Buffalo hunt video left me XXXXXXX

[Foxyboy43]

Discussions on other threads coupled with the fact that some pals are going to Namibia shortly and one has “booked” a buffalo prompted me to look at a few videos on dangerous game hunting - much of which was excellent and on a few occasions utterly terrifying.
This morning I watched the first 15 minutes of this long two-part video and to be honest the last minute of that 15 left me very unsettled to the point of extremely uncomfortable. Not for a moment am I sitting in judgement of any man’s sport but I have many reservations over what took place in these particular few minutes and the fact that it has been broadcast at all. It would be interesting to hear other views - measured and reasoned please.

 

[finnbear270]

Words fail.

 

[Jelen]

Utterly sickening, and then someone sniggers. It beggars belief.

 

[Stalker62]

Buffalo can be hard to kill.

That was some pretty poor shooting.

Nothing I would want to film, nothing I would want to share with the world.

Nothing I would want to be 'congratulated' on.

Not for me.

 

[The Grouse]

That shooting brought to mind several passages from Teddy Roosevelts "African Game Trails"

 

[Stalker62]

That shooting brought to mind several passages from Teddy Roosevelts "African Game Trails"

I read that book last year.

For anyone with an interest in Africa and Hunting it is 'de rigueur'.

It is also littered, with some of the most horrendous examples of poor shooting I think I have ever come across.

Great statesman he was - marksman he was not.

 

[User00047]

I’ve never done a buffalo hunt, but having watched a few videos of this sort of thing, this seems quite typical and is how I imagine a lot of buffalo meet their end….

Once the chubby, out of shape American dentist puffs and pants his way to the quad sticks and cocks up the first rushed shot, the group quickly put as much lead into any part of the animal they can until it’s dead. Usually with the PH taking over at some point before the animal flees completely.

 

[Stalker62]

I’ve never done a buffalo hunt, but having watched a few videos of this sort of thing, this seems quite typical and is how I imagine a lot of buffalo meet their end…

It seems to be typical of how Buffalos meet their end on videos posted by idiots.

 

[Dickie]

Buffalo can be hard to kill.

That was some pretty poor shooting.

Nothing I would want to film, nothing I would want to share with the world.

Nothing I would want to be 'congratulated' on.

Not for me.

They certainly don't just roll over if they are alert and you don't put the bullet in the right place

Spot on there absolutely poor shooting.

Surprised the check zero was off the bonnet and not the sticks.

Looked like the shooting of the buffalo was a lot further than the check zero shots.

 

[Hardy]

I stopped watching after the first missed shot. Was shocked to see how they carried their rifles over their shoulder and also how easy they accepted their initial sighting in shots, I would have adjusted definitely.
That first shot misssed by a mile and to then state it was the wrong calibre for Buffalo
.

 

[User00053]

Everyone involved seemed pleased with themselves and got what they paid for and possibly more
All seemed very civilised and maybe tailored to their market and clients and par for the course with plenty
More ready to pay for the experience and dying to go there and do same which is the name of their game.
Westworld goes to vegas but no doubt fun and better than sat at home.

 

[sh1kar]

Discussions on other threads coupled with the fact that some pals are going to Namibia shortly and one has “booked” a buffalo prompted me to look at a few videos on dangerous game hunting - much of which was excellent and on a few occasions utterly terrifying.
This morning I watched the first 15 minutes of this long two-part video and to be honest the last minute of that 15 left me very unsettled to the point of extremely uncomfortable. Not for a moment am I sitting in judgement of any man’s sport but I have many reservations over what took place in these particular few minutes and the fact that it has been broadcast at all. It would be interesting to hear other views - measured and reasoned please.

I know Darren well.

I hunted with him on my last trip to Moz in 2022. I found him to be thoroughly professional. He took longer than I think he would now to ask the client if he could shoot. I get that the terrain is fairly open but it was a lot longer range than I would have expected. I have shot 12 buffalo. The last 3 dropped to 1 shot (500 nitro). I have wounded 2 and lost just one. The others all shot with .375. Ranges 15-70 yards. This guy rushed his shot and hit too high and way too far back. On all animals and especially DG the first shot is key. If not certain don't fire!

S

 

[Namman]

I stopped watching after the first missed shot. Was shocked to see how they carried their rifles over their shoulder and also how easy they accepted their initial sighting in shots, I would have adjusted definitely.
That first shot misssed by a mile and to then state it was the wrong calibre for Buffalo
.

A PH once told me he hated most clients using calibres bigger than .375.
He stated that most were frightened of their rifles and because of that , did very little practice.
.458 is a great calibre but it does kick !!!

 

[sh1kar]

And another thing. Why aren't they tracking them for a few hours properly. No fun driving up to them then getting off the truck and walking 50 yards!

 

[User00047]

I’m more than a bit suspicious that the PH’s actually want the client to cock up on buffalo just to add a bit of extra excitement to the hunt for the client and perhaps so that they can get a bit of shooting too!
It makes for a far more exciting story for the client to tell his friends.

 

[Foxyboy43]

And another thing. Why aren't they tracking them for a few hours properly. No fun driving up to them then getting off the truck and walking 50 yards!

Hmm.
I am not qualified to comment on the PH or the outfitters; others better than I can critique but that is only one of a number of things that piqued my concern:-
*very early in their first outing a herd of buffs came within 25 yards of their jeep - call me suspicious but were they expecting food?
*nothing about it resembled “stalking” rather it was “oven ready” - drive around, spot, drive near to then walk to and shoot (badly).
*the standard of marksmanship from the client was abysmal not helped presentationally by then shooting the much wounded beast in the buttock - if that is a Texas Heart Shot he can keep it.
In summary I think that what I did watch reflected very badly on the party; I do of course realise that badly shot animals can result in any branch of shooting but there is absolutely no case for inflicting such an own goal and doing our sport no favours.

 

[Namman]

Hmm.
I am not qualified to comment on the PH or the outfitters; others better than I can critique but that is only one of a number of things that piqued my concern:-
*very early in their first outing a herd of buffs came within 25 yards of their jeep - call me suspicious but were they expecting food?
*nothing about it resembled “stalking” rather it was “oven ready” - drive around, spot, drive near to then walk to and shoot (badly).
*the standard of marksmanship from the client was abysmal not helped presentationally by then shooting the much wounded beast in the buttock - if that is a Texas Heart Shot he can keep it.
In summary I think that what I did watch reflected very badly on the party; I do of course realise that badly shot animals can result in any branch of shooting but there is absolutely no case for inflicting such an own goal and doing our sport no favours.

I agree all the game seemed to be used to vehicles.
Not my experience of African game which doesn't stand around waiting to be shot.

 

[User00053]

Do not speak from experience regarding dangerous game but for me if one them there buffalo is hit and remaining on its feet showing any vital area it would be getting holes put in it till it stopped moving and them some

 

[sh1kar]

Do not speak from experience regarding dangerous game but for me if one them there buffalo is hit and remaining on its feet showing any vital area it would be getting holes put in it till it stopped moving and them some

Unless HILAR a buff will not drop for a while even with perfect heart or smashing shoulders. If you can as you say you just keep firing. Usually a hip shot if it’s running away to disable it so you can get in quickly and finish it off. Tracking even with a really good frothy blood trail is always a bit tense. Especially in the Jesse. Usually 2 trackers. One tracking and one looking under the undergrowth to try and see it. Myself and PH usually side by side. The one below had been annoying some villagers so had to go. Nearest I have got to a scrum cap. Shot with Darren

 

[sh1kar]

As an aside, one thing I really liked about Darren was as we moved in he always took the sling off his rifle. Checked he was loaded and the triji red dot was on. He did a couple of dry mounts and then we went in. I was surprised the other PHs sometimes didn’t seem to have a rifle even when setting up. Not good. I always agree back up before hand. Don’t want PH having to ask when the action starts