Dalton and York Buffalo

[TOBY458]

Look for that 40", but when you see an old warrior your heart will call for it. I never asked for the measurement on mine from the Save. As soon as we locked on this group of old bulls I knew I wanted them regardless. The pull the lower jaw to age and he came back 11+ yrs old. Couldn't have asked for a better hunt than to chase some old dugga boys.

View attachment 581980

Nice bull! What kind of rifle is that?

 

[Backyardsniper]

Backyard, Do they have scatter guns available for rent

That would be a fun to add some bird hunting to my May hunt with them.

York told me that he would make arrangements to have a shotgun in camp for me. It was absolutely filthy with birds in Nyakasanga and we didn't have anything to shoot them with. It almost drove me crazy. Ha ha

I agree with the others, I never even put a tape on my buff. I think he was 36 or 37, but I wouldn't trade him for a 40 if the situation had been different. He was 25 yards, maybe, quartering to us, looking right at us when I let him have both barrel of the 470 in real quick succession. I will remember that feeling long after any measurements are forgotten.

 

[TTundra]

Nice bull! What kind of rifle is that?

Older A2 Hannibal. They were really on to something with their stock design.

 

[Altitude sickness]

I’ll be in Chewore south. I’ll ask them in Nashville about renting a shotgun

 

[Wishfulthinker580]

I shot a bunch of guinea and geese with a 22 mag over there. But even the trackers said the guineas were almost too tough to eat. Lol!

We ate Guinea schnitzel when we were in Namibia. It was great! I’m sure it depends on how it’s prepared

 

[TOBY458]

We ate Guinea schnitzel when we were in Namibia. It was great! I’m sure it depends on how it’s prepared

I'm sure the trackers probably cooked them over an open flame in their camp fire. So it's most likely the way it was prepared that made them tough. Of course, riding them around all day in the bed of the truck in 90° heat probably didn't help much. Lol!

 

[Backyardsniper]

I’ll be in Chewore south. I’ll ask them in Nashville about renting a shotgun

I'll be in Nashville. Shoot me a message and we can meet up. I'll be over talking to them too, I'm headed to the Omay, or possibly Chewore in June 2026 for leopard, non-trophy bull, and maybe a buffalo.

 

[revturbo9967]

I’ll be in Chewore south. I’ll ask them in Nashville about renting a shotgun

If their appy Scott is with them, a shotgun will be available. He had one in camp just for various birds

 

[TOBY458]

If their appy Scott is with them, a shotgun will be available. He had one in camp just for various birds

The main problem is probably sourcing some shotgun shells. As you know, ammo is hard to come by in Zimbabwe. Even 22 LR is hard to get and very expensive there.

 

[revturbo9967]

The main problem is probably sourcing some shotgun shells. As you know, ammo is hard to come by in Zimbabwe. Even 22 LR is hard to get and very expensive there.

Just about all of the ammo that gets left behind gets shot by the next group. They really don’t have much ammo available even for themselves.

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

Backyard, Do they have scatter guns available for rent

That would be a fun to add some bird hunting to my May hunt with them.

Take them with your 458, head shot.

 

[375Fox]

I’ll be in Chewore south. I’ll ask them in Nashville about renting a shotgun

There is a trophy fee on birds in Zimbabwe. Something like $5 or $10 each. You might get to hunt them as meat but maybe not. Something to ask about too.

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

I shot a bunch of guinea and geese with a 22 mag over there. But even the trackers said the guineas were almost too tough to eat. Lol!

Admittedly the fancolin are the better fare, but for the guineas smoke the breasts lightly in a fish smoker or even a pot. Then fry in butter until done, but no more. Slice thinly, across and array the slices on a small plate, add a splash of warmed marula jelly or something to add a little tart sweetness (not lemon) and you have a fine starter.

 

[Altitude sickness]

Finally. a trophy fee in my budget range

 

[revturbo9967]

Look for that 40", but when you see an old warrior your heart will call for it. I never asked for the measurement on mine from the Save. As soon as we locked on this group of old bulls I knew I wanted them regardless. They pull the lower jaw to age and he came back 11+ yrs old. Couldn't have asked for a better hunt than to chase some old dugga boys.

View attachment 581980

Missing hair on the face is my favorite part.

 

[Backyardsniper]

I don't think I mentioned in my hunt report that I may have opened up a new trophy category. As far as I know I have the largest "trans buffalo" on record! The hyenas had relieved my poor buff of all his lower unit, both the Franks and Beans. The beans had clearly been removed earlier as it was healed up. Where the Frank had been was still a nasty pus filled wound and it appeared he was urinating through a hole in that wound. I honestly think he saw me with the rifle and was like, " ok, I know why you're here so let's just get this over with." Poor fellow was in a bad way!

 

[Daisy]

Sounds like a drilling rifle may be in order!

 

[NIGHTHAWK]

Hello, long time lurker, but first time poster. Headed to hunt with Dalton and York this spring for the first time for buffalo. For the guys that have hunted there is there a legit chance at a 40" buffalo? Guys are telling me to set my mark high since it will probgably be my only buffalo. This will be my second trip to africa , thanks

Good luck and enjoy the experience. Taking the time you need and being open to possibilities will serve you better than setting a high mark based on others criteria. I have many animals that would qualify for SCI Gold and the only reason I know that, is my taxidermist told me. I don’t measure any of my animals in the field, I measure by the experience…

This old bull was taken on one of those occasions when I was open to opportunity. It was an amazing hunt that came available in the middle of my PG Safari…

 

[Jetjockey]

Here’s the problem. When you want a 40” buff, you want a 40” buff. I agree with everyone else that the hunt is about the experience, and shooting an old bull is more important than size. So, here’s my experience with the same exact thing. Last summer I wanted a 40” buff and we had plans in an area with very, very good buffalo. My PH wasn’t able to renew the lease because of the crap going in in Zambia, and we ended up hunting a different area that also had good buff, but arguably not as good as our plan A area. On day two I had my crosshairs on a beautiful 43-44” bull with everything you’d ever want, except fully hard bosses. It was a frontal shot at 110 yards, on the edge of 8ft high tall grass. I had never hunted buffalo, and I was really looking for that easy chip shot on my first buff because I didn’t want to go home with a trophy fee but no bull. I passed on that bull, and then we lost them for two days. On day 5 we were back into buff but nothing I wanted to shoot. On day 6, we found this hard bossed 38” bull standing perfectly sideways at 100 yards. I drove a 400gr TSX from a .416 Rigby through both lungs and he ran about 20-30 yards and laid down. I put two more into him when he tried to get up, even though they weren’t needed. I’ve heard dead buff have killed more than a few hunters….. The hunt was fantastic, but here’s the deal. I still want a 40” buff. Not only that, I also want an ugly old beat to heck daga boy. I am incredibly happy with my 38” bull, but I’m also incredibly hooked, and still want that 43-44” bull when he gets old. I took the first good representative animal that gave me the best shot, and wouldn’t change a thing. But, after the first stock, I also knew I was going back.

 

[Houston Bill]

As many have said here, most important thing is to enjoy the hunt and the experience and shoot a post breeding bull, which is generally a 11-12+ year old bull. If you hunt hard and shoot and old, old bull and he "only" measure 37", I assure you that you will remember it as one of the best experiences of your life.

If you shoot a really, really old bull perhaps you could enter it in Kevin Robertson's contest and win the Rigby Dagga Boy Award.