Trophy Measurements

[LivingTheDream]

@Speedster I thought your expectations seemed reasonable maybe a little high but if you are willing to hunt hard and maybe walk away with out one who cares. It just means more stalks and more searching. Enjoy yourself, your PH will get you close to those numbers.

 

[IvW]

Would you pass this inward tipping kudu ??

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No definitely not!

Not the best picture but, from what is visible this is a old bull, thick neck, slightly broken horn tip, extremely deep first curl extending to the outer of the ear and carrying deep curl to the top. Maybe not everybody's ideal shape but this bull will score high, is old and a definite shooter.

 

[Nyati]

@Speedster, my first hunt, 2008, was also in the Limpopo, and just as you I had not a clue on animal sizes, not that it bothers me, but I also wanted to shoot only mature animals, which is what I told my PH.

And these were the results

Kudu 53.1, great mass, beautiful shape.
Gemsbok 30, male, very old animal, worn down tips.
Impala 22.5, second one I shot, the first was much smaller, and the PH said, my mistake, this one is for free, we can do better.
Blesbok 17

The following year I shot a 31 in. Waterbuck near Potchefstroom (North West Province)

I hope this is of any help to you.

 

[Slider]

On my plains game hunt in R.S.A. in 08 I took a 55 1/2" Kudu,a 24 inch Impala,a Burchell Zebra Stallion a 34" Gemsbok Bull and a beautiful Black Wildebeest. I hunted from daylight till dark for 10 days and they were the biggest ones I saw the whole time. Last year in Namibia I passed on a 5 1/2" Steenbok. Later that day I decided to take one and have it mounted with my Leopard. We looked for that big Steenbok every chance we got and of course never saw him again. I would recommend you make a little larger list (6 or 7 animals)and take the four best animals on that list you see. Just remember to soak it all in. You must take the advise of your P.H. If he say's to shoot. SHOOT!!!

 

[WAB]

I recommend that you measure the trophies more in how large was the property, how long and difficult was the stalk, was it a clean, killing shot, was the animal free range, etc.. At the end of the day the trophy represents a memory. I'd rather remember a great stalk on a moderately sized free range animal than a quick shot after jumping off a vehicle on the new world record. We don't get to go often enough, build memories of outstanding hunts! I hope you have a great trip!

 

[wesheltonj]

Funny that several people commented on leaving the tape measure at home. Actually I had no intention of bringing one. . . .

Don't leave it home, take one. Measure each horn and the bases and record those measurement before you hand over to trophy to the skinners and make sure your see them put your taxidermy tag on the horns too. You want to make sure you do everything possible that you get back your trophy and not someone else trophy. I had the crate opened up at JNB and had each trophy measured and those measurement sent to me before the crate was placed on the plane.

If a screw up occurs, better to try to fix it there, before you have a set of horns in the States that are not yours.

As to size of the Trophy, SCI Bronze make for a good representative trophy, SCI Silver even better. Of, course Rowland Ward is the gold standard and what everyone wants.

 

[Bob O]

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.

This is great advice for a first time hunt. I went on my first African hunt in June of this year. I had read the trophy sizes previous to my hunt, and decided I just wanted to take old mature bulls that I liked. On the first day I was fortunate enough to take a nice Kudu, with great symmetrical horns. I was ecstatic to get such a nice specimen on the first day. Back at camp, other hunters were commenting that it was a stud Kudu. Another hunter measured it at 52". I didn't really care. I was so happy to have a nice bull, the exact size didn't matter to me. Turns out that it was the biggest Kudu of our party until another guy got a 55" bull a couple days later.

 

[Tim Blackwell]

I recommend that you measure the trophies more in how large was the property, how long and difficult was the stalk, was it a clean, killing shot, was the animal free range, etc.. At the end of the day the trophy represents a memory. I'd rather remember a great stalk on a moderately sized free range animal than a quick shot after jumping off a vehicle on the new world record. We don't get to go often enough, build memories of outstanding hunts! I hope you have a great trip!

This. Instead of worrying about inches or sizes, I'd put my effort into finding a PH who has strong personal standards for mature trophies and herd management. I want a PH who has to be just as happy as I am with the trophy and hunt - if not more so. And thankfully, I've found exactly that on my two safaris thus far. I was fortunate enough to take some great mature trophies and we hardly ever bothered measuring anything. All the best with it!

Don't leave it home, take one. Measure each horn and the bases and record those measurement before you hand over to trophy to the skinners and make sure your see them put your taxidermy tag on the horns too. You want to make sure you do everything possible that you get back your trophy and not someone else trophy. I had the crate opened up at JNB and had each trophy measured and those measurement sent to me before the crate was placed on the plane.

If a screw up occurs, better to try to fix it there, before you have a set of horns in the States that are not yours.

The only problem with that, is that many folks would be surprised just how much horned trophies can shrink as they dry and undergo the boiling process etc. I can normally tell from photos and identifying features that they are mine. And yes make sure they are very well tagged, each and every part.

 

[Jay A Huminsky]

I have a question to the collective. I am going next year to SA in Limpopo on a 10 day hunt. I have read in previous threads regards discussing with your PH beforehand as to any expectations of the size of the trophies you want. I know this is somewhat of a loaded question as each person has his or her personal requirements as to what they want. That being said I would like good representative trophies. I also would not want to settle for a smaller animal such as a 48" kudu or 33" gemsbok if larger ones are readily huntable. I have listed below what I was thinking of talking with the PH. Does this sound reasonable to achieve in a 10 day hunt? If my expectations are too high please give me input on something more reasonable. I am truly a rank amateur so I am asking the "old hands" here for input. Also, I don't want to get too hung up on this but as I stated, I don't want to shoot a young animal. And if maybe I should set my sights higher let me know that as well.

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

 

[Jay A Huminsky]

I am proud of all these answers and the way they were communicated. Size only matters to people who don't., and species management is everything to those of us who care about out sport and the animals. Well said by everyone who responded.

 

[IvW]

The Limpopo has big kudu and impala but they don't get big by being dumb. For your list your not to far off what would be good animals to try for. Smaller horns does not always mean younger though. Some younger animals may be bigger then older ones.

Kudu any bull over 50" is good but Limpopo 53" is more then ok to search for.
Impala 22" is good with 23 very nice with 24" around if you pass and can hold out.
waterbuck 27" is not out of line with many bulls being over 28"
Blesbuck 16" is good with 17" a top ram in most places.
Oryx of 37"is a good goal but a 36" male is a trophy and should be looked at real hard before you pass. Limpopo is not prime oryx area but there is plenty around.

Really depend so much on the ranch and ph but those animals in 10 days will give you time to be picky.

What he said......good advice.....

 

[IvW]

Nothing wrong with setting a target.
The numbers you stated are not just "representative" trophies.

So, all you need to say: "I want Rowland Ward everything!"

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Good luck on your hunt.

RW is an excellent bench mark but for Limpopo if you set these on the species mentione be prepared to go home with maybe 2......