GREAT reason for a PH shot colaboration

I just heard yesterday that the PH I was going to use had the HUGE misfortune of being gored by a cape buffalo!

The story I HEARD is a client had made a poor shot on a cape. They were following it up in thick brush and it had circled back and caught him from behind. He had the skin on his forehead ground off to the skull as it skidded him across the ground. It hooked his thigh and "left a hole that you could stick your fist through" & tore the other hamstring loose so that it was flopping when it threw him. I also heard that he, (OH MY GAWD) took one up the poop chute.

1st). I hope that they have good surgeons there that can save the leg.
2nd). This is why I have NO problem with a PH that might collaborate on the shot....My ego is not worth that happening to ANYONE, (except my ex-wife:voodoo:...just kidding)

Yo, I have not heard of this accident ???:confused: Could you let us know more about it ???

Yes Karamojo Bill, please give us more information... I hope the PH is on his way to a full recovery. Does not sound good from the brief desciption of the incident though. I hope all turns out well once he gets the medical attention required. Those buffs do not go a year without tagging a PH!

Can you advise who the PH was as I know so many of them..The injuries are A-typical of a Cape Buffalo goreing and the damage your refering to is ultra serious..Apparantly the horn did not get the femar artery and he will probably live based on your description..The upside is these guys are in absolutly top phyical condition by the very nature of their jobs, and can hair up and heal over quicker than you or I...

It is another case of a PH being seriously injured. Unfortunatly, most PHs in the business of DG hunting will be seriously injured at some point in their chosen profession and some will not survive.

When I hear the new guys to African hunting claim people seldom get injured hunting dangerous game, I immediatly know they have not been around long and are basing their knowledge on probably one hunt or they have never hunted dangerous game.

It is a dangerous game and every year of my 50 plus years of being involved in the game one or more people, either hunters or PHs or camp staff, have been injured seriously and/or killed. I have a number of friends that are PHs that have been injured and many of them are the MOST experienced in the trade..Several of my friend PHs have been killed and others that I knew fairly well..In some cases it was carelessness, but you cannot always be on top of that game, and it just happens, end of story. Some days are diamonds and some days are stones.

Lets be reallistic, it is called Dangerous Game Hunting and that is exactly what it is IMO...

I regreat that your PH was so severely injured and my prayers are with him.

KB, What terrible news, it is always sad to hear about such unfortunate incident, but as Ray says it comes with the territory... and every year you do hear about someone, they don't call it "Dangerous Game" for nothing. Can you give us an update when you know more...

I HATE hearsay that's why I didn't post the name. Jerome & I have been in contact. He knows the family and is trying to reach them for first hand info. Once Jerome's call goes through, I hope that he will give us first hand infromation.

I have finally been in contact with my friend Charl Watts in South Africa of Steyn Caracal Safaris, who confirmed the rumor that his brother, Gideon Watts had been severely injured in an incident that occurred while hunting Cape Buffalo in South Africa.

Gideon, although a PH himself, was on the hunt not as the guiding PH, the client wounded the Buffalo and they were tracking it. The Buffalo first attacked the PH guiding the hunt (his name has not been given to me) while in a dense area, he was gored suffering wounds in both buttocks and has several broken ribs. While the Buffalo was on top of the PH, Gideon shot the Buffalo in the head, however he missed the brain. The Buffalo then turned on Gideon and attacked him, goring him several times (fist sized holes) in the front thighs, hamstring and just missing the arteries. The PH finally shot and killed the raging Buffalo while he was still attacking Gideon.

Both PHs are being treated for infection with strong antibiotics, but will be fine and are recuperating which will take several months... Surprisingly both of them are now out of the hospital already, as this incident took place only a week and a half ago, just a testament to how tough these guys are. There had been some concerns about Gideons' leg, though doctors now seem to feel that it will heal completely which is incredibly good news as I am sure he will be back in the bush hunting as soon as he is able.

I will say from personal observation that African PHs, especially those born and raised in Africa are shockingly resilient and almost superhuman in the way that can respond to and recover from bodily harm, whether from outside forces or self inflicted...

Our thoughts and prayers are with them.

AMEN and prayers for both.

That's just like Gideon putting himself in harms way for another! The reason I chose him origionally is he's pulled not one but TWO leopards who were chewing up people off of them and stabbed them to death!

Yeah, he is a tough guy but as nice as they come... I am glad he will be OK and back doing what he loves best.

WHOA!! That got ugly really quick... Never heard of 2 PHs getting it like that, that must have been one pissed off Buff. Glad to hear those boys will be OK! Anyone knows who the second PH might be? Why the secrecy?

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This is a very unfortunate happening, and I'm very glad to hear the recovery will be better than it could have been! Ray is right it does come with the territory, and if you get in the weeds with dangerous game enough sooner, or later you're gonna get popped! However real charges with cape buffalo are not as prevalent as some films on the market would lead you to believe. Some of those films would make people think that everything in Africa is just waiting to bite,scratch, or stomp you. That is not the case, but the chances are far greater for those who do this for a living! These two PHs are in our prayers! :praying:

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Originally Posted by safari hunter

WHOA!! That got ugly really quick... Never heard of 2 PHs getting it like that, that must have been one pissed off Buff. Glad to hear those boys will be OK! Anyone knows who the second PH might be? Why the secrecy?

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Two PHs being hit by the same buffalo is rare, but it does happen, more so with follow-up on lion, or Leopard than with Buffalo.

On many occasions both the PH, and client hunter have been injured by the same animal, but as I said before this is usually a leopard. With leopard it is not all that rare, either!

There was a case a few yrs ago when both the client hunter, and the PH were killed by a buffalo. It seems they followed the buff into a thick Korongo, after leaving the client's wife, and young son on top of a hill to watch from above. The buffalo came out of the thorn very close to the pair, hitting the PH first, then turned on the client, mauling him to death, then went back to the PH who was still alive but very badly injured. The second attack on the PH killed him also, all while the wife, and young son watched in horror. So, as RAY says there is a reason why this game is called DANGEROUS. :eek:

Having said that, the charges that do happen are usually the result of poor shooting by the client, wounding the animal forcing a very dangerous follow-up. This is the reason everybody recommends a lot of practice with your buffalo rifle before going on Safari. With good shot placement with a proper rifle/cartridge/bullet, these things can be mostly avoided. However, crap happens, so the client hunter going to Africa needs to understand that the clean-up may be left in his hands, so do the home work with you rifle till you can do it in the dark! Never go with the old saying I can use so, and so light rifle because the PH will have the right rifle for the job. It is best to have the right rifle as well, and know how to use it!

I was in RSA the week after that happened. The PH I was with, Pieter-Louis Le Roux of Wild Footprint Safaris is a friend of Gideons and was talking with him on the phone after the incident. Pieter stated that Gideon actually shot and killed the buffalo after the other PH distracted it. Seems that the Buff was pushing Gideon into the mud. There had been a lot of rain the weeks before and the ground was soft. Close call no matter what the circumstances were. I am going to send Pieter a PM and see if I can get the exact details.

375lvr,
just noted you mention Pieter Le Roux... he did come along with a visiting agent/PH from Zimbabwe for a season of guiding some of their clients with me in the Kilombero. Please send me his contact as it has been many years since we last communicated. I hope he is keeping well down south - it's funny that you mention he is of Wild Footprints - he must have realy enjoyed his time here. Cheers Bwana,

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Originally Posted by Shallom

375lvr,
just noted you mention Pieter Le Roux... he did come along with a visiting agent/PH from Zimbabwe for a season of guiding some of their clients with me in the Kilombero. Please send me his contact as it has been many years since we last communicated. I hope he is keeping well down south - it's funny that you mention he is of Wild Footprints - he must have realy enjoyed his time here. Cheers Bwana,

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Gentlemen,
Here is Pieter-Louis website. Wild Footprint Safaris

I am hunting with him this September!!! :)

About any of the old PHs that are still around have been tossed a time or two, and I know one old horse who killed a big male Lion with his knife..It is a dangerous occupation....

It happens mostly when you as the client make a bad shot and the old boy finds himself a hidy hole and gets you in ambush...My only advise is make that first shot count and if you think you cannot make it, then don't pull the trigger, even if the young Ph is all excited and telling you shoot, shoot, as many young PHs will....They ain't been tossed yet, probably havn't been in on a lot of kills either, they get a lot smarter as time goes on.:) :)

Never loose respect for these animals, if you do you will get careless and then you will end up in a mess..

Heeler75,
You will have a fantastic time hunting with PL. It was a pleasure to hunt with him and meet his wonderful family. Let me know if you have any questions. I will be happy to help.

I heard a day or so ago that Gideon was back to work....not full duty guiding yet but back!

I do know Pieter-Louis also, he stays in my street 5 houses away, Rustenburg, NortH West Province, South Africa

Would you guys please get Peter to respond to my email or just contact me somehow... Glad to hear he is doing well. Cheers,