Botswana ng34 buffalo?

01 May 2013, 12:49

I have the opportunity to hunt buffalo in Botswana in the ng 34 block with Johan Calitz. From what their reps are saying it sounds like the buffalo run in herds of several hundred and that there are lots of nice bulls. However they are also telling me that buffalo at and over 40" cant be promised. I was hoping that an area with so many buffalo would have some true monsters but i am now left wondering. Do any of you have any experience with the buffalo in the ng34 block? What would you honestly expect to be able to find in the way of trophy quality in that area?

01 May 2013, 15:39

larryshores

Is that Sankuyo?

01 May 2013, 15:44

Wendell Reich

As a general statement, very, very few places in Africa actually produce 40" Buffalo regularly. Unfortunately for most hunters doing research on the net, 40" has become the standard by which a Buffalo should be judged, and 40" is batted around as if it is as common as trees in the forest.

I would take your average Botswana bull with a 36-37" spread if he had typical big Botswana bosses. Like in Whitetail and Mulies, spread ain't everything!

If you have a chance to hunt a Botswana Buff, do it. This is your last chance, probably, ever.

01 May 2013, 17:01

Aaron Neilson

Stomper - I've hunted NG34, and like most of Bots it can produce bulls of 40" plus at any moment. But Wendell's advice is sound. Sure you can kill a 40" plus bull here, but don't count on it anywhere. Places like this would have better odds than alot others, but again, not guaranteed.

I've hunted Bots on numerous occasions, like all places - you'll encounter herds of buff and individual/small groups of bulls too. If you've not hunted Bots before, I would go. The chance to do so is only open for a few more months.

01 May 2013, 18:22

Bwana Bunduki

I spent 10 days in Sankuyu in August last year hunting elephant. Great time. If I saw a dozen buffalo TOTAL then I would be suprised. Early would be better, but herds of hundreds...not feeling it.

Jeff

01 May 2013, 18:46

Aaron Neilson

quote:
Originally posted by Bwana Bunduki:
I spent 10 days in Sankuyu in August last year hunting elephant. Great time. If I saw a dozen buffalo TOTAL then I would be suprised. Early would be better, but herds of hundreds...not feeling it.

Jeff

Jeff's right! Earlier in this area, would be better IMO.

01 May 2013, 18:49

D. Nelson

If it is Sankuyo, my husband and I elephant hunted there in 2007 and only saw 2 buff in 14 days. We were the last hunt of the year. We did, however, see a lot of elephant!

Best regards, D. Nelson

01 May 2013, 19:02

venda axe

Stomper, I havn't hunted ng34, but for me a buffalo hunt is about the tracking, the stalk, and getting in close. I personally prefere an old Daga Boy, say 11 to 12 years old over an 8 year old bull that mignt be a few inches wider. If you have a chance to hunt in a good block with Johan Calitz I would jump at it.

Bob

01 May 2013, 19:34

Bwana Bunduki

The problem with Sankuyu is that the pumps for the pans were pulled in 2012. Therefore the only water is from the Okavango proper. This puts the concession at a disadvantage.

Jeff

01 May 2013, 19:42

larryshores

I was there with Jeff last August. However, I left early after killing 2 elephant bulls.

I never saw a buffalo nor any fresh buffalo sign. There was a serious drought and as Jeff indicated, all pumps had been taken out. This rendered vast portions of the concession void of all game.

It was crystal clear to me that there had been much more game there at one time. However, it was not there while we were there.

My PH indicated that the area was known for its buff. However, due to the drought, they were gone.

Would I go back for buff? Perhaps, but only after consulting people I know on the ground.

01 May 2013, 21:41

Ryan Trenka

I was there for the first three weeks of the season in 2010. Lots of water, no need for pumps that time of the year. I would estimate we saw over a thousand buffalo easily. I have an amazing video of the hunt and area. We took three jumbo bulls and one extremely old buffalo bull that was 42 inches. We saw numerous old, great bulls. Game numbers were tremendous that time of year. I would go back in an instant!

02 May 2013, 03:32

larryshores

quote:
Originally posted by Ryan Trenka:
I was there for the first three weeks of the season in 2010. Lots of water, no need for pumps that time of the year. I would estimate we saw over a thousand buffalo easily. I have an amazing video of the hunt and area. We took three jumbo bulls and one extremely old buffalo bull that was 42 inches. We saw numerous old, great bulls. Game numbers were tremendous that time of year. I would go back in an instant!

You would have been extremely disappointed in 2012.

02 May 2013, 09:48

stomper

My hunt will be during my september ng41 elephant hunt and it sounds like that time of year would be extremely unkind to me. I appreciate all the input guys.

02 May 2013, 19:00

Bwana Bunduki

I would be very concerned.

Jeff

06 May 2013, 13:54

Safaris Botswana Bound

NG 34 bounds on NG 43 and there are very big buffalo throughout this district , we just completed our one and only tag in our NG 47 area and took a 44.5 inch bull with massive boss , our hunter chose this one over a 46 inch spread as it had a bigger boss.
The reason big buffalo are being harvested is due to the low quota - each area now only gets one bull. So there is no pressure - we see herds of 300 plus and bunches of dugga boys both single and groups - one group has 25 old bulls in it. So remembering there are no sure things in hunting - I would still snap up any buffalo hunts in northern Botswana.
Regards
Graeme

06 May 2013, 18:20

jkhunter

Hi Stomper
I know Ng34 well from when CVS shared the concession, great buffalo have been taken in the past years but as stated its all water dependent, Buffalo are like cattle in that they like to drink every day and will move to where the water is, if Buffalo is on your menu and you would like to do it on the same trip why not ask your outfitter to organise a Bull for you back in SA up against Kruger in one of the open reserves after your elephant hunt,

06 May 2013, 18:32

larryshores

Last year, in a serious drought, I would have likely seen Elvis before I saw a buff. They were GONE. There were NONE, ZERO.

It was clear that buff had been there at one time but due to the drought, they had moved on.

If I was going, i would check on the water situation.

07 May 2013, 05:11

Bwana Bunduki

+1

I was there. Listen to Larry.

Jeff

07 May 2013, 09:29

stomper

I have notified johan that i am canceling my buffalo hunt. I was originally thinking that botswana had one of the most awesome buffalo experiences anywhere. That being said i was justifying the $25,000 addition to my already extremely outpriced ele hunt. Im not one with money coming out of my ears so i have to choose my hunts very carefully. After talking with several outfitters i have determined that i can have an awesome buffalo hunt with trophy quality as good as botswana if not better. In addition most other outfitters offer additional animals at trophy fee rates. This isnt true for my buffalo hunt. Im already going to be hunting for 16 days. In order to take a buff i have to pay a full hunt price. Thats the equivalent of paying $25,000 for a buffalo trophy fee. I feel like thats not exactly something i would do to any of my customers that was already spending a lot of money and i also dont feel its a price that can be justified when u can hunt the kruger borders for $6,000 cheaper.

So if anyone wants to drop $25k on a buff hunt in ng34 give tharia a call. Im sure it wont be around long.

07 May 2013, 18:14

larryshores

quote:
Originally posted by stomper:
I have notified johan that i am canceling my buffalo hunt. I was originally thinking that botswana had one of the most awesome buffalo experiences anywhere. That being said i was justifying the $25,000 addition to my already extremely outpriced ele hunt. Im not one with money coming out of my ears so i have to choose my hunts very carefully. After talking with several outfitters i have determined that i can have an awesome buffalo hunt with trophy quality as good as botswana if not better. In addition most other outfitters offer additional animals at trophy fee rates. This isnt true for my buffalo hunt. Im already going to be hunting for 16 days. In order to take a buff i have to pay a full hunt price. Thats the equivalent of paying $25,000 for a buffalo trophy fee. I feel like thats not exactly something i would do to any of my customers that was already spending a lot of money and i also dont feel its a price that can be justified when u can hunt the kruger borders for $6,000 cheaper.

So if anyone wants to drop $25k on a buff hunt in ng34 give tharia a call. Im sure it wont be around long.

That type of arrangement is why Botswana is so expensive. It is common.

If the area is like last year, you made a wise decision. I have not heard a word about the water situation this year.