Trophy Measurements

[billc]

You did well by even asking your question on a big forum like this. Asking a question is never stupid and would help a lot of people get a better hunt in the end. I went with goals and sizes in my mind also and still do and I am going back for my 5th time.

Just don't get caught up on the size once your happy with an animal you see and want to hunt. 1/2 or 1" does not mean much if you take old mature animals and have fun doing it.

 

[Nosler guy]

Numbers are always interesting and it's great to set goals and challenge yourself - but numbers often don't truly represent the true character and quality of an african trophy. Mass and age are just as, or more impressive than length, but rarely get mentioned in African hunting talk.

In our trophy room, we have two Kudu - mine is a very nice 56 inch Kalahari bull, decent mass, nice shape, impressive trophy - my daughters is a 50 inch bull, incredible mass, thick right out to the rubbed off, polished tips, weathered and chipped horns with a really unique shape and a ton of character. He was an incredible old creature.

When people come into the room, most are drawn and focus on my daughters bull and hardly notice the 56 incher - so which is the better trophy?

 

[jacques smith]

Speedster I like your style
I always have the bar set extremely high cause I love seeing what else is out there
But you must be prepared to finish empty handed. I recently hunted greater kudu for the umpteenth time seeking the 60 inch holy grail. I saw 45 bulls over 12days. I never took a kudu but I’m fine with that, just means I have to go back again. Keep your standards high my friend you never know what’s over the next hill. Best of luck. Jacques

 

[MAdcox]

I’m very much a rookie here, so I definitely enjoy getting these others guys perspective on your question too. Good topic, thanks for asking the question.

A few things my outfitter and PH said on my first hunt stuck with me.
He didn’t like tape measures in camp at all. I heard Dave Fulson speaking this year at DSC say the same thing. My PH had had buddies mad and fighting in camp over inches on a tape measure, he also felt it really takes away from the animal when the hunter rushes up with his tape measure in hand to a downed animal. The PHs know within fractions of an inch before they tell you to shoot or not anyway.
That said, I told my PH I wanted good representatives and mature animals and I think he busted his ass to put me on big trophies because of it.
Good luck on your hunt.

 

[jeff]

Not all PHs have the same ability to judge size, I have had a couple of fairly significant errors by PHs. All PHs have had to start sometime and there is no substitute for experience and the absolute love of hunting! Tape measures aren't the problem it's the hunters attitude.

 

[buck wild]

What I think you are getting at (I don't want to shoot below the average as it's my first time and everything will look good
For Limpopo areas

Kudu 52" good 55" not uncommon
Gemsbok 36" bull 38" cow
Impala 23"
Waterbuck 27"
Blesbok 16"

 

[Adrian]

Asking the question is a good start and you will and already have had plenty of answers.
I would say this:
If it's your first time hunting in Africa, leave the tape measure at home and just enjoy your experience.
Don't get hung up on inches. Take what Africa offers you and make the most of it.
You might see a trophy while you are out and like the look of it and want to hunt it. But your PH tells you it doesn't match your measurement criteria.
Do you ignore it?
Get out there, go hunting, see animals, enjoy what you're there for.
There's no point putting pressure on yourself or your PH to hunt according to your tape.
I don't understand collecting species or inches.
I just enjoy hunting and being in Africa and in the company of good people.
The less you look, the more you might find.
Get out there, go hunting and put your effort into taking in the experience and not worry about your measurements.

 

[James Sexton]

@Speedster I just returned from a hunt with Marius Goosen at KMG HUNTING SAFARIS about a couple of weeks ago. This was my first safari and did not know my ass from my elbow about any trophy measurements that being said I was very satisfied with the quality of animals that I took. I do know that the impala I took was a dandy because everyone said so. Marius commented on my hunting report that it was 25 2/8 inches. I don’t have a clue if that is special or not but I was satisfied and in the end that’s all that matters. You can go to the hunting reports and look for the post of KMG & Hilbilly and look at my animals. Don’t know what anything measured other than the impala but it did not matter to me as I had hunt of a lifetime.

 

[jeff]

What I think you are getting at (I don't want to shoot below the average as it's my first time and everything will look good
For Limpopo areas

Kudu 52" good 55" not uncommon
Gemsbok 36" bull 38" cow
Impala 23"
Waterbuck 27"
Blesbok 16"

Buck has given a very realistic expectation here in his list, I certainly wouldn't turn down a 15 blesbok if it's nice and heavy, length doesn't tell it all, mass can look better than long spindly horns!

 

[IvW]

Kudu 53"
Gemsbok 37"
Impala 24"
Waterbuck 27"
Blesbok 17"

Trophies can vary from area to area from outfitter to outfitter and there are many factors that will determine the possibility of what you can expect in trophy size.

Kudu-the shape of the horns are often more important than the actual length. A 50 to 52 incher can look better than a bad shaped 54, but expecting to shoot a 53" is more than realistic and yes the possibility of a 58-60" is always there especially in the Limpopo but is dependent on area and the management of the property you will be hunting.

37 inch Gemsbuck especially a bull in Limpopo is being optimistic and over expectant. Reality would be more like a 34"-36" Bull and then 36- 38" Cow(not their natural habitat).

24" Impala are also not kicked out behind every bush but is possible, again dependent on the area as well as the management of the property you get shoot up to 27", but I would not pass up a well shaped 22"-23" especially on a first time 10 day safari.

27" Waterbuck is a good expectation and depending on the area you could easily do 28" plus.

17" Blesbuck in Limpopo is well apart from being extremely optimistic probably impossible unless specifically brought in from its natural habitat You may want to settle on a 14-16" one in the bushveldt of the Limpopo(not their natural habitat).

All hunters want to shoot the best they can but be realistic and whatever you do do not let the tape measure ruin your hunt.

Go enjoy yourself, trust your PH and you will get good trophies.

All the best.

 

[Mark Biggerstaff]

Been reading this thread since I am leaving in 14 days for my first time trip. I hunt alot and inches really dont mean much to me. If the animal is mature and ph says its a shooter, then I might shoot it. All depends on how it looks to me. The shape of the horns and maturity are more important to me than inches. I will be looking for my first Kudu. It could be 48 or 54 doesnt matter to me as long as it has the horn look i want. Which is semi wide and not narrow with outward or upward tips. Not inward tips. But ultimately it is up to each hunter to decide what he will be happy with.

 

[BRICKBURN]

.............. But ultimately it is up to each hunter to decide what he will be happy with.

 

[BRICKBURN]

Good enough? You will decide with your PH.

 

[buck wild]

Been reading this thread since I am leaving in 14 days for my first time trip. I hunt alot and inches really dont mean much to me. If the animal is mature and ph says its a shooter, then I might shoot it. All depends on how it looks to me. The shape of the horns and maturity are more important to me than inches. I will be looking for my first Kudu. It could be 48 or 54 doesnt matter to me as long as it has the horn look i want. Which is semi wide and not narrow with outward or upward tips. Not inward tips. But ultimately it is up to each hunter to decide what he will be happy with.

Would you pass this inward tipping kudu ??

 

[BRICKBURN]

I see that chunk out of the ear, that thick fore head and beard...
Oh ya, those Hula Hoops. Maybe..

 

[jacques smith]

Buck wild
Nope I would not pass

 

[Mark Biggerstaff]

NO I would not. That is the exception with the mass and curls. No way would I pass.

 

[Speedster]

Funny that several people commented on leaving the tape measure at home. Actually I had no intention of bringing one. The measurements I am looking for is not for me but my PH so that he will know my expectations.Heck, I couldn't measure the difference between a warthog and a kudu. What I want to avoid is say on Day 10 the PH says ,Hey there is a 44" kudu. My response will be HMMMM.... how about if I pass and try again on another safari if possible. I would much rather have a PH who works hard for me and I do the same for him. At the end of the hunt I am not interested if the PH says, "yeah he can hit a fly's wing at 400 yards(LOL. I cannot even see that far), but he's an arrogant jerk." Rather, "hey the guy is not the greatest shot(I am practicing), but he is a nice guy and works hard. I would not mind PH'ing for him again." And isn't that what is it all about? The stories, sitting around a campfire, reading the reports on this forum. I am the furthest thing from a trophy hunter. Living here in Indiana I harvested a couple of small deer many years ago before you had to either own the land or knew someone personally. I lost my permission many years ago and despite beating down the doors for many days, was never able to find somewhere to hunt. Not a fan of hunting very crowded public land here in Indiana. So, I have become one the deadliest squirrels around. Nothing like a rush from an angry squirrel to get your adrenaline going. I got the Africa bug 40 years ago after reading Capstick. Since I made my reservation I think about next year every day. Thank you for everyone who responded. And thank you Jerome for providing this forum.

 

[steve ahrenberg]

Funny that several people commented on leaving the tape measure at home. Actually I had no intention of bringing one. The measurements I am looking for is not for me but my PH so that he will know my expectations.Heck, I couldn't measure the difference between a warthog and a kudu. What I want to avoid is say on Day 10 the PH says ,Hey there is a 44" kudu. My response will be HMMMM.... how about if I pass and try again on another safari if possible. I would much rather have a PH who works hard for me and I do the same for him. At the end of the hunt I am not interested if the PH says, "yeah he can hit a fly's wing at 400 yards(LOL. I cannot even see that far), but he's an arrogant jerk." Rather, "hey the guy is not the greatest shot(I am practicing), but he is a nice guy and works hard. I would not mind PH'ing for him again." And isn't that what is it all about? The stories, sitting around a campfire, reading the reports on this forum. I am the furthest thing from a trophy hunter. Living here in Indiana I harvested a couple of small deer many years ago before you had to either own the land or knew someone personally. I lost my permission many years ago and despite beating down the doors for many days, was never able to find somewhere to hunt. Not a fan of hunting very crowded public land here in Indiana. So, I have become one the deadliest squirrels around. Nothing like a rush from an angry squirrel to get your adrenaline going. I got the Africa bug 40 years ago after reading Capstick. Since I made my reservation I think about next year every day. Thank you for everyone who responded. And thank you Jerome for providing this forum.

Speedster. (is your screen name connected to an Eliminator Speedster?)

I'll say this, come back to this thread once you've returned. You will be so jacked up with excitement and adrenaline, you will NOT ONE SINGLE time ask the PH, "How big you think?" Once you've made the shot, and you are at a kill, you or your PH will either make a guess or pull the tape out. It might not happen until you get to the skinning shed, but it will either be measured or guessed at.

I really envy the feelings of wonderment and anticipation guys just beginning feel. Awesome!!

Steve

 

[MAdcox]

Funny that several people commented on leaving the tape measure at home. Actually I had no intention of bringing one. The measurements I am looking for is not for me but my PH so that he will know my expectations.Heck, I couldn't measure the difference between a warthog and a kudu. What I want to avoid is say on Day 10 the PH says ,Hey there is a 44" kudu. My response will be HMMMM.... how about if I pass and try again on another safari if possible. I would much rather have a PH who works hard for me and I do the same for him. At the end of the hunt I am not interested if the PH says, "yeah he can hit a fly's wing at 400 yards(LOL. I cannot even see that far), but he's an arrogant jerk." Rather, "hey the guy is not the greatest shot(I am practicing), but he is a nice guy and works hard. I would not mind PH'ing for him again." And isn't that what is it all about? The stories, sitting around a campfire, reading the reports on this forum. I am the furthest thing from a trophy hunter. Living here in Indiana I harvested a couple of small deer many years ago before you had to either own the land or knew someone personally. I lost my permission many years ago and despite beating down the doors for many days, was never able to find somewhere to hunt. Not a fan of hunting very crowded public land here in Indiana. So, I have become one the deadliest squirrels around. Nothing like a rush from an angry squirrel to get your adrenaline going. I got the Africa bug 40 years ago after reading Capstick. Since I made my reservation I think about next year every day. Thank you for everyone who responded. And thank you Jerome for providing this forum.

Sounds lke you got it right. Have a lot of fun prepping and daydreaming, it will be all you dreamed for and more. I’ve got trip 2 scheduled for next year and #3 booked for 2020. I’m already jacked for both of them.