Hunting Asian Water Buffalo
Tarawa JR outfitters has Asian Water Buffalo in your state, and his hunts can be a hard or easy as you make it. His prices are far above the price you quoted however. He gets $4K -$ 5K for Asian Buffalo. Joe Obannon is a licensed PH in Tanzania but owns the ranch in the swampy marsh near Indian Town, FLA.
They have a minimum caliber restriction for the Asian Water Buffalo, of 375H&H Ballistics.
J & R Outfitters, Florida
Where are you getting a $1600 price in FLa? I might be interested myself! Like you I want a hunt, not a snipe shoot! Joe uses a 470NE double rifle for back-up, and will rent that rifle to a client if he chooses. I have a 470NE double, but I'd call him to see if he would allow my 9.3X74R double instead, with CPS North Fork bullets!