Luckily I had been prepared and anticipated that a charge from the cow was imminent, I just had enough time to aim lead and fire, the 570 gr bullet hitting the cow at the junction of the neck and the shoulder, instantly folding her. She dropped at seven yards.
By this time the herd has left in a giant dust cloud and I look ahead and spot the bull down close to the stream with Mr X shouting bring bullets! bring bullets! With his PH having taken evasive action to the left I arrive on scene just before him, real pissed off at this point. The bull is down but not dead, I lift my rifle and kill him.
What does Mr X have to say?? Who was shooting behind me??
I proceed to ask him to please follow me, as we retrace our steps I point out where his footprints are, I further point out that he kept running despite us shouting at him to stop, I then mention that he used solids for back up didn’t you? Yes and what is the problem? He again asked who was shooting behind me. By this time we had reached the downed cow. He abruptly stopped and started changing color.
I then said Sir here is your Buffalo cow that nearly killed your PH after you shot it in the arse, how would you like to have it skinned? A full mount or just a shoulder mount?
He had no words at this point and I turned around gave my mate a hug, got my client and left….
Needless to say the dynamics in camp were not the same after that.
This individual has gone on from there to become a well-known TV hunt host and self-proclaimed buffalo expert, gladly our paths have never crossed and I am thankful for that. That he is uninjured after watching some of his further exploits amazes me.
Not often you get an agreeable and most pleasant client and the total opposite on the same safari….
Which are you…..