Todays Buffalo “Call the Shot” Typical Zimbabwe Shot Presentation

[Green Chile]

Hunter did a great job. Not everyone could have done so well with irons. With scope, that’s better odds for most shooters.

 

[uplander01]

 

[steve white]

These "call the shot" threads are some of the most useful I have seen in a while--way, way better than some poster of a buffalo standing broadside in ankle high grass!

 

[Green Chile]

They are useful topics as they show the complexity of shots and often an animal is not standing in the open posing for the camera or hunter. They are also a snapshot in time and it can change quickly. I always find it interesting in the field how one or two feet to the side can make a huge difference. The PH sees one thing and the hunter sees another. I try to stand and look over the shoulder of the PH so I see what they see. Sometimes I stand right behind the PH and look low while they look high. I also look to the sides when following the tracker in case something is circling and that is not unusual to see. I will rarely see something the tracker doesn't see when looking in the same direction so I keep my head on a slow swivel. Doing that, I will catch a few things first on every hunt.

 

[Altitude sickness]

Great point Bryan, on my last trip we were on the target bull. He steps through my narrow shooting lane and I am swinging my rifle staying on his vitals waiting for the PH to give the clearance to shoot. The Bull quickly is through my tiny window. And the PH says “shoot him”

The bull was already through my window and I had no shot when it was a clear lane for the PH.

It can be frustrating if you’ve worked hard to get just one opportunity, and it’s a special animal.

 

[Green Chile]

This situation happens so often in the Bush. You have to really be in control of your shot process and only you can really control the shot. It's very common for there to be a little lapse in time between what you and the PH see. Communication has to be really clear. The main thing I want to know is are we trying to get this animal and once I have the green light, I have to make the final call. Sometimes the window is wide open and sometimes it's a very quick window. I have to be ready.

 

[grand veneur]

I prefer to hunt buffaloes alone, without PH and only with local guides and trackers. In this case I can decide whether to shoot or not. Unfortunately you cannot do that everywhere.

 

[Hunt anything]

Looking at the picture I would’ve said no shot but after watching the video I said yellow and a red dot but in reality I would maybe shoot in the middle of the 3 dots.

 

[grand veneur]

Good shot, no discussion.

The only thing I noticed while watching the video just again is the way the buffalo lying on the ground was approached. I assume that the PH knows what he is doing, but personally I have always approached such lying down buffaloes from behind and towards his back so that I had enough time to shoot if it should get up again. While we are on the topic of what to do when a buffalo has been shot, you also need to keep an eye on the surrounding area because sometimes there are a few others buffalos standing around. You never know what they will do.

 

[Rafiki]

What's on the other side of the buffalo? More buffalo?

 

[Altitude sickness]

This situation happens so often in the Bush. You have to really be in control of your shot process and only you can really control the shot. It's very common for there to be a little lapse in time between what you and the PH see. Communication has to be really clear. The main thing I want to know is are we trying to get this animal and once I have the green light, I have to make the final call. Sometimes the window is wide open and sometimes it's a very quick window. I have to be ready.

I agree, my PH wanted to confirm it was the right bull before I shot. It was; too thick, couldn’t ID the bull no shot, to shoot , no shot all in very short time period.

 

[grand veneur]

What's on the other side of the buffalo? More buffalo?

I do not understand the question.

 

[Rafiki]

I do not understand the question.

With today's bullets you can shoot right through a buffalo. We're all talking about a critter we can hardly see let alone one that may be on the other side.