Bow hunting Cape Buffalo cow

Hi all,
Mulling things over I have decide to try bow hunting a cape buffalo cow. I chose a cow as it fits my budget. With 2 daughters in college the bull will have to wait. I got a quote of $3900.00 with someone I trust. I think that is a good deal. That is my first question , is it?. The second is can I get away with 70lbs.? The third is I am leaning toward a big 2 blade broadhead. Is 225gr enough? I am so green in this area. I am currently pulling 55lbs which is fine for plains game so I will have to ramp up . I am sure 70 is doable 80 not so much.

thanks-Jerry

gday jezza
i dont know about a cape buffalo but the editor of the downunder bowhunting magazine took down a trophy water buffalo bull with a 40 metre shot with a 70 lbs bow and 700 grain arrow with a perfect double lung shot and it finished in 30 metres and 2 seconds

Originally Posted by zenbear

Hi all,
Mulling things over I have decide to try bow hunting a cape buffalo cow. I chose a cow as it fits my budget. With 2 daughters in college the bull will have to wait. I got a quote of $3900.00 with someone I trust. I think that is a good deal. That is my first question , is it?. The second is can I get away with 70lbs.? The third is I am leaning toward a big 2 blade broadhead. Is 225gr enough? I am so green in this area. I am currently pulling 55lbs which is fine for plains game so I will have to ramp up . I am sure 70 is doable 80 not so much.

thanks-Jerry

Real good price I think ! Only 2 blade on Buffalo ! Good luck and enjoy !

Happy Hunting !!!

Which province? They have legislated mins in some places.

A suggestion from an outfitter who offers Cow hunts:
"Bowhunting equipment when bow hunting Cape buffalo cow
use a bow that delivers at least 80 foot-pounds kinetic energy
arrow weight of at least 700 grains, but ideally 880 900 grains
shaft should be thinner than the ferrule of the broadhead
broadhead for hunting Cape buffalo should be a one-piece broadhead which must be resharpenable and 220 grains
remember a 2-blade cut-on-impact broadhead has the best penetration abilities and you will be needing it
stay away from mechanical broadheads at all cost
Adhere to the above for a successful and safe hunt."

"Trusted" outfitter and you think its a good deal, but....??

You can get a $1500 trophy fee to. All you have to do is pay $8000 in day rates.

There are lots of 5 day cow hunts around for $5000 to $5500.
Demand is high for Buffalo, both sexes.

I'm guessing the total cost is $3900. I see that price enough.

Yes it is total price. I am hunting with him this April and was the same guy I hunted with last May. I am more worried about getting enough KE going. I will go to the bow shop tomorrow. I turn 50 in April . I see these younger guys busting at gut at 80# so we'll see lol.

Sorry missed that one .... 80 lbs is the min legal requirement in SA . Do not consider anything but 2 blade ....

Happy hunting !!!

Originally Posted by zenbear

Yes it is total price. I am hunting with him this April and was the same guy I hunted with last May. I am more worried about getting enough KE going. I will go to the bow shop tomorrow. I turn 50 in April . I see these younger guys busting at gut at 80# so we'll see lol.

Good luck.

It all depends on the type of 70lb bow and your draw length. Is it a 70lb Destroyer 350 that you want to hunt with or a 70lb PSE Game Sport? Huge difference!!
Arrow must be around 650 -750gr with a PREMIUM two blade broad head like GK etc.
If your hunt is on a private ranch then you can get away with the 70lb bow but if it is in a Government area then unfortunately you will have to adhere to the law.
These are the minimum requirements that I just gave you.
Regards

Originally Posted by Fritz Rabe

It all depends on the type of 70lb bow and your draw length. Is it a 70lb Destroyer 350 that you want to hunt with or a 70lb PSE Game Sport? Huge difference!!
Arrow must be around 650 -750gr with a PREMIUM two blade broad head like GK etc.
If your hunt is on a private ranch then you can get away with the 70lb bow but if it is in a Government area then unfortunately you will have to adhere to the law.
These are the minimum requirements that I just gave you.
Regards

Fritz, how much momentum do you consider to be minimum for buffs?

I assumed a cow would be a bit less hardy than a bull. This looks to be minimal.

I am siding with Fritz on this one, honestly you could get away with it on a cow, I have just always used good set ups on bulls and have never hunted a cow, once again I would stick to what is known to work, I would also go for around 850 - 900 gr including a GKinetic (As both MR. Lemmer and Fritz mentioned) it has been proven to work.

My best always.

As Fritz said, are bows very different. 70 lbs bows are not equal. The same goes for 80 lbs.
And not all bowhunters are created the same. Some has 26" draw length, others have 32".
This can often result in that one hunter with a 70 lbs bow can deliver an arrow with higher KE and momentum than another hunter can with his 80 lbs bow.
Momentum being the most important factor when it comes to penetration.

The bow Fritz shoots is a 92 lbs that shoots a 1050 grain arrow at 236 fps and he gets 129.7 KE and 1.1 in momentum from that setup.
With my bow that is 70 lbs, I can shoot a 735 grain arrow at 238 fps and I get 92.3 KE and 0.77 in momentum with my setup.

The question is if my set up is to weak, marginal or plenty for buffs and what is zenbear able to achieve with his draw length and choice of bow.

gday norwegianwoods
how do calculate this momentum mate ?

Bluey

momentum (arrow) = Weight x Speed / 225400

As NW mentioned a arro weight of 1050gr x a velocity of 236 = 247,800 devided by 225400 = 1.0992 momentum or mv if I am correct.

Please check my math NW

My best always.

Totally correct Jaco
I just took the liberty to slightly round it up

Originally Posted by Jaco Strauss

Bluey

momentum (arrow) = Weight x Speed / 225400

As NW mentioned a arro weight of 1050gr x a velocity of 236 = 247,800 devided by 225400 = 1.0992 momentum or mv if I am correct.

Please check my math NW

My best always.

Here is a very basic quick reference chart that can be used as well....

AR-momentum_chart[1].pdf

My best always

thank you fellas
i think ive got my head around it as soon as i can get home and borrow my mates chrono
im gunna be the momentum king

Good luck on your adventure zenbear. I too want to shoot a cape buffalo cow someday.
The fella's here are providing very pertinent and valid information. In my opinion momentum should be the the calculation of choice.
Here is a Kinetic Energy and Momentum Calculator that you may find useful.
Kinetic Energy and Momentum Calculator

I have hunted a lot of Buff cows with a bow and the one thing I learned fast was that a cow is as hard as any bull and twice as cheeky. They are all like a pissed-off alley cat that got showered with a hose pipe and lost his rat.

Never take them for granted. They charge just like any bull and they keep grudges. They also tend to do it all in packs so watch out.

I never change from a heavier setup for a bull to a lighter setup for a cow. The heavy combination works every time.