unwounded buffalo cow charge!

[HENRY GRIFFITHS SAFARIS]

Unwounded Buffalo cow charge!

This past week, we had a very exciting experience: we hunted a buffalo cow with a hunter from Norway.

We have some old Buffalo cows that we are in the process of culling and offer them to hunters as cull animals. A very good Friend of mine who owns Unzwa Safaris in Limpopo had a client that was looking for a late season buffalo experience that would not brake the bank and the date was set!

This part of the Kridyn area that we hunted is a mix of open savanna and some clumps of thick bush mixed in, we found the herd pretty easy and made several stalks trying to pick out an old cow that did not have a calf and was losing condition due to the drought and not having any teeth left to feed on the limited short grass that is available currently

We came close to getting a shot a few times stalking to less than 20 yards from the herd, and spent many exciting moments on the shooting sticks waiting for a clear shot opportunity but every time the old cow was covered by others or was behind cover. the herd spooked a few times and would move off a short distance and we would follow. the old cow was struggling a little bit to keep up with the herd and eventually broke away from the herd we followed but could not get a shot as she kept eluding us in the thickets

We eventually broke for lunch as it was very hot! South Africa is experiencing very high summer temps right now and it is very dry!

We headed out in the afternoon and I thought we were headed out too early as it was still very hot and was expecting the Buffalo to be laying down, but we got lucky and found he herd in a fairly open bit and was able to see the entire herd and could easily spot the old cow in the herd while planning a stalk and getting close to the herd we briefly lost sight of the cow and once we were in a good position we could not pick out the cow. I assumed she had laid down with a few others on the edge of the herd. Then there was movement on the far right of the herd. The old cow was heading into some very thick vaalbos breaking away from the herd, we checked the wind and planned a go-around path to where we last saw the cow.

It was just the hunter and me that went in, I was carrying my shooting stick in one hand and my 375 Ruger in my other hand and the hunter was following close behind me with my CZ 375 H&H client rifle.

a short way in we spotted the cow laying down in some thick vaalbos under a camelthorn tree, it was too thick for a shot and she was up and gone pretty quick, we followed in the direction she went but lost her again, we looked around a bit and did not see anything.

We decided she had to be there in one of the thickets and made another loop trying to catch the wind, we walked through an open spot with some thick vaalbos on our right, the vaalbos was less than 10 yards from us, and something caught my eye and I could just barely see the cow standing up from where she was lying, she stood up real quick made that typical buffalo grunt when they charge! she came straight for us with no hesitation!

The cow charged from less than 10 meters she came out of the vaalbos into full view at about 7 or 8 m By that time I had dropped the shooting stick and had my rifle up and ready, I could see that the hunter that was slightly behind me had his rifle up and ready, as the Buffalo came from the side and the direction we were walking we both had a clear line of fire.

I was about to shoot when the hunter fired and hit the cow just below the eye and the shot went through into her neck and she dropped right there, he reloaded super fast and I said to put one into the chest just to be sure!

When the dust settled and we processed what just happened, we made the rifles safe and I stepped over the where the hunter was standing and told him to pace off from where he was standing. he took 5 steps and put a foot on the chest of the buff!


here are a few pictures

one fast shooting client and a happy PH in this pic

bullet hole of the first shot

took this pic on my phone from where I was standing during the action!

 

[Altitude sickness]

Man, he got his money’s worth. She is in very poor condition

 

[Tally-Ho HUNTING SAFARIS]

Very cool hunt

 

[BeeMaa]

Congratulations to the quick (and accurate) shooting hunter.

As a PH, what lesson did you take away from this experience? With hindsight being 20/20, would you have done anything differently?

 

[HENRY GRIFFITHS SAFARIS]

Congratulations to the quick (and accurate) shooting hunter.

As a PH, what lesson did you take away from this experience? With hindsight being 20/20, would you have done anything differently?

from a ph's perspective , I would say not much could have been done different, I'm just very happy that the client shot first, and I did not have to shoot, I say any hunt where the ph doesn't have to shoot is a good hunt!

 

[Rare Breed]

from a ph's perspective , I would say not much could have been done different, I'm just very happy that the client shot first, and I did not have to shoot, I say any hunt where the ph doesn't have to shoot is a good hunt!

Congratulations on an exciting hunt. Obviously the 375 with a head shot put her down instantly. Just curious do you consider the 375 to be a stopping rifle? If a head shot could not have been made curious on your answer. not being critical whatsoever just curious about your thoughts

 

[Lumaberpat]

Awesome hunt! Thanks for writing it out!

 

[flying sailor]

There is a hunt for the books, will not be forgotten. Terrific!

 

[Cheesehead]

Wow! That hunter will have a heck of a story to tell.

 

[PARA45]

Wow, what a great hunt, and everyone walked away unharmed. Who said hunting Buffalo in SA is not exciting.

 

[Datchew]

Great story! Even if the buffalo isn't the fanciest trophy grade, that's a hunt to remember.

 

[BeeMaa]

Congratulations on an exciting hunt. Obviously the 375 with a head shot put her down instantly. Just curious do you consider the 375 to be a stopping rifle? If a head shot could not have been made curious on your answer. not being critical whatsoever just curious about your thoughts

 

[HENRY GRIFFITHS SAFARIS]

Congratulations on an exciting hunt. Obviously the 375 with a head shot put her down instantly. Just curious do you consider the 375 to be a stopping rifle? If a head shot could not have been made curious on your answer. not being critical whatsoever just curious about your thoughts

I have carried a 375 for many years as a back up rifle , obviously when things go wrong even a cannon would feel to small, but I believe accuracy and speed (speed of handling the rifle and recovering from recoil) is more important than bullet diameter, I believe a Ph should guide allot and shoot a little , by this I mean that if a guide does everything he can to ensures a client a good close shot opportunity he will rarely have to shoot his rifle and it doesn't matter what the diameter of his bore is.

and in cases like this when things happen quick and un planned, fast accurate shooting is needed if you miss the brain or neck or spine with any caliber the buffalo will keep going....

note this is my humble opinion, im not saying any Ph carrying a bigger gun is wrong not at all, Im saying shoot the biggest gun you can handle the recoil off and shoot fast and accurate I'm a small frame guy and don't like big heavy long guns, 375 works just fine for me,

I have been teased in the past in hunting camp by clients and other Ph's saying that the hunter has a bigger gun than the PH (tongue in cheek) !

for me here in RSA 375 is best, cheap to shoot and practice with, easy to reload for.......