Just got an email from Coenraad Vermaak Safaris announcing that a hunting client, Mr. Asher Watkins, was killed by an unwounded buffalo yesterday Sunday August 3rd while out hunting. No info on the particular details of what happened but RIP to Mr. Asher and condolences to his family and CVS.

Copy of email I received.


4 AUGUST 2025

The Tragic Loss of our Friend & Client Asher Watkins

Dear friends, colleagues & industry members,

It is with deep sadness and heavy hearts that we confirm the tragic death of our client and friend Asher Watkins from the United States.

On Sunday 3rd August, while on a hunting safari with us in South Africa’s Limpopo Province, Asher was fatally injured in a sudden and unprovoked attack by an unwounded buffalo he was tracking together with one of our professional hunters and one of our trackers.

This is a devastating incident, and our hearts go out to his family and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time.

We are doing everything we can to support the family members who are here with us and those back in the United States as they navigate this tragic loss.

This is a deeply traumatic incident for all involved. The family and our team members who were present at the time are understandably shaken. Out of respect for the family’s privacy as well as our staff members involved, we will not be sharing further details. We kindly ask for privacy and compassion during this time while all those affected come to terms with this tragedy.

Our deepest condolences go out to Asher’s family, especially his mother Gwen, his daughter Savannah, his brother Amon, and stepfather Tony, and to all his loved ones and friends. The family are long-standing friends and part of the CVS family. We hold them close in our thoughts and prayers.

CVS will continue to support the family in the days and weeks ahead and we are cooperating fully with all the relevant authorities to ensure all procedures are followed.

Sincerely,

Hans Vermaak

Tragic. Sorry to hear about this.

Prayers and condolences to his family and friends.

quote:

Originally posted by Hogbreath:
Prayers and condolences to his family and friends.

Yes.

And a reminder that anything can happen on safari.

quote:

Yes.

And a reminder that anything can happen on safari.

RIP

There is/was a ranch broker in Dallas by this name that was a big time hunter and a nice guy. I hope it wasn’t him, but may this unfortunate gentleman rest in peace.

quote:

Originally posted by K Evans:
There is/was a ranch broker in Dallas by this name that was a big time hunter and a nice guy. I hope it wasn’t him, but may this unfortunate gentleman rest in peace.

Karl,

Unfortunately, it was the same Asher.

quote:

Karl,
Unfortunately, it was the same Asher.

Damned shame, nice guy, thanks Marcus.
RIP.

Anyone know who the PH was? I met one of their PHs in Uganda in April. Very nice guy.

I don't know any of the facts but would guess it happened in thick bush! One should always be doubly alert going through thick stuff and have gun at the ready. Not that it may always help but better than not!

I was once hunting in Chewore South when Boddington arrived with another hunter who had won an auction hunt. They were hunting from a different camp. The previous evening the hunter had wounded a buffalo and while looking for it the next AM they were charged at point blank range and the buffalo was shot by the hunter and PH at their feet. Turned out it was not the wounded buff but one that had been mauled by lions the night before with its testicles chewn off and was in a bad temper and these guys just stumbled up on it. So anything can happen in DG country!


Arjun Reddy
Hunters Networks LLC
www.huntersnetworks.com
30 Ivy Hill Road
Brewster, NY 10509
Tel: +1 845 259 3628

DG

Very tragic, may his family recover and find peace knowing that he died while doing something he loved.

We should all be so fortunate to die while truly living. Nothing worse than dying in a hospital connected up to machines and slowly. While none of us want to pass sooner than when our time is up, I think better while doing something about which we are passionate.

RIP.

Kind of haunting to read CVS instagram talking about going to meet the Watkins family 4 days ago....

Tragic .My condolences.

My sympathy and condolences to family and friends.

We can never know, under any circumstances, what a dangerous game animal will or won't do.

Very sad.

quote:

We kindly ask for privacy and compassion during this time while all those affected come to terms with this tragedy.

And yet they CVS are emailing details around the world. Not very private ?! Just saying ...

Condolences to the family.

DG hunting is exactly that DG

.

quote:

Originally posted by Charlie64:

quote:

We kindly ask for privacy and compassion during this time while all those affected come to terms with this tragedy.

And yet they CVS are emailing details around the world. Not very private ?! Just saying ...

Condolences to the family.

DG hunting is exactly that DG

.

I think they have no choice!

Better all the details comes from them rather than being dragged out of them

A very sad occasion!

Head bowed.

I would want my loved ones to know, it beats dying of cancer.

.

Saeed, Fully agree with you just the irony of `respect the privacy` and they email it to one and all.

Very sad that he got hit. RIP

.

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” —Psalm 34:18'

I didnt know the man but recognize the hunter.

Prayers for his daughter, mother, stepdad and ex-wife.

In my humble opinion, dying in the bush is preferable to a hospital bed.

May God Rest His Soul.

quote:

Originally posted by Charlie64:

quote:

We kindly ask for privacy and compassion during this time while all those affected come to terms with this tragedy.

And yet they CVS are emailing details around the world. Not very private ?! Just saying ...

Condolences to the family.

DG hunting is exactly that DG

.

I knew Asher from social circles and he also hunted with us in Argentina. It’s a very sad situation.

What makes it worse is that the liberals and anti-hunters have taken to social media to cheer for the buffalo, hope he endured a very painful death, etc.

quote:

Originally posted by DCS Member:

quote:

Originally posted by Charlie64:

quote:

We kindly ask for privacy and compassion during this time while all those affected come to terms with this tragedy.

And yet they CVS are emailing details around the world. Not very private ?! Just saying ...

Condolences to the family.

DG hunting is exactly that DG

.

I knew Asher from social circles and he also hunted with us in Argentina. It’s a very sad situation.

What makes it worse is that the liberals and anti-hunters have taken to social media to cheer for the buffalo, hope he endured a very painful death, etc.

Yes.

And all these comments are coming from city zombies who have absolutely no idea what real life is.

They think their Big Mac comes off a supermarket shelf!

One article said the bull was 2,800 pounds!

Exactly

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:
DG

Truly sick and twisted RIP

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:

quote:

Originally posted by DCS Member:

quote:

Originally posted by Charlie64:

quote:

We kindly ask for privacy and compassion during this time while all those affected come to terms with this tragedy.

And yet they CVS are emailing details around the world. Not very private ?! Just saying ...

Condolences to the family.

DG hunting is exactly that DG

.

I knew Asher from social circles and he also hunted with us in Argentina. It’s a very sad situation.

What makes it worse is that the liberals and anti-hunters have taken to social media to cheer for the buffalo, hope he endured a very painful death, etc.

Yes.

And all these comments are coming from city zombies who have absolutely no idea what real life is.

They think their Big Mac comes off a supermarket shelf!

quote:

...unprovoked attack by an unwounded buffalo he was tracking together with one of our professional hunters and one of our trackers....

Unprovoked? It wasn't unprovoked. Let's get real. They were hunting it to kill it. A dangerous game animal. There are risks or it wouldn't be called dangerous game hunting.

Sympathy to his family and friends.

Those who have been hunting for a while, would know the uncertainty and dangerous of hunting.

Being in the bush is dangerous.

As an American friend once said.

"Anything can kill you in Africa. From a mosquito to an elephant!"

Over 40 years of hunting, having shot literally hundreds of buffalo, we have never had any real close calls.

Except 2 years ago.

A lion actually STALKED us, and then charged from about 20 yards.

He was hidden behind a bush as he stalked us, and became clear about 20 yards from us when he went into a full charge.

Fascinating watching the video of him being shot at slow motion.

You can see his eyes fully aware of us as he started the charge, as soon as the bullet hit, his whole demeanor changed, he changed direction, ran a few yards and collapsed.

Bullet went into his chest, and was found by his balls!

I hunted buffalo there with CVS last year. Had a good hunt, but the brush is very thick. Easy to see how this could happen.

Terrible news

quote:

Originally posted by Brec:
I hunted buffalo there with CVS last year. Had a good hunt, but the brush is very thick. Easy to see how this could happen.

Not sure I agree with you. You track Buffalo, and you are downwind. Any thick bush you avoid and evaluate. Use your sense of smell. In such scenarios, the PH should be killed and not the client. During my time, I have encountered some questionable PHs, and I hope this was not the case.

not to Hijack the thread. Saeed, could you please post the video of your lion charge? Thank you

As with other incidents like this, the details are murky in the beginning. I did speak with someone yesterday just in passing. Both of us were acquaintances of Asher’s.

He had heard this was not the buffalo they were tracking, but ambushed from the flank. The PH did kill the buffalo. Asher lived at least 90 minutes after the attack. The area was too thick for a helicopter to land. He was fully impaled. My friend is a former trauma surgeon. He said they unfortunately pulled the body off the horn without the proper first aid kit for such a massive wound, nor did they have the means to saw the horn off the buffalo.

In all, it’s a very sad set of circumstances. RIP Asher.

quote:

As with other incidents like this, the details are murky in the beginning. I did speak with someone yesterday just in passing. Both of us were acquaintances of Asher’s.

He had heard this was not the buffalo they were tracking, but ambushed from the flank. The PH did kill the buffalo. Asher lived at least 90 minutes after the attack. The area was too thick for a helicopter to land. He was fully impaled. My friend is a former trauma surgeon. He said they unfortunately pulled the body off the horn without the proper first aid kit for such a massive wound, nor did they have the means to saw the horn off the buffalo. In all, it’s a very sad set of circumstances. RIP Asher.

DAMN! What a shame!
I did notice that DSC Foundation did manage to acknowledge this tragedy, a week after the event.

This tragic event appears to be a "copy/paste" of the Bob Fontana incident with the late Paddy Curtis whose group were in the Masailand thorn thickets tracking Lesser Kudu many years ago.

quote:

Originally posted by DCS Member:
As with other incidents like this, the details are murky in the beginning. I did speak with someone yesterday just in passing. Both of us were acquaintances of Asher’s.

He had heard this was not the buffalo they were tracking, but ambushed from the flank. The PH did kill the buffalo. Asher lived at least 90 minutes after the attack. The area was too thick for a helicopter to land. He was fully impaled. My friend is a former trauma surgeon. He said they unfortunately pulled the body off the horn without the proper first aid kit for such a massive wound, nor did they have the means to saw the horn off the buffalo.

In all, it’s a very sad set of circumstances. RIP Asher.

That explains a lot.

Mistake pulling him off the horn but i guess not too many choices