Timbo, even if I do think that for certain reasons Cape buffalo may have the edge in aggression, only quick shooting has saved Paul’s hide many a time. I’ve had to be quick and accurate, too. Every time I go into the bush (or out to the bin at nighttime) I feel that fear.
The Australian buffalo hunting operations you and I are familiar with are remote and awesome and spectacular, but they’re a different kettle of fish in terms of access, infrastructure and logistics compared to the guys further east. Out there, experiencing that truly remote and inaccessible country comes at a cost. And they have to pass along all or most of the trophy fee. The fact that prices for the big three cattle property hunts were comparable to the Arnhemland hunts is interesting. To me that indicates the guys way out are being pretty competitive.
The roads are awful. I’m not going to say they’re worse than Africa, because I’m not experienced. But I’d put money on them being no better. They wreck the toughest of four-wheel-drives.
I don’t envy the hard work Australian professionals do with either no team to help them or a very small team at best. Cooking, cleaning, trophy preparation. Labour is cheap in Africa.
I am curious about the insurance and fees to governing bodies. I’m not sure how they compare.
From what I remember about Africa food and beer are cheap.
An experience out east is comparable in my opinion to the most remote parts of Mozambique or Tanzania in terms vastness, challenge getting there, and unspoilt wilderness.
Hi Ben. You've basically identified the very same points and conditions I've raised, without detracting from what burdens exchange rates, governments, international borders that burden African PHs in order to field hunts in remote areas: and yes, PHs pass those costs along to the client, in the same way Aussie Guides do. And yet, the cost of a cape buffalo remains very competitive compared to water buff here.
However I don't agree that the water buffalo is in the same class as cape buffalo, elephant or lion. I've discussed this, on and off, over the last 30yrs with a number of hunters who've hunted both species - and including a mate, Frank (an ex-professional buffalo shooter in the 70s and 80s) - with the general consensus being that it's "big" game, but not "dangerous" game.
The reason might lie in the fact that cape buffalo are the main prey of lions. Therefore they're hunted 24/7 by them, which in turn would make the cape buffalo, temperamentally, a more naturally very aggressive animal, if only to ensure it's own survival - whereas Australian water buffalo simply don't have any such natural predators continually hunting them. (As an aside, remember too, that when hunting cape buffalo you must keep an eye out, as you are also hunting in the same area as those lions!!).
But the water buffalo does make for a very nice trophy, but whichever way you view it they are still a domesticated, introduced, animal gone feral. Still today in many asian countries, it's used as a beast of burden and, to plough paddy fields. True, when provoked they can get angry, and it's prudent to hunt with caution - and that goes for wild boar too - but it must be said, that even a dog will bite if provoked, so I'm not one that puts water buffalo in the same class as lion, cape buffalo or elephant. And despite accurate, quick shooting, many clients and experienced PHs have been killed by "the widow-maker". Earlier this year, notice was put on this site of a SA PH being gored. Then during my buffalo hunt in 2013 we got a radio call notifying my PH's mate was gored and killed while guiding his client. Also, a buff that gored Ian Gibson took 21 rounds, and then another 2 on it's way in before successfully goring him. I've never heard, or read, of such killings, or such incredible tenacity, shown by water buff.
People may not like my views, but that's their issue, as the differences between the species just can't be ignored. I remember many years ago, one of my first experiences in hunting cape buffalo that'll indicate their cunning. Firstly, the buffalo would leap clear across the dirt roads so not to leave visible tracks for us to follow. Second, we later bumped a crafty buff that once it realised it was being hunted, started circling back over his own tracks in order to confuse the trackers - and to ambush us!! Now, that truly was a hair raising experience!! Then last year the companion to the buff I'd dropped hung around to almost charge, but decided against it and ran off.
But I agree hunting in remote areas, either here, the US, Canada or the Himalayas is one of the real charms that draws us to these places as hunters, but the resources, supplies and equipment available to Aussie Guides are more readily available, cheaper and have less bureaucratic obfuscation than faced by PHs in Africa.
