Gored to death

[bowji john]

I don’t see it in quite the same way

First of all, both she and the other guide were trails guides which means that they have both completed extensive training culminating in the “special Knowledge and Skills DG course - a very thorough program that must be completed before being allowed to conduct walking safaris with tourists in DG areas

This and earlier courses would have exposed trainees to exactly this kind of scenario

They all are tested on their ability to conduct VDG assessments- which are assessments on approaching and viewing DG

The choice of pushing through thick bush in a known buff area was (dependent on context) perhaps unwise, however that would not have been her decision as she was back up and not in charge of the walk

This issue of picking up a camp rifle that you are unfamiliar with is a common one - and is dealt with extensively during FGASA guide training

All guides are trained to run their ammo through the rifle prior to leaving camp (known as “chamber rounds drill”)) as it well known (and documented) that people pick up the wrong ammo in haste and also that ammo can deform as a result of being dropped or exposed to previous recoil

This she clearly did not do and it nearly resulted in loss of life - so that was an error of judgment

DG rifles are very often the cause of failing the annual shooting tests as many rifle actions fail under the fast chambering / fast reloads that guides are required to show competency in

I’ve got rid of 2 of my Mauser 98 DG rifles for just that reason

The idea that not shooting saved the day is a bit fanciful- if this video features in future guides courses I suspect the instructors will take that idea to task

As for head angle of the buff - these scenarios are all covered extensively in training

Trainee guides dissect buff and ele heads in order to get a clear understanding of brain position relative to external features at all angles

In summary I would suggest that errors were made but neither she nor her lead guide would have been inexperienced

They were damn lucky - must do better

PS - A lot of guides are not hunters and do not put the practice in with their firearms that they should- this too is well known

 

[Foxyboy43]

Hmm. I guess the bottom line is knowing all this would you partake in a trek through said buff country with this particular “unlucky” guide as your tail gunner?

 

[London Jaeger]

My PH told me to go forward and "Pay the insurance" on it.

The only time I have ever been happy paying any insurance...

It's the 'dead' ones that get you

 

[Stalker62]

It's the 'dead' ones that get you

Herewith: an extract from one of my previous pieces of drivel posts...


I saw the bullet strike about two inches to the right of the animal's centre line. The Buffalo was dead. I knew he was dead. The PH knew he was dead. Someone forgot to tell the Buffalo. The Buffalo seemed to leap off the ground, the rest of the heard stampeded off to my right, my Buffalo went left.

He disappeared into the bush. Now it really is serious. Reload. Take the sling off the rife. Get after it. The next twenty minutes of my life were the most vivid of my life.

Creeping forward, ever so slowly, looking listening all the while waiting for signs of a Buffalo that now has a score to settle with you and is more than capable of doing so.

Then one hundred yards away is my Buffalo. He is standing broadside on. I do not have time to wait for the sticks to go up. I shoulder the rifle and land the perfect shot.

I saw the bullet strike and it was on the money. This Buffalo was now doubly dead.

This doubly dead Buffalo then turned and charged back into the bush, as it did so I got another shot into it; which was joined by the PH’s .458 Lott.

 

[finnbear270]

"Bullet Failure"?

 

[User00053]

simple observation from my perspective having read all the above from folks who know how it works would i consider going anywhere out there with my life in their hands unless in company of some very serious and experienced male company who could shoot and hunt.
Would take my chances if out there to kill one with guide and it went wrong, all part of the game I guess and fair play.

 

[VSS]

simple observation from my perspective having read all the above from folks who know how it works would i consider going anywhere out there with my life in their hands unless in company of some very serious and experienced male company who could shoot and hunt.
Would take my chances if out there to kill one with guide and it went wrong, all part of the game I guess and fair play.

Why male company? That's most unlike you.

 

[User00053]

Why male company? That's most unlike you.

Yes it was a weaker moment, but on reflection given the personal bodyguard of Zulu chiefly type, were called “those who ripen at noon” I would if hand picked be more confident in their abilities if devoted to me.

 

[User00053]

Yes it was a weaker moment, but on reflection given the personal bodyguard of Zulu chiefly type, were called “those who ripen at noon” I would if hand picked be more confident in their abilities if devoted to me.

Correction, 3000 strong regiment of top Zulu totty, would settle for a dozen
Hope I am not on the turn and twas a Freudian slip

 

[John Gryphon]

I fail to understand 'why' a pair of Blue Heeler`s are not kept for wounded buff bulls in the long grass. Or any buff attacks on humans. Kept in reserve for any untoward problems encountered.....having one of them swinging from his balls will take any bulls mind off the grounded hunter.

 

[User00053]

I fail to understand 'why' a pair of Blue Heeler`s are not kept for wounded buff bulls in the long grass. Or any buff attacks on humans. Kept in reserve for any untoward problems encountered.....having one of them swinging from his balls will take any bulls mind off the grounded hunter.

Thought I heard a bow wow on the footage?

 

[User00053]

Does anyone else think they heard dog on vid or have the voices started again?

 

[Heym SR20]

African Buffaloes are very good to eat. And they live amongst large predators, notably Lion as well as Hyena that are very partial to buffalo carpacio served every day or so.

Buffaloes don’t particularly like being eaten, so they have developed a level of grumpiness and a behaviour whereby any thing that stalks into, tries to irritate them or even tries to kill them is going to get turned into jam.

And the have four very effective jam making tools - four sharp hoofs the size of dinner plates, with two more big meat hooks on their head and all driven by a ton of muscle.

I was once chased by a bull buff. He started chasing my old light weight landrover. I was about 1 km away across the Jeke plain and he just kept coming. I had to drive fast and after about 5km he gave up. And I was just pottering about not even doing him any harm.

And they are bloody huge and really tough. I once watched two young buff bulls sparing. They would back up 100 yards apart and just charge in and smack their heads together, push each other backwards. And then do it all again.

So charging and stomping a man is really not going to raise much of a sweat. Even a landrover can be stomped like an old beer can.

So if you are going to shoot one, its very important to put the bullet in the right place to cause max terminal damage. And then put in another, and then another.

If the bullet doesn’t take out the CNS and major blood vessels and you have just irritated him, or even if you have and it is mortally wounded he can still do an immense amount of damage.

Probably a good idea to leave them alone if you don’t know what you are doing or don’t have your affairs in good order.

 

[Heym SR20]

And the late Don Heath puts it far more succinctly

 

[Stalker62]

And the late Don Heath puts it far more succinctly.

What a life that man lived.

Died way too young.

 

[Heym SR20]

What a life that man lived.

Died way too young.

Agreed. He is only a couple of years older than I. Mind you getting to just about 50, which he was when he died was probably unexpected

In his words - found on African Hunting Forum

Dr Don Heath D.Sc.
Manager Technical Support
Norma Precision AB

On the losing side in 5 wars.

I was Born in Rhodesia and managed to miss most of the bush war except for being blown up in a landmine and getting a chunk from an RPG 7 stuck through my skull into my brain. The 'Dissident' war that opened up 9 months After Mugabe came to power in Zimbabwe (December 1980) was my first 'real war'. There were no winners, only a debate over who lost the most. I was shot at by the North Korean troops propping up the Mugabe regime, and the South African backed 'dissidents' as well as sundry bandits taking advantage of the general lawlessness to make a quick profit. I was mainly working on a Rabies outbreak at the time and this involved working in isolated rural areas usually with only a single companion. Being white, and driving a Government marked vehicle I was fair game for all. The atrocities committed by the Korean led Government troops were beyond belief and they made several determined efforts to kill me so I couldn't take pictures or report to the media what was going on. It was a hard survival school. I also took the opportunity to transfer from the local police reserve into Police forensics. My basic biology degree being deemed what was necessary. I gradually moved more into the forensic ballistics section.

In 1987 peace finally returned and I got on with my Masters degree, but the Rhino war started up the following year. Being a research officer, the actual fighting wasn't supposed to be my job, but when you are losing, any officer who will help is welcome. It was a wasted effort. The poaching was controlled by 8 men, one of whom was the vice president of Zimbabwe and another the Director of the National Parks dept. The Chief Investigations officer for the Dept later proved to be a South African intelligence officer who was fully involved in protecting the poaching operations in the South East of the country. In hind sight it was a war we had lost before we started. I picked up a bullet through the right shoulder, another through the right leg and a couple of bad Phosphorous burns. The price one pays for trying to lead demoralised and pathetically trained troops in any sort of action.

In 1993 I took a 3 month break to go to Somalia with the UN peacekeepers as a forensics' specialist. There was no peace to keep, and that war still drags on.

With the economic collapse in Zimbabwe in 1999 my position as Senior Ecologist at head office was untenable. They simply couldn't have a white man in such a position and after several months of fairly intense harassment I left and went hunting. I took a short break in 2004 to go as a forensic specialist to the middle east...another war without end.

The rapid decline in game populations in Zimbabwe, the influx of illegal operators and the break-down of so much of the infrastructure, as well as getting married and suddenly having a family to think about caused me to accept a post with Norma Precision in Sweden as R&D manager - my first job where you don't need someone or something dead to call it a successful day.

More at

In memoriam - Professional Hunter Don Heath passes away

Famous Zimbabwean Professional Hunter Don Heath (1967 - 2015) passed away suddenly over the weekend in Sweden. My sincere condolences to his family and loved ones. About Don Heath Don joined the Zimbabwe National Parks Department on leaving school, eventually rising to the post of Senior...

www.africahunting.com

 

[Foxyboy43]

What a guy. Crammed into 50 years more than any of us would do in 100.
Thanks for posting the video.

 

[Drum123]

Think I’ll keep to rabbits

Ever had a rabbit scratch go septic? It's a dangerous hobby this shooting lark .

 

[alberta boy]

Hmmm. “A wonderful life lesson” she says as the person responsible for the lives of several people, carrying a gun she is not familiar with and leading them through heavy cover known to hold buffalo?
IMHO this person was an utter incompetent fool and damned lucky that she or those in her charge were not killed.

This ^

 

[Sika98k]

If anyone enjoys reading Africana hunting stories I am currently reading Ron Thomsons books. Absolutely fascinating stuff. He joined the Rhodesian National Parks Service just out of his teens. 2 buffalo a week had to be shot just for rations ! Matter of course, just pop down into the bundu and shoot a couple of buff.