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Main Boards => Dangerous Game => Topic started by: Al Kidner on March 21, 2009, 02:43:00 AM

Title: Water Buff on Decca...
Post by: Al Kidner on March 21, 2009, 02:43:00 AM
Well with all the talk on aussie water buff here of late I thought I share a pic I have had stored on my laptop for a while.

I did not take the pic, but as you can see one gets a real good side on look at these critters.


 (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v504/Longbow_lad/NT074.jpg)


Although I think this fella has been spending time with the ladies Chinese swim team for a while and found some use for Decca.


Heavy arrows, good broadheads, sound nerves and shot placement are paramount.


ak.
Title: Re: Water Buff on Decca...
Post by: Benny Nganabbarru on March 21, 2009, 05:08:00 AM
Majestic brute, for sure! They certainly send the old heart a-thumping when you look up at them.

One little trick that I tried: I was stalking along on all-fours, low-to-the-ground, and out in the open, to try to close on a good bull, Silvertip in hand. It was twilight, and at about forty-five metres, the bull saw me, and locked onto me. I wondered what to do, and decided to bob my shoulders up-and-down like a boar rooting-around in the dirt for tasty morsels. This did the trick, and in a few moments, the bull relaxed and went back to feeding. But, alas, that was as close as I got, so I suppose the trick didn't exactly work, but it sure was fun trying.
Title: Re: Water Buff on Decca...
Post by: Rick McGowan on March 21, 2009, 08:55:00 AM
I have tons of good photos including several of Monty Browning's world record bull while it was still alive, also some of Don Kettlekamps world record muzzleloader buff, but I can't show those on here anyway. I did take that photo at the top of the page though! One of these days, I will get around to scanning some of them in and posting them. My favorite view is when they are coming straight at you with the nose up, like they have a sight on it, that is pointing straight at you and their ears are laid back. Its to late to start thinking, "did I remember to load the backup rifle"?
Title: Re: Water Buff on Decca...
Post by: tradtusker on March 21, 2009, 09:34:00 AM
cool pic take a look at the size of the neck!
one thing that stood out when i first saw them was just how big there neck is and long to. I recall stalking in on one i was positioned so that there was a tree between me and its head, when i got close it heard me and that neck just stretched further and further out past the tree to look at me the body hadn't moved
Title: Re: Water Buff on Decca...
Post by: ozy clint on March 21, 2009, 12:45:00 PM
perhaps someone who is skilled in paint shop can highlight the bones that you don't want to hit.
nice photo for sure. it would be good to see your other photos rick
Title: Re: Water Buff on Decca...
Post by: jcar315 on March 21, 2009, 02:05:00 PM
Awesome pic! To see the muscles like that. Better make that 1st shot count!  I have never hunted them but most animals are "curious" and the moving around like a pig makes sense to me in that it "fits" what they are expecting to see.
Title: Re: Water Buff on Decca...
Post by: ozy clint on March 21, 2009, 06:31:00 PM
i didn't believe it till i tried it but you can lure in emus by laying on your back then bring your legs up and pedal like your on a bike only upside down.
driving to a B&S ball once with a mate we saw some emus in the middle of a flat. he told me this trick and i burst out laughing. he pulled the ute over and said try it.
hilarious   :biglaugh:
Title: Re: Water Buff on Decca...
Post by: Rick McGowan on March 21, 2009, 08:55:00 PM
clint, you can go to the Bowhunting Safaries Consultant website and on their dangerous game forum they have an exposed view of a cape buffalo with the bones showing, essentially the bone structure is the same.
Title: Re: Water Buff on Decca...
Post by: ozy clint on March 21, 2009, 09:12:00 PM
cool thanks
Title: Re: Water Buff on Decca...
Post by: Rick McGowan on March 23, 2009, 08:19:00 PM
Water buffalo are very intelligent in my experience and do have a lot of curiosity. They also learn very fast. Scrub cattle are dimwits and have no curiosity, which actually makes them harder to hunt.
Title: Re: Water Buff on Decca...
Post by: Michael Baker on April 09, 2009, 11:15:00 PM
Rick not sure where you have been hunting Scrubbers but in my opinon they are extremly intelligent and are more dangerous then your average Water Buff. Water Buff are very easily fooled into believing that you didn't just shoot them, if you stay close to the ground and don't move. They will just walk away but if you move you will be in trouble. Scrubbers will not only run you down they will go looking for you so you need to be extra careful. If a scubber locks onto you, you will have to do something and that's when the backup is most needed. I have been in many situations with and without clients and I would much rather face a Buff than a Scrubber.

To date I have been charged by 2 scubbers and one was shot by a client, I have been within 8 yards of a Buff I shot with the Longbow, he then just stared at me but he ended up walking away to die some 100yards away. Had to clean my pants that day but if I had moved I am sure I wouldn't be here today.

Cheers
Mick
Title: Re: Water Buff on Decca...
Post by: ozy clint on April 09, 2009, 11:23:00 PM
they're smart enough to avoid being yarded their whole lives. i've seen cleanskin bulls that, at the sound of a mustering chopper, go and hole up in the nearset creek bed. even rubbershot won't get them out.
Title: Re: Water Buff on Decca...
Post by: Rick McGowan on April 10, 2009, 10:03:00 AM
Mick, I agree with most of what you say, I don't think cattle are really all that intelligent, they are wary though and thats what keeps them out of the yards. I have seen them bolt at the slightest sound of a helicopter and yes they will run into heavy cover and wait for you. I have done a bit of mustering and done my time in the yards as well. From spending a LOT of time around and watching cattle and buffalo, I still have to say, cattle have no where near the intelligence of buffalo, possibly the reason is that man bred the intelligence out of the cattle, don't need it in beef! I will take a full on charge from a scrubber any day over a buff, BECAUSE I know I have a much better chance of STOPPING the scrubber.
Title: Re: Water Buff on Decca...
Post by: Michael Baker on April 11, 2009, 05:02:00 AM
Rick I certainly agree that a scubber is much easier to stop with a rifle than a buff. But I cetainly wouldn't want to be trying to stop either one with a bow when they are charging...lol...

Good hunting Rick
Cheers
Mick
Title: Re: Water Buff on Decca...
Post by: Rick McGowan on April 12, 2009, 10:35:00 AM
Mick, I have a lot of bowhunters laugh at me the "bowhunter ph" for carrying a .416, but so far, NONE of them have taken me up on the offer to back them up with my Black Widow! I'm not sure how many realize that the .416 isn't going to be a cure all either for a buff with blood in his eyes at under 20 metres!
Title: Re: Water Buff on Decca...
Post by: Michael Baker on April 12, 2009, 06:13:00 PM
Rick we had a big buff who would not leave us alone after being busted and as Andy (Tradtusker) can vouch for it as he was there. This buff was hit front on with a 458 winchester mag and he just ran away. The guy on backup couldn't believe it, so if you don't break bones on the charge forget it, you won't stop him.

I think the video is on here just before he coped one.

Cheers
Mick
Title: Re: Water Buff on Decca...
Post by: michaelschwister on April 18, 2009, 09:18:00 AM
I would think the best backup is a healer, problem is to keep him still and quiet till you need him. Certainly would end any wounding loss problem.
question to ABS global production mgr "Roger, what happened to that bull's ears, they are gone? he tried to take on the healer, the healer always wins"
Title: Re: Water Buff on Decca...
Post by: Rick McGowan on April 18, 2009, 09:37:00 AM
Healers don't work on buffalo, if they live through their first experience, they are smart enough to stay away from buffalo after that. They had a red healer at the station and when buffalo would come into the yard the other station dogs would go crazy, the healer would look to see what they were barking at, shake its head and walk away!
Title: Re: Water Buff on Decca...
Post by: Al Kidner on April 19, 2009, 10:41:00 AM
Yeh.. good ol Bluie is smarter then he looks. Best darn dogs out if you ask me.


ak.
Title: Re: Water Buff on Decca...
Post by: Zbone on June 07, 2009, 10:50:00 PM
Ownwd two healers in my life. Shortly after receiving a female pup, the litter owners had to shoot her father for killing a calf.


Baddest azz dog I ever owned. Anything, I mean anything with four legs that came in the yard she would kill.
Title: Re: Water Buff on Decca...
Post by: J-dog on June 13, 2009, 02:57:00 PM
Anyone post a pic f a healer??
Title: Re: Water Buff on Decca...
Post by: J-dog on June 13, 2009, 03:01:00 PM
Nevermind looked em up on the intie. The pic of that buff is awesome, look at the muscles on the critter! gonna need some umph in your bow to get through him, do it wrong and there might be some slow walking, sad singing, and flower placing on your behalf!!

J
Title: Re: Water Buff on Decca...
Post by: ichiban on July 13, 2009, 02:01:00 AM
healers are good dogs but i have a staffie cross american bully and i recon if i trained her for it she would hold her own, her head is almost as wide as her body