The Dugga Boy

[cpr0312]

Looking good!

 

[towserthemouser]

I am not an expert and don't wish to present myself as one. That sad, In my humble opinion, with a bit of experience, the fact that there has never been a clear concise definition of the term " Dugga Boy" in over 100 years or so is the main cause of confusion.
Had that name never been tagged, and instead, these guys had been referred to as...Bachelor Bulls...non-herd Bulls...surly loners...the definition would be clear.
These guys have left the cows and calves and herd life behind them. They left either voluntarily after having grown tired of the shenanigans, or were forced out by new young stronger Bulls.
You find them (usually) either alone or with a couple of young strong tough loyal amigos (askari's/bodyguards).
A Dugga Boy, in my experience is far past his prime, and not religiously hunted by those looking for inclusion in any record books. All, given their age,are hard-bossed, however that same age has warn their tips down...sometimes to nothing more than short thick nubs.
In my view, to spot, stalk, and pull off a successful hunt on these hard-core troublemakers is the very essence of Buffalo hunting.
They've seen it all...done it all...and fear absolutely nothing.
Best
Spike

Man, I wanna hunt one of those...... what a trophy.

 

[Hunt anything]

@BGGMKLR , off topic but who did your tiger fish? I’m assuming they are reproductions. Back on topic, what a great old bull!

 

[BGGMKLR]

@BGGMKLR , off topic but who did your tiger fish? I’m assuming they are reproductions. Back on topic, what a great old bull!

Thank you H.A.
I had them done in Zim by Taxidermy Enterprises...many sleeps ago.
Best
Spike

 

[BGGMKLR]

Is he, though?

I see sharp tips, not much drop, and a gap in the middle of the boss, with a bunch of fuzzy stuff that doesn't look very hard to me. What am I missing?

Not trying to be difficult, or to detract from the obvious quality of the taxidermy work. And I'm no expert, just a learner.

Asking those who know more than I do: does this buffalo meet your definition of a Dugga Boy? Do you think he's 12-15 years old?

In my view the most succinct definition would simply be "old", and have nothing at all to do with measurements of any sort.
Keeping in mind that the word "dugga" is (I've been told) a bastardization of the Zulu word for mud..."dagga". The two words have become interchangeable for decades.
Picture in your mind a couple of (or 3-4...5? ) old gnarly mud-encrusted Bulls traveling by themselves like a New York gang...looking like...they're looking for trouble.
These are the true dugga/dagga boys upon which the reputation was built.
They are famously/ infamously known, feared, and respected by the locals for many things...
a collective sense of humor not withstanding.
Cheers
Spike

 

[towserthemouser]

In my view the most succinct definition would simply be "old", and have nothing at all to do with measurements of any sort.
Keeping in mind that the word "dugga" is (I've been told) a bastardization of the Zulu word for mud..."dagga". The two words have become interchangeable for decades.
Picture in your mind a couple of (or 3-4...5? ) old gnarly mud-encrusted Bulls traveling by themselves like a New York gang...looking like...they're looking for trouble.
These are the true dugga/dagga boys upon which the reputation was built.
They are famously/ infamously known, feared, and respected by the locals for many things...
a collective sense of humor not withstanding.
Cheers
Spike

I love that definition; and the mental image!

 

[BGGMKLR]

I love that definition; and the mental image!

I serve at your pleasure.
Spike

 

[CBeck]

Dugga boy or not, I don’t know but a truly exceptional piece. I want one just like it….the soul it possesses astounds me.

 

[gizmo]

Thanks for the info @gizmo.

I'm considering pedestal mounting some of my bigger PG animals and a buff on my up coming trip. And rather than having all my shoulder mounts sticking out away from the wall, into the room, maybe I could save the room space having floor and wall pedestal mounts over the full body mounts of the smaller PG like badger, porcupine, small cats, and a start of the T10,

absolutely floor pedestals save a ton of wall space and allows for animals to be placed in dead space areas in a room. The little guys on fbm do the same and they can be placed on things like tables, shelves, and mantles

 

[375Fox]

Is he, though?

I see sharp tips, not much drop, and a gap in the middle of the boss, with a bunch of fuzzy stuff that doesn't look very hard to me. What am I missing?

Not trying to be difficult, or to detract from the obvious quality of the taxidermy work. And I'm no expert, just a learner.

Asking those who know more than I do: does this buffalo meet your definition of a Dugga Boy? Do you think he's 12-15 years old?

I agree with you that the term dugga boy is over used, but some of your observations are off. The gap between bosses is genetic not always a sign of age. Some areas will fuse together more often than others. Any part of a soft boss will be boiled, rotted, or scraped away before it leaves Africa. You can’t tell age well looking at finished taxidermy, but to match photos some will get rebuilt if needed on a younger bull. The fuzzy stuff you see in the photo looks like an attempt to recreate mud and tree bark. It’s a nice touch. I find a lot of taxidermists try to make buffalo too pretty and cover up scars.

Here’s an example of a buffalo whose bosses will never grow together. They are as hard as they will get.

 

[towserthemouser]

I agree with you that the term dugga boy is over used, but some of your observations are off. The gap between bosses is genetic not always a sign of age. Some areas will fuse together more often than others. Any part of a soft boss will be boiled, rotted, or scraped away before it leaves Africa. You can’t tell age well looking at finished taxidermy, but to match photos some will get rebuilt if needed on a younger bull. The fuzzy stuff you see in the photo looks like an attempt to recreate mud and tree bark. It’s a nice touch. I find a lot of taxidermists try to make buffalo too pretty and cover up scars.

Here’s an example of a buffalo whose bosses will never grow together. They are as hard as they will get.
View attachment 663335
View attachment 663336

@375Fox Thanks for the photos. I've seen skull mounts like this before and I agree the bosses are fully hardened. I'm sure genetic and regional variations play a big role in horn and boss configuration. Not only are they hardened, they look awesome. I appreciate your help and education.

I think the best solution is just to go to Africa as much as possible, hunt buffalo as much as possible, and look over as many as possible........

 

[375Fox]

@375Fox Thanks for the photos. I've seen skull mounts like this before and I agree the bosses are fully hardened. I'm sure genetic and regional variations play a big role in horn and boss configuration. Not only are they hardened, they look awesome. I appreciate your help and education.

I think the best solution is just to go to Africa as much as possible, hunt buffalo as much as possible, and look over as many as possible........

I can’t post a link to this article but you can look it up. It’s an interesting and I think realistic perspective. Kevin Robertson has done a really great thing moving the goal post on buffalo to older trophies, but I think too many hunters are unrealistic. Most buffalo I see taken appear to be in the 8-9 range because that’s a realistic expectation in most areas. Holding out for 12+ trophy is only feasible in certain areas to me and something you’d have to discuss with outfitter in advance.