HUNTING Asiatic Water Buffalo

[Dox]

Hi

Can anyone provide me with an Asiatic Water Buffalo Shot Placement?
This would really be appreciated!!!

Dox

 

[richteb]

Hi Dox,
Don't recall anyone posting any shot placement photos for water buff. But since it is bovine shot placement will not be different from Cape Buff.

 

[BRICKBURN]

Dox, PM PaulT and he may be able to help you out or post something on here.
Where you off to to chase them?? There are several subspecies from what I recall.

 

[PaulT]

Asiatic Water Buffalo Shot Placement

Hi Dox, only just saw this thread, sorry for not responding sooner.

I do not have any such diagrams that I could post here if that is what you were wanting.

The anatomy of Asiatic buff is very similar to Cape buff, with the cape buff being perhaps only marginally shorter at the withers and pehaps slightly deeper in the brisket.

Body weights (from observations only) will run very similar in animals of comparative age class.

From my limited field experience with cape buff I would suggest there are no discernable differences in thickness of skin, muscle and bone density, but then I'm not a biologist, vet or scientist.
From a hunting perspective I would suggest you can treat the hunting requirements for both animals very similarily.

And please don't even get me started on the various merits of which is more dangerous !
(not that I have a formed opinion either way, if you get trampled or horned by either I'm suggesting it may be hard to tell the difference).
If you are going to be hunting in an ethical manner with a reputable outfitter, i.e on foot at close range, then best to treat these animals with a high degree of respect.

With regards to shot placement;
my personal preferance, for a long time now, has been to place my shot in the very top 1/3 of the shoulder blade (scapula), about 1/4 of the body width down from the top of the withers (in line with the middle of the leg on a relaxed animal) on a side on shot.

When you become profficient in knowing where this spot is you will find any caliber from .375 and up, with a good quality bullet will anchore the animal to the spot (and almost always require a finisher).

Another succeful shot placement on a side-on animal is the "bowler" joint where the shoulder joins the leg bone.
About 1/3 of the brisket depth up from brisket line, square in the middle-line of the leg.

On a side-on animal try NOT to place behind any portion of bone-line of the shoulder. Lung shot buffalo will no doubt eventually die but can run a long, long way before they do.

(depending on where you are hunting I cannot over emphasise the importance of breaking the means for locomtion. You will be hunting the Tropics of Australia where the Wet season dumps substantial amounts of rainfall each year thereby inundating all areas of flat ground. Then comes the dry season (the hunting season) where the ground is baked hard as concrete as waters dry up and the dirt shrinks and bakes. Tracking,without a copious and constant blood-trail in many areas is a VERY difficult prospect.
(In regions of wilderness a wounded bull is a very real prospect of becoming a lost bull.)

If you have a slightly quartering away shot, then in that case you will be succefull by placing the shot on the backline edge of the near side shoulder in order to break the offside.

Generally speaking, we discourage our hunters from taking any full frontal shots.
If you do have to, and are confident in your rifle and bullets and/or have a good understanding of buff anatomy you will find a "hollow" in the chest as the buffalo is looking at you where the neck joins the chest.
If the buffalo is in a relaxed position, just looking, then place your bullet on, or only slightly (2 - 3 ") above, this "hollow"(and be prepared to follow-up instantly as he turns side-on to flee).

If the buff has sensed your presence, or has seen you, Asiatics have a habit of extending their neck and head to test air currents, lick their nose and try and gain scent to identify the threat (eyesight is not brilliant).
If you have a bull looking at you in this position my first suggestion would be to wait for a better shot, wait until he has relaxed or has turned to a different position. If you simply HAVE TO take a shot in this position then aim 4 - 5 " below the chin, square on, and again be prepared to follow up immediately.

I have seen wounds on bulls with the .375 where the entry (no exit) has completely sealed-up after impact restricting any flow of blood from the wound.
Premuim grade projectiles that are tough enough to stand impact at close range, penetrate the skin, break BOTH shoulders AND exit (providing an adequate blood trail) are HIGHLY reccomended.

I hope this has been of some help to you, if you would like to discuss it all in more detail feel free to contact me personally via e-mail; ssahuntinfo@optusnet.com.au


Good hunting,
Paul.

 

[Dox]

Thanx to all you guys.
I enjoy this forum whenever I need help or advice I just need to ask.

By the way I will not be hunting it. I will be going with my brother as a camera man to video his hunt.
It will be taking place near Newcastle. It will be an asian water buff.

 

[timbear]

Thanx to all you guys.
I enjoy this forum whenever I need help or advice I just need to ask.

By the way I will not be hunting it. I will be going with my brother as a camera man to video his hunt.
It will be taking place near Newcastle. It will be an asian water buff.

Newcastle?!? There is one north of Sydney in NSW (and would it ever be great if there were buff there!), but I could not find one in the Northern Territory. I'm very curious to hear where exactly that one is as I live in NSW!

 

[Dox]

So sorry.
I meant Newcastle South Africa!!!!

 

[AfricaHunting.com]

Thanks Paul for sharing your expertise with us.

 

[AfricaHunting.com]

As we have a few topics on Water Buffalo at the moments I'm bringing this thread back up for some who may be interested in reading it...

 

[NEW ZEALAND SAFARIS]

Shot placement on Australian Water Buffalo

Water Buffalo are an amazingly tough animal with mud caked skin up to 2 inches thick from the front of the shoulder up to the neck. Often underestimated and under gunned by many a Bull in his prime will be 600-800 lbs heavier than its cousin the African Cape buffalo, and 2-2.5 ft taller with a much denser bone structure. A mature Water Buffalo is 16 years+, and not uncommon to take Bulls 20+ years if they are in a wild and free ranging environment.
To make an ethical shot on a Bull it is recommended to use a minimum of .375 caliber although some hunters may use a .338, but we have seen that this caliber is moving much to quickly to achieve maximum expansion of projectile which should be bonded, or, first shot even a solid but this can be left to the experts to discuss in depth.
Taking risky or 50/50 shots is strongly discouraged as a wounded bull Will be either lost or create a dangerous situation, taking time to stalk and wait till an almost 90 deg shot is possible and is the best practice if possible. Half way from top of the shoulder to bottom of chest and straight up from the front leg, or if the offset shoulder is slightly forward/behind then centred between the two which should break both shoulders, lungs, and potentially heart. Depending on the follow up shot (99% of the time there is) and his position, the the shot into the same spot or high neck/spine shot if possible.

 

[Opposite Pole]

They are tough allright, I had a 300 grain 375 TBBC (Federal high energy load) fail to break shoulder bone on a cow. Bullet turned around 90 degrees upon impact and ended up in the guts. The animal was shot side on from 50m.

 

[Witold Krzyżanowski]

Thanks for sharing PaulT. Well written.