Anatomy of a cape buffalo?

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10 April 2010, 22:40

AXEL19

Anatomy of a cape buffalo?

I'm trying to get a little educated on the anatomy of a cape buffalo. From my searching on here I've found that the heart and lungs are place a little more forward of most North American wildlife. But to those of you who have actually shot and seen cape buffalo's butchered I have a couple questions. I hear the skin is very thick, how thick exactly? How do the front leg/shoulder and scaplua compare to that of domestic American cattle? How much muscle between the skin and heart?

Thanks

10 April 2010, 22:54

shakari

I don't know shit about American cattle but this http://www.shakariconnection.c...-shot-placement.html might help.

As for thickness of skin. That depends on where on the body and will vary to some extent from animal to animal.

The place it's thickest is the dewlap where there is also often a lot of fat that can absorb energy like you wouldn't believe.

10 April 2010, 23:05

Michael Robinson

As far as I have been able to tell, a Cape buffalo bull's skin is about 3/8 of an inch thick around the front shoulders.

Heart and lung placement on a buff is not that much different than any other bovine, or any other hooved mammal, for that matter.

A broadside shot through the shoulder, or into the crease behind the shoulder, about one third of the way up from the brisket, will take out the top of the heart and penetrate both lungs.

That will kill anything, including a Cape buffalo, although a buff can sometimes take a long while to figure out that he's dead.

Cape buffalo have heavy shoulder bones and very thick, overlapping ribs. For that reason, a good, hard bullet is critical to get adequate penetration into the vitals.

Mike

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11 April 2010, 00:47

lavaca

Get a copy of Nyati, which I think you can get through the African Hunter magazine and Africa's Most Dangerous by Kevin Robertson. Both have good discussions/pictures on this topic.

11 April 2010, 00:50

shakari

You'll find all the Robertson books about halfway down this page: http://www.shakariconnection.c...frica-authors-r.html

11 April 2010, 01:35

L. David Keith

Buff skin is not only thick, it's very elastic. They can take big bore calibers and still run off. It's what they do. Best bet: shoot them in the gizzard and they'll drop stone dead

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11 April 2010, 03:14

RBHunt

Check out the little book, "Perfect Shot". It will tell you all you need to know. Or just go by what MR said; on a broadside, the crease behind the shoulder. The heart does sit a little low, but a well placed 375 or bigger will do the job quite well!

11 April 2010, 03:17

RBHunt

Or you can always do a MS, let the buff choose the way he wants to die, and shoot him right between the eyes.

11 April 2010, 04:14

SBT

I think MR has it exactly right. Aditionaly, be cautious of a frontal shot. Seems this shot is responsible for more wounded buffalo than with other options. Not sure why, but may have to do with their overlapping ribs.

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11 April 2010, 04:26

Will

The heart of a buffalo sticks out of the right front hoof and its lungs are between its ears.

At least that is what one book I saw one time said. Those cows are a world different than every other cow in the world.

I could be wrong.

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11 April 2010, 04:27

Will

Oh no, the frontal shot won't kill a buff myth rides again.

11 April 2010, 08:25

jetdrvr

You can buy Boddington on Buffalo, the vid or the book, and then you will know more than enough about buff anatomy to make a one shot kill. If you hit him in the right place, of course.

11 April 2010, 12:51

BrettAKSCI

Get Kevin Robertson's book and also Boddington on Buffalo. Boddington's video is very authoritative. I used it before my first buffalo hunt. Pause the video with buffalo in different positions. You can practice aiming (of course with a thuroughly checked and unloaded rifle) on the buffalo in different positions. A good rule for shot placement (which Boddington discusses) is divide the light between the front legs and come up one third to one half of the body. That will make more sense when you watch the video.

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12 April 2010, 00:17

Gerrypeters375

I can appreciate the dilemma of the first time shooter at a buff. I had the same questions. My PH gave me some terse advice: "Break bones". That's what I did. (shoulder shot with a solid)

12 April 2010, 15:52

dwarf416

One of the best books I have read is the most dangereous animal in Africa from robertson. it is superb. You will enjoy it.

diego

12 April 2010, 22:13

Blacktailer

The "divide the light between the front legs and come up 1/3 into the body" is very helpful because you are quite often presented with a quartering on or frontal shot. After the first shot, my theory is keep shooting until he quits wiggling.

Maybe Saeed will contribute here. He has probably shot as many buff as any except perhaps those that were involved in culling.

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