quote:

Originally posted by Code4:
No worrys Cal.

What I liked about your post is that you obviously hunt with your eyes open first, then your wallet. You have an accute understanding of animal behaviour based on observation.

If you want to believe buffalo are inherantly dangerous then good luck to you.

Naive populations are curious, not dangerous. 'Shot up' populations are the hardest to hunt.

Ignore the naysayers. They are either consumers or have a financial interest in 'the industry'.

Code 4 - Not knowing you, I would expect you've hunted cape buffalo many times, in many different countries? No doubt with a greater width of experience to draw upon, you can make an opinion that perhaps others are making with a lesser degree of experience, I don't know?

I do wonder however if the widow of PH - Owain Lewis, the widow of PH - Wayne Clark, the widow of Bob Fontana (he was killed by a buffalo while hunting Kudu in Masailand!!!), Nikki Atcheson - nearly killed, Richard Bell-Cross (almost killed by a cape buffalo while simply setting up a machan to hunt Sitatunga, spent 3 weeks in the hospital) "begno" here on AR, and numerous others, would share the same sentiments when it comes to the docile, over-rated, cape buffalo?

On June 9th, 2012 - at 5pm in the afternoon I stood two feet away from Mr. Lewis' life-less body. Looking at the massive, and completely un-survivable wounds that were inflicted upon him just 3 hrs earlier by the over-rated cape buffalo. A sight I assure you, I will not soon forget! As the bull layed just 10 feet away, riddled with over a DOZEN bullets holes - I couldn't help but wonder how terrifying it must have been. Knowing your shooting him, but knowing he's still coming?

In 2008, in Tanzania's Kilombero Valley - I was hunting a pair of dagga boys in the late afternoon. We finally caught up to them, shot one of the bulls and all was good. The other bull stopped about 50 yards away, completely un-wounded, but apparently not too happy that I had just shot his buddy. After a 3 minute stand-off, he decided to avenge his buddy's death, or go down trying. My PH and I tried to shout him down, but to no avail. We starting shooting as he reached 15 yards, and fortunately 6 shots later he was down. I was surprised that a totally un-wounded buff would charge, just as I am sure Bob Fontana was too - but he's not here to tell us what he thinks!!! I have it on film, if you care to see it?

September of 2011 in Charisa, Zimbabwe - my PH (Phillip Smythe) and I were charged by an extremely pissed off buffalo bull. As he was roughly 15 feet from Phil, and 20 feet from me, I shot him through the top of the boss, knocking a silver dollar sized hole through the top of his skull (see pic below) into the brain cavity, but still he managed to stay on his feet???? I shot him the 2nd time as he was only 6 feet from Phillip - both times with a .577NE double rifle!!! I was shocked at the speed at which that bull came at us - like a freight train, he was upon us in a flash! I have this one on film too, in case you are interested in seeing it?

May 2008, while hunting cape buffalo in the Save Valley Conservancy, I saw about 20 buffalo do something I have never seen before, or since. They knew we were after them, a portion of the herd turned around as they were 50 yards from us, lined up in a wall like soldiers - shoulder to shoulder, and loudly/aggressively started at us all at once. The same aggressive posture they will take when trying to fight off a lion attack. Immediately the PH - Glenn Stockil yelled for me to get the hell out of there. I turned around to see all of my guys 30 yards behind me, and decided I better go too. The buffalo continued to come after us, not on a full charge, but as a group - and obviously wanting us to get the hell out of there (we retreated about 150 yards before they left us alone). Afterwards Glenn told me that he had seen that once before. He made the mistake of standing his ground, and as the buffalo got within 15 yards of them, a cow charged - and he shot her less than 10 feet from the hunting party. She was NOT wounded either!

No doubt one's own experience dictates they're opinion of each and every situation we encounter in life. As I recall, Saeed who's hunted buffalo more than anyone I know of - has never been charged? I've shot over a dozen, hunted em with clients too - and have had several hair-raising experiences. But nothing showed me the full capabilities of an angry cape buffalo, like what I saw on June 9th, 2012. A man's life was taken, apparently the over-rated cape buffalo bull littered with bullet holes - never got that memo!!

My fear is, too many folks will have the same cavalier attitude - and not take seriously an adversary that deserves one's full respect/attention! Obviously the vast majority of the time, buffalo hunting is without incident - but to insinuate they are not to be taken seriously, simply because your experience with them has been less than dangerous, could be dangerous! My opinion has nothing to do with my position in the hunting industry, I make it based on personal experience. I have seen the other side of the coin, and it ain't any fun. I don't fear the buffalo, or anything else in Africa for that matter - but I do respect them, and their capabilities.

Thanks for your buff head count, Aaron..
Dairy bulls (and cows for that matter) kill folks every year too.
Hamburgers will kill you too if you induldge much too often. Cigars, copenhagen tobacco, cars, planes, muggers, bears, snakes.. All can/will kill you. That's life, short and sometimes shorter.

As you know, opinions abound here. Cal and Code are certainly entitled to theirs. Cal related his based upon his experience on both of these types of buffalo on his various hunts for both types (he has done both types multiple times). Code was merely agreeing, as he is certainly able here on AR.

Ask Saeed how many buff he's killed and how many times he's been charged. He has probably shot more buff an all of us on this site combined. I'd say his opinion would weigh heavy here.

My 2 cape buff and 2 water buff were exactly the same. Big black bovines, both CAPABLE OF KILLING you if mess it up, bang-flop-dead. There was absolutely no diff in the hunts, other than I was in Zimbabwe on two and Australia on the others. Screw up the shot and I would surmass that the Aussie buff could kill you just as dead as any other type of buffalo, whether it be in TX, Aussie or Argentina.

Back to the point, after being taken WAY off... It was a grand hunt that I would highly recomend!

quote:

Originally posted by Scottyboy:
Thanks for your buff head count, Aaron..
Dairy bulls (and cows for that matter) kill folks every year too.
Hamburgers will kill you too if you induldge much too often. Cigars, copenhagen tobacco, cars, planes, muggers, bears, snakes.. All can/will kill you. That's life, short and sometimes shorter.

As you know, opinions abound here. Cal and Code are certainly entitled to theirs. Cal related his based upon his experience on both of these types of buffalo on his various hunts for both types (he has done both types multiple times). Code was merely agreeing, as he is certainly able here on AR.

Ask Saeed how many buff he's killed and how many times he's been charged. He has probably shot more buff an all of us on this site combined. I'd say his opinion would weigh heavy here.

My 2 cape buff and 2 water buff were exactly the same. Big black bovines, both CAPABLE OF KILLING you if mess it up, bang-flop-dead. There was absolutely no diff in the hunts, other than I was in Zimbabwe on two and Australia on the others. Screw up the shot and I would surmass that the Aussie buff could kill you just as dead as any other type of buffalo, whether it be in TX, Aussie or Argentina.

Scottyboy, that's the only point I was trying to make, nothing more - that everyone's own opinion is often based on personal experiences. It wasn't meant to be offensive. And yes, lots of things can kill you - no doubt. Perhaps most PH's have more respect/concern for the cape buffalo as a dangerous adversary - simply because they have lots more experience upon which to cast their opinion? My own experience has taught me that they can/do kill people, they can/do charge people, even when not wounded at all! I'm glad yours went bang/flop/dead, as I don't want to see anyone suffer the same fate as a few of the recent casualties. But obviously that's not the same experience seen by everyone.

Just as I posted previously, it looks like you guys had an awesome time - and took some really nice trophies as well. I too am taking my .600NE to Australia in June 2013 for buffalo, so it was very interesting to hear of Cal's experience with his. Thanks for posting the adventure!

Aaaron, seems like Cape Buff react to you the same way women do :-)

Great pictures, nice hunting report. It makes me think I should visit down under and try the buff there.

Scottyboy,

Very nice! The thought of a 400,000 acre ranch is mind boggling. What kind of velocities do you get with the Charles Osborne and 400 grain bullets? Thanks.

HUNTS
The 3 1/4NE was around 2150 with the 400gr Woodleighs.

Yes, it was a helluva chunk of property! They had never seen all of it.. Most of it is roadless.

Wonderful report....you guys took some beautiful buffalo!! Congratulations.

Great report Scottyboy, your pictures are excellent.

Very intersting report , i have to hunt in Australia .

Congrats on your hunt and sharing all the great photos!

Dear Cal

Not sure what went down with Qantas.

But I get an approval letter to carry a firearm letter of them each 2 years.
This normally makes things a lot smother.

Regards Mark

NICE HUNT WITH SOME BIG GUNS

Excellent.

quote:

Originally posted by Code4:

If you want to believe buffalo are inherantly dangerous then good luck to you.

Naive populations are curious, not dangerous. 'Shot up' populations are the hardest to hunt.

Ignore the naysayers. They are either consumers or have a financial interest in 'the industry'.

What a load of horse shit. Tell the likes of Ian Gibson, Stu Taylor, Mike Taylor, Wayne Van den Burgh, Paul Wellock just to name a few (guys with high experience that I personally know and a couple with scares to show)that Buffalo are NOT inherently dangerous.
Being hammered by Lion for countless generations is about the best reason for inheriting habits that are quite DANGEROUS that I can think of.