Is it possible to stop a buffalo charge with an arrow through the nose to brain?

[steve white]

Not saying you would WANT to take such a shot, but even though backed up by a rifle, things can go wrong. Would an arrow actually penetrate the brain from straight on?

 

[Rare Breed]

Steve you are a brave man sir!!! While I know you would not want to take that shot having bow hunted myself for almost 50 years and having taken 4 cape buff with my rifles Just me it would be a “fools erand” and you sir are not a fool! If a bull is charging you holding a bow the game is up and your PH has to step in with his rifle. Though I would never hunt buff with a bow certainly I understand the only way to take one with a bow is a perfect broad side shot or no shot at all

 

[WAB]

Short answer, NO. I have numerous skulls laying about. No chance an arrow will penetrate one. Perhaps a shot through the eye as he turns his head to wink at you?

 

[RSL]

Here, hold my beer.......

Sorry, just kidding ;-)

 

[Sarg]

I’ll ask my buddy Tim Wells, if anybody could it would be him, he head shots Brown Bears looking straight at him, flying birds, all too easy so moved on to Spear & blow guns (that’s a bit tongue & cheek) I have had at least two hunters who could shoot like that Bob Markworth & Tim Wells, might take a special arrow & head combo ?

 

[BGGMKLR]

Steve you are a brave man sir!!! While I know you would not want to take that shot having bow hunted myself for almost 50 years and having taken 4 cape buff with my rifles Just me it would be a “fools erand” and you sir are not a fool! If a bull is charging you holding a bow the game is up and your PH has to step in with his rifle. Though I would never hunt buff with a bow certainly I understand the only way to take one with a bow is a perfect broad side shot or no shot at all

THIS!
Spike

 

[mark-hunter]

Is there any known case at all when somebody stopped a buffalo charge with arrow?

My thinking:
Buffalo can charge with speed of 51 FPS. 20 yards charge, the distance is covered in 1.17 seconds.
Lets call it one second.

Rifle:
Full charge, from 20 yards, raise the rifle, shoot supersonic load, 2400 FPS, stopping possible, proven in practice.

Or, bow:
Full charge, from 20 yards, raise the bow, string the bow and arrow on 80 pounds, release the arrow, speed of arrow 300 FPS, hitting the eye?

The reaction time is incomparable from the moment when decided to stop the charge, to the moment when the projectile is released from using the rifle, or using the bow.
By the time the arrow is about to be launched, buffalo is already on a hunter.

I would say: I am not pushing to try it myself.

 

[spike.t]

I’ll ask my buddy Tim Wells, if anybody could it would be him, he head shots Brown Bears looking straight at him, flying birds, all too easy so moved on to Spear & blow guns (that’s a bit tongue & cheek) I have had at least two hunters who could shoot like that Bob Markworth & Tim Wells, might take a special arrow & head combo ?

Are the bears stationery or charging?.....a charging buffs head is moving around....don't care how good you are with a bow sounds like a death wish to me

 

[Sarg]

Is there any known case at all when somebody stopped a buffalo charge with arrow?

My thinking:
Buffalo can charge with speed of 51 FPS. 20 yards charge, the distance is covered in 1.17 seconds.
Lets call it one second.

Rifle:
Full charge, from 20 yards, raise the rifle, shoot supersonic load, 2400 FPS, stopping possible, proven in practice.

Or, bow:
Full charge, from 20 yards, raise the bow, string the bow and arrow on 80 pounds, release the arrow, speed of arrow 300 FPS, hitting the eye?

The reaction time is incomparable from the moment when decided to stop the charge, to the moment when the projectile is released from using the rifle, or using the bow.
By the time the arrow is about to be launched, buffalo is already on a hunter.

I would say: I am not pushing to try it myself.

You reckon we could add the Buffalo’s 51 FPS towards arrow speed = 351 FPS ?

 

[mark-hunter]

You reckon we could add the Buffalo’s 51 FPS towards arrow speed = 351 FPS ?

Sure, be my guest!

 

[Surgeon1]

I hate to say it but if I’m the one holding the arrow and a true death charge from a Dogga Boy is on me, I hope I have the wherewithal in the last second to put the arrow in my own brain as it would likely be less painful for me than the next 30 seconds as he rips me to shreds would be!
Having had encounters with buffalo up close and personal, has led me to have occasional nightmares of encounters with a really pissed off buffalo with only my double rifle in hand.
Steve you have now added a new dimension in my brain to exacerbate those nightmares!

 

[Sarg]

Are the bears stationery or charging?.....a charging buffs head is moving around....don't care how good you are with a bow sounds like a death wish to me

The one I saw was not charging, I think he could do it on a Bear but we aren’t talking normal people/archers here, these guys were/are gifted !

 

[R eight]

The best option might be to throw the arrow and bow onto the ground in front of the buffalo and hope he trips over it.

 

[mark-hunter]

I think the best chance is throw away the bow, and jump behind the closest tree.
With a bit of luck, PH will sort out the situation with his big bore double.

 

[skydiver386]

We first have to think how we got ourselves into this scenario, and second, how do we get ourselves out of it.

If I'm hunting Plains Game and I'm suddenly charged by an unwounded Cape Buffalo, I'd get out of it's way if possible, and let the PH make the decision whether it needs a bullet put in it.

If I'm intentionally hunting Cape Buffalo and a charge happens, immediately stopping the charge with archery tackle is about a zero percentage proposition, but standing around isn't really an option either. Attempting a brain shot even for someone luke the gentlemen mentioned would have little chance of success. If it were me, I'd attempt a chest shot in an effort to get a broadhead into the heart/lungs, then get out of the way.

If the PH puts it down, then all is well that ends well. If you have to track the Buff further to finish it, at least it's got an arrow in the chest, and hopefully expires before it gets another go at you.

Better to have a rifle, and better than that, have friends with rifles.

 

[Brian]

Should get your affairs in order before you try it.

 

[odonata]

When contemplating a challenging problem, I usually approach it something like this:

1. What is the list of worst-case scenarios that might occur?

2. What is the probability of these bad outcomes actually materializing?

3. Do I have the resources or wherewithal to mitigate the fallout if the situation heads south?

4. Is previous history or any laws of math, physics or the universe against me pulling this rabbit out of a hat?

I've given this some serious thought and as a betting man, I'm putting my money on the buffalo in this particular instance. It doesn't appear to be an endeavor that you can actually practice at & grow as a skill set over time. Feels more like a "one & done" kind of event.

 

[Sideshow]

Man this whole thing just sounds like @steve white is asking for volunteers as someone said above……”Hold my beer”!
What’s that other saying about “Fool me once……….stample stample gouge gouge…..never mind……think this is followed by a Monty Python sketch…..”it’s just a flesh wound”!

 

[BRICKBURN]

Shooting an arrow up the nasal passage. Not a lot of Buffalo looking at you with their nose up during a charge. So, ......

1. Yes a proper arrow (etc) can penetrate the skull of a Cape Buffalo.
Cape buffalo (African buffalo) possess an incredibly thick, heavy skull, particularly in mature males. The frontal bone (where the horns meet) can measure from 2 to 4 cm (0.8 to 1.6 inches) thick. Including the fused, heavy layer of horn known as the "boss," total skull thickness at the crown frequently exceeds 7 to 8 cm (2.7 to 3.1 inches)

2. Hitting a moving grapefruit with an arrow is another thing.

3. If you are about to be stomped and your at full draw you might as well go down swinging.

In your next life. Practice being much quieter and more sneaky and just shoot them properly with your bow and avoid the extra effort.

 

[Doug3006]

If you try it, please have it videotaped. If nothing else, it will come in handy at the inquest.