I just recieved a message from a booking agent who said Howard Hunter of HHK Safaris was hit by a Buffalo and shot in the arm by his client trying to save him. He has been air-vac to JoBurg. I don't have any details.

Howard is a great guy. I hunted with him for 2 weeks about 9 months ago. I so hope he's OK....

Here's a picture of Howard with me last October.

Jesus, what is going this year? I feel sorry for these poor guys.

If it comes in three's...that's the last one.

Rich Elliott

Dago Red
No,I don't believe GOD sets one up to die by buff or another to get shot by a client to remind us that Buff behave like Buff.It's just that man dies,it's inevitable.
How we die ,sometimes,is our choice.
ie,On or feet in Africa vs old,feeble on a death bed.

Every man dies...Not every man lives.(Braveheart)

Leave it all on the table.

Getting shot by the client must be the worst form of 'help' I have ever heard of! As Will said, the buff are not giving up easy this year! Maybe we'll hear about a certain Carmelo being gored and shot soon too!
Sometimes you get the bar.....and sometimes, well, the bar gets you!

Since I don't believe in Karma or Luck or Cosmic Hoopla, let's word it this way: Is this God's way of reminding man (since so many lately seem to have been stating to the contrary) that indeed he made this world wild and there are still things in it for which man is not fully prepared? In this case clients. (just a bit of levity)

It is sobering to read some of these things in detail, Saeed had one on the AR page that I read before about a PH that was killed by a shotgun blast rather than the Lion mauling him when an inexperienced person with him tried to shoot the Lion and it moved.

God bless this man and his family.

REd

And I don't believe in any super-natural being having an effect. Isn't it logical that when trying to shoot a critter beating the shit out of some guy that occasionally the bullet will hit the wrong one? Would you think it better to just stand by and hope? If you were being worked over by a buff (or a bear or a ...) would you prefer that the PH just stand there and hope the critter backed off while you were still alive so that he could get a clear shot? Like 'ol Jerry Clowers hollered when he was in a big rowe with a coon, "Just fire in here amongst us! One of us got to have some relief".

So maybe the client should get a little closer before shooting...

Easier said than done!

I hope the PH is okay.

Here's another pic of Howard and his head tracker, Rafael:

I did not say that I believed that, was just posing the question for those I know will want to read more into this. :-) I don't think God sets any man up to live or die, that we all make choices. I do believe that He made this world a place that could eat a weak man up and send him out the back. "civilization" is what has enabled so many to live that otherwise would have succumbed to nature.

Howard looks like a happy and pleasant guy, I hope that he come through it well and is back among them soon.

Red

I hope it was a solid and not a soft...

The client is always most PHs main fear, more so than the Buff it seems..

Accidents with dangerous game happen every year, we are just hearing more about it these days, probably the internet.... In the past most Safari Companies didn't release the information, many still do not, not good for business you know...I doubt that it makes much difference one way or the other, Most of what I hear about injuries are by word of mouth from the PHs themselves..

I would venture to say I hear of about 3 every year, sometimes more...Not always hunters, last year alone an Idaho girl was eaten by crocs at Mana Pools, A group of tourist were stomped by elephants when the wind changed, one death, A Lion carried and American tourist away in the middle of the night in Kruger while a guide beat the Lion with his flaming shirt, didn't work and he had no gun..Our own Rich Elliot, one time rode on an elephants hind leg for for 15 minutes or so, that was surly a close one, but I'd have given my a$$ and half of Georgia to have seen that. I stopped a buff at my feet once, stuck my foot out and he knocked me down, but with momentum as he was dead..Only last year a cow came out of nowhere and turned one of Saeeds guests a flip and knocked the PH, down, when she turned to come back and finish the job the PH killed her, in the high grass and she had a wound in her jaw that was old and inflamed..They were a pretty bunged up pair, but all the wounds were a long ways from their heart, so they got little sympathy! Sympathy in that crew is unfathomable........

Most all the old time PHs have been tossed, clawed or bitten a time or two....

Africa is not for the faint of heart, I don't suppose. But what a place to spend you days...My happiest moments.

See you in two weeks Saeed....

Ray: You are an excellent writer. Your last post was wonderful to read. I imagine you could publish a book with the posts you have made here on AR. It has taken me a few years to develop a deep-seated respect for you but you have earned it and along with many others you do have my respect.



So you think that the reporting of attacks is getting better because of communication technology? I can understand that. Most of the people being hurt are well know, so that may influience how the reporting is being conducted. I mean no disrespect to those that have been hurt and killed in the past few days and weeks. It does seem like it has been a bad season. I hope for the speedy recovery of those that have been hurt.

Additional news about Howard Hunter, the HHK PH that was hurt. From Causey's Hunting Report:

Yesterday, we told you about Canadian outfitter Bob Fontana being killed by a buffalo. Well, there has been another buffalo mishap. This one is in Zimbabwe, and it involves PH Howard Hunter of HHK Safaris.

Seems Hunter and an unnamed client were following up on a wounded buffalo on the Lemco Concession this past Sunday when the animal burst out of thick brush in front of them. Hunter fired and hit the buffalo, we are told, but the animal was so close Hunter had to grab it by the horns with both hands in an attempt to keep it from goring him. As he wrestled with the animal, a bullet fired either by an HHK tracker or the client penetrated the buffalo and struck Hunter in the arm.

We have all this directly from Graham Hingston of HHK, who said Hunter has already had surgery on his arm and been medi-vac-ed to Johannnesburg. His chances of a full recovery are "excellent," Hingston told us today. As for the buffalo, it fell dead on the scene after the shot that injured Hunter's arm.

Hingston said the mishap occurred on the last day of the client's safari. The client has already left the area at this writing and is on his way back to the States, Hingston told The Hunting Report. Hingston declined to give us the client's name. More details as they become available. - Don Causey, Editor/Publisher.

"...See you in two weeks Saeed.... "

Yes my friend, if we all survive Walters attempts at being a plastic surgeon!

It is amazing what this character can come up with in the way of causing damage to his anatomy!

I am sure there is no part of his body that has not been damaged at one time or another.

Horst said it all started with the damage to his brains on the day he was born!

Hello Saeed: I have not had the opportunity to talk to you in a while so I will do so now. It sounds like you are getting ready to go off on another great and grand adventure...oh boy! Saeed you influience and affect so many people across the world with this forum...it is amazing. You have my deepest respect. And I know you are a good man. Maybe I will get to meet you some day. We all look forward to hearing about your upcoming hunt. God speed and good luck and be careful.

Robert Jobson

Another story in the local news of a ranger being gored and killed by a buffalo on a game farm outside Potchefstroom, RSA on Monday. Guess that makes it 4?

Ray,

It was only about 15 seconds!

Actually I was rolling around trying to keep from getting squashed.

Rich Elliott

Good grief!!!!!!!

AD

Ray,

When you give your a$$ and half of Georgia away, please don't give away the southern half. I kinda like where JudgeG and I live. BTW, have a great trip, and give my regards to Pierr'e and Anneli.

1115

As a writer I am interested in knowing more about these tragedies, particularly the one that took Mr. Fontana's life. I am a veteran journalist and my intent is not to sensationalize, capitalize or editorialize but simply to report and perhaps honor the lives of fine men who loved the lives they lived. If anyone has access to any official news reports or other information I would appreciate seeing it posted or emailed to me. Thanks.

Grahman at HHK sent me the following e-mail last night about Howard:

He was charged by a wounded buff at Lemco in thick bush, when it hit him he
grabbed it by the horns to stop it tossing him and whilst he was hanging on
either the client or his tracker, it is not clear who as both shot the
buffalo, shot the buffalo and the bullet went through and smashed Howards
arms about 6 inches below the elbow. He has had surgery and is in
Johanessburg recovering.

The prognosis is good for a full recovery.

The hazzards of this type of employment cannot be understated. That said, Howard definitley loves what he does and I know he'll be back in the bush ASAP.

Oh, and I won!

Rich Elliott

rwj,
Those kind words are deeply appreciated and I speak for both Saeed and myself I am sure...

Rich,
That's my favorite story, you need to post it for all the posters to see..its a classic.

Dale,
I would never give away the southern part of anything!

Ray ,
Okay, I'll dig it up and post it. It's been a couple of years since I did so.

Rich Elliott