Buffalo or Sable

[Bigguns]

There have been some price adjustments on Sable. Especially in RSA. Not sure how low they will go. They are probably down 30-40% over the last 3-4 yrs. As they go lower the chance to do both could be possible. Sable from a wild area like Zambia, Moz or Zim is a different sort of hunt than one from RSA. Because of poaching concerns many RSA sable are on smaller properties away from roads. No use making it too easy to poach an animal that brought 8K a couple of yrs ago and still will bring 5K. They also check them regularly to make sure they have not been bothered. They get used to trucks driving through. Just not as wild. Sable are a beautiful and majestic animal. They can be challenging or simply a shoot.
As mentioned by ActionBob above the same may be true of a buffalo in RSA. When they are raised in a area with predators with a lot of room to roam they act differently then when raised in smaller bomas and released for hunting. So part of the equation comes down to where as asked by Brickburn above. Then property size and are they a self sustaining population.
Most love the thrill of a buffalo hunt. I have been to Africa 4 times and have still only hunted plains game. I was offered a buf while in RSA a few yrs ago. Looked too easy to me where I was at that time. Like just walk up to him and shoot. Not really a hunt. So I passed. Currently have an exceptional offer down in the East Cape on good sized properties. 55,000, 30,000 and 25,000 acres owned by one company. All have buff. Trying to decide if I want one there or in a "wild" area. Not sure what I will do.......... Right now, thanks in big part to AH, I have way too many offers. Still trying to sort out my priorities. Then the who with and where will become clearer.
Bruce

Thanks for your thoughts!

 

[Bigguns]

My second trip is going to be my 75 Birthday gift to myself. Well almost, it was actually my wife's idea. Due to a motorcycle accident back in 1971 I'm barely able to walk. If I were younger and in much better health maybe my choice would have been Buffalo. But life intervened, now I'm going for a Spiral Slam and maybe a Sable. Other guys in my party have hippo and buff on their menu, my hat goes off to them. At the end of the day we will be sharing stories and a cold one over a campfire. To me, that is more of what hunting is all about.

Good luck on your hunt! I hope that at 75 that I am still considering a trip as you are and enjoying my buddies around a campfire and a beverage!

 

[AZDAVE]

Yes to both! Totally different kinds of hunts. but I would Choose Buff 1'st if you couldn't swing both

 

[rafaellinne]

Buffalo even if you already shot one

 

[Ridgewalker]

PawPrints has a good combo buff and sable deal. I hunted buffalo on their Atlanta concession and it was very tough the first few stalks, then everything changed and it all came together. The concession I believe was 20,000 acres with a rugged mountain range right down the middle. My Courtney boots were not adequate for the rough rocky areas (no ankle support). But it all worked out.

I’m sure there are lots of areas similar in RSA.

 

[RogerHeintzman]

If your budget is tight and only one species is on the menu, then do the buff. Their price has come down some what.
I have hunted them in Zim on wide open country and what a challenge. Also in RSA on big concessions with dense bush and what a challenge that was. Just find area that suits you and go for it.

 

[Hank2211]

You have heard the opinions, and I'm not sure adding my 'buffalo' to the others will make much of a difference, but having done both in South Africa and both in Zimbabwe, I think you should go for the buffalo and keep the sable for another day.

A traditional buffalo hunt on a big property involves tracking and if, as is to be hoped, there are many buffalo, looking over groups until you find the one you want. I have done it in South Africa and taken as long as three days to find one I wanted and as short as one day. But in both cases, we tracked from water in the early morning. A good hunt.

Sable, on the other hand, can be a decent hunt in South Africa, but usually is not. You tend to drive until you find them, and then figure out how to approach. Sable is a fairly aggressive animal, and if they see you but can't smell you, they will often stand their ground, snorting and stamping their feet. Not always, but often enough. It's an interesting sight, but not necessarily a challenging hunt. I like trying to get close to sable, and on properties with a decent population, you can generally get a pretty good deal on sable with one or two broken horns. Having shot one trophy, that's what I do these days. By the way, it makes for a nice rug.

If you want a sable - and it is a magnificent animal - hunt them in Zambia, Zimbabwe or even Mozambique (although they are bigger in Zambia and Northern Zimbabwe - Matetsi in particular). The properties will usually be unfenced, and you will generally be able to find sable, but like most animals, you may have to do some real work to find a magnificent bull (by which I mean 41" or more). It's worth it.

If the plan is to drive until you find buffalo, then I suspect the hunt will not be that much different than a sable hunt. This is not to say you should not do it - to each their own - but I believe you will lose out on one of the great African hunting experiences if you hunt buffalo this way, or if you hunt buffalo on a property too small to have multiple groups, or where their whereabouts are pretty much known in advance.

Oh - one last thought. Tell your PH you want to get close. It may not be possible to get too close in some areas (Mozambique plains for example), but it should be in South Africa. Close is not 100 yards. Close is 50 yards or less.

Buffalo deserves an effort and a worthwhile experience.

 

[Nyati]

If I had the cash and the space for the trophies, from now on, I would only hunt buffalo.

 

[yola]

I do not want to hunt a Buff that was released just to be shot.

I was thinking SA on a large concession or ranch.

We have a very large area with a challenging buff hunt in between lion and sable. I can price you a sable / buffalo combo at Serapa if you are interested..

Best regards,

Jacques

 

[enysse]

To be fair either one could be exciting! If you have the money either one in a wild open area with no fences will be challenging. I think you will be satisfied with either hunt. If you hunt they behind fence for the right price, it can also be exciting.

 

[Alchemist]

When you are old and grey, which story would you like to tell your grandson. The one of your buffalo hunt, or your sable hunt.
For me this is an easy decision.

 

[wesheltonj]

Black Death or Black Beauty. Work a deal for both if in budget. Those two are on my list. But if I could only take one, it's the Sable.

 

[mdwest]

Tough choice...

My wife will be chasing sable on our trip over next month as her top priority..

Cape buff however is the #1 priority for both of us in 2019...

For me if I could pick only one, it would be the buff...

But for my wife sable is the bigger prize..

Really just depends on what you like/want...

 

[Philip Glass]

Planning a 2nd trip to South Africa in 2019.

Question for the AH community, would you prefer a Cape Buffalo or a Sable and “smalls” for the same budget? What is the preference?

Are you talking a fenced buff or free range? The situation would make my decision for me.
Philip

 

[rpgoldsby]

Buffalo without a doubt.

 

[Bigguns]

Are you talking a fenced buff or free range? The situation would make my decision for me.
Philip

Thinking large South Africa ground, assuming fenced in SA.

 

[Philip Glass]

Thinking large South Africa ground, assuming fenced in SA.

If it’s a big place you’ll be fine and have a good hunt just ask questions.

 

[Red Leg]

Thinking large South Africa ground, assuming fenced in SA.

South Africa can be a great hunt on the right property (i.e. Timbavati). On the wrong one, where a bull or two were purchased at auction and released to be shot - not so much. As Philip suggests, just ask questions and let those answers guide you.

 

[Chago]

Are you talking a fenced buff or free range? The situation would make my decision for me.
Philip

Sorry totally off topic. I just saw your avatar and realized I know you from somewhere. I literally watched "Trophy" today. Wow what are the odds.

 

[yola]

If it’s a big place you’ll be fine and have a good hunt just ask questions.

Thank you sir for putting yourself out there to help us protect a industry we love!