Help Me Learn About Water Buffalo

[Sabre]

I am curious about water buffalo hunting. When I do searches on AH, what I mostly find are photos of successful hunts, but not much info.

There seems to be two different kinds. The ones I see mostly from US game ranches seem to be tight smaller horns. And the ones I see from Australia and maybe Brazil seem to have large wide horns. Are they the same species with different management or completely different species?

What is a reasonable cost to hunt one in say, Australia? I feel like I see prices all over the place.

What is the hunt like? Is it fun, exciting, difficult?

Are they dangerous to the same extent as a Cape buffalo, a little less dangerous, much less dangerous?

Very interested in any info people could provide. Thanks!

 

[chashardy]

I hunted water buffalo in the Northern Territory, Australia in 2023. I used Australian Outback Safaris and had success. They use a tented camp, so we were "roughing it" compared to most outfitters in South Africa. Lots of big buffalo to choose from. They are not as aggressive as Cape Buffalo nor as easily spooked. In fact, the bull I shot was only about 70 yards away and just standing there looking at me. Pretty easy frontal shot with my 416 Rigby. Also took a nice scrub bull and helped with culling of feral donkeys.
Be advised that Australia isn't very hunter friendly and I had a hassle with lots of unnecessary paperwork to get my rifle cleared and checked in for the flight home. Permitting to enter and to leave is required. You might want to consider renting a rifle from the outfitter.
I've visited Australia three times--twice just touring and once to hunt. Australia is beautiful and Australians are fun loving and very welcoming of Americans.
Take the time while you are there to see Australia.

 

[Hunter-Habib]

Larger & heavier but less aggressive than African Cape buffalo. When I say less aggressive, I don’t mean not aggressive at all. They are capable (when angry) of ramming & overturning a speed boat with little effort. I’ve seen it happen.

I once had to cull 46 of them due to government orders in 1979. Combined with my men, we all took between us 550 of these gigantic bovines in 5 working days.

The Australian species are introduced there from Asia. But for some reason, the meat on the Australian species tastes tougher than the meat of the Asiatic species. Australian water buffalo meat is perfectly fine for burger grind or sausage or koobideh or kafta. But I wouldn’t consider eating it as a whole muscle cut (such as a steak) unless it was pounded really thin & left to marinate for a day to tenderize.

 

[CamoManJ]

Good subject & do tell, following with interest.

 

[Andrew62]

I hunted buffalo in Australia back in 2001, took my own gun but I do not recall the issues of getting my gun in and out of the country. I did take a .375H&H, they had a loaner gun, 30.06, the guide also had a 30.06.

I certainly wouldn’t want to get tangled up with a wounded one, but the two I shot just stood there when I shot them, nothing like a Cape buffalo.

The last I saw a price for a hunt was 12,500, that was 3-4 years ago.

I wish you well in your search!

 

[375Fox]

Australia will have varying prices in part due to outfitter reputation, private land or arnhemland, and how remote. I hunted 2 buffalo on 100k acres of private land part forest and part flood plain. I rented a rifle. It was a great experience large number of buffalo, boars, and big crocs. I caught barramundi. I saw dingos multiple times and also wild horses. However, Darwin Australia takes a huge amount of travel time to reach from US. If I go again I will hunt in arnhemland to see it. There is more wilderness in Australia to me than Africa and definitely less people. It’s a great experience but the buffalo are no where near as wild and aggressive as Cape buffalo. They are much more calm and sometimes appear standoffish or curious instead of running.

Something interesting on my hunt. I don’t know if anyone offers it now, but I hunted wet season in January. The visibility wasn’t as good and we had to use lighter vehicles to get around but bulls were primarily on dry forest instead of flood plains. I prayed for heavy rain though for a break from mosquitoes at times.

 

[SWS1]

I've been fortunate enough to hunt them three years running.
Year one I hunted with Simon Kyle-Little. An absolute legend of water buffalo hunting. Font of knowledge and a great first big game hunt.
Last two times i've been with Walkabout Safaris. Wonderful and managed to take great banteng as well as buff. Stephen has two concessions on the flood plains and both species get big there.
Banteng to me are the equivalent of a smart deer.. great fun to hunt them through the paper bark forest. Water buff tend to be a bit less concious of hunters but a great fun hunt. It's a definite addiction and I've already booked for 2027!

 

[grand veneur]

I am curious about water buffalo hunting. When I do searches on AH, what I mostly find are photos of successful hunts, but not much info.

There seems to be two different kinds. The ones I see mostly from US game ranches seem to be tight smaller horns. And the ones I see from Australia and maybe Brazil seem to have large wide horns. Are they the same species with different management or completely different species?

What is a reasonable cost to hunt one in say, Australia? I feel like I see prices all over the place.

What is the hunt like? Is it fun, exciting, difficult?

Are they dangerous to the same extent as a Cape buffalo, a little less dangerous, much less dangerous?

Very interested in any info people could provide. Thanks!

There is only one species of Asian water buffalo / Bubalus Arnee in the world, but the transition from tame to wild is fluid, even in its native habitat in South and South East Asia. The species was domesticated over millennia and also in recent centuries, exported worldwide to then become in some countries feral cattle again. I have shot some in Malaysia and I can confirm what @Hunter-Habib wrote. They seemed less aggressive and less tough to me than their African counterparts. This probably explains why buffaloes in Australia are sometime shot with cartridges that I would never use for shooting an African buffalo. As with any hunt, the adventure and the difficulties depend on the terrain where the species is hunted. I only know the Malaysian jungle and the borders of the palm oil plantations. The habitat of the species is perhaps different in Australia and South America.

 

[Sarg]

This is a harmless Water Buffalo in the NT of Australia on one of our competitors concessions, next to ours !

 

[grand veneur]

Despite everything, Asian Water Buffalo are cattle and therefore always to be considered potentially dangerous.

 

[fourfive8]

@grand veneur, “Fluid lines” between wild/feral and domesticated is excellent description. Also correct- only one species. Like any type of cattle, individuals can be or become ornery. I’ve been around them some and even own one. . Table fare? Taste is good- like any in the group of buffalo/cattle but those not specifically raised and fed for eating tend to be tough and dry, as expected.

 

[Sarg]

Of course easy to kill as well, all chest shots .375 H&H 300gr slugs & unaware of anybody.

 

[Sabre]

So, am I understanding correctly that you guys are saying the water buffalo I've seen people say they hunted in the US that look like this:

Are the same species as the water buffalo from Australia that look like this:

If so, is this just a difference in age? Genetics? Diet?

I can't imagine it's diet. I'd imagine the US ranchers trying to sell the hunts would feed whatever they could to get them to look like the bigger horned ones to get more money. Just as they do with deer, elk, etc. If it is genetics, is there something stopping them from importing good genetics?

 

[Sarg]

So, am I understanding correctly that you guys are saying the water buffalo I've seen people say they hunted in the US that look like this:

View attachment 734673View attachment 734674



Are the same species as the water buffalo from Australia that look like this:View attachment 734675


If so, is this just a difference in age? Genetics? Diet?

I can't imagine it's diet. I'd imagine the US ranchers trying to sell the hunts would feed whatever they could to get them to look like the bigger horned ones to get more money. Just as they do with deer, elk, etc. If it is genetics, is there something stopping them from importing good genetics?

Those Curly horned buggers in the US & South America (other than a couple of islands) are the more domesticated milking/cheese Subspecies (or one of) from Europe, seen on farms in Aussie & NZ to for milking, known here as Riverina Buffalo
BUT these are actually known as vicious bastards as well.

One of your photos is a Bullock, a Castrated Bull to make horns grow more & less likely to break them fighting or digging/displaying, almost for sure a tame animal, eg CBB released for shooting.

Saying that on very rare occasions Wild & free Bullocks are found, seldom in this day & age & never if your paying extra for it !

 

[Doug Hamilton]

I am curious about water buffalo hunting. When I do searches on AH, what I mostly find are photos of successful hunts, but not much info.

There seems to be two different kinds. The ones I see mostly from US game ranches seem to be tight smaller horns. And the ones I see from Australia and maybe Brazil seem to have large wide horns. Are they the same species with different management or completely different species?

What is a reasonable cost to hunt one in say, Australia? I feel like I see prices all over the place.

What is the hunt like? Is it fun, exciting, difficult?

Are they dangerous to the same extent as a Cape buffalo, a little less dangerous, much less dangerous?

Very interested in any info people could provide. Thanks!

I hunted water buffalo in the Northern Territory, Australia in 2023. I used Australian Outback Safaris and had success. They use a tented camp, so we were "roughing it" compared to most outfitters in South Africa. Lots of big buffalo to choose from. They are not as aggressive as Cape Buffalo nor as easily spooked. In fact, the bull I shot was only about 70 yards away and just standing there looking at me. Pretty easy frontal shot with my 416 Rigby. Also took a nice scrub bull and helped with culling of feral donkeys.
Be advised that Australia isn't very hunter friendly and I had a hassle with lots of unnecessary paperwork to get my rifle cleared and checked in for the flight home. Permitting to enter and to leave is required. You might want to consider renting a rifle from the outfitter.
I've visited Australia three times--twice just touring and once to hunt. Australia is beautiful and Australians are fun loving and very welcoming of Americans.
Take the time while you are there to see Australia.

After last weeks mass shooting and the Aussie politicians answer to any violence, I think it may get much tougher to bring your own guns into Australia. I hope a I'm wrong about that as it's on my.list of places to go.

 

[Doug Hamilton]

Despite everything, Asian Water Buffalo are cattle and therefore always to be considered potentially dangerous.

I remember a hunter being killed by a water buffalo in Argentina, maybe last year? Someone here probably gas details.

 

[TOBY458]

Australia will have varying prices in part due to outfitter reputation, private land or arnhemland, and how remote. I hunted 2 buffalo on 100k acres of private land part forest and part flood plain. I rented a rifle. It was a great experience large number of buffalo, boars, and big crocs. I caught barramundi. I saw dingos multiple times and also wild horses. However, Darwin Australia takes a huge amount of travel time to reach from US. If I go again I will hunt in arnhemland to see it. There is more wilderness in Australia to me than Africa and definitely less people. It’s a great experience but the buffalo are no where near as wild and aggressive as Cape buffalo. They are much more calm and sometimes appear standoffish or curious instead of running.

Something interesting on my hunt. I don’t know if anyone offers it now, but I hunted wet season in January. The visibility wasn’t as good and we had to use lighter vehicles to get around but bulls were primarily on dry forest instead of flood plains. I prayed for heavy rain though for a break from mosquitoes at times.
View attachment 733895

What outfitter did you hunt with?

 

[Flbt]

So, am I understanding correctly that you guys are saying the water buffalo I've seen people say they hunted in the US that look like this:

View attachment 734673View attachment 734674



Are the same species as the water buffalo from Australia that look like this:View attachment 734675


If so, is this just a difference in age? Genetics? Diet?

I can't imagine it's diet. I'd imagine the US ranchers trying to sell the hunts would feed whatever they could to get them to look like the bigger horned ones to get more money. Just as they do with deer, elk, etc. If it is genetics, is there something stopping them from importing good genetics?

From my understanding it’s like cows.
Zube breeds and jerseys are both cows
They don’t look alike and most of the time don’t act alike.

Old river swamp cows that lived out in the swamps and only saw people 1-2 a year free breed and had to deal with predators
Are normal a hell of a lot more dangerous than what you see in a fince pasture.

 

[Flbt]

Those Curly horned buggers in the US & South America (other than a couple of islands) are the more domesticated milking/cheese Subspecies (or one of) from Europe, seen on farms in Aussie & NZ to for milking, known here as Riverina Buffalo
BUT these are actually known as vicious bastards as well.

One of your photos is a Bullock, a Castrated Bull to make horns grow more & less likely to break them fighting or digging/displaying, almost for sure a tame animal, eg CBB released for shooting.

Saying that on very rare occasions Wild & free Bullocks are found, seldom in this day & age & never if your paying extra for it !

I remember reading that some South American buffs. We’re from some borough in to work suger cane and rubber.
The people they sent to buy them though water buff were water buff.
Not understanding that some were demstic and some were really nothing but wild.
So they bought the cheap wild ones.
Supposedly they killed some handlers on the boat.
Then killed about 100 South American natives
Before some one dicided the demstic ones were for work and the wild ones were to much truble.
Supposedly they turned them out and went back and bought the broken ones.

I can’t remember the book.
But I know the short more curve horns one I have been around were like cows.
The long wide horn bull that guy had well I would not work any where near it with out the blackhalk on.

 

[Tgood1]

I went along as an observer in Argentina and watched with binoculars as a bowhunter took one with a bow in Argentina, it was massive. They have a reputation there as being a bit aggressive having seen the results of them attacking the farm trucks