Ladies and Gentlemen,

The first day of safari in Dande North, we picked up a daga boy’s tracks early in the morning. His tracks were soon joined by two others. After a couple of hours of tracking, their tracks joined a herd. Three times we got on the herd but could find no shooters. Never really saw much of the herd as they stayed in thick cover for most of the time. On the final approach of the day, we were walking single file [by “we†I mean, George and Skelly (the two trackers), Kevin (the PH), me, my wife, Meplan (junior tracker), Muno (camp manager) and Peace (game scout)] . George stops suddenly and points to some thick brush about 30 yards ahead of us. We have found the tail end of the buffalo herd. Two bulls, an old boy about 34†and a young soft-bossed bull are working the rear guard. Well here “we†are, all 8 of us, standing in a clearing with these two bulls looking at us. To our right, about 20 yards away is a large tree. Kevin whispers to move slowly to the tree and the word is passed back down the line. All 8 of us begin taking half-steps toward the tree, coordinating our movements so that, from the buffaloes’ point-of-view, they can only see George. Well, it worked, we didn’t spook the rear guard. They were aware that we were there, or at least they knew George was there. I am convinced that it was curiosity that kept them from spooking. If you spoke buffalo, I suspect the conversation went something like this. Old bull, “Hey, kid do you see what I see?†“Yeah, old man, I think it is some kind of human caterpillar. What do you think they are doing?†“Beats me,†says the old bull, “maybe a new kind of dance.â€

The fourth day on safari, we walked a couple miles to spring. The spring was in a deep valley and as we approached the spring from a high ridge, we saw 4 buffalo bulls heading away from the spring and up the other side of the valley. We were able to get a decent look at all four. Number 1 was about 38†with swept back horn tips and hard bossed. Number 2 was about 36†with deep curl and hard bossed. Numbers 3 and 4 were twins, both old bulls with about 34†spreads. Down the ridge, across the valley and up the opposite ridge we go. After an hour or so, we make contact with the four bulls. We used a termite mound as cover and got within 30 to 40 yards of them. Number 1 was standing behind Number 2. We waited for about 30 minutes but could never get a shot on Number 1. Finally, a change in wind direction and off they go.

To make a long story short, nine hours after we left the truck and about 7 miles of walking, gave us two more close up contacts with the 4 bulls. Two hours of that time was spent in the noon day sun, perched on the side of a termite mound while the 4 buffalo took a siesta in some thick cover. I had at least two good chances at Number 2, but I was holding out for Number 1. He never presented a decent shot. Always screened by brush or one of the other bulls. At 4:30PM, swirling winds finally put an end to our buffalo hunting for the day. We were able to walk out to a track and radio for the Cruiser, saving us a 3 mile walk. We missed lunch that day and had survived on Gatorade and hard candy.

Buffaloes' Siesta Location (heavy brush in the center of the picture)


Our Termite Mound Home for 2 Hours


Upon arrival at camp, I snagged a cold beer and headed for the shower. Simply the best combination in the world, a cold beer and a hot shower after a long day in the bush. Two whisky and soda preceded a dinner of salad, chicken stew, sadza, cabbage and fruit crepes for dessert. I was in bed by 9:00PM.

The next day found us back at the spring and on the tracks of the same four buffalo. Four hours of tracking (covering almost 5 miles)and we found the bulls grazing in a small valley. The PH, George and I did the final approach leaving the rest of the crew behind. We approached to within 50 yards using a boulder as cover. The boulder was on the side of the hill with the ridge running along on our right side. The bulls were slightly covered by brush. Number 1’s luck continued to hold. I was never able to get a clear shot on him. Number 2 was the only bull on which I had a clear shot. After 10 to 15 minutes of waiting for Number 1 to present an open shot, I decided to go ahead and take Number 2. He was facing us, but because of our higher elevation, there was no shot into his chest. He was grazing and I decided to shoot him in the neck and break his spine. I told Kevin of my plan and then pulled the trigger. He immediately went down. I covered Kevin and George as they approached the bull. I heard the rest our group move up to my left and slightly below me. Just before Kevin reached the downed buffalo, my wife screams, “Bull, bull, bullâ€. I turned to my left and Carol and the rest of the group were moving to cover. Carol then points at me and says, “Bull to your right.†I spin to my right and scan the ridge line but I see nothing. I holler to Carol, “Where?â€. She says, “Right there, to your right.†As I scan back across the ridge line, Carol says, “He’s goneâ€. Number 1 had circled back to see what had happened to his buddy. He was standing directly to my right at 15 yards on the ridge line and I didn’t see him. There were trees along the ridge line, so it's not like he was the only thing on the ridge line. I guess I was looking for movement and never saw him. Carol said he looked like one of those Spanish fighting bulls as they enter the ring, nostrils flared and quite agitated. I can only assume that he was as surprised to see Carol and the rest of the guys as they were to see him. Me, I never saw him. If he had charged, maybe I would have seen the movement. Otherwise, it could have turned into a bit of a mess.

My Shooting Position (the buffalo were in the little clearing in the lower left of the picture)


Number 1's Location on the Ridge Line (he was standing just to the left of the tree in the center of the picture - you can see the boulder that I shot from in the lower left of the picture)


Shot Placement


Me and Number 2

The buffalo has been turned 180 degrees (for picture taking purposes), in the background you can see from where I made the shot.

Regards,

Terry

Thanks for the detailed story. Interesting how close something as large as a cape buffalo can get to you without being noticed.

Excellent report Terry. I really enjoyed it and your supporting photos were great! Keep 'em coming.

Great story Terry!!!

Phil

Great story Im glad your wife could share it with you.

Excellent storytelling! The shot you took from above the buff and through the back of the neck really did the job. I've used that one on whitetail from an elevated stand and it is deadly. Breaks the spine and right into the heart/lungs! Perfect shot for the circumstances...congratulations on a fine bull.

Thanks but not enough...post more!!!!!
I'm really enjoying your saga.
L

Thanks for the story Terry.Makes us feel to be right there with you. Still waiting for # 1 to come to the gun

My goodness, eight people!

bwanamrm,

The .416 Remington Mag (shooting Remington factory loaded Swift A-Frame) didn't make it to the vitals. It completely severed the buffalo's spine and killed him instantly. The bullet was found in the lower part of his neck. If I ever have a shot like that again, I'm going to ease out the soft and chamber a solid. That's why I was so intent on covering Kevin, I knew that if I missed the spine that I might have just knocked the buffalo down but not out. The buffalo had fallen down behind a log and I could just see his head under the log. If I saw any movement from him, I was going to put a solid right into his head. Then Carol starts hollering and the plan suddenly changed.

I wonder what would have happened if I missed the spine? I would hope there would have been enough penetration to go through the neck muscle and into the vitals. Hopefully the soft wouldn't have expanded too much in the neck muscle and slowed its penetration.

Photos of the recovered 400 gr. Swift A-Frame







Regards,

Terry

P.S.
I don't have scale, so I don't know how much the recovered bullet weighs.

Tying the photos in with the commentary brings us right in on the action...thanks!

T.Carr
Nice Story and a hunt it should be (on Foot).
But PLEASE dont recomend NECK Shoots for Cape Buffalo...

r.
seloushunter

Amazing story, Terry. Thanks for sharing.

Congratulations, Terry!

Enjoy the rest of your hunt.

Great story, Terry, glad to hear Carol is on top of things as well.

Thanks for the great story Terry!

How exciting. You did a great job bringing the story to a grateful audience.

Congratulations Terry! Keep the reports coming! D. Nelson

Well done T. Carr!!

Terry...maybe the 8 of you did the "Buffalo Boogie"!
Good story and a buffalo DRT (dead right there) is always a good buffalo.
Seems to me the old factory bullet did a hell of a good job as did the shooter.
P.O. Ackley would make the question, "At what point in the death of the animal did the bullet fail?"
Years ago I was talking with Col. Chas. Askins when he mentioned he was going on his 36th safari. Like a dumb ass I asked what he was hunting. He looked at me with some disdane and said, "Hell boy, Buffalo!" Now that I have taken one (and only one so far) myself I think I understand it all. I will take any and all I can pull the trigger on. You shoot buffalo and then "other stuff".
Good critter and good story.
Howdy to your boss lady.

Terry: Thansk for the story and the great photos. As an aside, when I mentioned the nae "peace" to my wife, she said,oh no! did he get them lost also?!

We were on the third day of hunting and like you, had walked a great deal in the hot sun. We were on the track of four bulls, that we heard, smelled but never saw, so John decided to send my wife and my friend Todd who was also hunting, back to the truck with our buddy "Peace." What should have been no more than a ten minute walk, turned into a one hour nighmare as the "game scout" got them LOST! As it turned out, ny friend Todd who is also an aviator and with a good sense of direction, took charge and finally got them back out to the road where we were all anxiously waiting, ( we had broken off the chase because the bulls had winded us).

Oh yes, John Sharp, his two trackers and I, had managed to divert a small herd of elephants that would have probably run into them in the bush. Needless to say, I about choked our buddy "peace"! Imagine the frigging game tracker got lost! jorge

Loved that account of the hunt.

Buff is definitely tops on the bag list for my next hunt. 8 days and counting until the first one though.

congrats, and good story

Mims,

The Swift A-Frame did its job. No complaints from me. It is interesting though just how tough the spine of a buffalo can be.

Jorge,

Peace never did much of anything for us. He just followed us around. Not much help when it came to tracking or skinning. He is a young guy and fully indoctrinated in the Mugabe era.

Regards,

Terry

Terry: My sentiments exactly. He wasn't too happy when John sent him back to the truck, but John has a "special" way when he talks to these people. Their eys just "glaze over" and they do what eh says! jorge

PS: I share your thoughts on the A Frames. Although the skinners "forgot" to dig my bullets out, they did get my friend's 375 slugs ( four of them) and they looked just like yours. I have a few 300gr 375 from my previous trips and they all weighed close to their original weights. j

Thanks for the great account Terry. That's what buffalo hunting is all about.

Terry,
The Swift A Frame held up very well after completely breaking the spine! I too wonder what would have happened if you had missed the spine? Probably would have knocked the buff down. The force of the bullet that close to the spine would have done that...depends on the angle as to whether the bullet would end up in vitals or just throat. You could have put in a finsher or six if he twitched or attempted to get up!

Terry, Congrats on a fantastic buffalo! That is one well-documented hunt. Very nice to see pictures of what you tell in the story. I've got to learn to post pictures! Thanks. Joe

quote:

Originally posted by Charles_Helm:
Thanks for the detailed story. Interesting how close something as large as a cape buffalo can get to you without being noticed.

Yeah, elephant have that same uncanny ability as well. . .