Unexpected trophy

[86er]

The short version because I am about to leave for another week... My friend Albert told me 3 water buffalo got off the ranch he manages when a fence was left open for some construction trucks. The owners did not want them messing with neighboring cows since the water buffalo were no longer fenced in so they asked him to "get rid of them". I tried to get there for 3 weeks and finally showed up. Albert and I walked the river bottom and suddenly I heard something. Not 3 but 7 big water buffalo walked out to within 25 yards of us. I was armed with my 450 N.E. double rifle but even that was no match for 7 animals should they try to act aggressively. We eased out and Albert said we could get above them and shoot down from a little bluff in order to create some safety barrier. We climbed up and couldnt find them for a while and suddenly saw a few grey spots in the tall grass. We got just under 100 yds and I realized they were not buffalo but something else. After studying them in Alberts binos he carried, I made them out to be Pere David Deer. I've never shot one myself even though I have taken clients on them several times. The Pere David is like a small elk, up to around 550 pounds. They have been extinct in the wild since 1863. I chinese Emperor gave Sir John Pere David, a french explorer, 18 animals to that he brought back to England, essentially saving the species. Albert said "they're on our property but they're not mine that I know about and even if they were they're loose now". I put the bead resting on the tail as they all turned to walk away and fired. The bull dropped and surprisingly lifted his head again. I shot again with the same sight picture and that was it. The two 500 grain Rhino bullets @ 2100 fps (.458) hit the spine at the tail and ham next to the tail and exited the shoulder and under the armpit respectively, leaving a diamond shaped exit over 1.5" across. At a price of $5000 - $9000 per bull this was an opportunity I couldnt pass since it was f-r-e-e! Later, we came back with a noisy calf in a trailer and were able to lead the water buffalo back to the fenceline. We then gently drove them back into the gate. No buffalo were harmed in the taking of this Pere David Deer....

[JerryB]

Reckon that will be one hunt to talk about for a while.

[crs]

Very cool trophy and no buffalo had to be shot. Good show!

[Rusty]

Nice trophy Joe, congratulations! That will look nice on the wall.

[Borregos]

Nice trophy Joe, congratulations! That will look nice on the wall.

+1

[Marlin32]

What about the buffalo???
You definitely lead a charmed life. Envy is dripping off of me as I type.

[Griff]

Congrats Joe!

[t.r.]

Pere David deer are extremely rare in North America. Even zoos rarely have them in stock for viewing.

I'm glad for you. The mount will be a reminder to all that Pere David deer have been saved by concerned hunters.

Thanks for sharing!

TR

[Nath]

Nice one and with a big ole' double thumper

N.

[allhands]

Very nice Joe! Congrats!!!!!!!!

[RIHMFIRE]

very cool.....congrats....
i never seen one before now...

[rjohns94]

very kewl indeed. congrats joe. very nice addtition to your wall. I imagine they eat good too!

[papabear]

congulation Joe that's going to look good on the wall
papabear

[Paladin]

What about the buffalo???
You definitely lead a charmed life. Envy is dripping off of me as I type.

+1

[2ndovc]

That's cool!

jb

[Ji in Hawaii]

I know the Pierre David is a rare and awesome trophy but I always thought personally that they were the homeliest of the deer clan with a mug only a mother could love, and a rack placed backwards on their head. Warthogs are homely too but I love um too.

[piller]

Very cool.

[Dave B]

Nice trophy!!!

Dave B

[Mike Rintoul]

I humbly agree that the Rhino bullets are the best out there. Kobus is an excellent engineer and really knew what he was doing when he designed those! I wish they were more readily accessible in the USA. Interesting animal. That may be where the term "swamp donkey" came from! Charmed life? Every time I talk to Joe he is running like a chicken with its head cut off. I don't know anyone that is involved in so many different things and somehow manages them well enough while at the same time being good at them. Sounds like work to me! What do I know, I am just a simple engineer that became an ammo maker!