quote:

Originally posted by Bill/Oregon:
Wonderful stuff, Judge. Please let us see some more photos of that old boy's horns.

The base of the tree under whose branches Clement and Lou were bending below is clearly visible down the trail that passes along the feet of the downed buff's hooves.



Another look at the bosses. The left horn was well rounded and worn.

Your preparation was proper and the finish of the dugga boy hunt was proper! Congrats!

P.S. Must of had a rabbit's foot in your pocket for extra insurance........

I could see how running out of single malt scotch could put you in a foul humour.

Beautiful trophy animal, and a humanitarian act.

Rich
DRSS

Grand old buff, Judge!!

quote:

Originally posted by JPK:
Great story telling, I felt like I was there with you.

Thanks and looking forward to the rest of your report.

JPK

+1

Did you recover any of the solids and if so can you post a pic of them?

Super trophy Ernest... beautful horn confirmation and mass! The experience and memory of that hunt are worth their weight in gold. And shades of Ruark/Capstick... "the bush exploded in sun-dappled violence". You would have scored an A on your senior Lit paper for that phrase alone.

Close incounters are fun once they are over, HUH Ernest?
........ ..........It's a Buffalo

.......quick shoot ........

................man that was scary ,,,,,,, Congratulations Ernest.

Semper Fi, my brother!

More excellent hunting and writing from the gifted one.
Capstick could not have done better in the writing.
Thanks for "the real deal."
Bravo JudgeG!

Outstanding story Ernest. Up for a Talisker Single Malt when D and I return next week? YOU EARNED IT! jorge

Great hunt and a wonderful report...You made me feel like I was there. Thanks for sharing!

Well done Judge! Your stories are always over the top. Glad you sorted out your Buff and congrats on all your trophies. Looking forward to more pics.
Regards,
David

Nice bosses, Ernest, you always have the best hunts!

judge , great story and great trophy ...your story captures the esscence of why we hunt big game ...

quote:

Originally posted by shootaway:
Did you recover any of the solids and if so can you post a pic of them?

All of the DGS were pass throughs on the buffalo. During the entire hunt, I only recovered one DGS and that was on an insurance shot after I brained the tuskless cow. When the elephant was skinned, the bullet fell out of the fold between the off-side ribs and the shoulder. The side brain shot bullet is still orbiting, I guess?

Fine story, well-told. After reading this, I had to check the livingroom behind me, to be sure a 'low wasn't lining up for a go at me!

Ernest: Outstanding!

Great buff, Ernest. And a great, well-written story to go with it.

Damn! That was awesome! You truly are a master raconteur Judge! I enjoyed the h-e-double hockey sticks outta that.

Congrats too! That is a great buff.

Glad you weren't packin' one of them double barrelled gizmo's.

Cheers
Canuck

Money well spent I assume....... Well told and great story Not to mention a fantastic buff

Excellent story and pictures, Many Thanks for sharing your adventure with us.

Great story and perfect outcome. You and Mr. Ivan Carter have posted two classics DG stories recently that truely let us all share a little of the pucker factor. Thanks.

I've had some time to think about what I've learned from the experience.

First, I was hunting with perhaps as capable and professional a P.H. as exists in Africa. I don't doubt for a minute that Lou could have pulled my bacon from the fire if I had crapped my britches, but it was kind of nice to have pulled my own weight.

Second, I will never let someone carry my rifle again. With my rifle in hand, I had and retained confidence. If I had been forced to flee, I don't know that I'd ever want to go to Africa again.

Third, "Use enough gun!" has added meaning now to me. I'd have been happy to have had a 30mm chain gun.

Fourth, when my original plans for my "heavy" rifle fell through, I went ahead and put new sights on my .458 and practiced with them by shooting both at the range and in the field and then dry firing at the t.v. or the neighbor's dog (just kidding)... hours of practice... not shooting so much, but making sure the rifle was an extention of me.

Finally and very importantly, Lou sat me down the first evening by the fire. He told me that I was part of the hunt, not just an observer who happened to be the one who would eventually shoot a rifle at something. He told me that if I wounded something, that unless I told him differently, I would be expected to do my share in recovery/sorting out the mess. I believe that his quote was, "After all, isn't that what it is all about?". That statement had given me the confidence I needed to decide instantly to "get involved" and Lou would support me in my decision. In other words, I never had to have any hesitation as to whether the P.H. would approve. I'm sure there are dead people out there who waited too long, afraid that they would be second guessed. Get that straight with you P.H. early and respect his decision.

I'm not sure Lou treats all clients in a similar manner, but after three decades of taking clients hunting lions and tigers and elephants and T-Rexes (not to mention leading hundreds of men in combat), I reckon he knows what he's doing when "reading" a man. I'm proud to have been at least minimally qualified to be at his back with a loaded rifle.

While I am a legend who has become a man in his own time , Lou is a fellow who has rightfully become "the real thing". He's not the god of safari, of course. He has his foibles as we all do, but watching one of the deans of safari just walking along in the half-light of dawn in his morning garb of shorts, gaiters, a sweat-stained HHK hat with grey hair spilling out and his beat up military great coat is really, really cool. I'd follow that man anywere.

George and Clive, you have a great daddy!

Judge: Based on this experience would you ever carry a rifle smaller than 375 as your plains game rifle when in buffalo or elephant country? My PH and I walked up on a lion caught in a snare that was pretty far gone and presented no problem. I had a 270 with me and since then have used a 375 as my plains game gun. I often wonder what would have happened had we been a day or two earlier. Based on the number of snares I have seen IMHO this is a very real potential danger.
If you were doing this hunt again, would you take the same rifle or is a double in your future?

Very well done, Judge!

quote:

Originally posted by LJS:
Judge: Based on this experience would you ever carry a rifle smaller than 375 as your plains game rifle when in buffalo or elephant country? ... If you were doing this hunt again, would you take the same rifle or is a double in your future?

A .375 H&H, one of the 9.3's or at least a .338 WM seem to be a reasonable bit of insurance. Really well constructed bullets (Barnes/Swift/North Fork, etc.) would probably be a good idea, too.

P.H.'s are there to protect you. I believe the odds are very, very small that one will get hurt if he's hunting with a competent guy, but since animals are not very predictable and they don't call it DG hunting for nothing, if it makes you feel better to be "gunned" for the biggest threat possible, I suggest you get comfortable with something that, if used properly, will stop that threat.

As to doubles, I have had several and if my Searcy .450 N.E. had been ready for the trip, I would have been in my hand, a soft in the right and a solid in the left.

Simply OUTSTANDING!!!!!!

Well done Judge..Glad you are ok and you took care of that bill collector
wonderfull report

Congrats!

Well done!!!!

There is an important lesson to be learned about carrying your own gun. It has always made me nervous when the trackers want to carry mine. After reading this, I will never let them carry mine.

Great story! Well told.

I have only allowed the trackers to carry my gun once and that was for about an hour. But, after reading this, I too, won't allow that to happen again.

Wonderful story, wonderful buffalo. Congratulations again, Judge.

Very nice. Congratulations. Good report.

Isn't it amazing how those 4 or 5 seconds of pure terror, in which you could have been killed (or even worse), translate into one of the finest experiences of one's life?

Welcome home.

Good show Judge!!!!!!!! Well done!!!!!!!!

quote:

Originally posted by Use Enough Gun:
I have only allowed the trackers to carry my gun once and that was for about an hour. But, after reading this, I too, won't allow that to happen again.

+1
Also, take the Judge's experience to heart.
Dry fire your gun until you can just look at a spot and your sights will magically appear precisely aligned on that spot. It just may save your bacon!

Wow! Thanks for sharing. That is one fine story, sure glad it worked out like it did.

well done judge you realy gave him the death sentence