I also had the opportunity to harvest a kulan which is a beautiful animal.
The equipment I used was a 65# Mathews Z7 bow @ 28", 2317 XX78 Easton shafts with 125 gr. 2-blade Zwickey Black Diamond Eskimo heads. Total arrow weight was 659 gr. Arrow speed was 220 fps. Arrow momentum is the key to hunting a water buffalo
I would like to express my appreciation especially to Beendare and Dollar for their input and the other bowsiters who have shared their experiences of hunting water buffalo which helped to prepare me for this hunt.
Where it died was open plains but the intial hunting was in cedar thickets and thick timber. Shot distances and events were as follows
(1st) 31 yds. (right side boiler room)
(2nd) 41 yds. (right side-gut shot), At this point the animal separated from the herd of 18 animals. We had now "isolated the problem" and was now dealing with 2 eyes, 2 ears and 1 nose rather than 36 eyes, 36 ears and 18 noses. We were fortunately able to maintain our position down wind.
(3rd) 25 yds. (the death blow-left side- boiler room), and it then began weaken fast. The animal moved to more open area as if it was trying to catch up with the herd which was now long gone. It dropped its head and began to stagger then lay down on the ground.
Insurance shots were at (4th) 21 yds,(left side which in the excitement I pushed the shot and hit front shoulder and arrow bounced off hide)
(5th) a quick follow up shot 20 yds (left side in boiler room) Bingo!!! The animal then slowly rolled over on its left side and was about to expire. I knew it was getting close to being over as the animal could no longer regain footing.
(6th) I approached the animal and put a 5 yd right mercy shot in the heart. The animal let out a death bellow and it was over. Total ground distance covered from initial shot to death was probably 1 1/2-2 miles.
We first located the herd at 8:30 AM and my first shot was at not until 11:30 AM We got busted twice and then caught back up with herd and made my initial shot at 11:30 A.M. Photos were taken at 2:30 P.M.
It was the hardest animal I have ever tried to kill inspite of the good penetration I was getting: but the animal could just take the blows. I don't understand how- as I was putting arrows in the vital area with good penetration. It think is is just shear will and attitude to survive.
The ranch owner told me that only 6 bowhunters have tried to take a water buff. Four of the buffs had to be finished off with a gun. Only two buffs have been grounded with a bow. Mine is one of them. Please be advise that I was backed up at all times with a high powered rifle.
I was a memorable hunt and an animal which I have a lot of respect for. My hat is off to anyone who takes one and especially with a bow. I am just grateful that God gave me the travel and hunting safety and the desire and determination to take on this animal.
I hope I have answered your questions.
Congrats! Look's like you had a blast!
Tim
What kind of penetration were you getting on shots #1 and #3?
If you did it again, would you change anything with your set-up? Draw weight, arrow weight, broadhead, etc.?
Thanks
Shot #1- I got about 20" penetration Shot #3- I buried it to the fletching
If I were to go for it again, I would build an arrow with about 800 gr. weight with more FOC to ensure deeper penetration.
I would also consider using a Silver Flame broadhead.
The key was pounding shots to both sides of animal to ensure pentration of both lungs, this was why #3 was the lethal blow. I knew I had punctured both lungs punctured at this point.
Of course more draw weight always helps but I know my limitations on draw weight. I just can't pull it like I did when I was younger!
***************************************************** I hunted at the Triple S Wildlife Ranch in Calvin, OK. It has been in business for about 4 years. Owned by Steve Siebert who was with Fed Ex for 20 yrs.
http://www.sss-ranch.com/
This hunt was advertised on Ebay for the daily guide rate of the hunt. I won the bid. It is a place that as for as I am concerned is flying under the radar. Top quality service, top quality and quanity of animals, knowledgable and friendly staff,great food and accomodations. I would recommend
Amazing how tough those critters are. Did any of those Zwickeys bend?
Equipment wise, shooting deer and shooting these is just night and day different. Isn't it an amazing sight to see an arrow hit one of these animals??
For the record,on my hunt I used 840gr arrows,80# Allegiance, and tempered steel head- the Steelforce 210
Hawkeye, Thats the same kind of buffalo we have in Argentina, not the same of Autralia..
There are all Water Buffalos, same specie (Bubalus bubalis), but there are 4 main breed (hunting games): Murrah, Mediterraneo, Jafarabadi and Carabao.
The one of the picture is a Mediterraneo Water Buff. Together with the Murrah are the main breeds we have for hunt in Argentina, there are also some Jafarabadi but not easy to find. And the tipical of Autralia is Carabao.
Regards, SBH
WWW.BOWHUNTINGINARGENTINA.COM
Beendare the Zwickeys did not bend.
I took my American bison (Buffalo) with one shot at 25 yds with a 62# Switchback with just regular 5575 Gold Tip shafts and a Magnus I broadhead, and got total penetration with arrow lodged in opposite shoulder blade. The water buff is a much tougher critter.
Either the DNC or the Russians have hacked the Bowsite website. This is a thread from around 2010 !!!
Tks, Buffalo1
Glad you were successful in get your freezer filled- just sorry you did not score with your bow.
Water buffs are very tough animals. They are also some delicious table fare.
I put one arrow into this guy and couldn't get close enough for another shot. Short legs and a wide stance helps them on their feet. He mostly just stood around for about twenty minutes with blood trickling from his chest. He moved on whenever we got within a hundred yards. Finally one leg buckled and down he went!
"And the wild things roared their terrible roars and gnashed their terrible teeth and rolled their terrible eyes and showed their terrible claws"
When they lay on the ground like that, not breathing, they are "dead"stock. Not "live"stock, as you alluded.
This herd lives wild, act wild and they eat wild. Kind'a dark and range'y meat. More like an old bull moose. The owner doesn't let bulls or steers to get more than four years old. They become "difficult".
They have a heck of a pelt on them too!
