I am going to try to post a video.

This happened in my first 15 minutes of my first buff hunt three years ago. We were crossing a Korongo after a herd that was maybe a mile ahead of us.

I think it illustrates some beginner mistakes that you old hands will readily pick up on - wearing light tan, sunglasses that keep bothering me, a sling on the rifle and worst of all letting the tracker carry my double. When the cow charged us my double went with the tracker.

The real hero was Anneli who stood by the camera until a retreating tracker knocked her down.

Click on the picture to see the video.

That video is excellent! Great job by all concerned. You wonder, going into the long grass, when or if the time comes, you will be able to overcome the natural instinct to RUN! You were in good hands with Pierre and crew, But YOU did a great job. You Da Man! Lee.

Excellent! You will never forget that!

Exciting video!

I'd expect nothing less from "The Man".

I don't know about an old hand but I'm old. Does that count?

I can't tell what happened. It looks like the cow was just charging the noise of walking through that suicide grass. If that is the case, the khaki didn't matter, did it?

It is a once-in-a-lifetime deal anyway. No reason to be jumpy the next time!

I think you qualify Will. I believe the injured cow was either just hanging out in the grass or else had fallen behind the herd. The trackers thought the herd was about half an hour ahead of us.

When we started across the grass the wind was in our face but half way across, it started to swirl. The cow was off to the side of the tracks we were following. I think the cow got a whiff of the trackers and was initially chasing them. They ran behind us leaving us on the front line so to speak.

Although we could not see her until the last instant there was no doubt something bigger than a rabbit was coming. It sounded like someone was driving the Land Rover through the grass.

Palmer ----- Thanks very much for the video. My hunt with Pierre' followed yours a week or three and I heard the event recalled from those in the video. It was on my mind my whole hunt and gave me peace of mind knowing the PH and those in his employ were very experienced and professional, certainly including Anneli. Good shooting.

Hey Allen, that suicide grass will get your blood runing pritty quickly, when you hear something coming, and don't know what, huh? Thank God it wasn't more than one!

Thanks for the video Allen.

That same year we ran into a herd sleeping in a dry river bed. As the saw us, they ran into very long grass. The area with grass was about 250-300 yards long, and had a U shaped mountain surrounding it. The other side was the open river bed.

We went after them - and soon realized that was not such a great idea at all. They kepr running in one direction, and as they got to the open side, they turned back, ran to the mountain, then turned back.

We could hear them running all around us, and the grass is shaking a few feet from us!

Eventually we managed to get out. Nelson said he kept his legs close together, as he did not want a buffalo to pass between his legs! And swore he won't follow us into long grass after that.

Year before last, we followed a herd in the morning, and caught up with them feeding in long grass. They were spread over a large area, and as the wind was right, we started to walk parallel to them. They were on an opposite small hillside, so we could see their backs as they fed along. We got closer and closer, Roy in the lead, and me and Alan following. Roy stopped to take a look with his glasses across the slight dip between us and the buffalo.

As he raised his head, looking slightly to the left, I saw a black movement about 5 or 6 yards ahead and to the right! I tapped him on the shoulder, and we SLOOOOWLY sank down into the grass, started to walk back.

Apparently some of the herd was feeding on our side of the hill too.

A little while later we managed to find an old bull feeding along, and one shot put him down.

Hunting buffalo IS exciting, especially in long grass!

Thanks for the great footage.

Allen,

Thanks for the video, that was close you never know if you will stand your ground until you are placed in that situation. You did well and that lady camera person sure didn't back off she got that camera right back up. Congratulations on the adrenalin rush.

Fred

Allen, I'd stand shoulder to shoulder with you any day...Good shooting...


Mike

Great video! Thanks for posting it.

Brings back memories of the late August grass in North Mahenge last year which was probably twice that tall most places. Kept wishing for the double I'd left at home. Could hear movement but couldn't see anything. Once in a while we could hear the chuffing sound of Lion in the grass. Damn scary!

That is some great footage Allen. It is interesting to see the point where you realize that something is coming and your head snaps up and right. Pretty good reaction time given that you guys were simply following the herd, versus a wounded bull where one might expect a charge. You were in perfect position too, back from the PH but off to one side.

As was stated, a lot of guys might instinctively back up a few steps, and go ass over tin cups in the process. Well done...next time you can hit'em with the double!

And boy the trackers do have the ability to seemingly disappear into thin air! Thanks for posting.

Pray tell us more, in detail.
What caliber and load were you using. What did the PH use. How many shots, and did the Game Scout also fire?
Thank you.
Sincerely,

Virginia Creeper,

The PH Pierr'e was carrying an iron sighted 500 Jeffrey. I do not know his load data.

I was carrying my short barrel M70 458 WM with 500 grain Trophy bonded solids. Mine had a scope and as I previoulsy mentioned I learned from this that in the future I will pack the iron sights and let the tracker carry the scope rifle.

Nevertheless in this instance the distance was so close I do not think the scope was a hinderance. There was not time to align sights no matter whether scope or iron.

As far as number of shots there were two. The buff emerged from the grass about 15 feet away from us onto the narrow trail we walking.

As her head came out we raised our rifles and she immediately saw us, lowered her head and lunged at us. We both fired almost simultaneously and hit her in the top of the neck just behind the horns. The two bullets struck about 2" apart. She collapsed instantly.

The game scout did not fire. You might have noticed on the video that is loading his gun only after this is all over. This brave soul was carrying an old Martini-Henry shotgun and had only two shells - both birdshot. He told me that he owned a 458 but did not have any ammo for it. At the end of the Safari I left him with two boxes of 458 ammo and I have never seen a happier fellow.

I had my rifle converted to a Lott after I got home.

I naively gave a game scout some 375's after a hunt in Tanz one time, only to find out later it all gets used for poaching! Never again!

Crap, I never thought of that. Never again for me also.

Allen,
You were in more trouble than you realized, I loaded the 500 ammo!!!

I am so happy you are back Ray!

Palmer, who was the PH in the video?

Antlers,

That was Pierr'e van Tonder. I have hunted with him twice before and am going back for another dose of it next month.

Ray,

Just keep on loading his ammo. Its working just right.

Okay, I give up.

Trying to convert a video clip from the windows media .vob extension to mpeg (.mpg) so I can upload it to Photobucket.

Any help?

Hopefully someone other than me can help.

Assuming you tried to upload into photobucket and it will not take the .vob file then you may need a converter program. There is probably a free one out there.

Mine uploaded directly from windows media but it was a .DAT file to start with.

Sorry I cant help but its all beyond me.

allen,

Great job!

I am impressed that throughout all of this you never flagged anybody with your weapon...You sir obviously have a lot of experience - Again, good job!

JW

Allen great job my friend ,congratulations and thanks for sharing this video .
Juan

quote:

Originally posted by Palmer:


I think it illustrates some beginner mistakes that you old hands will readily pick up on - wearing light tan, sunglasses that keep bothering me, a sling on the rifle and worst of all letting the tracker carry my double.

As a beginner heading to my first buff hunt later this year, what makes light tan a mistake? Just curious.

Good for you Allen. Quite different to hunting nyala in Zululand.

Hi Allen,

Glad it worked out well; excitement without injury.

Cannot get your clip to play on an Apple or on a PC. Has it been removed from Photobucket?

Best wishes,
Milo.

quote:

Originally posted by mrjulian_1970:

quote:

Originally posted by Palmer:


I think it illustrates some beginner mistakes that you old hands will readily pick up on - wearing light tan, sunglasses that keep bothering me, a sling on the rifle and worst of all letting the tracker carry my double.

As a beginner heading to my first buff hunt later this year, what makes light tan a mistake? Just curious.

It really doesn't matter. Buff and elephant aren't very cautious but they're not blind. They'll see you anyway. Wear a white cap if you want more instant action.

Everyone seems to want to hide but the tracker is out in front probably wearing a red cap, so what does it really matter?

quote:

Originally posted by mrjulian_1970:

quote:

Originally posted by Palmer:


I think it illustrates some beginner mistakes that you old hands will readily pick up on - wearing light tan, sunglasses that keep bothering me, a sling on the rifle and worst of all letting the tracker carry my double.

As a beginner heading to my first buff hunt later this year, what makes light tan a mistake? Just curious.

You will be fine mate and besides the dark stain of sweat will break it up a bit.

quote:

Originally posted by Milo Shanghai:
Hi Allen,

Glad it worked out well; excitement without injury.

Cannot get your clip to play on an Apple or on a PC. Has it been removed from Photobucket?

Best wishes,
Milo.

Could you post it on You tube? I cannot watch this either.

quote:

Originally posted by Will:

quote:

Originally posted by mrjulian_1970:

quote:

Originally posted by Palmer:


I think it illustrates some beginner mistakes that you old hands will readily pick up on - wearing light tan, sunglasses that keep bothering me, a sling on the rifle and worst of all letting the tracker carry my double.

As a beginner heading to my first buff hunt later this year, what makes light tan a mistake? Just curious.

It really doesn't matter. Buff and elephant aren't very cautious but they're not blind. They'll see you anyway. Wear a white cap if you want more instant action.

Everyone seems to want to hide but the tracker is out in front probably wearing a red cap, so what does it really matter?

They dont see red as we see it though. Just a shade of grey.

quote:

Originally posted by Matt Graham:

quote:

Originally posted by Will:

quote:

Originally posted by mrjulian_1970:

quote:

Originally posted by Palmer:


I think it illustrates some beginner mistakes that you old hands will readily pick up on - wearing light tan, sunglasses that keep bothering me, a sling on the rifle and worst of all letting the tracker carry my double.

As a beginner heading to my first buff hunt later this year, what makes light tan a mistake? Just curious.

It really doesn't matter. Buff and elephant aren't very cautious but they're not blind. They'll see you anyway. Wear a white cap if you want more instant action.

Everyone seems to want to hide but the tracker is out in front probably wearing a red cap, so what does it really matter?

They dont see red as we see it though. Just a shade of grey.

Then white is just a real light shade of gray?

quote:

Originally posted by Will:

quote:

Originally posted by Matt Graham:

quote:

Originally posted by Will:

quote:

Originally posted by mrjulian_1970:

quote:

Originally posted by Palmer:


I think it illustrates some beginner mistakes that you old hands will readily pick up on - wearing light tan, sunglasses that keep bothering me, a sling on the rifle and worst of all letting the tracker carry my double.

As a beginner heading to my first buff hunt later this year, what makes light tan a mistake? Just curious.

It really doesn't matter. Buff and elephant aren't very cautious but they're not blind. They'll see you anyway. Wear a white cap if you want more instant action.

Everyone seems to want to hide but the tracker is out in front probably wearing a red cap, so what does it really matter?

They dont see red as we see it though. Just a shade of grey.

Then white is just a real light shade of gray?

http://s18.photobucket.com/use...ia/bf487682.mp4.html

Click on the above link. It should start - if not pick on the arrow in the lower left corner of the screen if it does not start up.

This was a few years back - Juan must have dug it out of the archives.

Wow! That must have been exciting.

My first trip is in September. I doubt that the grass will be as high.

Thanks for sharing.