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What's the Most Dangerous of the Big 5
04 May 2009, 06:35
WhackemandstackemWhat's the Most Dangerous of the Big 5
For the tourist hunter not necessarily for the PH.
Which one of the Big 5 or any other African animal for that matter, in your opinion, is it most likely for there to be a situation for the sport hunter where he may possibly be injured or killed. I've never had a situation myself but I know if does happen occasionally, witness Nikki Atcheson or Bob (I'm sorry, I can't remember his last name but he was killed by a buffalo while hunting birds or eland, my memory fails me, but he was from Canada). Just curious about opinions from those with experience hunting DG, PHs too.
04 May 2009, 06:39
Mike SmithThe one you dont see.
Happiness is a warm gun
04 May 2009, 06:43
SGraves155Statistically there are so many more buffalo and buffalo hunters, it has got to be buff on a total number basis.
Number of encounters to number of injuries ratio, I don't have a guess.
04 May 2009, 06:51
Equinsu OchaFontana was his last name, Bob Fontana.. If I recall correctly, he was pursuing lesser kudu in northern Tanzania at the time he was killed by an unprovoked buffalo charge.
My guess would be for buffalo to kill the average hunter that got into a bad situation while DG hunting, just as Stever said, based on the amount of clients hunting them. Leopard would be my guess as the most likely to take a chunk outta your hide but survive the attack.
And although it wasn't part of the question, lion scare the shit outta me the most out of all of them!!
04 May 2009, 06:59
larryshoresDepends on circumstances
04 May 2009, 06:59
WhackemandstackemThat's it Bob Fontana, I couldn't remember his last name for the life of me.
04 May 2009, 07:26
<thors460>Hippo out of water hunting their trail and tuskless cows
04 May 2009, 07:49
wrenchmasterHippo out of water hunting their trail and tuskless cows
I've read many times that tuskless cows are very dangerous but have never heard why. Does anyone know the answer to this?
04 May 2009, 07:56
<thors460>Have to move close in on the herds sometimes amungst them to glass for a tuskless cow
04 May 2009, 08:10
<thors460>and hippos just have a severe case of pms all the time
04 May 2009, 08:39
JefffiveWhichever you shoot poorly.
"If you’re innocent why are you taking the Fifth Amendment?”- Donald Trump
Whichever you'd have the toughest time getting out of its way if you were unarmed and it came for you. Something about a big cat at night would give me the creeps..
Speaking of which, anyone remember the Far Side cartoon with the leopards in the tree waiting to jump on the native villager who's walking underneath unsuspecting and whistling a tune? The one leopard says to the other "now, don't forget to roar when you leap..these things get the funniest expressions..."
04 May 2009, 09:32
Idaho SharpshooterCape Buffalo per one Robert Ruark: Cape Buffalo; "they look at you as if you owe them money...".
I shot mine from 165 yards away, and I still had the willies! Walking within 40 yards and him back on his feet, I could see that "...just a little closer son so I can make contact with these horns before I die..." look. They look dead serious dead.
Rich
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5/5/09 score: Rich 1, Buffalo 0. But, it is only the bottom of the first inning!!
04 May 2009, 10:11
craig boddingtonEvery person's opinion is based on his/her experience. I think tuskless (or cow) elephant hunting is the most dangerous hunt in the modern world--but because of size, speed, and camouflage I am certain the leopard is the most likely to hurt you. Based on pure numbers (animals taken annually versus human injuries annually) I think statistics would bear this out--but I don't think those statistics exist, so again it's a very subjective question based on one's own experience. Also, worth noting: It's very rare for a leopard to kill a person, or even inflict permanent injury. The rest, well . . . Personally, I fear lions the most!
04 May 2009, 10:27
David Hulmequote:
Originally posted by wrenchmaster:
I've read many times that tuskless cows are very dangerous but have never heard why. Does anyone know the answer to this?
Tuskless cows chase off tusked eles when they strip bark from trees etc, so they can have a snack. This may have something to do with why they are so aggressive - not having tusks makes them incapable of performing certain tasks, and so they have to fight to enjoy the same wares their tusked brethren take for granted. Elephants are supposed to have tusks so it is good to shoot tuskless cows, so that they don't pass on their genes. I have seen entire herds of tuskless eles in Nyakasanga, which I don't believe is good at all. I'm sure Craig Boddington or Ivan Carter can shed more light on the tuskless story...
Dave
04 May 2009, 14:22
<thors460>Tuskless cows are up there but tops for me is hippo out of water get between him and the water he is comeing to say hello I did it once and it was enough for me to swear off of them for good
04 May 2009, 18:01
butchlocthis is an age old question
quote:
Originally posted by butchloc:
this is an age old question
And one that has several answers!
IMO, the leopard is most likely to get to you if he wants a bite or two, but the elephant is the most likely to kill you if he catches you.
They are all dangerous, and just screw up and the one you would answer this thread with would the one that got to you, or someone else in your party! My personal closest call was a Cape buffalo, but a wounded African lion in tight cover, scares me far more than any buffalo.
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04 May 2009, 19:51
Jeff WemmerTuskless cow Elephant - hands down!
quote:
Originally posted by Jeff Wemmer:
Tuskless cow Elephant - hands down!
Yes.
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04 May 2009, 20:10
David HulmeNot wounded - tuskless elephant is the most dangerous
Wounded - a buffalo is the most likely to kill you, and a leopard is most likely to get you.
IMO
Dave
Years ago we were hunting in Zimbabwe.
We had a leopard bait up, and it was being hit.
We stopped the truck a few hundred yards, and walked up to it.
It was in those days wen I had two rifles, one for the little guys, and one for buffalo and elephant.
I had a 7.21 Firehawk Lazzeroni.
We were almost by the leopard bait, when we got into some thick bus, and suddenly got chased by a tuskless cow.
We ad a quick discussion, and decided to shoot her, so Alan ran back to the truck and got my 375/404.
We thought it was getting late, and we might not be able to find her before it got too dark.
Well, we needn't have worried, as we saw that she was actually looking for us1
As she turned towards, I put a bullet into her forehead, and that was that.
quote:
Originally posted by Jeff Wemmer:
Tuskless cow Elephant - hands down!
I guess I would be pissed as well if I had no teeth to show off.
04 May 2009, 20:56
Dave FulsonAny cow elephant ,tuskless or not.
Dave Fulson
04 May 2009, 22:33
L. David Keithquote:
Tuskless cow Elephant - hands down!
Yes....they will gum you to death!
Just kidding, but never mess with a wounded Bushbuck!
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04 May 2009, 22:55
LionHunterLeopard will hurt you the easiest but tuskless/cow Ele can be the most cheeky animals I've ever been around.
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Any of the big five that are wouded and you have to follow up are number one on the list. For unwounded DG only the black rhino and elephant make a regular habit of charging. There are so few black rhino left that they are a non-issue in most areas. That leaves the elephant. IMO any cow elephant that is the matriarch of the herd is the most dangerous, in matters little wither or not they have tusks. They are the self appointed protectors of the other cows and the calves. They are usually the oldest and as such have the most chances to have had negative encounters with humans. The infamous Zambezi ladies and the Gonareshou cow herds are prime examples. Mnay tuskless cows that I have seen have been half grown and appear no more dangerous than tusked cows of the same age. I have been charged twice by herd matriarchs and in another three cases we were able to avoid a charge from the same by skillful charges to the rear on out part. It also appears that a non-matriarch tuskless is somewhat more likely to charge then her tusked counterpart.
465H&H
04 May 2009, 23:16
David Hulme465, you are quite right, of course. I would like to change my vote to matriarch cow elephant followed by tuskless, for unwounded danger.
Dave
05 May 2009, 00:48
MikelravyThis seems to be the most evergreen argument in all of hunting. Where you hunt them seems to be as relevant as what you hunt.
Anything upwind of Walter after he's to been to the loo in the jungle.
Don
05 May 2009, 04:10
Hog Killer
Nor a big five, but I would say, 'sceeters with malaria.
Keith
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05 May 2009, 10:11
GanyanaA study in statistics....
From Zim 1981-1998
81% of injuries to PH or clients or citizen hunters - leopard
79% fatalities - elephant.
however....there were 264 maulings by leopard and only 11 deaths by elephant.
Interesting statistics.
Looks like there were 3 more deaths; my guess is mostly/all buffalo.
And there should be 62 more injuries; guess again mostly buffalo, with a smattering of others includung some "non dangerous".
05 May 2009, 13:15
Bo RichI concur with T. Roosevelt. The African Lion is the most dangerous big-game animal. However, the other four arn't cupcakes!
06 May 2009, 01:23
Karamojo BillMY friend who's hunted all over the world and was a forward observer for an artillary unit in Viet Nam said that, "though very easy to kill, with out a doubt the MOST dangerous animal is a human being."
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06 May 2009, 01:32
<thors460>Thats all fine and good but I dont remember lion elephant buffalo human and lepoard as the big 5
My vote is for a pygmy duiker. Corner one of them and it will be curtains for you, for sure.
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06 May 2009, 23:43
Karamojo Billquote:
Originally posted by thors460:
Thats all fine and good but I dont remember lion elephant buffalo human and lepoard as the big 5
Yep you're right human is not one of the big 5 but on a Big Bore production DVD I just recieved, they are they are exchanging fire with poachers....fresh in my mind & I didn't mean to hijack....just my humble opinion..SORRY!
Watch out Brian1....duikers are not on the list!
Karamojo Bill
At then end of my time here, I want to come skidding through the Pearly Gates & hear God say, "Whoa Boy, that was a hell of a ride!"
This is a very interesting question, there are no right or wrong answers, it all depends on circumstances. I would say following up a wounded buffalo/lion/leopard in thick bush would all be up there on the scale of dangerousness. Walking around relaxed on a photographic safari and bumping into a breeding herd face to face with a malevolent matriarch running the herd (with maybe a tuskless or 2 if she isn't tuskless herself) is likely to cause a bit of perspiration, if not the least for the guide! But what about black rhino in thick bush. I know they are so rare now, but they can also be quite mean and reading their intent is not often easy. Also if you were to walk into one whilst observing the spekboom or thick Acacia what would you do, knowing you can not shoot the beast...also knowing there is usually nothing really to climb except maybe a 6ft thorny Acacia?!