Absolute MINIMUM for Cape Buff.

[tradtusker]

Originally posted by robtattoo:
 

Originally posted by oxnam:
  Also it would be tougher to get killed in a tree.

Nope, first off the buffalo will charge the tree, you'll fall out probably breaking your legs, the tree will land on you & then the buffalo will stomp you into the landscape. Seriously, the only trully safe place to be to shoot at a buffalo is in a tank & then the bastard probly has a can opener. [/b]

thats the best post i read in 2010

Rob "wordsmith" Tattoo    :D

[Ben Maher]

"

ou & then the buffalo will stomp you into the landscape. Seriously, the only trully safe place to be to shoot at a buffalo is in a tank & then the bastard probly has a can opener."
 

nice one ... lol
     

 
Ben

[fentiger]

Minimum "reasonable" set up stated in arrow weight and speed please. Will try to exceed that of course. At my age and almost brand new to recurves it may be a tall order.

 Have 19" Sky TDX riser coming and want to know which Belcher limbs to work up to/order. thanks

[straitera]

Huge thread & great input. Hat's off to any who go after these majestic animals. Dr Ashby your info is invaluable. Hope you're feeling better.

I'm a responsible heavy longbow addict hoping to go myself one day. I feel panic in those with atrophied shoulders & joints where time will not wait. Err to caution for any animal that can ruin your weekend. Danger is a powerful draw.

[Bowwild]

Of course you should check the regulations before doing more than dreaming. The regulations in Africa can be dramatically different across country borders and can change on a whim (or after someone has bad results). Many of the regulations will refer to minimum draw weights and some even require certain Kinetic Energy, beast by beast.  I only shoot 45-48 pounds traditional (60 with compounds). If I had the money to hunt Cape Buffalo (long been my dream animal with a bow) and if it was legal (unlikely) I would consider myself way underbowed to try it. I wouldn't risk my 56-year old shoulders (or my form) to work up to buffalo poundage. Bummer.

Also, like others have said, I imagine one of the least favorite things for a PH to do is to track a miffed buff. I'd say my favorite recurve set-up (not far off yours) for whitetail deer would be a major buff-miffer.

[fentiger]

Bowwild, as an ex compounder I switched to recurves first as a backup travel set up 9 months ago. However at 63 yrs and barely 140lbs I find that the recurve is much much easier on me than my compounds ever were. Now shooting 72#+- recurve but find 60# compound uncomfortable and my 67# impossible. Recurve has progressive draw and no shoulder wrenching let downs intentional or not.

 Ps. Always shoot warf and recurve together one set at comfortable poundage one set at goal poundage. Shoot heavy poundage until accuracy goes away then pick up lighter poundage and form and accuracy are back immediately. The higher my poundage goes the more accurate I am at lower poundages.

 Shoot with a peep release and compound sights and I give up very little to the average club compounder even with 55# limbs.

 Hope to make 85# by 2011 for an OZ buff hunt as a primer for my dream Cape Buff hunt that I had basically given up on with a compound! My shoulders do not appreciate a rectangular draw force curve.

[hybridbow hunter]

Actually, good modern hybrid bows or recurve will exceed 150 fps at 14.5 gpp for 28" of draw length (Very best of them will be over 155 fps) and over 160 fps for 12 gpp (over 165 fps for the top the line).
 When you look at the modern reports of  buff killed with a trad bow, most of them were done with set up giving 160 to 170 fps for an arrow weight in the 750 to 900 gr. Some were done with lighter set up, some with heavier.
A modern top of the line hybrid bow 60# @ 28" shooting a 800 grain  EFOC>25%  arrow would be my "absolute minimum" (will give 160+ fps @ 28"), but with good release, perfect arrow flight and good shot placement. Must keep in mind that to raise this speed with the same arrow with an Howard Hill style bow and its 18 or 20 strand dacron string you will need around 85#@28 even or little more...
My hunting "go to" bow is a Fedora Xtreme hybrid LB 63# @ my 31" draw length, giving me a consistent 170-172 fps with  840 gr  easton full metal jacket DG 5/16 " arrows for hog hunting. I wouldn't change anything in my set up for buff hunt and i am sure i would do the job.

[Flatshooter]

Can't draw 80# comfortably, guess I''ll have to go with the 416 Rigby

[ChuckC]

Ribs are typically heavier and thicker near the top.  Lots of animals have been killed by small bows and .22 cartriges, but to do the job right.  Remember this thing can kill you, or whover else is around.  If you have a guide and they are at all obligated to dispatch that animal, it puts their life at risk.

I always wanted to be a Doctor.  Whats the absolute minimum I need to do to be a Doctor ?  Wanna be my patient ?
ChuckC

[chrisg]

I always wanted to be a Doctor. Whats the absolute minimum I need to do to be a Doctor ? Wanna be my patient ?
   
Absolutely the best comment on these debates!
chrisg

[Ravenhood]

The doctor comment says it all!!!

[Andy Cooper]

post deleted after rereading thread.  

[Leon.R]

Mchunt, having hunted Buff before with rifles I think you should look past all the negative comments.
Look at the possitives .... and the best I can come up with is that, with your setup...rotator cuff problems will probly be the best part of you day...

[jason1040]

I just don't know why anyone would want to put themselves in harms way by hunting with "The Absolute Minimum." Before you invest anymore time in this dream, invest in a gym membership and get your strength up. If +70lbs is just not feasible - then stop even thinking about getting yourself and guide killed.

I don't mean to sound harsh, but the reality is you are going to get someone hurt and our sport taken away if you keep up this ridiculous goal.

[Andy Cooper]

The absolute minimum for me will be the maximum I can shoot accurately...should be somewhere around 70#...but if I get stronger than that, then I'll get a new bow that's heavier! Compared to the cost of the hunt, the bow cost is minimal.
 

[kansas stik man]

a few folks have compared the american bison and cape buff. and said there alot different but in all reality the plains tribes that lived off bison didnt take a broad side shot straight into rib bones.  instead the road a horse along side and shot with a steep angleing forward shot behind the ribs straight into the diaphram.  worked great the animal may last longers than normal but in due time would expire.  you could do the same thing with a cape not a horse of course but to take a steep angleing forward shot would do the job fine. but then you run into the problem of it being the black death.

[ak.hunter]

A whole in the diaphram would take the run right out of anything.  The diaphram creates the vacuum in the pumonary cavity, allowing air to flow into the lungs.  Running a bison with a horse would not take long to subdue if the lungs cannot ventilate due to a puncture.  

I have a 92# carbon backed longbow that will put a 650g wood arrow consistently through my 1/2" thick pine wood fence (ocassional long range target miss) if any lefty needs some buffalo medicine, send message.

[Kip l Hoffman]

This has been one of the most interesting threads i have read.  I can no longer consider a buffalo hunt but the time was there.  I have shot 3 bison with 2 different bows in the 60+ poundage range.  After previously seeing the carcasses hung in the locker plant, i took only 1/4ing away shots. If my arrow didn't hit the off-side shoulder it poked out the skin between the neck and shoulder blade.  2 of them took a few steps and laid down.  One of them went close to a 1/4 mile, but he was in a group and the others prodded him along and kept him on his feet.  I do not believe that i would attempt a broadside shot at a cape buffalo with anything other than a rifle.  None of the bison showed any interest in attacking me.  None knew i was there and all of them being hit from behind went forward to get away from the prick that stuck them.  The "prick" being the arrow point you understand.  What i find most interesting is the concept of extreme front of center point of balance.  it only makes sense that the stiffer the front of the arrow is the less vibration with the entering portion hence more penetration.  I had a friend in England build me a 70# English long bow built to English long bow specs.  She sent me a true bodkin point made to take out Knights in armour and built to true English specs.  The arrow was what she called a "bobtailed" shaft.  The shaft was as wide as the ferrel at the front and tapered to the knock at the rear.  She also sent me an arrow made for taking out French archers.  It had a small barbed point and a barrel tapered shaft. The old timers has this all figured out a few hundred years ago.  I am jealous of any man that gets to hunt cape bufalo, perhaps in my next life or if  heaven is all they say it is and they actually let Marines in.

[TDHunter]

I think very simpley as a trad hunter we should make responsible choices, and I think hunting a big animal like a buffalo (any kind of buffalo) with a light weight bow is irresponsible. I think we should do all we can to ensure the highest percentage of clean kills and prevent animals from running around with arrows hanging out of them. 43 is too light for Buff, too light for Moose, elk etc.