SOUTH AFRICA: Cape Buffalo

[Schmidty]

I share this as I sit in a blind over a water hole in the mountains near Thabazimbi, SA. I am on day 3 bowhunting for a Kudu bull. The first 2 days of my hunt was spent bowhunting for buffalo. On day 3, I decided to get boots on the ground and get into the bush with a rifle. Going into my hunt the plan was to budget the first 2 days of the 10 day hunt bowhunting for buff. Then the rest of the time pursue buffalo with the rifle and if time allowed go back to bowhunting for Kudu.
I had the option of using the PH's .375 H&H or a .458 Win Mag. Since I had killed a giraffe in the past with a .375, I opted for the .458. I figured I'd likely never shot one again especially back home. As an avid bowhunter I am not very knowledgeable about rifles but I enjoy shooting guns of all kinds (pistol, shotgun, muzzleloader and rifles). The ammo was a 350 grain copper bullet that had cup nose as he described it. The rifle had a Leupold scope that I belive was 1.25-4x20.
Next post is the hunt with pictures...

 

[Schmidty]

Our hunt started in the morning looking for sign of the buffalo. Pieter said the herd was large and with other game such as wildebeest and impala around it would be difficult to get close to the buffalo. He mentioned they are very wary and if we spook them once it would be even more difficult. Once the herd was located in the thickest cover (of course) we made a move around them to get in position to wait them out. He did not want to risk spooning them by going in after them. After bit the herd spooked and were off in a thundering cloud of dust.
After locating their tracks crossing the two track we worked our way towards the heard. Once again they didn't stand still long and were off. The plan changed to try to get out a head of them. Off we went in the truck and made a large loop around the heard. Pieter had a good idea where they were headed so we parked the truck and waited them out. Eventually the heard made their way towards our position. At 140 yards the heard got spooky again as the wind was not perfect. Pieter classed the heard and picked out the proper bull. Once he pointed the bull he wanted me to take I waited on the sticks for a shot. The bull turned facing right and was broadside. Pieter calmly whispered to aim mid body height on the shoulder. With a steady rest and smooth trigger pull the .458 barked. Not hearing the bullet hit nor really getting a reaction of a hit from the bull the head thundered off. I felt good about my execution but I thought I missed based on the bull's reaction and not hearing the bullet hit. I was bummed out and kept hoping it was a clean miss and not a poor shot placement. In my mind I missed.
Once we got to the location of where the buffalo was standing neither Pieter or the tracker Paul found blood. Pieter took up the tracks of the herd and found where they crossed the two track at which point he found blood. Excitement but reservation because it didn't look like a lot of blood to me or lung blood. As we all tracked the blood we found a spot where the bull laid down and it had a pile of pink bubbly blood. Now I was getting jacked! Pieter found where the bull had left heard and was heading for thicker cover. He told me to stay near him and be ready for a shot. About 50 yards later the bull was standing quarering too us and staring us down. Pieter got the sticks up and told me to shoot. I shot and this time it was obvious he was hit by the sound and reaction. He ran another 50 yards, fell over and did the "death bellow". At that point the adrenaline kicked in. As we approached the downed bull Pieter told me to put on in the spine. I shot free hand at 30 yards through the spine. We cautiously approached and Piter exclaimed "he's done!". Handshakes and greetings followed and the hunt was a success. As you will see my first shot was near perfect just behind the shoulder and bright frothy blood. How that bull managed to go 250-300 yards is amazing.

 

[Schmidty]

A few pictures

 

[ILDRHNTR]

Beautiful bull!! Looking forward to the rest of the 10 day hunt. Best of luck!

 

[AZDAVE]

Looks like the hunting goddess is smiling on you. Best of luck with your Kudu.

 

[Hunt anything]

Congratulations! Good luck on the rest of your hunt

 

[migrabill]

Great read! Good job!!

 

[Nyati]

Well done, nice bull !

 

[Schmidty]

Now that I am back home here are a couple of pics from my initial shot placement.