Hunting Cape Buffalo at Night

[Christina Nyczepir]

I was told that it was a common practice to use the red light when hunting bush pigs at night. They are apparently oblivious to the light I am told. Though the PH had no experience with using the light on Cape Buff, he felt sure it would work the same way. I was never comfortable with using the light because I had a feeling it would rush the shot. It did. Having never hunted at night, it took me a moment to adjust to seeing the buff through my scope with the light shining on him. I saw his eyes glowing as he was looked straight into the light. The first shot I took on him was what appeared a dead on frontal heart shot. I learned later that the shot went over his head!! You have to know that every animal I have ever taken so far has always been a heart/lung shot. So I have NO clue what the hell happened. Thinking there was no way I could have missed him at such a short distance and concerned he was injured, when they flashed a light on him again, he was at a quartering broadside shot. So I fired again to take him down more quickly. He turned further as I fired and ran. It's at this site of the second shot where the blood was found. I shot off my Bog Pod tri-pod both times.

 

[BRICKBURN]

And I wanted (almost begged) my PH, Louie Bodill, to please take me back out to hunt the wounded buff, to finish what I started. But he refused. …... ….

This has to have an explanation!

I spoke to Louw on Wednesday night. He relayed his concerns to me that the possible injury might mean a slower more painful death for the buff, and the risk of injury to other hunters with an injured buff in the area. He felt he had no choice but to put the buff down. I agreed. ……...

You could not do otherwise.

 

[enysse]

Thanks for the explanation!

I'm sorry for your bad luck, it makes me very angry over the actions of your PH. This is no way carry out a hunt.

Night hunting for day animals, tells me a company is truly in it for the money.

 

[BRICKBURN]

Thank you for sharing, Gary. Then you know how sick I feel about all this. It has been an incredible learning experience. I appreciate Louw letting me ride his heals and watching the entire process of how they track an animal. They would point out the evidence of the bull's behavior, educating me, as we tracked him. But I will add this, the trackers are good, the dogs they use as well. But those two components alone do not equal Louw's skills. I have a true appreciation for his gift and experience.

Sounds like LOUW is the guy you should have booked a hunt with!!!

 

[garyleach]

More or less all of the above enysse, i just got caught up in the moment, after passing on a few good ones, we bumped a really good one in thick mopane bush and the ph gave me the green light, but the buff moved, so i came off of the sticks and followed and its there that i took a rushed shoot, he was quartering away from me... Not something that i am proud of as an ethical hunter, but after 4 days of chasing buff in close quarters, i simply got caught up the moment and pulled the trigger when i shouldnt have, i know better with animals this size and that can take a bullet. Like walking prey said, i had that sick feeling afterwards, u know that feeling at the bottom of ur gut... My main concern is having a wounded buff on a property, the saving grace is that its not hunted much, the 1st hunters are this week after i left mid June, that being said i hate to see anything suffer.... Any ways it was still a great experience and will i do again, u bet i will, that buff hunting in close quarters, is something that is pretty addicting..... Again when i get this figured out, i will send a proper report out, ok it wont be like the ones that brickburn and company put out though..lol

 

[enysse]

Thanks, Gary for the explanation. Not everything turns out as planned.

 

[Frederik]

So the first shot taken at the buffalo was after dark with the light ? I really hope they find your buffalo for you but I don't understand why they let you shoot the buffalo at night especially since you had more days to hunt the buffalo this is where I smell something. You also say that you went back but could not be certain which was the bigger buffalo how did they know which one was the correct one in first place, on the same breath why did they let you shoot a frontal shot ? Buffalo are dark bodied even when standing in the shade in the middle of the day it is a dicey shot as you have to be 110% sure on how the buff is standing before taking the shot.

Sorry for all the questions but I still think you got a raw deal.

 

[Nyati]

Sorry about your experience, Walkingprey. After what I´ve read, I would say this hunt was not conducted in a professional way.

When I was about to shoot my buff, after four days of hunting, my PH still told me to shoot only if I felt totally comfortable at taking the shot. And it was in broad daylight !

 

[James.Grage]

This night hunting is starting to put goose bumps on me.

You see i am getting all geared up to go after a Porcupine under spotlight... and i hear that they shoot their quill at the hunter if wounded. Them quills could be lethal is unleashed in a flurry. Now i am getting real nervous about this up coming night hunting porcupine adventure.

I just may have to rethink this part of my safari.

 

[garyleach]

I hear u enysee....

 

[Frederik]

This night hunting is starting to put goose bumps on me.

You see i am getting all geared up to go after a Porcupine under spotlight... and i hear that they shoot their quill at the hunter if wounded. Them quills could be lethal is unleashed in a flurry. Now i am getting real nervous about this up coming night hunting porcupine adventure.

I just may have to rethink this part of my safari.

James, either someone is pulling your leg or you are pulling ours but porcupines do not shoot out their quills they just rattle them furiously when cornered or shot but that is the worst of the quills moving on their own.

 

[Patrick R]

James, either someone is pulling your leg or you are pulling ours but porcupines do not shoot out their quills they just rattle them furiously when cornered or shot but that is the worst of the quills moving on their own.

+1

very funny...

 

[otsego44]

I can vouch for WALKINGPREY2's integrity and honesty. She was put into a situation by a professional that should never have happened, plain and simple. She will only become a better hunter after this, she can't possibly be a better person.

 

[enysse]

There are some nocturnal animals.

Cape buffalo, waterbuck, red hartebeest etc. don't qualify. Unfortunately I'm seeing PHs push to hunt more animals at night. Something like this happen to a friend of mine, he wanted a porcupine but then the outfitter started pushing other animals. He quit hunting.

 

[otsego44]

There are some nocturnal animals.

Cape buffalo, waterbuck, red hartebeest etc. don't qualify. Unfortunately I'm seeing PHs push to hunt more animals at night. Something like this happen to a friend of mine, he wanted a porcupine but then the outfitter started pushing other animals. He quit hunting.

That's very unfortunate for your friend, as well as for the sport Enysse.

 

[enysse]

Spot lighting for deer is a popular illegal activity in Wisconsin. I have no interest in something that is illegal. As I have gotten older I care more about how a hunt is carried out. Memories and fair chase are on my mind more. At the same time I don't want to preach too much to someone else.

I feel the PH of this hunt is not an ethical person.

 

[tarbe]

Walkingprey

Thanks for sharing this difficult story with us. I hope your experience will help all of us to sort things out before we are put into a situation.

I hope you can take the good from the hunt and not dwell any more on the negative than necessary for the education.

Tim

 

[Christina Nyczepir]

Walkingprey

I hope you can take the good from the hunt and not dwell any more on the negative than necessary for the education.

Tim

The negative is always made good.....when we learn from it.

 

[Frederik]

The negative is always made good.....when we learn from it.

Walkingprey, would it be possible to reveal any names in order for another hunter not having the same experience?
Good luck with the buffalo recovery.

 

[BRICKBURN]

Walkingprey, would it be possible to reveal any names in order for another hunter not having the same experience?
Good luck with the buffalo recovery.

Right in an earlier post in this thread.

…………..I am being informed by my PH, Louie Bodill of Starr & Bodill …………....