Limpopo Buffalo

[30-06Ken]

My PH who I have hunted with the last several years has been trying to get me to come back for a Buffalo as he knows its on my bucket list. I am not a good judge of Bull's so I thought I would put this in here for those with more experience to help me with some input. I am not looking for a record book Bull but something representative and good quality. He sent me these 2 that he has a location on for a possible 2026 hunt. Any thoughts or input are helpful. Are these decent quality Bulls for SA ?

 

[jlb1036]

GO FOR IT THAT IS AN EXCELLENT BUFF
AND THE EXCITEMENT OF HUNTING A BUFF IS FOR EVER AN EXPERIENCE YOU WILL
CHERISH

 

[dchum]

They are massive.

However, I wouldn’t want to hunt an animal that is picked out for me. Part of hunting for me is never knowing what you will get if I will even get one to begin with.

 

[Flipper Dude]

Buffalo hunting ain’t about the buffalo. It’s about the hunt. That’s what you’ll cherish,,,,,,or regret. My $.02.

 

[V.Veritas]

With my limited experience I think the first one is still young and the second needs at least one more years to be past his prime.

 

[flatwater bill]

I took my Uncle Bob on a hunt for a designated buff. Like the ones above. He was in his 80's and it all turned out to be great. On the other hand, for younger guys, somebody once said, buffalo hunting is like a box of chocolates......FWB

 

[375Fox]

They are both very large bulls, but neither is very old. I’d ask yourself the experience you are looking for. Two breeding age buffalo standing at the feed trough without a herd or many scars would make me ask a lot of questions about the hunt and how buffalo arrived there. I’d seek out an outfitter that knows how to conduct a tracking hunt and has access to large sustainable properties or save your money to hunt outside South Africa for a buffalo. I don’t think this experience would have any value to me because I want to hunt a certain way.

 

[Red Leg]

Do they have names?

 

[30-06Ken]

They are both very large bulls, but neither is very old. I’d ask yourself the experience you are looking for. Two breeding age buffalo standing at the feed trough without a herd or many scars would make me ask a lot of questions about the hunt and how buffalo arrived there. I’d seek out an outfitter that knows how to conduct a tracking hunt and has access to large sustainable properties or save your money to hunt outside South Africa for a buffalo. I don’t think this experience would have any value to me because I want to hunt a certain way.

Thank you for the input. I am more interested in the experience and certainly not interested in shooting a bull coming in to the feed station. I'm inexperienced in judging bulls so all of your prior experience helps. I would rather hunt 7 days and take an average bull than a better one over the feed bag.

 

[WAB]

Thank you for the input. I am more interested in the experience and certainly not interested in shooting a bull coming in to the feed station. I'm inexperienced in judging bulls so all of your prior experience helps. I would rather hunt 7 days and take an average bull than a better one over the feed bag.

As others have said, although large, they are not particularly old. I would be much more concerned about the quality of experience you are going to have hunting specific bulls that you are being provided pictures of. Sounds more like shopping than hunting.

 

[375Fox]

Thank you for the input. I am more interested in the experience and certainly not interested in shooting a bull coming in to the feed station. I'm inexperienced in judging bulls so all of your prior experience helps. I would rather hunt 7 days and take an average bull than a better one over the feed bag.

I’d focus less on judging bulls and more judging the hunt. Finding hard bossed buffalo bulls is easy in South Africa and nearly any PH can organize it. Unfortunately though I feel many outfitters/PHs see nothing wrong with this type of hunt because it has become so normal with commercial game farming. I’d expect both these bulls were the offspring of a breeding operation and released into the property. Finding a PH/outfitter that hunts the right properties with self sustaining herds and really knows how to hunt buffalo and has proper trackers I think is more of a challenge.

 

[Spearhead]

Do they have names?

Top photo is Oscar, bottom photo is Felix.

 

[Fixfire]

I’d question why my Outfitter is sending me pictures of young bulls. Though both are beautiful bulls, they need a couple years. My Outfitter would never let me shoot those.

 

[mark-hunter]

Do they have names?

I wanted to say "Sparky", and "Sawyer", but held my tongue... till you kicked in... I guess we shared the same thought.

 

[mark-hunter]

Are these decent quality Bulls for SA ?

All else aside:
They are fantastic bulls, I would be happy to accommodate them in my trophy room!
Hard boss, with good spread of horn.

Just to give you the idea:
If the ears are parallel to the horn it is roughly 36 inch.
If the horns are a hand width wider than the ears it will be over 40 inch.

 

[grand veneur]

My PH who I have hunted with the last several years has been trying to get me to come back for a Buffalo as he knows its on my bucket list. I am not a good judge of Bull's so I thought I would put this in here for those with more experience to help me with some input. I am not looking for a record book Bull but something representative and good quality. He sent me these 2 that he has a location on for a possible 2026 hunt. Any thoughts or input are helpful. Are these decent quality Bulls for SA ?

Sure, impressive trophies, not very old bulls, but maybe the outfitter still has a few in reserve for breeding and that's why you can shoot them.

In practice, how is that supposed to work? Are this buffaloes released from their enclosure in the morning before the hunt ?

 

[375Fox]

Sure, impressive trophies, not very old bulls, but maybe the outfitter still has a few in reserve for breeding and that's why you can shoot them.

In practice, how is that supposed to work? Are this buffaloes released from their enclosure in the morning before the hunt ?

It depends. I’ve hunted PG on properties that bought young bulls from breeding operations letting them grow on property. I’ve also hunted PG on a property that had no buffalo but the next year had multiple trophy bulls available on property. I’d think extremely short release times would be relatively rare on buffalo, probably few months to few years time on property. Regardless though, it’s not a buffalo I’d be interested in hunting.

 

[Berettaco]

I don’t know the details of where you are hunting, but will offer up my $.02….

If you are booking a RSA hunt, I would suggest finding a property that is 25,000 to 50,000 acres or more, with self sustaining herds.
To me the hunt is the fun part, I prefer to shoot old mature bulls with character, regardless of size. Sneaking through the Mopani and trying to sort what the bulls are without getting busted (wind seldom cooperates) and then trying to get a shot…. Super fun. Picking one in advance from close-up pictures at the feed trough doesn’t do it for me.
I’m not suggesting you are going to hunt over feed or a watering hole out of a blind, heck even if you choose to, it’s your hunt. I’m merely stating that you would be missing out on the best part. Those stalking memories and random shenanigans that ensue are what you will remember for the years to come.

 

[375Fox]

All else aside:
They are fantastic bulls, I would be happy to accommodate them in my trophy room!
Hard boss, with good spread of horn.

Just to give you the idea:
If the ears are parallel to the horn it is roughly 36 inch.
If the horns are a hand width wider than the ears it will be over 40 inch.

Fantastic genetics but probably only maybe 7 years old. Just barely hard bossed. The taxidermy would have to rebuild some from photos after boiling. They are both on the young side to really be quality trophies.

 

[VINOYASADO]

Hi guys,

What are the characteristics to look for to determine if they are/still young? The top one looks a bit older anyway, right?