Looks like the CMS shirts are all the rage

[Datchew]

Glad that lad is ok. Thx for the update.

He was clearly in shock at the end of the video and I was literally cringing waiting for someone to do basic triage and assessment of him.

That could have ended badly.

 

[Altitude sickness]

I was surprised no one put direct pressure on the wound. And didn’t elevate his legs.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

That was a very frustrating video to watch, I wouldn’t necessarily blame the rental rifle on that debacle of a hunt , that older gentleman, just plain old couldn’t walk, see , or handle the rifle, I almost choked on my coffee, when he said “ the guide and tracker had run off and provoked the bull , when he could have just snuck in and finished it off “
Maybe time to hang up his spurs? But I don’t know the guy , but the video painted him very clearly struggling to hunt, I could see the frustration with every member of the PH crew .
Just read the comments on YouTube
View attachment 682782

I try anymore not to second guess these things and playing Monday morning quarterback, but I found the client taking the time on camera to blame Nicolaus for the charge and showing apparently no concern for his health to be a bit distasteful.

 

[Russ16]

I try anymore not to second guess these things and playing Monday morning quarterback, but I found the client taking the time on camera to blame Nicolaus for the charge and showing apparently no concern for his health to be a bit distasteful.

I don’t disgree. But he was clearly shook and was trying to process what happened. I’ll give him some benefit of the doubt. Someone putting a camera in my face right after something like that I might not say the most thoughtful thing either.

 

[towserthemouser]

CMS might want their shirt back.

 

[MacJenkins]

Seamed like a really good guy! Not sure what was going on with the rifle but appeared to be a 2” bandage on the stock to get the correct cheek weld. To be honest it seamed like some conflicting info from the Ph and possibly others once it came time to get on the sticks. The ground did look F’ed up if you didn’t have the right boots. In my past trips to Africa I’ve never seen ground like that.

 

[sureshot375]

My favorite part is how the PH went after a wounded buff with shooting sticks instead of a gun.

Allowing the party to separate was wildly dangerous. It’s a miracle someone didn’t get shot.

 

[Taylorz1]

Marcus looks like he doesnt know how to handle or shoot a bolt rifle. I was more worried about him shooting the already injured guy. If Id been the PH i would have left him at the truck for the follow up.

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

Glad the appie was ok. Hope rat didn’t discourage him too much.

I’m not going to really armchair quarterback this one but I will say I found myself yelling shoot a time or two and cringing at how long it took to get on the sticks. I don't do well with blown shot opportunities and think practicing getting on the sticks and quickly acquiring the target is one of the most important skills/drills someone can do before going on a safari.

I’ve also spoken with Ben a couple times at shows before and was very impressed at how patient he was with the hunter. I got the feeling he’s guided him a time or two before.

 

[Scott CWO]

A PH on a wounded buffalo needs a rifle and should usually keep everyone together or lined out.

Perhaps Nic set off on his own off to the side because of the hunter’s incompetence and because the other PH wasn’t armed? The hunter had struggled throughout the safari to get shots in a game-rich area. I know the area. I’ve been there recently.

Looks like Patrick wasn’t there for this scenario. Patrick is a very good PH. I don’t think this wreck would have happened if he was there.

As others have mentioned, also a good example to bring your own rifle. In addition, the first shot was too far back and might have only got one lung. IMHO, the responsibility for this mess lies with the hunter and secondarily with the outside PH without a rifle.

As for taking rifles to Cameroon, it does require sending your passport to a travel agent, Mathias, in France who takes it to the Cameroon embassy to get your rifle permit and visa. Mathias also makes your domestic round trip flight reservations from Douala to Ngaoundere and books your hotel in Douala. Airport assistance and VIP transportation to your hotel and back are also included and was great even though the airport cops and procedures are slow. Mathias arranges all of this and I thought the fees were very reasonable. All the outfitters use Mathias. I also used Gracy Travel for my international flights and they also know Mathias.

Another key thing to know is that CamAir is notorious for planes departing early! Get to the airport at least three hours before the flight to Ngaoundere or Garoua. Both my flights left earlier than scheduled but I had been forewarned.

 

[FARO EAST NORTH CAMEROON]

Hi guys,

I’d like to take a moment to respond to all of you regarding what happened in that video and to provide some important context.

We always advise our clients to bring their own rifles—not due to any shortcoming in our equipment, which is of the highest quality—but because every hunter feels more confident using a firearm they know well.

In this case, the client declined and chose to rent one of our rifles. As is standard practice among professional outfitters in Africa, we charge a rental fee of 600 euros—not 900 euros, as has been incorrectly stated. This fee reflects the significant difficulty of importing ammunition into Cameroon. The client was provided with two reliable rifles, both tested at the range before the hunt. The second rifle, used during the main event, was in fact my personal firearm—not a camp gun. Both weapons had previously performed successfully with other clients.

Nicolas had just completed a successful buffalo hunt with Andrew, executed professionally and without issue—further proof of his experience and capability in the field.

When I returned to camp and heard what had happened, I immediately spoke with Nicolas. At first, I told him he should have waited after the lung shot. But Nicolas explained that the buffalo charged almost immediately after they found the first blood, before they could assess its direction of travel. It had been lying in ambush, completely hidden, and launched a sudden attack. Nicolas had only a second or two to react—he did fire at the buffalo’s head, but the shot wasn’t fatal due to how fast it all unfolded.

To clarify a few things not visible in the video:

-Yes, Nicolas—the licensed PH—was carrying a .458 Lott, and you can actually see it in his hand when the buffalo hits him.
-Nicolas held onto the rifle even as he was struck by the buffalo, despite the violence of the charge.
-Ben retrieved that same rifle and used it to shoot the buffalo.
-Nicolas was in front because they were fully aware of the danger and were proceeding with caution.
So no, the PH did not go after a wounded buffalo with only a stick—as some have incorrectly claimed.

The video currently circulating online does not capture how fast the situation escalated. It was shared without our consent and under extremely traumatic circumstances. Given what Nicolas went through, its publication is both irresponsible and disrespectful.

The next day, while guiding another client on a buffalo hunt in the same area, I personally experienced a charge. That one ended well, but the conditions were completely different—the buffalo charged head-on and in plain sight. In Nicolas’s case, the buffalo came from the side, completely concealed in thick bush. From his position, it was simply impossible to see it until it was too late. Whether it had been Ben or Nicolas in front, the result would likely have been the same—no one could have anticipated it.

As many of you know, it’s often the already mortally wounded animals that are the most dangerous. To have two buffalo charges in less than 24 hours is extraordinarily rare, and it’s a sobering reminder of how unpredictable and dangerous these hunts can be—even for seasoned professionals. Our last charge before this happened years ago, which highlights just how uncommon such events truly are.

In my 35 years of guiding in Africa, I’ve faced several buffalo charges—thankfully, all were stopped. This one was not. But thankfully, the femoral artery was not touched, and Nicolas recovered. No doubt that Nicolas has gained an experience that many hunters take a lifetime to learn.

Best regards,

Patrick

 

[towserthemouser]

I've just recently hired a camera man to film an upcoming buffalo hunt. The camera man is affiliated with the PH/outfitting company and does a lot of video/marketing work for them.

This raises an interesting question for me: who controls the video footage? I would assume the person paying for it owns it and has control over how it is used and distributed. Who decides if it's ok to use the footage for marketing purposes for the outfitter? What role do the outfitter/PH have in these questions? What about the video man, or the video company if it's under separate ownership than the outfitter? Who controls how or if that footage is edited from raw footage? I would assume the filming company has a lot of say over editing questions, I bet many of these decisions are made without the hunter even knowing. Does the hunter who purchased the video have the right to all of the raw footage, separate from the edited final product?

If there is a verbal or written contract, who are the parties to that contract? Would it be three parties (Hunter, Outfitter, and Video Company)? Or just Hunter and Video Company? I guess this question is simplified if the camera man is employed by the Outfitter and paid through them, but potentially a bit more muddy if he's "affiliated" with the Outfitter but paid directly by the Hunter.

How best to handle issues that might be embarrassing for some or all of the involved parties? What if there is evidence on the video that is relevant to government or regulatory issues? What if there is video evidence that establishes "fault" when something goes wrong?

I feel like I have a pretty good intuition for the answers to these questions in the USA legal framework, but customs might be different in various African countries. And setting aside the "letter of the law," there is also the traditional Southern question of "doing what is right," which usually involves preserving the dignity of friends, associates, and colleagues and maintaining valued relationships.......

I'd be curious to hear the thoughts of others with more experience in these matters.

 

[Hunt anything]

I had seen that video before, either Tracks Across Africa or Dark and Dangerous so it’s been out on the airwaves before.

 

[Russ16]

I've just recently hired a camera man to film an upcoming buffalo hunt. The camera man is affiliated with the PH/outfitting company and does a lot of video/marketing work for them.

This raises an interesting question for me: who controls the video footage? I would assume the person paying for it owns it and has control over how it is used and distributed. Who decides if it's ok to use the footage for marketing purposes for the outfitter? What role do the outfitter/PH have in these questions? What about the video man, or the video company if it's under separate ownership than the outfitter? Who controls how or if that footage is edited from raw footage? I would assume the filming company has a lot of say over editing questions, I bet many of these decisions are made without the hunter even knowing. Does the hunter who purchased the video have the right to all of the raw footage, separate from the edited final product?

If there is a verbal or written contract, who are the parties to that contract? Would it be three parties (Hunter, Outfitter, and Video Company)? Or just Hunter and Video Company? I guess this question is simplified if the camera man is employed by the Outfitter and paid through them, but potentially a bit more muddy if he's "affiliated" with the Outfitter but paid directly by the Hunter.

How best to handle issues that might be embarrassing for some or all of the involved parties? What if there is evidence on the video that is relevant to government or regulatory issues? What if there is video evidence that establishes "fault" when something goes wrong?

I feel like I have a pretty good intuition for the answers to these questions in the USA legal framework, but customs might be different in various African countries. And setting aside the "letter of the law," there is also the traditional Southern question of "doing what is right," which usually involves preserving the dignity of friends, associates, and colleagues and maintaining valued relationships.......

I'd be curious to hear the thoughts of others with more experience in these matters.

I’m considering having SCP film my hunt with CMS next year. They make clear that if you don’t want the video used in Tracks Across Africa or their YouTube channel the you pay a higher fee. If you allow them to use it you automatically get a copy of the show they produce. A 60-90 minute edited video like the one we saw is an extra editing fee. I haven’t seen the contract so don’t know about raw footage.

As for government in the case something goes wrong or wrongdoing I assume if the government wants it they will get it. The safari operator and video company want to keep doing business in the country.

 

[FARO EAST NORTH CAMEROON]

I’m considering having SCP film my hunt with CMS next year. They make clear that if you don’t want the video used in Tracks Across Africa or their YouTube channel the you pay a higher fee. If you allow them to use it you automatically get a copy of the show they produce. A 60-90 minute edited video like the one we saw is an extra editing fee. I haven’t seen the contract so don’t know about raw footage.

As for government in the case something goes wrong or wrongdoing I assume if the government wants it they will get it. The safari operator and video company want to keep doing business in the country.

I’m considering having SCP film my hunt with CMS next year. They make clear that if you don’t want the video used in Tracks Across Africa or their YouTube channel the you pay a higher fee. If you allow them to use it you automatically get a copy of the show they produce. A 60-90 minute edited video like the one we saw is an extra editing fee. I haven’t seen the contract so don’t know about raw footage.

As for government in the case something goes wrong or wrongdoing I assume if the government wants it they will get it. The safari operator and video company want to keep doing business in the country.

I think you are raising an interesting question for which I have very little competence. Usually a client asks me to bring a cameraman as observer for his private use which I see no objection but if the guy is sponsored or if he wants to publish the minimum is to have us consent and let us see if what is published is not hiding important context facts like obviously we faced here and more over to respect the person who went through that delicate experience. for us this is the first time that someone use us
in that manner not asking us and out of many aspects leading to wrong and meaningless interpretations.

 

[dogcat1]

Over my 4 safaris in Cameroon, I have hunted with 2 different outfitters. On all 4 hunts I had to send my passport to Paris and or Brussels to some agent who took my passport to the embassy and got me a visa. Once he secured the visa he would send my passport back to me. This is not a difficult process, but it always gave me anxiety to send my passport away ahead of an upcoming hunt. If I recall correctly it cost around 300 for the FedEx charge, then the guy getting the visa and other paperwork charged around 600 for his services.

As a part of this process I had to send my gun details, form 4457, fill out other forms, then email those. When you arrive in Douala, it is fairly simple, however, it will take quite a while to get through the airport, it can take 1 to 1 1/2 hours to get your gun processed in Douala. I would have no idea why other than it's 'African time' and we all know what that means.

Another quick note about the airport in Douala, there will be a checkpoint once you land to see your yellow fever card, another one to ask your age and ask what you do for a living, another one where you fill out a health form, then you get to customs. Again, it is not difficult, but it takes a lot of time, it is hot as hades, there is NO AC, so you stand in line and sweat, lol

If you are going to Cameroon, it is imperative to have someone on the ground to get you through the airport, on my 2nd trip through Douala the guy I paid 600.00 to help get me through the airport did not show up, I'll save that story for another time, but trust me, it was anxiety overload.

Same experience on my 2 hunts there. Quite a rodeo but a great hunt…