the ones!!!

 

[Desperatezulu]

Sometimes the choice is not whether the bull has xxx shape or zzz width but a question of taking the only mature bull that's presented a shot and it's the last day.
Or are you prepared to go home empty handed because your trophy ideal wasn't met and come back in future (or maybe never)?

In my opinion this is a more critical question for most buff hunters to get their head around when prepping for their first hunt, rather than configuring their perfect trophy.

Obviously very different for a veteran of numerous buffalo hunts.

 

[Rare Breed]

tried to attach this the first time, my one and only, he had what I was looking for age , mass, and width...View attachment 494841

Beautiful bull!!!

 

[Nyati]

This is what I was looking for...

 

[PARA45]

Sometimes the choice is not whether the bull has xxx shape or zzz width but a question of taking the only mature bull that's presented a shot and it's the last day.
Or are you prepared to go home empty handed because your trophy ideal wasn't met and come back in future (or maybe never)?

In my opinion this is a more critical question for most buff hunters to get their head around when prepping for their first hunt, rather than configuring their perfect trophy.

Obviously very different for a veteran of numerous buffalo hunts.

I don't believe the OP was referring to xxx shape or zzz width bulls, but hunting a mature bull with both horns, no broken horns, scrum cap, etc. I believe the OP has a valid point, and it should be up to the PH to get him close enough for the OP (shooter) to close the deal. I don't believe this is an out of this world request.

 

[steve white]

I'd want a buffalo with two horns and a steak that's rare as fuck hahaha

You sound like my buddy--told the waitress how he wanted his steak, "JUST GIVE IT A SUNBURN"

 

[375Fox]

Something like these.

View attachment 494871View attachment 494872View attachment 494873View attachment 494874

So all 4 buffalo stand together. I’m really curious who stands by decision on scrum cap bull. Bulls 1-3 fit every definition of a perfect buffalo to me.

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

This is what I was looking for...

View attachment 494898View attachment 494902

That is a very good bull, not the oldest around but he will certainly have passed on his great genes by this stage.

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

So all 4 buffalo stand together. I’m really curious who stands by decision on scrum cap bull. Bulls 1-3 fit every definition of a perfect buffalo to me.

I would be very happy with any of those, they have all clearly lived large.

 

[AZDAVE]

I agree with @Kevin Peacocke , however if they were side by side I would take them in the descending order Scrum cap, then 3 then 2 then 1. My toughest decision is which rifle I am taking with for the hunt.

 

[baxterb]

A old Buffalo without horns is like an old bull elephant without large tusks: they lack an essential essence.

if you doubt this, as yourself how many scrum cap Buffalo or tuskless elephant you have looked at (either in person or in a book) and whispered “holy shit.”

not many, I presume.

this is my .02c, but I certainly know what makes me stop and take a second look.

 

[Inline6]

A old Buffalo without horns is like an old bull elephant without large tusks: they lack an essential essence.

if you doubt this, as yourself how many scrum cap Buffalo or tuskless elephant you have looked at (either in person or in a book) and whispered “holy shit.”

not many, I presume.

this is my .02c, but I certainly know what makes me stop and take a second look.

So, it is all in the eye of the beholder. Who doesn't want to kill the record book trophy? The thing is at some point, a switch flips and it is no longer about the biggest but the hardest to hunt.

The Sable I took was not the biggest, could have killed a bigger one much younger. The one I did kill had been giving our PH the slip multiple times with multiple hunters. Much more of a challenge, that's what I will remember when I look at the mount.

The word trophy means different things to different people and it can mean one thing to us today and something different in 10 years from now.

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

I agree with @Kevin Peacocke , however if they were side by side I would take them in the descending order Scrum cap, then 3 then 2 then 1. My toughest decision is which rifle I am taking with for the hunt.

It surely must be a double!

 

[Nevada Mike]

Here is an unusual buff taken last month in TZ. 52" but not too attractive.

 

[Wishfulthinker580]

Here is an unusual buff taken last month in TZ. 52" but not too attractive.

View attachment 495001

Impressive. Definitely unique