Ladies and Gentlemen,

In anticipation of Carol's and my trip to the Selous this year and the hunting of 3 buffalo, I got to thinking about my first (and only) buffalo hunt.

I hunted in RSA in 1999 and took an average "daga" boy (Alf: note the correct spelling of "daga").

It wasn't the size of the trophy that I remember, but the experience. I remember a great amount of anticipation every time we started stalking buffalo. It was a mixture of anxiety, excitement and a little bit of fear. I realize the chance of getting into "big trouble" while hunting buffalo is pretty remote. Nonetheless, that chance exists and it made hunting my first dangerous game a true experience of a lifetime.

I remember one time as being particularly intense. We were following a rather steep and winding trail up a mountain (yes, buffalo go up into the mountains) when we came across a fresh blood trail. The PH said that the amount of blood meant that a buffalo had probably "lost and argument" with one of his friends. Given the terrain, there would be not retreat if we met the injured buffalo on the this mountain trail. We never did meet up with the injured buffalo, but I still wonder how I would have done had we met him.

There is a part of me that wants to go to the Selous and have three quick one-shot kills on my buffalo. There is another part of me that wants to get into the bush with a wounded buffalo, take the scope off the rifle and go toe-to-toe with Mr. Nasty.

Having never been in a life threatening situation before, I wonder how I will react.

Regards,

Terry

Terry:

I didn't know you were such a rookie!

If you wind up going toe-to-toe, which you won't, you will not have time to get scared.

But just in case, please change your "Will" before you leave...read "Will" as sole beneficiary, so if you do get scared and muff it, it would be best if "Will" carries on your legacy.

"Will"

Terry, Having experienced a buffalo charge where just about everything went wrong, I strongly recommend against it. The excitement of a normal "boring" hunt is quite enough.When things go badly it usually means that you screwed up royally and you can live without that.

Terry:
On my Buffalo hunt in Zim in 2000 ( our first safari) My shot caught some unseen brush and deflect my bullet some what and caught him a little far back . After a 3hour stock,a lot of it on hands and knees, visibility about 10 to 30 feet , He charged my wife Charlotte, coming 10 feet past me I put a 400gr 416 Speer AGSS through his shoulder folding him up 7 feet from her. Those 3+ hours, I was never so alive in my life. It was totally Incredible. Yes it was dangerous and I wish my first shot would have done the job,but Murphy raised his head. Would I do it again ? YOU BET!!!

PaulK

I have been charged a couple of time plus one incident when three came at me at the same time...They didn't know I was in there way, but that actually changes little..I didn't like that particular incident, it was a little to much for me, but that said, I simply love a charge, I just really get a rush from it and I'm a bit over confident in my shooting ability I suspect and may have to eat a buff someday but thats the way I am...I guess thats why I chose DEA as a 1st career..

I would never do anything to instagate a charge, I believe thats just a good way to buy the farm...It is very easy to instagate a charge from a Buffalo if one knows how.

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Ray Atkinson

ray@atkinsonhunting.com
atkinsonhunting.com

My first, and only buff so far, was kind of anti-climatic as we followed the herd for quite a piece in terrain that was alternately open and semi-thick until we got up in front of the herd. We were in the edge of the brush while the herd passed in fairly open terrain. My bull walked across the herd to check us out and I dropped him with one shot at 45-50 yards...never moved after the shot.

Prior to that we had tracked several small groups of Dagga Boys into some really thick stuff and got very close until we could determine trophy potential...on each occassion the bulls saw us and either watched until we backed off or they simply turned and walked away without looking back. Those stalks were actually much more exciting than the one I took my buff...he seemed easy but I figure I earned him with the earlier efforts.

To me, buff hunting is plenty exciting without getting charged. I suspect if you talk to folks that have been hammered by a buff, and survived, they would not desire a repeat performance. Coming out on top of a charge is a whole lot different than coming out on the bottom.

The point is to make a clean, one shot kill, if at all possible.

I still think (and hope) Sullivan will get his up-and-comings one day.

[This message has been edited by Will (edited 03-03-2002).]

Thanks for the great stories guys. I'll be going for my first Buff in a couple of months and reading about your experiences only makes it that much more exciting!

Keep 'em coming!

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Good Hunting & Hunt Safe,
David

Terry,

It was in 1982, and we were in the Deka safari area in Zimbabwe.

We just arrived at a tented camp by a waterhole, unloaded all our goods from the truck and off we went.

We saw the tracks of a few bulls, and followed them. We went in a sort of round about track and ended up at the waterhole by our own camp!

The bulls were drinking, and Rene, our PH wife, and her two kids, Alan and Diana, were taking photos of the buffalo.

And although we were no more than about 100 yards from her, she could not see us on the other side of the river bank.

I had a Remington Safari rifle in 375 H&H, and I somehow managed to squeeze 3 rounds into the magazine, and one in the chamber.

Roy told me which one to shoot, and I shot my buffalo.

The magazine latch opened, and all the ammo fell down. I did not pay much attention to that, as the buffalos ran to our side of the river, and I put one round into the chamber and ran after them. The bush was very thick. Roy stopped after a few yards, and pointed to our wounded bull. Which was standing about 20 yards with his head hanging down.

One more bullet and he dropped.

We had our very first "discussion", Roy and me. And we never thought it was going to be the first of many more "discussions" we would have in the next 20 years. Regardless of what animal I am shooting.

Walter named us the "Odd Couple"! As we never seem to stop arguing with each other

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saeed@ emirates.net.ae

www.accuratereloading.com