Buffalo Bulls in the Salt
Contributors to this thread:International
From: Ken Moody Safaris
24-Jun-23
Almost halfway thru the season and we’ve bagged some great cape buffalo so far.
From: Ken Moody Safaris
24-Jun-23
From: Ken Moody Safaris
24-Jun-23
From: Ken Moody Safaris
24-Jun-23
From: Ken Moody Safaris
24-Jun-23
From: Ken Moody Safaris
24-Jun-23
From: Ken Moody Safaris
24-Jun-23
From: Ken Moody Safaris
24-Jun-23
From: Ken Moody Safaris
24-Jun-23
From: Ken Moody Safaris
24-Jun-23
From: Ken Moody Safaris
24-Jun-23
Tremendous numbers of buffalo on our primary area.
From: Ken Moody Safaris
24-Jun-23
From: Ken Moody Safaris
24-Jun-23
From: Ken Moody Safaris
24-Jun-23
From: Ken Moody Safaris
24-Jun-23
From: Ken Moody Safaris
24-Jun-23
From: Ken Moody Safaris
24-Jun-23
From: Zbone
24-Jun-23
Wow, thanks for sharing...
From: LBshooter
24-Jun-23
Beautiful bulls, any good stories going along with them? Not so sure I'd want to be having my wife wear a leopard skin top in the bush, might get a trigger happy hunter lol.
From: Catscratch
24-Jun-23
Amazing!
From: RonP
24-Jun-23
i enjoy these threads. always interesting to see other areas and animals that hunters take.
hunting africa was a thought at one time in my life. wish i would've went.
thanks for sharing.
From: Ken Moody Safaris
25-Jun-23
From: Ken Moody Safaris
25-Jun-23
From: Ken Moody Safaris
25-Jun-23
Jack was a great guy and client. I’ll miss him and the stories we shared around the campfire. His death hit me hard!
From: Bou'bound
25-Jun-23
A true tribute. Nice.
From: Altitude Sickness
25-Jun-23
Altitude Sickness 's Link
From: Altitude Sickness
25-Jun-23
This bull was dead. But he wasn’t convinced yet.
From: Ken Moody Safaris
25-Jun-23
Two more bulls in the salt this morning. What a great day.
From: Ken Moody Safaris
25-Jun-23
Buff #2 for the day.
From: Bou'bound
26-Jun-23
Any archery guys
From: drycreek
26-Jun-23
Great looking bulls Ken. Every time you post buffalo threads I kick myself for not going when I was fit enough to do it. Don’t stop posting them though, my ass ain’t sore yet ! ;-)
From: Buffalo1
26-Jun-23
Awesome bulls! Congrats to the fortunate hunters.
Jack lived his love for hunting to the end. R.I.P. Prayers for his family.
From: Bou'bound
27-Jun-23
A true tribute. Nice.
From: In2dmtns
28-Jun-23
Nice tread thanks for posting. Rest In Peace Jack.
From: Zbone
28-Jun-23
Never been to Africa (can only dream) only know some regions from nature programs... Luv your posts Ken, but curious, when you say "salt" is that the name of an area? Maybe salty river or lake?
From: Zbone
28-Jun-23
Nevermind my question, RK informed me... Thanks Robert...
From: Catscratch
28-Jun-23
I wanted to know too. Figured "salt" was local slang for dirt. Am I close?
From: t-roy
29-Jun-23
Cat…..pretty sure the hides and horns are getting salted.
From: Zbone
29-Jun-23
Yeah, that is what I was told...
From: Zbone
29-Jun-23
Yeah, that is what I was told...
Must be African PH slang...8^)
From: Ken Moody Safaris
29-Jun-23
All capes/horns are fully caped, soaked in antibacterial solution and then thoroughly salted and dried before delivery to taxidermist.
From: Catscratch
29-Jun-23
Learn something new every day!
From: Ken Moody Safaris
29-Jun-23
Dropped another yesterday!
From: Ken Moody Safaris
06-Jul-23
Buffalo #16 for the season. A superb 45.5” bull.
From: WhattheFOC
06-Jul-23
Does anyone use a bow?
From: lamb
06-Jul-23
i did shot my buffalo with my recurve with Ken i'd also like to thank Ken and Virginia for all there help with shipping my buff and sable back to new mexico. i had a little trouble with shipping and they were a great help! you won't find better people to hunt with. looking forward to next year with Ken! going to shoot some wildebeest aka poor man;s buffalo again thank you ken !!!
From: Altitude Sickness
06-Jul-23
Great bull
From: Ken Moody Safaris
10-Jul-23
kenmoodysafaris #weknowbuffalo Days ago we wounded a buffalo that had joined a herd of around 80 others. We searched for days on foot and using a drone to cover thousands of acres of thorn bush but could never turn up the bull. Today, the last day of the safari, we brought in a helicopter to search and found him alone in some of the thickest bush on the property. It was well worth it as we recovered the the big 43" plus bull to provide a positive end to our client's hunt. Way to go team!
From: Ken Moody Safaris
10-Jul-23
From: Ken Moody Safaris
10-Jul-23
From: Ken Moody Safaris
10-Jul-23
From: Scoot
10-Jul-23
Ken, you're knockin' 'em down! That was my dream hunt when I was a kid. I think you've been asked this before, but I don't remember the answer-- how many (or what percentage) of the buffs you take each year come via archery? Is it pretty rare?
From: Altitude Sickness
10-Jul-23
Wow! What a bull
From: Ken Moody Safaris
10-Jul-23
Sometimes we get a lot of archery buffalo bookings and sometimes it’s much heavier on the rifle side but buffalo hunting on foot is the same regardless.
From: Ken Moody Safaris
10-Jul-23
Our waterholes are busy though :)
From: Ken Moody Safaris
10-Jul-23
From: Ken Moody Safaris
18-Jul-23
Love our clients…
From: Ken Moody Safaris
18-Jul-23
It has been several weeks since our hunt. We are back stateside and trying to get back in the groove of regular life. But that is hard to do when you have transformed through a soul altering adventure! Not a day goes by that I don't reflect on some aspect of our epic adventure with Ken Moody Safaris. I am beyond impressed with the entire package of our hunting trip. The Moody's have taken great care and measure to think about their guests from the moment the trip is booked to hopefully a lifetime after. The mechanics of the trip with routine engagement through emails reminding guests of what is needed to prepare for the trip. Reviewing travel plans and approving itineraries. Answering any questions you can think of. Arranging ground transportation. Greeting and engaging you from the beginning to the end of your stay. Delicious meals by Chef John. Authentic accommodations. And having fun and camaraderie. I imagine a lifetime of personal and professional interactions have allowed Ken and Virginia to have a natural talent for hand picking a staff that is the best at what they do. The huntAfricaTeam works together in sync to ensure the best experience for the guest and make you feel like part of the huntAfrica family. Virginia is a natural at creating experience and friendship and Ken is a pro at ensuring a hunt. They can also throw a great party with perfect decorations and a killer playlist. I will cherish my friendships and memories for a lifetime. All of this is crucial and wonderful, but not even close to the best part. The HUNT! I truly had no idea I would love it so much! The walking, the running, the tracking, the stalking, the adrenaline, and the kill shot! SOUL ALTERING! And all the while knowing your safety is in the hands of a well rehearsed team that meets daily to discuss your objectives, your hunting desires, your safety, your prospective animals. The team is also always looking out for each other and spotting for other hunts. It is very evident that this is a hand picked team by the best, Ken and Virginia, of ultra professionals that are the best! I was so impressed with the knowledge and skill levels of my Tracker Chris and my Professional Hunter Christoff, that allowed me to have perfect shot scenarios, keep me safe, and have fun together. And oh I cannot leave out the landscape itself. South Africa and her people and animals and skies are burned in my psyche forever. Thank you Ken and Virginia. You are the best!
From: Ken Moody Safaris
18-Jul-23
More buffalo in the salt this week.
From: Ken Moody Safaris
18-Jul-23
From: Ken Moody Safaris
18-Jul-23
45.5”
From: Ken Moody Safaris
18-Jul-23
From: Ken Moody Safaris
18-Jul-23
43”
From: Ken Moody Safaris
21-Jul-23
Buffalo #22 for the season and it is a beast!
From: nchunter
21-Jul-23
Looking at those double guns makes my shoulder cringe. Turkey loads hurt enough but those guns would be a heck of a thumper.
From: Ken Moody Safaris
21-Jul-23
Not as bad as you think. They’re heavy to begin with and most have a recoil reduction system. My .470 Merkel has a mercury filled tube in the stock that counters the recoil and helps quite a bit.
From: RonP
21-Jul-23
ken, what is the typical age and weight of those mature bulls?
From: Ken Moody Safaris
22-Jul-23
It takes 8 years for a cape buffalo’s boss to harden. Most buffalo are shot at 10 to 12 years old, some older. Average weight is 1500 pounds.
From: Ken Moody Safaris
17-Aug-23
Buffalo #23 is in the salt. Bill from WV used a longbow for the job.
From: Altitude Sickness
17-Aug-23
Congrats Bill, and PH
From: fuzzy
17-Aug-23
Nice! Was he using an Ashby or Hill style head? Draw weight? Arrow weight?
From: Ken Moody Safaris
18-Aug-23
Grizzly single bevel, sleeved Easton FMJ, 1000 grains. 74 pounds.
From: Zbone
18-Aug-23
"It takes 8 years for a cape buffalo’s boss to harden"
Curious, about the bosses... Is it this the point the bases touch or grow together or do they not grow together, is there always a space? Thanks...
From: Ken Moody Safaris
18-Aug-23
All buffalo are different and a greater majority of bulls do not close all the way and have a space between the horns. Hard boss simply means the horn is solid and there’s no soft tissue on the top. It generally takes 8 years for this to happen.
From: Ken Moody Safaris
18-Aug-23
We shot this 42” buffalo today. 24th for the season. He’s hard bossed and 10 plus years old. His horns would have never closed.
From: Zbone
18-Aug-23
Way cool Ken, thanks much for sharing...
From: fuzzy
18-Aug-23
Nice!
From: fuzzy
18-Aug-23
My old worn out shoulders wouldn't stand up to >70# I'm afraid
From: Zbone
20-Aug-23
"My old worn out shoulders wouldn't stand up to >70# I'm afraid"
Yeah me too fuzzy...
Brings up a question Mr. Moody... "Grizzly single bevel, sleeved Easton FMJ, 1000 grains. 74 pounds"
I assume yourself or the county have minimum bow/arrow weight for Cape Buffalo, can I ask what that is? Is it the kinetic energy formula, or another?
Also firearms, you mentioned your .470 Merkel, I assume that is a the .470 Nitro Express? WOW, I hear it kills at one end and cripples at the other...8^) What is your minimum cartridge? Thank you sir...
From: Ken Moody Safaris
20-Aug-23
Cape Buffalo…minimum 80 pound bow generating 80 ft lbs of KE, 750 grain arrow total weight. Not enforced and not feasible with traditional equipment.
Legally there are no minimum requirements for rifle caliber but .375 H&H Mag is generally considered the minimal acceptable caliber for buffalo.
.470 Nitro double is a heavy rifle and the Merkel has a mercury tube inside the stock to reduce recoil. I’ve also added a Pachmyer Decelerator recoil pad. The recoil is manageable for me at 6’ and 200 pounds.
From: Zbone
20-Aug-23
Thanks for the info Ken... Can't imagine the power of the .470 NE, think I read somewhere it's about the most power cartridge under .50 cal available and back before technology of things like mercury tubes the .470 recoil was known for cracking stocks...
I understand it's apples and oranges and two totally, totally different animals of attitude and bone and muscle structures, but what do you think about the 45-70, it's probably killed millions of bison back in the day even with black powder... Have any chilling tales about the 45-70? Thanks...
From: Ken Moody Safaris
20-Aug-23
We have a client arriving next month to hunt buffalo with a .45/70 and have shot two already this year with a .475 Turnbull. They can work with the right bullet. Don’t have any out of the ordinary stories about the .45/70 as this guy will be our first to use one.
From: lamb
20-Aug-23
Hi Ken are you hunting the same ranch next year? love those goldens. chomping at the bit!
From: Ken Moody Safaris
21-Aug-23
Yes, we’ll be here.
From: Ken Moody Safaris
15-Sep-23
Buff #25. Initially wounded but we tracked it for nearly five miles and after the client put another bullet in the beast, I was able to drop him with my double.
From: Ken Moody Safaris
15-Sep-23
Buff #26 and last for the season. A 43.5” bull. What a great year we’ve had.
From: Altitude Sickness
15-Sep-23
Great bull. How did the Marlin work out.
From: Ken Moody Safaris
15-Sep-23
Buff#25
From: Ken Moody Safaris
15-Sep-23
Marlin didn’t work out so great but the initial shot was poorly placed.
From: Bowfinatic
15-Sep-23
Great bulls Ken Thanks for sharing
From: LBshooter
17-Sep-23
Curious on what went wrong with the Marlin. Bad first shot, what about follow ups? What happened after the first bad shot? What ammo was used? Garrett cartridges have taken buffs along with other dangerous game. Hope to one day hunt a buff with my Henry.
From: Zbone
18-Sep-23
I take it the Marlin was a 45-70?
From: Ken Moody Safaris
18-Sep-23
Bad first shot, tracked two days, shot by us. After the initial bad shot the buffalo will run away and have to be tracked, found, and killed. Ammo in this case was Buffalo Bore, 45/70 hard cast but ammo type was irrelevant with the poor shot placement in this case.
From: Stubbleduck
18-Sep-23
For archery balllistics draw weight is not a controlling factor. Ultimately kinetic energy imparted to the arrow is a function of arrow total weight and speed which are a function of draw length, draw weight, and bow mechanical efficiency. An example of a modern compound bow recently used in taking a Cape Buffalo is : Bow: Gearhead "Disrupter 24", Total arrow weight 748 grains, Draw length 29 inches, Draw weight 67 lbs, arrow speed off the bow 219 Ft/Second. Kinetic energy 79.58 ft/lbs. Results of the 20 yard shot are entered, with photos, in the thread " Cape Buffalo Arrow Penetration" in the Africa section of this forum: (https://forums.bowsite.com/tf/bgforums/thread.cfm?threadid=500481&messages=18&forum=18). Broadhead used was a VPA 150 grain single bevel.
From: Zbone
18-Sep-23
Thanks for the info Ken...
