Trouble Calls
Sometimes trouble comes when you least expect it. If the first rule in a gun fight is to have a gun; the same rule should apply following a wounded bison. When I owned a game ranch we had a bow hunter wound an 1,800-pound bison. My buddy and I, unarmed, followed this buffalo for quite some time. After a few misplaced arrows, the once docile bison had a change in personality. He eventually charged. I was much younger at the time and actually thought I could outrun him. Wrong! He was on top of me in seconds. When his horn caught me between the back of my knee and buttocks, he threw me in the air like a rag doll. I hit the ground hard. The next few seconds were frightening as I anticipated a second blow. Thankfully he didn’t finish me off.
With muscle protruding from the back of my leg, I spent the next couple of days in the hospital. After that mishap I carried a customized Ruger Super Redhawk with a cylinder-full of heavy hard cast bullets.
All these critters have the potential and equipment to inflict great bodily injury. Big bore calibers with heavy bullets are recommended for all except leopard and crocs. It’s imperative to practice shooting from a variety of positions, then practice some more. Precise shot placement cannot be over-stated. Studying the anatomy, knowing exactly where the vitals are located is extremely beneficial.
The first shot taken is most always the best opportunity you’ll get. For this reason, I’ve never felt handicapped with a single-shot handgun. Most of this game is taken at fairly close range so a good 2X or 4X scope will suffice. Of course there is nothing wrong with a variable scope. The .454 Casull, .500 S&W Mag., .375 JDJ, and the .45-70 all have proven track records with this type of game.
And if you feel you need to get upset about all this, don’t. All of the animals hunted are part of government-endorsed programs in their respective countries, created to specifically keep herds healthy and under control. And all of the meat taken goes to feed local populations. It’s how hunters like you and me help to assure healthy herds for the future. This is very different from the domestic poachers who simply kill everything that walks, with no regard for anything other than their own greed. I’ve seen the damage they do, first-hand.
If hunting dangerous game sounds like an adventure — well it certainly can be. With the right equipment, mindset and preparation, it can be an intoxicating and rewarding experience. Just remember, they don’t call them “dangerous game” for nothing.
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