Hello boys...I recognize some of you from other forums; this one is great. Haven't contributed much recently, but I enjoy reading about all your adventures. Well...now, I couldn't resist. I just returned from Tanzania myself, and lucked into a rather nice bull, or at least I think he's nice. Don't have anyone where I live who appreciates African game (this is elk country), so I just wanted to share him with folks who have my same passions! I don't know if this image thing will work...if not, I'm gonna feel pretty dumb, but I'm going to try to post a photo here.

He's 47", 14" bosses, a big old boy. And since he was the ONLY buffalo I saw, he'll do just fine! Had fun, got 5 other animals, all real nice. It was quite dry, so that limited the game substantially. I was hunting in the Burunge area, outside Tarangire Nat'l Park...very small concession, but hey; I ain't complaining! I borrowed my ph's Winchester .375, since I did a lot of touring of the parks before my hunt, and they tend to frown on folks who lug guns into the park.

Guess it was my turn to be lucky!

Hey there Cynthie, now that's a buff... congrat's! To read these boards you'd think a 375 wouldn't kill em', of course Montana gals can put the bullets where they should go (grin).

Brad

Thanks for the vote of confidence, Brad...I WISH I could say that I put a good one in the boiler room and down he went....alas. Quite a chase we had; he stood up 60 yards away under such a huge dark bush, all I could see was one horn silhouetted and the shine from his wet nose; I held 2 inches under what I hoped was his chin, hoping to get him in the neck. But he was hunkered under the brush, not standing up, so I clipped his knee. He led us on a long chase, and my ph had a few goes at him with his .458, but it was too thick and they didn't connect. Somehow (divine intervention, I firmly believe), 3 kilometers later, I got another running shot, slowed him down, and between the two of us he came to ground. Not glorious, but he was "in the salt", as they say...I did better on the other animals. I had memorized Robertson's book "The Perfect Shot", and was very confident in my bullet placement skills, but a scenario with no vital area visible hadn't occurred to me...I was told later that I should have shot him in the face, but being a hobby taxidermist, I didn't think of that one!

I took a nice Grant's, zebra, impala, Tommie and wildebeest...here's more photos, now that I know how this works.

Mark, I didn't bring a gun; I actually don't own one large enough, and guns are illegal to carry in the parks. My plan was to do a 2 week photo safari and then go hunting, after I'd had my fill of huge bufs and game in the parks. I've hunted Africa 3 times before, and borrowed guns on several occasions with no problems, so I wasn't too concerned. Seemed a bit large for the gazelles (I use a .280 for almost everything), but it worked...I wanted a dikdik, and that did concern me, but the quota was changed, so that wasn't an option. I used 200 grain Nosler partitions for the plains game, and 300 for the buffalo...they did ok, altho one I recovered had lost most of it's mass.

It was quite an experience...and of course I can't wait to go back...I'll be chasing a Lord Derby eland next, how fun! Anyone here had any experience with them?

Well done, Ma'am!

Thanks for sharing, very nice trophies!

Rusty
We band of brothers!

Hello Cynthie,

A tremendous buffalo!! Glad you had a good time. I guess you took some good pictures for future painting. Everyone, Cynthie is an unbelievable artist, last year at SCI convention I worked a booth across from Cynthie's and you will not believe how talentedshe is. Her paintings will take your breath away.

Good Job!

Mike

cynthie

Thats a nice sweeper buff. Congratulations.

Just checked out your web site. Great paintings. Very nice.

[ 09-17-2002, 15:12: Message edited by: NitroX ]

Cynthie,
Congratulations on some nice looking trophies!

Santa-Maria, what a buffalo!! I MUST have a photo of this guy for my collection, Cynthie. Please!!?
He is the bull of my dreams. Was he taped for an S.C.I. score? Bet he's pushing 130. Great going, young lady. My sincere congratulations!

Nick

[ 09-17-2002, 16:06: Message edited by: Nickudu ]

All I can say is WOW!!! What a set of horns on that dagga boy!

Congratulations on your spectacular buff and welcome to the group!

Cynthie, you're gona have to hunt a lot to top this old boy, and the fact that he was a loner, even makes him better, a true DAGGABOY! Congratulations! The others are nice as well! Nothing beats a good hunt no matter how it turns out!

Thanks for all the nice comments and encouragement, guys...I tell you, it's really great to talk about this hunt with people that appreciate and understand how Africa affects us as hunters...and chasing these big guys around can become an addiction!
As for score...I think he squeaks into the top 120 SCI at around 115 or so. I know I'll never top him, but that's ok; each one is special.

I'll be happy to send you a photo, Nick. I have lots of inspiration now for my next painting!!

Holy cow, that is an unbelievable Buffalo!

Conside this, if he did not have such drop to his horns, this guy could easily be a 50+" Buff! But I love that 'drop'! Wouldn't trade it for the extra spread.

Wow. All I can say is 'wow'.

Congratulations. Awesome Buff.

Fantastic buffalo, Cynthie. Congratulations!

I hope this inspires some equally wonderful artwork for you.

Canuck

Very good point there, Wendell. I think they are wrong with his SCI score. It must be better than 115. I have one of 110 SCI and Cynthies buffalo is much better. I still say he's pushing 130 if scored properly. Hell of a fine buffalo. Boy, the past few weeks have brought us some real beauties, eh? First "PAHunters" 46 incher, then Wendells 46+ and now this! This place is "Buff-City"!!

[ 09-17-2002, 20:23: Message edited by: Nickudu ]

Hey Cindy,
How you been doing, havn't heard from you in awhile, that is one great bull and congratulations..I just got back and had a great time in RSA and Tanzania...

Cindy hunted with me a few years ago and she is a hunter in the true since of the word.

Cynthie,

Good to see you on this forum! Again, congratulations on a fantastic buffalo and good luck in your quest for Lord Derby Eland!

Regards, JohnTheGreek

Cynthie Fisher,

HoHoHoGeezHOHOHO! What a buffalo! It doesn't get any better than that! And the Montana bikini team has already arrived!

Seriously, hard to top that buffalo, ever.

What a woman!

I taught myself to draw cocker spaniels in charcoal from the old John Nagey TV art shows in the early 60's. Then to paint in oil when I was in high school, by reading books. I discovered acrylics when I was in my thirties, and copied one of Ron Parker's moose that was once on the cover of _Wildlife Art_ magazine. It hangs in my office now. I am always twitterpated over the light and shadow and color of landscapes and wildlife, especially detailed and realistic hunting related game scenes. Someday I am going to do more, when time allows. I have been too buried in all my current trappings to allow much of these endeavors so far. I wish I could live like you.

Your work is marvelous! You are greatly admired. Wow! Your work reflects the third dimension of my world of guns and hunting, the art and beauty of it all. I am thrilled to see an Artist of great accomplishment who is not a bambi PC tree hugger, who is not afraid to declare herself a hunter.

I rate you at the top with Bateman, Parker, Rungius, Kuhn, Machetanz, Coheleach, Peterson, and Seerey-Lester. Bev Doolittle does little for me, but you got me twitterpated. You paint like a man!

It seems you need to create some more buffalo paintings. You now have the perfect prop to paint perfect head gear from, when reference to details is needed.

I rarely say this twice in one post, but I am going to say it again for you, because you are very special. As Motsoomee would say:

HoHoHoGeezHOHOHO!

[ 09-17-2002, 22:46: Message edited by: DaggaRon ]

Cynthie, wonderful Buff but what will you follow that up with? LOL Congrats on a wonderful trophy!

I looked at your site and your work is just marvelous! I have a pretty good collection of Dave Samuelson, Michael Sieve, and a couple others and your work is easily as good as any I've seen. Wish I had seen it before I bought everything I have now or I would have left room on my walls for some of yours. Guess I'll just have to build some new walls! Gorgeous work!

Cynthie,

Your my hero/heroine! What a buffalo! He is far better than anything I've ever taken or even seen.
A Derby eland? Lord Derby is on the top of my wish list. Keep us posted on that one.

Good Job!

Gosh, you guys; aren't you all so nice!! You're getting me all fired up about these buffalo...naturally, I'm working on a big buff painting as we speak for SCI. Too bad I don't have my horns here for reference. Thought I'd post a few photos from my trip, nice old boys that I ran across before my hunt. Don't know if they'll come out, since I scanned them small at a very low dpi; if not, my apologies. How big are these guys? Might be hard to tell...some hunters say I paint my buffs too big, or put too many bulls together, but I did see groups of up to a dozen bulls, with some whoppers in the bunch, so at least now I can say I've seen it!

Thanks for the compliments on the artwork; you are the folks I try hardest to impress!

What a great bull!Way to go,gal.

Bravo

Cynthie,

Truly awesome buff and couldn't happen to a nicer person.

I look forward to hearing all about it at this years Skagit Valley RMEF banquet

John

Did I miss a link to Cynthie's website? Could someone post it please?

Cynthie: You shot my dream buff. I hope you are happy!

Thanks!

Tim

Awesome! Were there any reservations by you or the PH about taking that first shot when the critter was only partially visible?

[ 09-19-2002, 04:19: Message edited by: RWS ]

Fantastic buff from the past.

quote:

and lucked into a rather nice bull, or at least I think he's nice.

understatement of the year.

quote:

Originally posted by 505 gibbs:

understatement of the year.

The year 2002, to be precise.

Cynthie was at Dallas this year (DSC artist of the year) and what a super artist she is! I have family in MT and love hunting there. BTW, I'm a .280 fan myself. Congrats on your Buff and your other trophies!

Cynthie, oh my AND a big S. Texas yeeeeeeeeeha, you go girl. Super dagga boy! After reading this thread I must treat myself to your paintings as it seems you are if numero uno with this bunch of super people.

Thanks for sharing your story and oh am I looking to see the better one you get next go round!

quote:

Originally posted by L. David Keith:
Cynthie was at Dallas this year (DSC artist of the year) and what a super artist she is! I have family in MT and love hunting there. BTW, I'm a .280 fan myself. Congrats on your Buff and your other trophies!

I think Sporting Classics profiled her too; she looks quite familiar. But then again, maybe i bumped into her flying out of the Hamilton apt into Moose Creek.

Excellent buff. Good job.

very nice

Mbogo mzuri sana, Memsahib. Congrats on the buff of a lifetime!

Wow what a great Buff!

It sure is a fabulous bull!!

Cynthie is a top artist and very keen hunter and a nice person to boot! Here is the beaut buff she took with us a few years back...

BTW - if you want to check out Cynthie's talents here is her website ... Fisher Art

Dear Cynthie:
Who was the PH who lead you into this great animal?
Sincerely,