Buffalo Charge

[Spear Safaris]

 

[Flipper Dude]

That’s cool Ernest! Did your son shoot the video? Who are the PH’s?

 

[Africa1]

No one was hurt. Massive adrenaline rush! On film! All good.

 

[Nyati]

Wow, that´s hunting !

 

[Surgeon1]

They can come out of nowhere like a Steam Engine at full throttle and it's the primary reason I like a DR for buffalo. It is a rare occurrence, but when it happens if all goes well you will need a roll of paper towels and some Handi wipes.
If it doesn't work out well hopefully you will get a quick medical evacuation rather than a coroner's bag.

 

[Spear Safaris]

That’s cool Ernest! Did your son shoot the video? Who are the PH’s?

Frank filmed it yes, Dean Balantyne was the PH here, he works for us permanently now, I fetched wifes at the airport that day. LOL. The next Day I guided another Bull but no mishaps, its Dean's second one this year. I think he's a Charge Magnet.

 

[RSL]

No fear in the PH, Client or Cameraman. Shooters did a great job! Wow!

 

[BeeMaa]

What were the circumstances that led to it? Just an angry bull or was it shot earlier and this was the follow up?

Glad everything worked out and great shooting!

Was there a third person shooting who's off camera to the right? The first shot was fired by the gentleman in the brown jacket. Then he (brown jacket) shoots again and it's immediately followed by another shot from somewhere that can't be seen. The fourth shot is fired by the gentleman in the green jacket and appears to be the one that stopped the charge. Then the gentleman in the brown fired one more shot.

Total elapsed time from first shot to last is about 5 seconds. Amazing how fast someone can work a bolt action with a buffalo bearing down on them.

 

[skydiver386]

I may have to watch it again, but it looked like that Buff took 5 good shots.

It's amazing how much horsepower they can take and keep coming.

 

[Huvius]

I was thinking the PH (guy on the left) had a misfire or something but then eventually got off a shot!
Pretty exciting stuff!

 

[Tucketed]

I was the hunter. On the bull that charged I made a poor shot. Hit back beyond shoulder. Not sure what happened. John and Amos tracked these bulls for a mile or so they were bedded. We did a belly crawl to within 15 yards. Couldn’t get them to stand. It took 65 minutes a little nerve racking. I believe I just picked the wrong spot, grass was exceptionally high and couldn’t see his legs and I was shooting from my butt position. No excuses, I screwed it up. I was the one shooting off film. Shot the neck but missed the spine. It was a rather somber time for me knowing it was my fault and put in harms way my team. The next day buffalo my shooting was spot on. I will do a trip report just getting back to my home in Florida. The hunt was epic. Timbivati is a wonderful spot, 150,000 acres all open to virtually millions of acres of Kruger and other APNR areas. Tented camp with two prides of lions roaring at night, hyenas and sawing leopards. Elephant encounters every day including many 50lbs and up. I will repeat for sure.

 

[SStomcat]

Wow, great video, there is a 4th shot coming from somewhere, wondering if there was a 3rd shooter.

 

[BTP-KennethWRoyce]

I was the hunter. On the bull that charged I made a poor shot. Hit back beyond shoulder. Not sure what happened. John and Amos tracked these bulls for a mile or so they were bedded. We did a belly crawl to within 15 yards. Couldn’t get them to stand. It took 65 minutes a little nerve racking. I believe I just picked the wrong spot, grass was exceptionally high and couldn’t see his legs and I was shooting from my butt position. No excuses, I screwed it up. I was the one shooting off film. Shot the neck but missed the spine. It was a rather somber time for me knowing it was my fault and put in harms way my team. The next day buffalo my shooting was spot on.

Glad it worked out, and on film! You were the brown jacketed shooter? Your PH momentarily lost his footing just before your first shot, and then seemed to allow you to fire your second shot. Good insurance shot from your #3.

btw, kudos for your candid account. It's a bummer to shoot poorly, but as long as we learn from it and steadily improve we progress as hunters. Thanks for your thread.

 

[Hunt anything]

Glad it turned out well, looking forward to the full hunt report.

 

[BeeMaa]

@Tucketed - It's difficult to own it and you did. I had to do the same. Glad it worked out for the best.

@BTP-KennethWRoyce - No, he was not the one in the brown jacket. He was off camera to the right as you are looking at it...or to the right of the guy in the brown jacket.

 

[BTP-KennethWRoyce]

@BTP-KennethWRoyce - No, he was not the one in the brown jacket. He was off camera to the right as you are looking at it...or to the right of the guy in the brown jacket.

Thanks for the correction. Who was Brown Jacket?

 

[Flipper Dude]

Looks like a PH for Spear and another PH if I’m guessing. Probably a PH representative for Timbavati. Guy on the left had an “oh, shit” moment but held his ground

 

[Betterinthebush]

I was the hunter. On the bull that charged I made a poor shot. Hit back beyond shoulder. Not sure what happened. John and Amos tracked these bulls for a mile or so they were bedded. We did a belly crawl to within 15 yards. Couldn’t get them to stand. It took 65 minutes a little nerve racking. I believe I just picked the wrong spot, grass was exceptionally high and couldn’t see his legs and I was shooting from my butt position. No excuses, I screwed it up. I was the one shooting off film. Shot the neck but missed the spine. It was a rather somber time for me knowing it was my fault and put in harms way my team. The next day buffalo my shooting was spot on. I will do a trip report just getting back to my home in Florida. The hunt was epic. Timbivati is a wonderful spot, 150,000 acres all open to virtually millions of acres of Kruger and other APNR areas. Tented camp with two prides of lions roaring at night, hyenas and sawing leopards. Elephant encounters every day including many 50lbs and up. I will repeat for sure.

It takes a lot of courage to go in with your PH’s and dig a wounded bull out of the weeds knowing that a charge is certain after making a shot you knew wasn’t the good shot you intended to make. It takes even more courage to write what you wrote. Much respect, sir.

I look forward to reading your report.

 

[Hedge774]

Well done, to all involved. The closest I've been to a cape buffalo was probably 1000 yards, and the only charge I have faced was by a very angry warthog. I have to ask the experts, in that moment does time seem to slow down? Is it just too late to panic and you can only do the thing you must? To me, it seems quite literally a "Do or Die" situation. You hold up and make the shot, or your poor family identifies your body. Please don't take that as me being crass. I just don't take these instances for granted. Thank the Lord that everyone in the party did what they had to do. Thank you for sharing, my friend.

 

[JPbowhunter]

I was the hunter. On the bull that charged I made a poor shot. Hit back beyond shoulder. Not sure what happened. John and Amos tracked these bulls for a mile or so they were bedded. We did a belly crawl to within 15 yards. Couldn’t get them to stand. It took 65 minutes a little nerve racking. I believe I just picked the wrong spot, grass was exceptionally high and couldn’t see his legs and I was shooting from my butt position. No excuses, I screwed it up. I was the one shooting off film. Shot the neck but missed the spine. It was a rather somber time for me knowing it was my fault and put in harms way my team. The next day buffalo my shooting was spot on. I will do a trip report just getting back to my home in Florida. The hunt was epic. Timbivati is a wonderful spot, 150,000 acres all open to virtually millions of acres of Kruger and other APNR areas. Tented camp with two prides of lions roaring at night, hyenas and sawing leopards. Elephant encounters every day including many 50lbs and up. I will repeat for sure.

Show me someone who hasn’t muffed a shot and I’ll show you a liar. Shit happens, glad everyone was ok.