Explain To Me Cape Buffalo Horns

[postoak]

What is the boss? Is this just the portion of the horn directly attached to the head?

What do people mean when they talk about a hard boss vs a soft boss (aren't the horns always hard)?

I think I know that the two horns grow together as the buffalo ages. Do they just use the term soft boss to mean one where the two sides aren't touching each other yet?

 

[peras]

The boss is the part of the horns directly on top of the head, Depending on genetics they will not always grow together, some may have a small gap. From about 5 years old these bosses start hardening. Initially if you press your fingers on them , they will feel soft and have hair on top. When soft they look smooth with some hair on them and a greyish, blueish color.
As the bull matures and gets sexually active these bosses becomes rock hard.

 

[Tally-Ho HUNTING SAFARIS]

Hi Postoak
The boss is the more rounded large part directly above the skull
This forms part of most measurements too
When bulls are young the boss is actually soft as it is still growing and forming quite rapidly
Your last statement of the horns growing together is incorrect
Some bulls the bosses never come together. I have hunted many bulls which were very old and the bosses had at least and inch or two even more between the bosses. Other come together it’s just genetics

The issue with a soft boss bull is after the taxidermy process there won’t be much left of this soft material
Older bulls have nice character on the bosses which adds to the trophy

 

[postoak]

Ah, so the boss part of the horns is actually soft in young bulls. I never suspected that.

 

[IvW]

About 6 years old, he is getting there but still soft on the front and hair in between the bosses and tips still slightly above bosses.

Impressive spread but still young and soft with tips above bosses.

Soft bosses, tips above bosses and still young.

Soft, horn tips still above bosses.

Hard bosses, tips below bosses-trophy quality.

Hard bossed bulls, one on the left has the tips a bit high still and probably the youngest of the three.

Hard bossed old bull with tips low down.

Ancient hard bossed "scrum cap" bull.

Old hard bossed bull with gap between the bosses due to age.

Hard bossed old bull with a gap between the bosses due to age.

 

[jpr792]

Rock hard, solid Bosses on Cape Buffalo come with age... Dagga Boys of 11 years plus that are past breeding age make the best trophies.

 

[postoak]

In those photos IvW posted, how are you able to tell a boss is soft just by looking?

 

[CAustin]

In those photos IvW posted, how are you able to tell a boss is soft just by looking?

You can often see the hair still growing on them even at a distance.

 

[AfricaHunting.com]

Check out also this thread which has good information regarding this topic: Judging Cape Buffalo

 

[IvW]

In those photos IvW posted, how are you able to tell a boss is soft just by looking?

Hair, no hard ridges(do not confuse this with a smooth worn down boss found on some very old bulls), the high tips are also a good indication of age. Long sharp tips with no wear also indicate a young bull.

Hair loss is also evident on most old dagga boys, on the body as well as on the face.

 

[Royal27]

Once you begin to learn and recognize you'll be amazed at how many trophy pics that you thought were of a great old bull are actually the buffalo equivalent of a 1.5 year old eight point whitetail. Lots of young bulls are shot... It pays to educate yourself!

 

[KMG Hunting Safaris]

In those photos IvW posted, how are you able to tell a boss is soft just by looking?

Rob, it is evident just from the appearance, and quick distinguishing between a hard, semi hard and soft bull comes with experience, so imperative to trust your experienced PH. Unless I misunderstood, I don't agree with what LvW said regarding the height of the tips. Sure, the tips of a Buff will drop with age, but it is not the sole distinguishing factor to age a Buff. The height of the tips has more to do with genes. Some Buffalo will never drop to bellow their bosses, no matter how old they are. I speak under correction, but I believe the Addo bloodline is known for that.
A Buffalo will also harden from the outside, back, towards the inside front. So, it is possible for a Buffalo bull to look hard from the back, but still soft in the front.
It always makes me more comfortable to see a Buff from the front, to be entirely sure, before taking the shot. If one does not have that luxury, and the Buff looks hard, at least from the side, the next thing you should be looking for is the Roman nose, which is only evident in older bulls, as well as the small dewlap that develops on these aged bulls.

 

[fourfive8]

Study the pics posted by IvW- excellent group for comparison. Unfortunately because of the scoring systems, the "shiny object" with Cape buffalo is the width. Get past that and really look at the boss, the mass of the horns and clues to age of the bull. It will become easy to tell the difference with just a glance. Get past the preoccupation with width!

 

[postoak]

Check out also this thread which has good information regarding this topic: Judging Cape Buffalo

Thanks Jerome, I actually used the search function before posting this question! The threads I found (like the one you site) all assumed a certain level of knowledge that I didn't have. I'm getting up to speed now, though.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

Hair loss is also evident on most old dagga boys.

Also applies to a lot of the old dagga boy hunters too........

 

[IvW]

Rob, it is evident just from the appearance, and quick distinguishing between a hard, semi hard and soft bull comes with experience, so imperative to trust your experienced PH. Unless I misunderstood, I don't agree with what LvW said regarding the height of the tips. Sure, the tips of a Buff will drop with age, but it is not the sole distinguishing factor to age a Buff. The height of the tips has more to do with genes. Some Buffalo will never drop to bellow their bosses, no matter how old they are. I speak under correction, but I believe the Addo bloodline is known for that.
A Buffalo will also harden from the outside, back, towards the inside front. So, it is possible for a Buffalo bull to look hard from the back, but still soft in the front.
It always makes me more comfortable to see a Buff from the front, to be entirely sure, before taking the shot. If one does not have that luxury, and the Buff looks hard, at least from the side, the next thing you should be looking for is the Roman nose, which is only evident in older bulls, as well as the small dewlap that develops on these aged bulls.

Marius, you are quite correct that tips higher than the bosses are not always an indicator of age, however most of the times if they are lower chances are that it it a old bull. As rightfully mentioned experience will lead you to know if it is a old bull or not and as mentioned best is always to have a frontal view to be able to determine hardness of boss, spread, drop etc.

Again correct about Addo buffalo they seem to always have higher tipes.

Below are all Addo buffalo

Prominent dewlap as mentioned by Marius

Below is a young bull in the Serengeti

Below old warhorse with smooth bosses and hair loss.

Another old warhorse

Massive spread but still soft(not Addo)

 

[KMG Hunting Safaris]

My dream bull right there.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

View attachment 216958
]
View attachment 216962
Hard bossed bulls, one on the left has the tips a bit high still and probably the youngest of the three.

Hard bossed old bull with tips low down.

And that would be my dream bull there Marius @KMG Hunting Safaris

 

[KMG Hunting Safaris]

And that would be my dream bull there Marius @KMG Hunting Safaris

The day that I am out hunting, and find one like in the photo that I posted, is the day I will pull the trigger. Sadly, many hunters don't like them like that and ask for a full curl. Not that it is really a type of bull that you can go out looking for. They are not behind every bush.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

The day that I am out hunting, and find one like in the photo that I posted, is the day I will pull the trigger. Sadly, many hunters don't like them like that and ask for a full curl. Not that it is really a type of bull that you can go out looking for. They are not behind every bush.

Can't argue there, I would too without asking the PH!