The thought of hunting the large beast seemed larger than life to me. The largest animal that I had ever hunted was a mule deer. I had made many inquiries. Some companies did not have the buffalo listed on the animals that were offered by their firm. Some companies laughed at me. Some were serious.. I finally found an agent at the southern most tip of the hill country in Texas. I made inquiries. The agent thought that he could locate a suitable animal within my price range. We exchanged e-mail messages for weeks. What type of rifle should I bring? I was informed that in order to hunt buffalo successfully with the smallest chance of error you need to bring the biggest possible gun that you can shoot accurately. I had dreamed of hunting Africa for decades. I had purchased a rifle with enough punch to hunt elephants and cape buffalo previously. I thought that this hunt would be a preliminary for the hunt that I had always dreamed about. Hunting the cape buffalo in Africa. What could be more exciting? The thought of going up against the black death kept sleep from coming on most nights. M'bogo or inyati as he is referred to in Africa would be the hunt of a life time for me.
The agent from Texas called and told me that he could get me a good deal on a buffalo. The animal that he had in mind for me was referred to as a mean and rogue bull. The agent told me that the buff was so mean that the rancher could not financially keep the animal any longer. The animal was fighting and sometimes injuring his other buffaloes. I had digested this possibility reasonably well. I was prepared. This is what I had asked for. Hunting an animal that could dish out punishment. Unless the caliber and shot were true the hunter could have problems. I received another e-mail from this gentleman. Now he requested that I make my shot with a hand gun. I would score higher in the book if I heeded his advise. I had been the highest scoring pupil in some of the classes that I had taken. I realized the limitations of hand guns on large animals. I had been shooting a hand gun in 45-70 caliber. I was cut and bleeding as a result of the recoil on almost every shot. The 454 casual did not make me bleed but had a heavy trigger and was difficult to shoot accurately. I am a large person who is not young or quick enough to outdistance and out dodge an irate animal. I thought about the proposition.. Visions of the 416 Remington magnum danced in my head.
Practice sessions with the 416 became brutal. There is a vast difference in recoil between the 375 H and H mag and the 416. I put a good scope on top of the beast. We became familiar but not the best of friends. I could put my shots well enough on a target at 100 yards that I began to believe that the animal would be in trouble.
The agent called again. This time he informed me of the actions of a recent client. The great white hunter had come from Dallas with a film crew to hunt buffalo. The hunter made a bad shot on the animal. The fellow with the camera advanced on the animal with a warning to stay back by the guide. The cameraman got too close and was hooked by the buff for his efforts. The buff charged the hunter with unexpected result of the hunter throwing down his gun and running in the opposite direction. The buff now turned his attention to the guide. The guide emptied his pistol at the animal while at the same time running for his life. The animal finally fell and the hunt was rescued.
After hearing this story from the agent I became excited. This was going to be a hunt that would almost duplicate my anticipated cape buffalo hunt.
Stephen Graham-Writes articles about his own life experiences.
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