German hunters in particular often like old and gnarly bulls in preference to big perfect (often young) trophy bulls. Both in Africa and here in Australia.

Some others do as a preference too. I remember our old member 500grains posted a photo of an old broken horned bull he particularly liked. I thought it was ugly, but it is an old warrior.

Rell, I do agree, for the average client, shooting one of these just for a competition would be silly. The hunts are bloody expensive, and most if able to hunt cape buffalo, take one, two or three, if very lucky over a lifetime. Would be silly to shoot one of these UNLESS one liked them already.

Now if the trophy fee was much reduced and I could take more than one bull, I would in a heartbeat. Just like I would take a good cow trophy. An exceptional cow I would take immediately as they are often the biggest.

On my first water buffalo hunt, the FIRST big bull we came across was a big old broomed off bull. He also ran away, then turned, hooked a tree, broke it down, and came back to us. Faced us off at about 20 yards. Then stomped closer. Stopped. Again and again. We kept backing away. I had the .450 up and aimed the whole time. Was wondering if two rounds were enough.

Matt, the guide, meanwhile had a jammed .458 Win Mag rifle. Never mentioned that before.

But the rifle was a loaner as he didn't own the business then and was in the process of buying it. He was trying to clear the rifle all while this was going on. I asked him if it was a shooter. He said it was good but we could do better. So I elected to back out of it, before we had to shoot the bull. It was in a bad mood and so eventually one thing or another would have happened.

The point is afterwards Matt told me, his criteria is, not inches, but would it look good on the wall. The old broomed off bull would definitely look good on the wall. With that thought in mind, I had second thoughts on the wisdom of my decision. But my decision was made also on not wanting the hunt to finish on the first morning. Got a nice bull later on day two or three anyway.

I now have three good bulls trophies and a number of allsorts in addition to those. I would like an big old broomed off warrior bull now.

Such a beast deserves a mount on the wall, not an end rotting in the bush.