Unprovoked Cape Buffalo Charge

[firehuntfish]

I wanted to share a short clip of an exciting Cape buffalo hunt filmed by my good friend and professional PH & videographer Melcom Van Staden. Who's ready to go buffalo hunting when this is all over?

 

[Shootist43]

A great video, I'm looking forward to the time when more AH members are able to have the same or similar experience.

 

[leslie hetrick]

a unarmed person running into that buffalo would have a tough go of it, if no trees were close.

 

[WAB]

Great video! I don’t think I’ll ever get enough of buffalo hunting! Also a great example of why you wear a hat when hunting. How many times does the hunter take his hand away from his gun to shade his eyes?

 

[IvW]

I do not like the wait wait wait deal, not my style, first shot should have been taken while the buff was broadside....

Good shooting.

My 2c anyway...

 

[wesheltonj]

Is Mark Sullivan the PH?

 

[Timbo]

Nice back up shot! NAILED that buff right there and then!! All home safe, a great trophy, AND beers all round with steaks on the braai!! Perfect!!

 

[IvW]

And the client/paying hunter ends up not killing his own buff....

 

[spike.t]

I do not like the wait wait wait deal, not my style, first shot should have been taken while the buff was broadside....

Good shooting.

My 2c anyway...

Yeah plenty of time to have taken the broadside shot.....

 

[leslie hetrick]

it may have not been the one the hunter was looking for, looks like the buffalo chose the hunter.

 

[DmacD]

Just a quick question from a guy that does not know. Was that buff the one they were going after, or did they just happen to stumble upon it? Was that considered a trophy caliber animal?

 

[spike.t]

it may have not been the one the hunter was looking for, looks like the buffalo chose the hunter.

If it's in SA then possibly not the one that's allowed to be shot.....but any where else I seriously doubt it....even when it turned there was time to put one under its chin....

 

[Foxi]

And the client/paying hunter ends up not killing his own buff....

No guest stops a buffalo without Ph.
We never believe this (because we are such great guys ) but it is so.

 

[Philip Glass]

Very good

 

[Tanks]

Is Mark Sullivan the PH?

No Mark would have let the buff come within 10 feet before telling the client to shoot it between the eyes. As it is the client did not end up killing it.

 

[firehuntfish]

If it's in SA then possibly not the one that's allowed to be shot.....but any where else I seriously doubt it....even when it turned there was time to put one under its chin...

I do not like the wait wait wait deal, not my style, first shot should have been taken while the buff was broadside....

Good shooting.

My 2c anyway...

I posted this video for 2 reasons: The first being that the video's creator is a good friend who is also an exceptionally talented hunting videographer. I thought many here would enjoy seeing his work, and possibly consider using his services on a future hunt.... The second reason being is that I thought you all might enjoy a vicarious hunting experience in a time where we all could use some good distraction with a passion that most of us here share.

If you read the backstory on Melcom's YouTube channel, he explains that they did not shoot the buffalo when it was broadside because the PH had not yet gotten a good look at the bosses and was unsure of the quality & age of the bull. As far as when the okay was given to shoot, none of us where there to evaluate what was going on so the arm-chair PH-ing is petty and undeserved in my opinion. This was not a Limcroma hunt, and I have no idea where the hunt took place or who the outfitter was. Melcom offers his services to hunters and outfitters all over the world.... I didn't post this video to create a debate on ethics, and quite frankly I am not in the mood lately to entertain any more negativity than we are all already dealing with... If Jerome sees fit, he can certainly pull the thread.

 

[IdaRam]

Just a quick question from a guy that does not know. Was that buff the one they were going after, or did they just happen to stumble upon it? Was that considered a trophy caliber animal?

An appropriate question, but it seems like to me they had plenty of opportunity to back out if that wasn't the buff they were looking for. They looked at him for a good 30 seconds before he got agitated.
The video is really good, the shooting equally good, although the client should have been getting the second round on the way before the PH had a chance to shoot, and that is a great buffalo. I would be tickled to death with a buff like that. But if I were the paying client I might be a little less than happy. IvW is spot on. Client is going home with a lesser experience than he has a right to expect. It's a bit hard to tell from video, but it looks like the PH could have allowed the client a little more time to stick another one into the buff before backing him up.
Sorry to be a jerk, but I'm not impressed with how this went down.

 

[Pondoro]

I do not like the wait wait wait deal, not my style, first shot should have been taken while the buff was broadside....

Good shooting.

My 2c anyway...

+1

 

[Pondoro]

No guest stops a buffalo without Ph.
We never believe this (because we are such great guys ) but it is so.

My buddy did that in Tanzania during the 90´s...one shot in the neck with a .308Win..

 

[Newboomer]

I would have shot as soon as the buf turned toward me and shook his head. Put one into his chest for a heart lung shot. Time enough for a followup, too.