What's the big deal about buffalo anyway?

[Kevin Peacocke]

Buffalo hunting is not something you do, it is something that happens to you.

 

[Dhutson]

Simple. It is an experience that is almost impossible to explain but impossible to forget. And certainly two bottles of wine help tell the story. But it is better if the person you are telling the story to has the same amount of wine. (And a picture or two.)

 

[Gerry Addison]

There are 2 animals I could happily hunt to the exclusion of all others. Cape Buffalo in a truly wild area and wild Bobwhite Quail over well-trained pointing dogs. I’m not good enough with words to explain the wonders of these two pursuits. If you’ve done both, you know the feeling.

I totally agree with you, although I'd put ruffed grouse at the top of the list of three, over one of my English Setters.

 

[Altitude sickness]

I was lured by the stories of danger. And found the actual hunt to be more than I expected. My first hunt I never got a shot with my bow. And even with a rifle would have been tough. They were in such thick Jess. Wind, baboons, birds. And Wiley bulls defeated us.
I also learned to respect the tricks they have up their sleeves when they know you are on their trail.

Hunter Habib, please tell me what places the dry land Hippo hunt at number one for you.

 

[Vinootz]

Knowing your quarry can toss you about as if you were a rag doll makes the hunt interesting. Come to think of it, the thought of spear hunting hogs sounds like it would be as much fun. I’ll have to look into it. Happy and safe hunting all.

 

[TOBY458]

How does your head feel this morning @Backyardsniper ?

 

[Backyardsniper]

How does your head feel this morning @Backyardsniper ?

Ha ha. Not as bad as it could. At least I didn't make any purchases!

 

[JES Adventures]

I’m not addicted to buffalo hunting like some. I’ve taken 3 buffalo so far. I’ll hunt more in future but not so much because buffalo is the primary target more because I want to see more wild areas and those areas typically have buffalo. It’s a really good hunt and a hard earned trophy, but I get more excited about other species particularly eland.

Ditto @375Fox, my sentiments exactly

 

[Hunt anything]

Throw in a flight of pintail circling just outside of range before committing with a quivering lab watching their every move and I am with you 100%.

Totally agree except I would substitute an ice covered chessie for the lab.

 

[TOBY458]

Ha ha. Not as bad as it could. At least I didn't make any purchases!

I understand completely! There for awhile I started naming my new guns Scotch, Bourbon and Beer.

 

[Nevada Mike]

I agree with the buffalo and upland birds suggestion. I've killed a couple buffalo and may do more, but certainly I will continue to hunt our western birds. I Tanzania last fall, my PH shoved a SxS into my hands and dogged up a couple spur fowl for me. He'll be visiting me here in January and I'll reciprocate with quail.

Mike

Hunting PC in Nebraska

 

[Jay Kelley]

There are 2 animals I could happily hunt to the exclusion of all others. Cape Buffalo in a truly wild area and wild Bobwhite Quail over well-trained pointing dogs. I’m not good enough with words to explain the wonders of these two pursuits. If you’ve done both, you know the feeling.

I have not had the privilege of hunting buffalo (yet) but i grew up hunting bobwhites and pheasant in central Kansas. I consider that one of the great privileges of my childhood.

 

[Dee S]

I enjoy reading the stories of those with more experience than me, which is most everyone on this forum.
I depart in two weeks for Africa and I'll be spending the last two weeks of August in Zambia attempting to bring down my first cape buffalo.
Call me crazy, but I'll be using a bow, and we will not be sitting in a blind. I don't mind bow hunting from blinds, in fact, I enjoy the time spent in a blind, but for a cape buffalo, it wouldn't seem right to me to let an arrow fly at 15 yards from the relative safety of a stone box.
I want to feel the excitement that you should expect from taking a buffalo in the open. Now granted, my PH will have his rifle ready just in case, but I'm doing everything that I can to ensure that he doesn't have to use it.
I have the best of equipment regarding my bows, my arrows, my broadheads, etc., and I have been practicing daily in this sweltering 100 plus degree weather here in Texas to make sure that everything is in tune and dialed in. I owe it to the PH, his men, and to the buffalo, to make sure that I don't screw up and that my equipment doesn't fail us.
Having said all that, for those that believe in the power of prayer, I could use all the help I can get.

 

[Backyardsniper]

I enjoy reading the stories of those with more experience than me, which is most everyone on this forum.
I depart in two weeks for Africa and I'll be spending the last two weeks of August in Zambia attempting to bring down my first cape buffalo.
Call me crazy, but I'll be using a bow, and we will not be sitting in a blind. I don't mind bow hunting from blinds, in fact, I enjoy the time spent in a blind, but for a cape buffalo, it wouldn't seem right to me to let an arrow fly at 15 yards from the relative safety of a stone box.
I want to feel the excitement that you should expect from taking a buffalo in the open. Now granted, my PH will have his rifle ready just in case, but I'm doing everything that I can to ensure that he doesn't have to use it.
I have the best of equipment regarding my bows, my arrows, my broadheads, etc., and I have been practicing daily in this sweltering 100 plus degree weather here in Texas to make sure that everything is in tune and dialed in. I owe it to the PH, his men, and to the buffalo, to make sure that I don't screw up and that my equipment doesn't fail us.
Having said all that, for those that believe in the power of prayer, I could use all the help I can get.

You are probably already doing this, but I thought I would throw this out there. Run some sprints before firing your practice arrows. That's probably the closest you can get to recreating the adrenaline, nerves, bugs in your face field conditions that you will be shooting in. Practicing shooting in that condition will pay off big time in the field. You will be sweaty, hands slick, sweat and Mopane flies in your eyes most likely when you take your shot, and probably out of breath from the adrenaline eating up all the oxygen in your system if you have been on a track close to them for any length of time while waiting for the shot. There is nothing like the thrill of being close to them. Enjoy it buddy!

 

[Rare Breed]

You are probably already doing this, but I thought I would throw this out there. Run some sprints before firing your practice arrows. That's probably the closest you can get to recreating the adrenaline, nerves, bugs in your face field conditions that you will be shooting in. Practicing shooting in that condition will pay off big time in the field. You will be sweaty, hands slick, sweat and Mopane flies in your eyes most likely when you take your shot, and probably out of breath from the adrenaline eating up all the oxygen in your system if you have been on a track close to them for any length of time while waiting for the shot. There is nothing like the thrill of being close to them. Enjoy it buddy!

Lol…you are so right. A few years ago when I got my first buff this was recommended to me as well. So I would run around my 7.5 acre field dressed for my hunt then shoot. My cousins would come over, drink beer and watch me thinking I had lost my mind…lol!

 

[Inline6]

My cousins would come over, drink beer and watch me thinking I had lost my mind…lol!

I thought this was established with your surprise picture for your wife, hahaha.

 

[RR 314]

On my first I had one staring me down with my PH at 15 yards…I know exactly how you feel…an incredible experience with “ Black Death”. Selby said it correctly…”you will always hunt buffalo”. How right he was!

You beat me to the quote! Good work.

 

[Dee S]

You are probably already doing this, but I thought I would throw this out there. Run some sprints before firing your practice arrows. That's probably the closest you can get to recreating the adrenaline, nerves, bugs in your face field conditions that you will be shooting in. Practicing shooting in that condition will pay off big time in the field. You will be sweaty, hands slick, sweat and Mopane flies in your eyes most likely when you take your shot, and probably out of breath from the adrenaline eating up all the oxygen in your system if you have been on a track close to them for any length of time while waiting for the shot. There is nothing like the thrill of being close to them. Enjoy it buddy!

Where was this advice six months ago.. Seriously, that is good advice and it something I should have been doing months ago.
We will find out soon enough....the Zambia hunt starts on the 16th....it is about to get real.

 

[Backyardsniper]

Where was this advice six months ago.. Seriously, that is good advice and it something I should have been doing months ago.
We will find out soon enough....the Zambia hunt starts on the 16th....it is about to get real.

I am excited for you man! Get out there and enjoy it!

 

[archer36]

You are not kidding about the tenderloin. The buffalo tenderloin has an amazing flavor. One of my biggest highlights from the trip was trying the food. We grilled buffalo heart on a fire for lunch, the liver and onions with a fried egg was excellent as well.

I had Buffalo tenderloin one evening from a fellow that killed one a few days earlier. It was delicious. But, I am partial to the Eland tenderloin from the one I harvested.