Unless I hit the lottery my chances of going to Afrika to hunt Cape Buffalo will always just be a dream.
BUT!!! what about these Water Buffalos that are here in the U.S.??? Like the ones in Florida are they sporting/dangerous?
I see I can hunt them $cheap$ no passports,no shots,no crazed natives with pangas.
Can anyone give me some insight about these Asian Water Buffalos and hunting them.How would it compare to Cape Buffalo hunting?
Would this be a viable alternative for someone like me with limited funds or would I just be fooling myself? Thanks rws2

we to have them here in australia and hunting them is like shooting cows in a paddock..thats just my take on water buff
daniel

Water buffalo in the USA would not be remotely similar to hunting Cape Buffalo in Africa. Save your money and go do the real thing! You'll never regret doing it, however, you will always regret not going if you don't!

Thats kinda what I figured since I see pics little kids riding them around.I raise cattle for a living and was thinking that these Water Buffalos might just be like regular old run of the mill cattle with horns I guess its Afrika or bust!
Saving my money would be the very best thing for me to do.Since my dream is Cape Buffalo then it would only stand to reason that only Cape Buffalo could fulfill the dream.
Anyone know how much it would cost total to go to Afrika kill a Cape buffalo and a Warthog.Round Trip,Shots,Passport,Dip/Crate everything and anything ,total price! I don't need 4 Star accomadations.Thank You

[ 11-30-2003, 19:42: Message edited by: rws2 ]

rws2,

I hunted the Asian Buffalo in Argentina and it was a very exciting hunt. The Buff I hunted was hard to get up on and we crawled for hundreds of yards to get into range. They were out in the open grasslands and would get on the highest knoll where they could see anyone from all directions. I would have hated to follow a wounded one up in that high grass!!!

Hawkeye47

When I was in asia,(pre nam) the buffs were used as beasts of burden. Like a mule or an ox. And, of course, practically lived with the folks that owned them.
Might be kinda like shooting a pen raised white rhino.

RWS2

I have hunted both the Cape Buffalo in a few African countries, as well as the Asian buff with the operation in Florida to which you are referring, J&R Outfitters.

WRT your questions, as there are no cows on the place in Florida, there are mostly singles and pairs of bulls hanging out, so with fewer "eyes", they are easier to approach. Getting within gun range is usually possible, but the same can be said of the African buffalo in many places. Bowhunting either species is extremely challenging, as the Asians are just as spooky as their African cousins. Both species are tenacious and can take a lot of lead, and both are very aggressive when wounded, with the Cape being slightly moreso.

Unless pricing has changed, J&R charges $4000 inclusive for the hunt. Add $300 for air and maybe $500 for trophy prep and shipment, so you are out for under $5000.

With Zim being the exception, most cape hunts will come in at $9000, usually more. With $1500 for air, $1200 for trophy handling and shipment (which is what last-years buff and a pig cost me to get home from Zim) you are looking at around $12000 more or less.

While I would prefer to hunt mbogo and enjoy the entire experience that is safari, having a large,dangerous, and challenging species that runs about 40% of the cost here in the States is a very nice alternative.