Is this a good one? PH told me approx 7/8 years old. Waiting on head to be imported to UK

[woodman]

 

[mark-hunter]

On young impala horns grow inwards.
On old one outwards
This is very good one.

Below: old and young to compare, photo from internet

 

[Beck]

Looks like a monster

 

[rookhawk]

View attachment 693436

I'm by no means an expert at judging impala, but I've shot (and consumed!) about 20 of the critters over the years. I was told that trophies like yours are rather young. As they get older, they typically broom down and score poorer. I have some old "German Style" trophies that are impressive, and then I have one shoulder mount with "chop stick" like tines similar to yours that scored the best. I'm told it was the youngest of the five sets of horns I brought back, although the best scoring.

 

[K-man]

I think it will score quite well, if you choose to get that done. You should be proud to put it on the wall.
I don't see any secondary growth at the hairline, which means it is a very nice mature male, not necessarily old. Size is very subjective to the area and genetics available. Limpopo grows some great ones, Uganda puts them to shame. Depends on what the area is known for. Nice job!

 

[375Fox]

I’ve never made an attempt to learn to age impala. I’ve taken quite a few in several countries. To me that’s a very nice impala. It has heavy bases, nice ridges, and a good shape.

 

[375Fox]

On young impala horns grow inwards.
On old one outwards
This is very good one.

Below: old and young to compare, photo from internet

View attachment 693438

View attachment 693437

Old impala don’t necessarily grow outwards. It’s genetics. I’ve shot impala with several different shapes. Usually outward makes a nicer trophy. I’ve seen farms in South Africa where many grew inwards. They likely needed some culling and new genetics to change that characteristic on those farms. I think it’s generally agreed Uganda has the largest impala. The kafue in Zambia has the smallest trophy impala I’ve seen anywhere.

 

[fourfive8]

I'd say the impala in the OP is really a fairly good one! But, somewhat hard to judge. Kind of deceiving because the frontal view is with the horns laid back slightly. A perpendicular view of front, as other have posted, and a side view would help. Some tastes demand wide open spread, which may or may not indicate length, trophy status or age. BTW, same applies to kudu where, in the eye of some, width trump's other attributes, possibly even masking an otherwise mediocre trophy.

 

[Sarg]

Old impala don’t necessarily grow outwards. It’s genetics. I’ve shot impala with several different shapes. Usually outward makes a nicer trophy. I’ve seen farms in South Africa where many grew inwards. They likely needed some culling and new genetics to change that characteristic on those farms. I think it’s generally agreed Uganda has the largest impala. The kafue in Zambia has the smallest trophy impala I’ve seen anywhere.View attachment 693591View attachment 693590View attachment 693589View attachment 693588

Of course the Ugandan is a different species as in East African, the biggest I have seen were actually in Kenya OMG made you heart stop, just awesome !

That first one is a very big Old guy & I hope the last one is from Zambia, also an Old guy, those Impala in Zambia should be in another subspecies as almost a Dwarf Impala ?

 

[Russ16]

View attachment 693436

Did you enjoy the hunt? Will the mount remind you of the hunt? If so then it is a good one.

 

[375Fox]

Of course the Ugandan is a different species as in East African, the biggest I have seen were actually in Kenya OMG made you heart stop, just awesome !

That first one is a very big Old guy & I hope the last one is from Zambia, also an Old guy, those Impala in Zambia should be in another subspecies as almost a Dwarf Impala ?

Those photos were massailand, eastern cape, Caprivi, Caprivi. We took the last one as an own use community animal where Caprivi Zambia and Angola meet. The impala I saw in northern kafue were actually smaller than that. Idk why. They were extremely common and all other species there had exceptional trophy quality. I wouldn’t have taken one but it was final afternoon and it was the 7th animal allowed on my regular license. We finished up the hunt fishing river that evening.

 

[DieJager]

View attachment 693436

Definitely a great buck.