Distance of first shot on the big 5 or dangerous 7?

[Ike85123]

My croc was 105 yards off a very solid rest on the opposite river bank/island. My 2 hippos in water, one was at 70 yards off 4 stable sticks, the other was too far just under 150 but it was a good brain shot still with a very solid rest. My Cape buffalo was about 80 yards. My 1st Australian buffalo was under 25 yards and my 2nd was maybe 40-50. My croc and hippo shots are longer than most, but I will add they were all at the tail end of hunts and PH had a good opportunity to evaluate my shooting. My shot on my croc split the skull but slightly missed the brain just a little high, I was able to put 2 more into him before he fell off rock and we did recover him at bottom of river. My 1st Australian buffalo came right at us after shot, not a charge, just very close and the direction he want to come.
My next cape buffalo hunt, I would really like to get in close after a long day of tracking, I booked it just for that experience.

I have never hunted Australia. Definitely on my bucket list ! I usually go fishing for 3 days once a year and maybe some 2 day hunts locally. I only get to leave the country about every 4 or 5yrs. Im not rich and africa never gets any cheaper !
Good luck on your up coming hunt! It will be a heart pumper for sure !

 

[WAB]

Very interesting thread. My experience hunting buff and ele in the African bush has been a close range affair. I think I’ve only taken one first shot at over 50 yards, most much closer. The terrain and animal make this possible, although not easy.

This stands in stark contrast to many spot and stalk bear in Alaska. I have never seen a more alert animal than an interior griz. That combined with the terrain makes 100 yards a close shot, and personally, I wouldn’t shoot at one over 200. Very interesting how different they are than coastal griz in attitude and alertness. My buddy bow hunts them, but you gotta wear your big boy pants for that hunt!

 

[Ike85123]

Very interesting thread. My experience hunting buff and ele in the African bush has been a close range affair. I think I’ve only taken one first shot at over 50 yards, most much closer. The terrain and animal make this possible, although not easy.

This stands in stark contrast to many spot and stalk bear in Alaska. I have never seen a more alert animal than an interior griz. That combined with the terrain makes 100 yards a close shot, and personally, I wouldn’t shoot at one over 200. Very interesting how different they are than coastal griz in attitude and alertness. My buddy bow hunts them, but you gotta wear your big boy pants for that hunt!

I watched a show on netflix all about kodiak island bear hunting. It showcases archery and black powder hunts. I guess im still in pampers, its not for me !

 

[WAB]

I watched a show on netflix all about kodiak island bear hunting. It showcases archery and black powder hunts. I guess im still in pampers, its not for me !

IMO only, coastal bears are easier to get close to. This is likely a combination of personality and terrain. I’ve fished with a coastal bear 50 yards from me. I’ve actually had a coastal bear steal a duck I’d shot 50 yards outside my decoys. I’ve never seen interior bears tolerate this kind of proximity.

 

[buckmarkhunter]

I took my buffalo at 26yds with my bow. I drew on him 3 times that day before I let the arrow fly. It hit its mark and went down within 45 yds. Although the day before we got charged by him and that is definitely a pucker moment.

 

[Hank2211]

12yrds is definitely a heart pounding distance !
At that range , you will only get 1 shot. I bet it was very intense ! I can imagine that beast towing over you at only 12yrds !

And I still blew the shot - was trying for a side brain and ended up spinning him! That's what happens when you're trying hard not to shake!

 

[Muskox]

What's shooting at 200 yards got to do with hunting dg?....as I said that's shooting not hunting them....and most incidents happen on the follow up on a wounded animal....or in some cases getting taken by surprise by an animal usually buff that's snared or been chewed by lions...or even getting shot by the client on a follow up on the odd occasion....

If that is the case why don't you use a sharpened stick and hunt in a loin cloth?

We are short on lions and elephants here, but a dead bear (Polar, Brown or Black) at 200 is better than a dead bear at 50 yards when he can cover that distance in 1-2 seconds.

Grew up in Wyoming and Montana hunting elk in tall timber with brown bears, spent some time as a police officer in the arctic and lived with polar bears every day.

Our most dangerous situations come from accidentally getting between a sow and her cubs.

I have never hunted dangerous game in Africa only plains game, but when I do I am not going to go looking for those 15-50 yard situations, nor turn down shots at 200 that would result in a dead animal.

 

[Muskox]

There isn't much challenge in shooting something at 200, and I am not the guy advocating for a 500 yard shot on regular deer, antelope, plains game, elk or anything else.

The ethical goal of any hunter is to humanely kill the animal. 200 yards gives you a bit more time to do it.

I have been in on two North American plains bison hunts in Wyoming with my father. He was lucky enough to kill two bison about 10-15 years apart.

Imagine if a black wildebeest weighed 2400 pounds, and acted that goofy. But had zero regard for respecting people that is a plains bison.

I wouldn't want to get within 30-50 yards of them as fast as they are. They can outrun a race horse, and have the stamina to go on for a long ways.

 

[Ike85123]

There isn't much challenge in shooting something at 200, and I am not the guy advocating for a 500 yard shot on regular deer, antelope, plains game, elk or anything else.

The ethical goal of any hunter is to humanely kill the animal. 200 yards gives you a bit more time to do it.

I have been in on two North American plains bison hunts in Wyoming with my father. He was lucky enough to kill two bison about 10-15 years apart.

Imagine if a black wildebeest weighed 2400 pounds, and acted that goofy. But had zero regard for respecting people that is a plains bison.

I wouldn't want to get within 30-50 yards of them as fast as they are. They can outrun a race horse, and have the stamina to go on for a long ways.

I habe never hunted an American buff. But a cape buff that has age, will have a continuous rib cage from front to back. I long distance shot will usually be slow enough to just ride the ribs and come out the back without any real damage. Even close up, that can happen.
With my rifle, the bullet would be too slow at over 100yrds to get the penetration needed.
I would either be paying for a lost/wounded trophy or be in for a dangerous follow up.
I believe that is what it comes down to.
If I cam get a good shot on my terms at 50yrds? I would take that over stalking in the grass praying to god I walk out !

 

[Mark Biggerstaff]

I have only 1 DG so far. Cape Buff was 72 yards, could not get closer because of no cover, open ground between us and him. 1 shot with 416 Rem Mag. Went 30 yards. No other shots needed. I hope to be within 50 yards or closer this year. Lioness and Buff with double 500 nitro loaded with 570gr Swift Aframes. It is the thrill of getting in close that I want, could care less of shooting them at 150-200 yards thats not what Africa Hunting is to me, it is getting close and personal with the animal.

 

[Newboomer]

I got my buf at about 35-40 yards head on with a Barnes 350gr TSX in my Win 70. We were cruising on a road and when we turned a bend he was right there in a little clearing. He didn't move, just stood there watching us get out, set the sticks, and I took the shot. It hit him right in the boiler room and his front end came up off the ground a good two feet. He turned 90 degrees and ran. We found him dead about 75 yards away, no death bellow, not a sound. Never did find the slug. The skinners said it tore him all to hell inside and probably went all the way through him.

 

[Gemsbok45]

SpikeT,again nails it!

 

[jpomazi]

31 yards on my Buffalo with a bow. I then understood why people get addicted to hunting them.

 

[WAB]

If that is the case why don't you use a sharpened stick and hunt in a loin cloth?

We are short on lions and elephants here, but a dead bear (Polar, Brown or Black) at 200 is better than a dead bear at 50 yards when he can cover that distance in 1-2 seconds.

Grew up in Wyoming and Montana hunting elk in tall timber with brown bears, spent some time as a police officer in the arctic and lived with polar bears every day.

Our most dangerous situations come from accidentally getting between a sow and her cubs.

I have never hunted dangerous game in Africa only plains game, but when I do I am not going to go looking for those 15-50 yard situations, nor turn down shots at 200 that would result in a dead animal.

You have an incredible level of knowledge and authority for someone who has never actually hunted African DG.

 

[Muskox]

Well I spent a military career deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq. I like the enemy dead and a long ways away.

 

[MarkB]

My buff was at 130 yds, I sort of felt robbed but after 12 days not getting closer to the spooky buggers its the shot we took, then one more 25 yd follow up.
Both leopards at less than 60 yds and both from blind with very stable rests.
Ele at 18 yds, side brain, Wayne followed up but he crumbled.
3 Grizzly, furthest at 80 yds, interior and closest at 3 steps, coastal. As exciting as leopard and buff, nothing like ele.

I was in the military for 34 years, 2 legged prey was kept far away. I am a hunter and like to get as close as possible to the game I hunt, seams like way more fun. Leave the sniping to others.

MB

 

[Tra3]

Bow hunting has made me a fan of getting close. This summer I hope to get close to a hippo on land. After all the patience I’ve had to learn during this last year of the pandemic, taking more time to get in close sounds like the most fun.

 

[Ike85123]

Bow hunting has made me a fan of getting close. This summer I hope to get close to a hippo on land. After all the patience I’ve had to learn during this last year of the pandemic, taking more time to get in close sounds like the most fun.

Curious, as I have no experience with the bow. Is all shots body shots? Or does a bow have the power for a brain shot ? And of so, which animals or all animals ?

 

[Tra3]

I’ll likely be using a rifle this summer. (I should have been more clear.)

In general, I don’t think anyone takes head shots with a bow.

 

[KMG Hunting Safaris]

In general, I don’t think anyone takes head shots with a bow.

Tim Wells