SOUTH AFRICA: South Africa June 2014

Frederik

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I was privileged to organize a cow buffalo hunt for a bunch of my friends it all started in November 2013 and I got the ball rolling from there. Time flew past and on the 4th of June we took the road from Pretoria to Hoedspruit in Limpopo next to the Kruger park. This hunt would all be their first dangerous game hunt and we were hunting a property bordering the Kruger with the resident dangerous game all around us we bumped into big feet and teeth almost daily.

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Checking the sights and the 450 Rigby is spot on.

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We got there Wednesday afternoon the Thursday the temp was sitting at 36 degrees Celsius and these young bulls at the right idea. We normally have a height in temp before a cold front and the night that front came in with the High on Friday at 22 degrees.

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Exactly what we are looking for the buffalo were very wary as the resident pride of lion was after them and a couple of days before our arrival a pack of 20 wild dogs also decided to join the party. The bulls were much more relaxed not fearing the dogs or lions too much but the cows were on high alert and would run at the slightest smell, sight or sound hard hunting at its best.

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The herd is just in front of us now to pick a dry cow or with calf that is big enough.

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One shot with the 375 H&H and Barnes TSX she went 80 yards and almsot no blood before she fell over. Happy hunter and cow buffalo.

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Friday on of the hunters were after the herd and bumped 3 times before giving up and going back to the vehicle and found lion tracks over theirs. Friday afternoon the lions killed a cow and calf.

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One of the young males close to the kill, we had our work cut out for us the buffalo were spread out and split the weather was cold and the buffalo enjoyed the thickets.

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Walking among the big boys.

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If we were after Bulls we would have been much more successful.

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Hippo pod.

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Finest TV channel in the world.

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Saturday afternoon last chance and success.

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458 Win Mag 480gr GCS second shot was not needed she went 10 meters.

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These cheetah are not tame but use to people hanging around the lodge so you can get really close.

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As a summary from all the places I have hunted and been to in Africa there hasn't been such a concentration of big game in such a relative small area. It was very rewarding the hunt was hard the odds against us a bit but the guys who didn't get their cows have a date back again in October.

It wasn't a dagga bull hunt but like I said if we went after bulls everybody would have been successful you still have the buffalo hunting experience and can shoot 3 cows for the price of one bull. All in all it was a great experience for everybody.
 
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Thanks for sharing.
I like the Cheetah photo's. Certainly looks like a good area to return to in the future.
 
Congrats and thanks for sharing whit us.(y)
 
Thanks for the pictures, love seeing them!
 
Congratulations on your hunt.

Thanks for the story and photos.

All the best.
 
Congrats and thanks for sharing !
 
Congrats on a great hunt and fantastic photos Thanks for sharing.
 
Great pics! Congrats!
 
Great pictures! Those cow cape buffalo look like a nice looking trophy.
 
Thank you all for the kind words yes it was a great time and hunt the cows are not ex-breeding herds completely wild and living among the predators. Now just a question would you be interested in a package where you can hunt 3 cows in 10 days 8 days full hunting and add some plainsgame on top of it ? Same area and same experience ?
 
Now just a question would you be interested in a package where you can hunt 3 cows in 10 days 8 days full hunting and add some plainsgame on top of it ? Same area and same experience ?

I would be interested in that. There should be a few other people on AH that have never hunted dangerous game and want to start with a buffalo cow hunt.
 
great stuff Fredrick , nice picures ,mate .
would really like to watch the African wild dogs on a hunt ......
 
Thank you for sharing the pictures. Looks like it was a greAt hunt.
 
Congrats on taking your buddies on a successful Buffalo hunt.

Very creative offer Frederik. Plenty of Buffalo cows I have seen are more than willing to stomp you and if they are avoiding lions they should make some very interesting quarry to chase.

Look forward to hearing about the return trip in October.
 
Thanks for all the nice comments since I am not hunting for a living anymore if I am going to put this package together there won't be more than 2 available per year hunting with me. I am going to get the numbers on the package for 3 buffalo cows 10 days 8 full hunting days. Pick up and drop off preferably from Phalaborwa but OR Tambo Johannesburg can be arranged. Please also note that I still have an open PH permit to guide dangerous game and my friend who runs the concession will be the Outfitter. This should then be as much fun for you as for me getting some good hunting days.

Please also note you will be more than welcome to bring an extra hunting partner or non hunter to share the experience.
Bluey, the wild dogs come and go as they please the farmers and owners are not very pleased when they do come through as they leave a trail of death as they go along with their very high success rate on kills.
 
ive read of their succsess rates are better than most pack hunters in Africa .
its their baying as they hunt, id enjoy hearing ,most of all...
 

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