What makes a perfect buffalo hunt?

[MarkB]

All the stuff that others have described make a perfect buff hunt and also for me. The unknown, knowing that at the end of the track is NOT a specific buff, then tracks are found and we all take to the track, how big will he be, will we even see him, will his boss be hard, proper age, let alone get a shot. A good buff hunt is one with an unknown outcome.

I remember a long time ago on that first Zim safari and first buff track, after a few hrs the PH had an idea of where they may be headed, (he knew the area like his backyard) we got wind right and got ahead of the group. We sat in the long grass and waited, when they got close the PH put up the sticks and told me to get ready, when I stood to the sticks my legs were trembling and I my whole body was vibrating so bad. PH asked if all was good, NEVER on any game to that point in my life had I been so excited. We never did shoot, my PH was a real hunter, he wanted us close then closer, no shooting at the 100+ yds. Next day we crawled into a large group resting in the mopane bush, crawling up to a log and looking over at cows, calves and soft bulls mere yards away was why I was there. 5 more days with many tracks and many stalks it all worked out, one soft and then a solid and I had my first buff, an old solid boss wild bull.

To me it was the perfect buff hunt. Very few other hunts compare still today.

Those buff were not the stand around banana eating buff I saw on my last safari.

MB

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

All the stuff that others have described make a perfect buff hunt and also for me. The unknown, knowing that at the end of the track is NOT a specific buff, then tracks are found and we all take to the track, how big will he be, will we even see him, will his boss be hard, proper age, let alone get a shot. A good buff hunt is one with an unknown outcome.

I remember a long time ago on that first Zim safari and first buff track, after a few hrs the PH had an idea of where they may be headed, (he knew the area like his backyard) we got wind right and got ahead of the group. We sat in the long grass and waited, when they got close the PH put up the sticks and told me to get ready, when I stood to the sticks my legs were trembling and I my whole body was vibrating so bad. PH asked if all was good, NEVER on any game to that point in my life had I been so excited. We never did shoot, my PH was a real hunter, he wanted us close then closer, no shooting at the 100+ yds. Next day we crawled into a large group resting in the mopane bush, crawling up to a log and looking over at cows, calves and soft bulls mere yards away was why I was there. 5 more days with many tracks and many stalks it all worked out, one soft and then a solid and I had my first buff, an old solid boss wild bull.

To me it was the perfect buff hunt. Very few other hunts compare still today.

Those buff were not the stand around banana eating buff I saw on my last safari.

MB

If you don't have shaky knees on your first buff you weren't close enough!

 

[MarkB]

If you don't have shaky knees on your first buff you weren't close enough!

It kind of worried me as we were still 100yds away from them when PH said we need to get closer. Hard to sneak with knocking knees. Only 3 animals have done that to me, grizz close, ele and buff as they should. I can see why they are hunted as often as possible.

MB

 

[Slider]

Tracking a 45" into The Tall Grass or Thick Jess. Then dropping him with One well placed shot from my 500 at 5 Paces!!!

 

[Frederik]

First of all a clean kill and dead buffalo.

But being able to hunt buffalo on your own or only a friend tagging along no trackers or PH involved right to the end.
You then know what it feels to be alive. Working hard blood from scratches of the bush and thorns sweat from the sweltering heat and miles and miles of tracking and looking for the black death.
Being tired and having a cold one around that fire knowing tomorrow is the day you are going to connect, planning strategizing your move and what you will do in ceratin scenarios.
Thinking contemplating should I have taken that chance waited a bit more or did I do it perfectly it was just no going to work out.

But tomorrow we will get up before the sun comes up put on some fresh socks tighten the belt fill up the camelback and head out for another day of heat sweat and blood because we can!

 

[Neil Molendyk]

I believe that we experienced the perfect buffalo hunt with Len Taylor in Dande. Some highlights that come to mind:

The saw of a leopard or roar of a lion at night,
A light breakfast and coffee by the fire to start the day,
A brisk ride on the high seat as we Look to cut promising spoor,
Long walks and careful stalks on wary buffalo. Working around a few elephant just adds spice to the day.
Multiple blown stalks before the hunt is ultimately consummated.
Clean one shot kills on mature bulls.
Evening meals followed by reflection and storytelling around the fire.

Through it all, the smells of Africa, the beauty of the sunsets, and an overwhelming sense of adventure.

I didn't realize till now that both yourself and Kevin Peacocke were with me on my one and only buffalo hunt. You both described it as it was.

 

[Andrew62]

Gin and tonics by a fire at the end of the hunting day!!

 

[BeeMaa]

Gin and tonics by a fire at the end of the hunting day!!

Gin and tonics make everyday better...but especially hunting days.

 

[50lawman]

I believe that we experienced the perfect buffalo hunt with Len Taylor in Dande. Some highlights that come to mind:

The saw of a leopard or roar of a lion at night,
A light breakfast and coffee by the fire to start the day,
A brisk ride on the high seat as we Look to cut promising spoor,
Long walks and careful stalks on wary buffalo. Working around a few elephant just adds spice to the day.
Multiple blown stalks before the hunt is ultimately consummated.
Clean one shot kills on mature bulls.
Evening meals followed by reflection and storytelling around the fire.

Through it all, the smells of Africa, the beauty of the sunsets, and an overwhelming sense of adventure.

"The saw of the leopard" how appropriate. Brought me back to my leopard hunt in Namibia. I too heard it but didn't know what it was. As we sat in the dark freezing blind with a million stars overhead, the PH motioned to me and made a sawing motion. "Leopard" It sent chills down my spine. Last day took my leopard and flew out the next day.

 

[Buck0317]

I only have one buffalo to my name and the hunt was upclose and personal. I hammered the bull with a frontal heart shot with my 416 Rem Mag (400 gr TSX) at 25-30 yards and the buff lunged forward straight into my PH's 600 Nitro. In all, the hunt was everything I had wanted, but I hope my next buffalo hunt has a little more distnace between me and the bull.

 

[Frederik]

First of all a clean kill and dead buffalo.

But being able to hunt buffalo on your own or only a friend tagging along no trackers or PH involved right to the end.
You then know what it feels to be alive. Working hard blood from scratches of the bush and thorns sweat from the sweltering heat and miles and miles of tracking and looking for the black death.
Being tired and having a cold one around that fire knowing tomorrow is the day you are going to connect, planning strategizing your move and what you will do in ceratin scenarios.
Thinking contemplating should I have taken that chance waited a bit more or did I do it perfectly it was just no going to work out.

But tomorrow we will get up before the sun comes up put on some fresh socks tighten the belt fill up the camelback and head out for another day of heat sweat and blood because we can!

Exactly what happened on this hunt last week as per quote above.
Friends hunting together and one of them getting their first buff.
All 5 of us members of BASA. (Big bore association of South Africa)

Guns from left to right:
505 Gibbs on a Bruno 602 action iron sights his first buff.
458 Lott CZ550 Trijicon SRO
450 Rigby CZ550 Shield reflex sight
450 Rigby Bruno 602 Action Aimpoint H2
458 win mag Winchester Mod 70 Trijicon RMR

These photos are priceless.