Here is a photo of what would be the new SCI #1 buffalo taken by bow in Tanzania (That is Fair Chase buffalo not counting those taken in RSA). It scored 122 1/8 inches. Beautifull mass carried all the way around the horn.

Would someone like to try to guess the spread on this bull?

Great photo, I will be happy this year if I can kill a whitetail and/or black bear with my bow, I am not sure I will ever want to take on a Buff!!!!

It is a hard angle to judge (especially for a novice like myself) but I think he is 42 inches.

HUGE buffalo...44 inches???

Bull1

Incredible buffalo! Wow!

The first thing I noticed is "Where is all of the cover???" That looks like pretty open area. Of course, I cannot see behind the camera and they could have moved the buffalo. But geez, did they hide behind a termite hill or something?

I'll guess 43".

I'd sure like to know where it was taken, with full details on arrow, broadhead, bow. I'd also like the full story of the stalk!

I note that there's one arrow showing in the buff, but only one arrow in the quiver. I'm betting several shots were taken.

quote:

note that there's one arrow showing in the buff, but only one arrow in the quiver. I'm betting several shots were taken.

Funny what Bowhuters see 1st...!st thing I thought was not much penitration for a compound kill.

Of course the arrow could have been incerted for the shot to show placement ...If the Kill arrow passed through.

When guys in our achery club would bring in pic. the 1st question was always where did you put the arrow?

I really enjoy hearing the story too.

Boss,

I thought the same thing about penetration at first, but then I thought maybe he hit the far shoulder. I'd like to hear the details, then hear what the bowhunter would change if he had it to do over.

Mic,

Where was the buf shot??? Do you know who shot it and where the hunter was from??
Outstanding trophy...
45 inches

Mike

I'm trying to get the details of the hunt and equipment for everyone. The client would like to remain anonymous (for the time being). The buff was taken in Maswa Game Reserve.

Keep those spread estimates coming folks

Wow! Nice buff and with a bow to boot!

48"????

Not that I know a thing about Buff!!

FB

quote:

Originally posted by Bwanamich:
I'm trying to get the details of the hunt and equipment for everyone. The client would like to remain anonymous (for the time being). :

He probably doesn't want to have his trophy made fun of.

I'm going to estimate the spread between 47" and 49". It's an awesome buff whether taken with a bow or a cannon.

I would guess 48"

let's see how long it takes for the "stunt hunt" comments to begin.
Nice buff, whoever said you needed a 500 gr bullet and a pound of powder to kill a buffalo, should take a good hard look at this photo!!!!
Hmmmmmmm I wonder who the client could be

I guess 43/44".

Beauty of a bull, no matter what the #'s are.

Cheers,
Canuck

I agree with Canuck, but forgot to mention it in my quest for more info.

Canuck says: "Beauty of a bull, no matter what the #'s are."

I didn't know Tanzania allowed bow hunting. Is it allowed only in select concessions or throughout the country (where hunting is allowed) ?

BTW that bull is a monster. The thickness of the horns is just amazing. Without knowing jack about cape buffaloes, I'd guess him to be around 44" wide.

That's a dream buff for sure.

My guess is 39".

Well the arrow in the quiver is most likley 30-31"'s. I cant tell the make of bow but I would guess it about 40" AtoA. So by comparisons, just under 40".

Also, a pass through would be ideal but 20+ inches of penetration with a razor sitting inside the animal should do the trick easily. Every step he take can be another cut to a vital organ.


GTR

quote:

Well the arrow in the quiver is most likley 30-31"'s. I cant tell the make of bow but I would guess it about 40" AtoA. So by comparisons, just under 40".

GTR, maybe the pic is getting distorted on one of our computer screens, but the way I see it the buff's spread is about 35% greater than the axle-to-axle length of the bow. If the bow is 40", that would make the buff 54" (not even counting for the angle)!

Based on the ears, I am sticking with 43/44" but wouldn't be surprised to find out its bigger than that.

Man, has it got a wicked shape to it, and great bosses.

Canuck

Very nice curls and low drop //

I would say 43.5 - 44.5" - proberby with 16.5" boss

Both guys in picture are wearing the same cap and camo and I believe and the arrow is showing about 6" of shaft between the skin and the feather /

Peter

quote:

Originally posted by cats:
let's see how long it takes for the "stunt hunt" comments to begin.
Nice buff, whoever said you needed a 500 gr bullet and a pound of powder to kill a buffalo, should take a good hard look at this photo!!!!
Hmmmmmmm I wonder who the client could be

Let's see how long before you post the pic on another Forum and claim it is you.

In a printout the apparent length of the arrow in the quiver is 1.630", the horns are 2.565" wide.

A 28" arrow is more common than a 30" arrow. That makes the horns 44" not accounting for paralax errors. If the arrow is 30" then the spread is 47", following the same logic. The bow is likely to be either 31.5 or 33" axle-to-axle.

(Never give an engineer numbers to play with!)

Bottom line the "numerical uncertainty" is about the same as the "hunter's eye" uncertainty.

An average boss on a 44" Buff will score in the 115 plus or minus.

This animal curls back and that will give it some extra length even though it is a tight curl. The boss appears to be seperated so I would guess it is closer to 47" to score in the 120s. It really doesn't look that big.

quote:

(Never give an engineer numbers to play with!)

Don, having trouble concentrating on your job since this picture was posted????

Don't worry...12 months from now we'll be on our way over the pond to get that itch scratched my friend!

Cheers,
Canuck

quote:

Originally posted by Canuck:

Don, having trouble concentrating on your job since this picture was posted????

Don't worry...12 months from now we'll be on our way over the pond to get that itch scratched my friend!

Cheers,
Canuck

Canuck, I'm afraid this is one itch that just won't stay scratched!

WOW! Now thats a man after my own heart! One of these days!
Dont care how wide he is, he is one fine bow kill!
Man after my own heart..... oh, did I already say that???

Hmmm...Maybe it is a bit different printed out than across the screen.. Do you measure inside or outside spread (I assumed inside).



GTR

Ok everyone.
I have gotten the details of the hunt and equipment.

The Hunter is Dan Friedkin

Dan used a 180 grain German Kinetics broad head, on a 600 grain double butted aluminum shaft.

The bow used was a Bow Tech pulling 93 lbs.

The bull ran about 200 yards and then went down with the single arrow in its shoulder.

The arrow actually broke off when it fell and Dan inserted the fletching to indicate the position of the first shot. The arrow penetrated to the far side of the ribcage and stopped there.

4 other arrows were used for insurance once it was down – but the first one was fatal.

This lone bull was initially spotted feeding and moving slowly into the wind – in medium cover grass and scrub whistling thorn. He was stalked and finally taken as he turned broadside at a range of 41 yards. From there he ran out about 200 yards and died in the open plain you see in the photo.

The trophy field measured a total of 122 1/8†points on the SCI measurement system –
93 inches on the front curve tip to tip with 14 3/8†and 14 6/8†bosses.

Now for the "shocking" part of the measurements, the spread of this fantastic bull was just a tad over 40 inches 40 5/8 to be exact!
He must have had a really....... "narrow skull"

quote:

Originally posted by Harris:
I didn't know Tanzania allowed bow hunting. Is it allowed only in select concessions or throughout the country (where hunting is allowed) ?

In our recent communications with the Secretary General of Tanzania Hunting Operators association (TAHOA, the Guild was advised that Bow Hunting has been opened in Tanzania since July 2005" and that the Wildlife Act is under review and a new one expected shortly which will no doubt proclaim the changes in hunting methods etc.

I knew archery was legal in Tanz since July but what I don't understand is why the fees are nearly double for using that gear rather than firearms.

Thanks for the info, Mich.

If possible, could you find out how fast the bow shot that arrow? Does he know if he cut a rib going in, or if it went in between?

That is a very high-quality broadhead (and costs over $20 each!), but it is fairly wide and short (has a low aspect ratio). Can you ask whether the broadhead was in good condition when recovered?

I'm looking at a 190 grain Grizzly broadhead, which has a 2.75:1 aspect ratio and a 20 year reputation for ultimate penetration.

I can't see the boss really well in the photo, but if it's hard there's no doubt I'd have taken this bull! The horns are still so long and pristine that I'd be afraid he was immature unless I could really get a good look at the boss. I'm one those hunters that'd rather have a really old broomed-out bull than risk taking a young one, so unless the PH swore it was hard this guy would have walked. (I don't even know the rules for measuring horns, but I know that SCI rules favor unworn horns like these.)

Having said all that, I'd sure be proud to have taken this one after the fact!

If he's as old as he looks from the bald face and flanks, how could he not have worn his horns down? Maybe he just didn't have the alpha personality?

Please accept all of these questions and ramblings as an expression of interest and a desire to learn, rather than criticism. Dan apparently did everything right - and I live in fear that I'll screw the pooch!

Thanks again,

PeterV,

Is there any way to get a copy of the new bowhunting regs for TZ?

I'm particularly interested in limitations on draw weight, arrow weight and/or KE.

Thanks,

Don try contacting Phil at his site go-on-safari.com I know he is taking archers for buff this year and I'm booking in Nov. for '06 with my bow which is a 78# @ 28 1/2" Big Horn recurve pushing a Zwickey 2 blade BH.
So glad to see some serious archers posting here, the mindset of the usual posters has been if one didn't use 500grs pushed by a coffee can of powder it couldn't possible kill the mighty buff. cats

Don try bowsite.com link to Africa

quote:

Originally posted by Don_G:
PeterV,

Is there any way to get a copy of the new bowhunting regs for TZ?

I'm particularly interested in limitations on draw weight, arrow weight and/or KE.

Thanks,

Don,
Currently hunting regs for Bowhunting are the one and the same for rifle hu7nting EXCEPT the trophy fees for bowhunting are double.

I'll try to get answers to your other questions....

cats,

The guidelines for RSA, Zim and Moz (last I knew) were that you had to use a minimum arrow weight (600/700 grains depending on th eprovince) and achieve a minimum of 80 ftlbs KE to legally take cape buffalo.

It takes a 70#x30" compound bow with a very aggressive cam to get that much energy. As far as I know only a Bowtech Equalizer cam or a Hoyt Spiral cam bow of 30" draw length can make that energy from 70# DW. My 81#-30" DL Bowtech Allegiance gets 96 ftlb from a 700 grain arrow. I tested a 70#-30 Allegiance that got 83 ftlbs from a 700 grain arrow.

I doubt very seriously whether your recurve achieves even 70 ftlb KE. Most recurve shooters who go after Cape Buffalo are shooting 95-100# bows to get the requisite KE.

Please check your arrow weight and speed, and don't bend the rules.

As far as I know TZ does not yet have published minimums for Cape Buff, but too many instances of wounded game will result in regs requiring weights my old shoulders cannot pull!

As you stated I too know of no specs set by Tanz thus my choice of Tans for a recurve hunt. Surely you aren't trying to suggest a 78# Big Horn is not capable of killing a buff. Should Tanz set the mins. above my choice of equipment I'll have no other option to take one of my compounds but then it won't be to Tanz that I'll be headed.