Water Buffalo Archery hunt blog

[Ron Kulas]

This destination bowhunt will take place in the hill country of Utopia Texas in Uvalde county and since the plan is to bring all the meat home, I will be making the 21 hour drive from my home in South East Wisconsin. I will meet up with other hunters in Dubuque Iowa on March 28. In all, there will be 6 of us in a few trucks pulling trailers loaded with coolers.





This particular ranch encompasses 20,000 acres (32 sq/miles) and is home to many native and East Asian and African species. The ranch has an excess water Buffalo population that needs to be culled. We will be targeting Water Buffalo cows and perhaps other species (playing it by ear at this point). The ranch owner offered us a very attractive deal to help him reduce his water buffalo numbers and I am itching to do further testing and evaluation of some archery gear I designed and spent a year and a half developing and and to set my broadhead sharpener with yet another brand of broadhead. and because I did not have any other traveling hunts in my Calendar at this time of the year, I jumped at the chance.

Here is the object of this bowhunting product testing adventure.



Fresh on the heels of my successful archery hunt for Vancouver bull and Polynesian pig in Hawaii, I'm gearing up for this hunt with some new (to me) broadheads. The heads I bought earlier for this hunt that I planed to use on water buffalo suddenly seemed inadequate for the task so I while sitting in a hotel room on the big island of Hawaii, I placed the order for some 250 grain Cutthroat broadheads. Reading and viewing the pictures about archery tackle for water buffalo scared me straight so once again I will be using a total arrow weight of 700 grains. Also, Im doing further product testing on a drop away arrow rest that I spent a great deal of time developing. In fact, I will be using the latest version of rest parts I made on my 3D printer. Im also evaluating 2 bow mounted camera mounts I've designed so this opportunity came at a perfect time since there is normally little opportunity to kill stuff with a bow in April.

adventurousbowhunter.wordpress.com/2012/10/08/from-the-field-water-buffalo-anatomy-shot-placement-part-1/?vm=r

I placed an order for 250 grain, single bevel, Cutthroat heads.



I'm currently making more arrows to replace the once that were damaged or left in the remains of the bull carcass up on mount Mauna Loa on the Big Island of Hawaii. Since we used the gutless method for that bull, I was unable to retrieve some of my arrows from that hunt. I plan to use the same dual walled aluminum arrows that will have a finished weight of 700 Grains. In addition, I plan to boost the draw weight of my Bowtech bow from its current setting of 64 Pounds.

I want to make it clear that this is a cull hunt. The ranch owner has an excess of Water Buffalo and he wants some removed. Normally his 3 day Water Buffalo Bull hunts (includes lodging and meals and use of the butcher shed and walk in cooler) costs $6000. Water Buffalo cow hunts with the same accommodations are $3000.

Because this ranch wants to reduce the population over the Easter weekend, we are specifically targeting cows and he has reduced the cost to $1650. That's not bad for some grass feed organic beef. It should also be noted that these are not tame or penned water buffalo. They are free roaming the 20,000 acres but this is indeed a fenced hunt (although I dont think Water buffalo require a high fence) meaning some folks will be opposed right off the bat. I look at it as a way to hopefully fill the freezer with beef, test a new broadhead, test a new prototype arrow rest, test a new bow mounted camera mount and get out with my bow in late march and get out of cold Wisconsin and head to the deep south for a few days.

[Ron Kulas]

After some first hand exposure to Havalon Knives while on my bowhunt in Hawaii, That was the second purchase I made when I got back (right after the Cutthroat broadheads.) I picked up 3 dozen blades to begin with.



The Cutthroat broadheads come "Jagged" sharp but not shaving sharp. I knew this when I bought them. In fact, they website clearly stated that fact.

Thankfully I founded and own the Stay Sharp Broadhead sharpening guide company so I could take these heads to the next level and get them hair popping sharp with ease.



Right out of the package.





Using the Stay Sharp fixed blade guide and a few grits to sharpen and then polish the edge.



A mirror finish.





A brief video showing just how sharp I got them.



Next up is putting them into my broadhead target out to 60 yards.

[Ron Kulas]

I made the another version of the Ultimate Predator camera mount for my bow and tested it for the upcoming hunt. Its getting better. The mounts supplied by Ultimate Predator and good but not enough to tame the shock of the release of an arrow so I was forced to design and 3D print my own camera mount. I dont have a cameraman so I tend to have 2 cameras mounted to my bow when I hunt. (1 Ultimate Predator and 1 Iphone 7 that is also mounted with a 3D printed mount of my own design)

[Ron Kulas]

My traveling meat cutting arsenal is ready for the trip should there be a need to disassemble a Water buffalo. We will have access to the skinning shed and walk in cooler .

Ive got a sawzall to split the carcass, Cut resistant glove, Poly griper glove, A belt worn knife scabbard (holster) A variety of knives with different purposes, A boning hook to pull and handle the pieces of meat while cutting, A poly apron and a few sharpening sticks (steel, diamond and ceramic) To sharpen as blades dull during the process.



And of course a cooler or seven to transport any meat. The forecast calls for temps in the low 80's.



I wonder if my homemade water buffalo, Bow mounted decoy will result in me getting trampled?

[Ron Kulas]

On March 28, 2018 I headed from South East Wisconsin to Utopia Texas for a 3 day water buffalo Bow hunt. After working a regular day, I loaded my truck and headed to Dubuque Iowa to meet up with the rest of the group of Wisconsin Hunters at 6:30 pm. Over the following 24 hours we covered the 1,450 miles without incident. We arrived at the Ranch the early evening of the 29th. After unloading our gear, we met with the guides to discuss the plans for the upcoming days hunts and then it was off to shoot our bows to make sure everything survived the trip.



We enjoyed a great BBQ supper and talked more about which guides would pair with which hunter based on the species we were after. Then it was off to bed.





Normally, the night before a big hunt, I struggle to sleep since my head is racing but after being awake for 40 hours straight, the night passed quickly.



We enjoyed a fantastic breakfast with our guides and covered more details. We talked about our comfortable shooting distance and further about our gear, bow weight and broadheads. I asked it any bowhunters in the past had gotten a pass through on an adult water buffalo. They laughed and said no. They explained that the hide is just too thick. The hide on the shoulders and upper neck can be as much as an inch thick. This is no doubt the evolution of dealing with large predators to protect them from the claws and teeth of big cats. They said the hide and ribs have to be breeched and the blade edge has to still be sharp after cutting through that much material to deliver a lethal hit to the vitals. Mechanical heads were not a viable option. I was happy to be outfitted with 250 grain, Cutthroat, single bevel heads that are made of super hard steel. After shooting these razor sharp heads for weeks into a broadhead target, the blades showed no sign of dulling where, replaceable blade heads would have dulled after only a few shots. I had confidence in the gear I brought.

Because another bowhunter in our group was also interested in hunting water buffalo, he and his guide paired with us and the four of us piled into a truck and headed out just after day break. The ranch covers 20,000 acres (more than 31 square miles) and is mostly flat land with low brush, mesquite, live oak, prickly pear and lots of rock. There were some hills that could be seen in the distance but what we were hunting was a mix of scrub and broken prairie which looked very much like images of Australia or Africa.





Water buffalo were more likely to be found in the thicker scrub but Wildebeest were found in the open prairie.



We did encounter groups of water buffalo but having 15 or 20 sets of eyes on you made stalking difficult.



When threatened or pressured, the water buffalo tactic was too tightly group and stare down the threat. They would not break up and scatter. They stood their ground. If you pressed the matter, they would turn and stampede away to thicker cover but always as a tight group. All the while being vocal in their protest. The other option was than they would charge and stomp the intruder. The guides talked to us about shot angles how robust Water buffalo are and their ability to absorb punishment and stay on their feet. The guides carried large caliber long guns to back us up in case things turned sour and to take down a less than lethal hit. The reason for this was that tracking a wounded water buffalo in the thick cover was risky. If a poor hit was made, they would be quick to shoot.





We spent a great deal of time walking and glassing and either trying to locate the buffalo or put a stalk on them. Mid day temps were in the low 80’s





I was carrying a digital camera with 40X zoom so while we were not getting close, the camera lens could.



I don't know how many miles we walked during the morning hunt but several estimates were made. All I knew was that I would again, sleep well.

After lunch we set out to find a particular herd because we were targeting older cows in an effort to help depopulate the ranch's water buffalo herds. We opted to split up rather than moving as a group of 4 people. Guide Jeff and I headed back to the truck and in the process, stumbled upon the group we were after. We tried to cut them off but they knew the game and beat us again. We focused on water but we were never able to encounter them at any watering holes.

In our search we came across a group of cows with a herd bull. As we deliberated our play I spotted movement to our right. It was another lone bull intent on challenging the herd bull for the cows.



I was not able to see the battle but we could hear the clashing of head and horn and stomping and grunts. The challenger was sent packing. The herd disappeared in the thick brush. We later learned the other bowhunter and his guide were very close to getting a shot but once again were denied.

The guides texted one another and we met back at the truck to regroup and to try to locate the herd. After searching for some time, we found the herd we were after about 3 miles from where we had last seen them. We made a move on them and closed the distance. I was able to get within 30 yards of the biggest cow. Attached to my bow were 2 cameras. I was hoping to be able to capture the shot. Here is a screen shot from the video taken by my bow cam just prior to the shot.



As I stood there, facing the herd and the large cow, she and another cow were onto me and stood long enough for a 30 yard broadside shot. I drew, aimed and released. The arrow was on a perfect path for a double lung hit and I worried that they would duck/flinch like Wisconsin whitetails do. I was pleased to see her stand there, solid as a stone and take the 700 grain arrow deep into the vitals.

On impact, she turned to flee and I could see about 10 of the 31+ inches protruding just behind the shoulder just before it snapped cleanly off and fell to the ground.



The herd reacted to her departure and they surrounded her when she stopped after only 30 yards. The cows were vocal and on high alert with the wounded cow in the center of them. This left no shot for the guides carrying rifles but it turns out the rifles were not required because the herd was not fleeing and she went to the ground after about 3 minutes. She bedded with her head up and our presence made the group move off about 60 yards. The guide and I approached her from her rear quarter. He said to put another arrow into her. I delivered another to her vitals. That arrow buried itself to the nock and the broadhead passed through the far side. In a couple minutes, she was still.

The herd returned in an agitated state so the guide and I backed off. They again circled her and milled about her location. As soon as they arrived, they moved off again. The guide said that they would continue that pattern and that the other hunter and his guide would be smart to position themselves behind some brush about 30 yards from my cow and wait for the next return. My guide and I retreated where I filmed their hunt.



The herd never stopped moving and the target animal the other hunter was to attempt to kill, never presented a shot. The herd moved on off, not to return. When it was safe to do so, we approached the downed cow.



The exit side hole and the arrow laying on the ground below her neck. The quality of the steel in cutthroat broadheads is so good that despite busting through a rib and passing through the thick hide on both sides, the head was still as sharp as when I honed it. These heads are amazing.











The guide went to the truck and used the CB radio to see if anybody within ear shot could bring what they termed the "meat wagon" We used our truck to meet them mid way. The flatbed trailer and cable winch were the only way to move such dead weight.



With such high temps, we had to immediately head back to camp and the butchering facility which included chain winches, running water and 2 walk in coolers with a trolley track to move carcasses.



We skinned the cow as far as we could on the trailer and then raised it to finish the task.



During butchering, I could see that the two shots hit the same rib and were only about an inch and a half apart. The first shot broke away a portion of the rib. The 2nd shot sliced away a curved chuck of the same rib.





With myself and two guides, we went from a trailer full to a quartered beef in the cooler in under 2 hours. It was late enough at that point that we enjoyed supper before heading back to the woods.

The camp provided and fine meal for super.



With my water buffalo tag punched and the meat in the cooler, we talked about the end of the day hunt for the other bowhunter. I tagged along to video his hunt. We did have a few encounters with water buffalo but no shots were taken. We returned to camp after dark. at that point in the day, no other hunters had taken any of the species they were hunting.





When we returned to camp, the lights were on over at the butcher shed. We walked over to learn that 2 hunters had taken Eurasian boar Hogs. One was killed with a rifle and the other with a crossbow. Another hunter had taken an scimitar horned oryx







When all the animals were in the cooler we headed to the lodge to tell the stories. I met with the ranch manager and asked about adding another hunt since I was not interested in sitting back at camp for the next 2 days. After seeing the Eurasian boar, I added that species to my trip.

Saturday morning came fast. Again, I slept like a baby, exhausted from the events of the prior day. I teamed up with the ranch manager and we headed out with another hunter before going after a boar. We left camp in one of the safari jeeps which featured an upper deck with seats for game viewing and for pig shooting. We started the pig hunt on foot but because 2 boar were killed by hunters the evening before, the hogs were on edge. We were seeing hogs but they were having nothing of it and were always moving and far out of range. we did have a close encounter with one very large boar The boar looked more like a bear than a pig. He was big, black, covered in dried mud and hiding in the shade of some trees but the ranch manager said that if I was interested in quality meat that the old boar we saw was not good for much more than a skull mount.

We returned to the safari jeep and we cruised the ranch. We came upon 2 old boars hiding in the shade so we sat and watched. Eventually one of the boars opted to move on. His path put him at about 25 yards from my location. The boar stopped briefly and I drew. I aimed and just as I released he began walking. By the time that arrow made it those 25 yards it entered further back than I hoped. The arrow passed through him like he was an empty paper bag, the arrow hit the hard and dry earth with a cloud of dust. The boar took off but not as fast as I would expect after just being hit with an arrow. The big boar made it only 30 yards and topped in the shade of a large bush. He began to circle in place. The other boar that he was traveling with stood over him, pushing at him with his head. My boar appeared to be dead. We advanced cautiously and the living boar ran off. The ranch manager said that the boar was still alive and that I should shoot him again.

I had approached the board from the rear, and quartering at about 10 yards. His head was buried in the thick brush, preventing him from seeing me. I drew, aimed and released, expecting no reaction. . My arrow passed through both lunges and buried itself into the far side shoulder. Instead of simply dying, the big boar was up and running as soon as the arrow hit. He didn't go far before standing stiff legged and then toppling over. Once on his side, he gave out several kicks and then was quiet.





It took 4 people to lift the boar onto the jeep.



We headed back to camp to gut and wash the boar. These boars are covered in fleas and ticks The hunters that killed boars the night before assisted in processing their hogs and talked about the need to shower (again) and place their clothes outside after dealing with the mud caked hogs and having to remove the insects from themselves. They did not wash down the boars before skinning. While hosing down my boar, the ranch manager would drip Dawn soap in the water stream while praying the hog. He insisted, it removed and killed all the little buggers. It worked well



Because everybody claims to kill 300 Lbs. hogs and since I knew I would be asked what it weighed, I used their scale. 318 Lbs.



We gutted the hog and placed him in the cooler and went back to the main building for supper as other hunters returned to camp. Plans were made for Sunday morning hunting. Because I had all the meat I cared for, I slept in on Sunday. After Breakfast, the camp was empty so I grabbed by butcher kit and headed to the walk in cooler to disassemble my boar. Since he had a huge skull, I skinned the entire boar, head and all before cutting him up.



This is the largest hog Ive killed. While skinning I got to the shields and I was glad I hit him a little further back. The shield is very thick and solid. It could not be bent while skinning.



I placed my boar skull in the cooler with my Water Buffalo skull.



Around mid day, other hunters arrived back at camp, their animals processed. After lunch we began the process of deboning our meat to cooler sized chunks and packing it on ice for the 24 hour return drive.



My truck, ready to head back to Wisconsin..



Aside from the long drives, this was an incredible trip. I put together the footage from my bow mounted cameras.. You can view it at the link below.

[Ron Kulas]

As soon as I returned home from the hunt (Monday) I put the skulls in water to begin the process of doing euro mounts. As of last night (Thursday), I've made solid progress. Getting the horn sheaths of the cores of the skull of the Water Buffalo was a real pain. I could only fit one horn in a 5 gallon bucket at a time. I filled the bucket with boiling water and submerged the horn in the water for a half hour at a time (while bringing the next five gallons of water to a boil). It took several soakings and some hammer and knife work to free them. Meanwhile, the Big Boar skull was in hot water of its own.



This is what I started with on Monday.



Once I get all the meat off the Water Buffalo skull I will whiten all the parts and reassemble them.

[Ron Kulas]

Eurasian Boar roast and water buffalo brisket in the smoker. Only 12 more hours to go. Later I will add the boar ribs to the smoker. Supper looks to be pretty good.



Cutting up the Water Buffalo And eating some Tenderloin, Rare.

[Ron Kulas]

Enter the boar ribs.

[Ron Kulas]

Extras are vacuumed sealed with the juice for future enjoyment.

[Ron Kulas]

I couldn’t help but be in awe over the size of the parts of this water buffalo.

[Ron Kulas]

The euro mount for the water buffalo skull is coming along nicely. I do not have a pot large enough for such a big skull so Im using warm water maceration. Its a slow process.

[Ron Kulas]

While I was making a 30 Lb. batch of Water Buffalo jerky, I put the finishing touches on the Whitened Skull.







Here is the Water Buffalo skull next to the Hawaiian Bull skull.



I also applied the custom decal I had made to commemorate the hunt in texas.

[Ron Kulas]

The section of Water Buffalo hide is tanned stretched on the frame I made and now needs a few days to dry.



There is a little more to do but its shaping up.