AI
Thursday, January 30, 2003 12:15:17 AM
Buffalo: Hunting the American legend
Caution is a necessity around beasts that can exceed 2,500 pounds, reach speeds of 30 mph and toss a 4-wheeler 12 feet into the air
By Frank Medicine Wolf Springer
Special to ESPNOutdoors.com
When pursuing American bison, you're safety frequently is in question.
CHILIQUIN, Oregon — The 2000-pound beast swung its massive head, swiftly ripping the 18-inch long curve of his pointed coal-black horn along the ribs of the buffalo bull that was blocking my arrow's path to his boiler room.
I had witnessed the white begin to rim his dark eye just before he threw his head. The pain from the crushing blow made the smaller bull haul back and another lurched forward to avoid becoming involved in the brawl.
As the violence rippled through the herd of more than 200 American bison, the monster stepped into the gap provided by his aggressiveness … and he locked his full gaze directly onto me.
At 30 yards, with my bow at full draw and no more than inch-high grass between us now, I realized — as thousands of ancient ones had come to know — my fate largely was a matter for this bull to decide.
In the exact moment of his step forward, I released the arrow.
The monarch swung back into the jostling mass of the herd, and I understood his decision was to allow me life. Whether the other bison would allow me this dispensation was still an unanswered question.
"The cows are most likely to charge because of the calves, and will make a pass at you," cautioned Glen Derra, manager of the Bar-Y Ranch here. "Whether they hook you or miss, they'll most often keep on going.
“ The cows are most likely to charge because of the calves, and will make a pass at you. Whether they hook you or miss, they'll most often keep on going. But buffalo bulls stay after you until everything is torn to bits and nothing is left; they just don't quit. ”
— Glen Derra, manager of the Bar-Y Ranch
"But buffalo bulls stay after you until everything is torn to bits and nothing is left; they just don't quit."
Comforting words, to be sure.
The bull intently made 60 yards of prairie before he began to sway from the lethal effect of the broadhead. The mass of animals thundered to surround him again as he crushed into the ground.
At once all control exploded and pairs of bulls began to bash and spar, as cows and other bulls nudged and hooked at the fallen beast in an attempt to raise him back to his feet.
In a fashion interestingly similar to the great elephants of Africa, this exotic and ancient display of force and concern was a rare and amazing sight to witness
My problem now became how to retrieve my bull without joining him on his final journey.
Upon my arrival at the property 50 miles north of the California border, Derra had shown me the extensive boundaries of the ranch, with its more than 13 square miles of prairie and woodlands and 700 adult buffalo.
Here a hunter could choose a monster trophy, a smaller animal for superior eating or a combination somewhere in the middle.
That the buffalo are "on" the ranch becomes somewhat dubious, however. The wild and wandering nature of the buffalo often spurs them to simply walk through the barbed-wire fence with no more effort than sauntering through a line of willows.
Derra has a full-time job convincing the herd that the Bar-Y really is really home.
The author poses with his prize.
Few can doubt that these are free-will, free-roaming, fair-chase game. This constant interaction also has also reinforced the buffalo's knowledge that a man on the ground is a predator and their instincts deal with the hunter accordingly.
The opportunity to hunt American buffalo at this convenient location is offered by Wilderness Unlimited — a broker for some of the finest hunting properties on the Pacific Coast. The Bar-Y bison hunts are available to the general public through Wilderness Unlimited without restriction of membership.
Unlike many of the buffalo hunts offered across the west, when you kill your bull at the Bar-Y Ranch, the entire animal is yours — skull, hide and meat.
"The reason we started this years ago was because we were hunters who had found the public-land hunting experience had become a problem in many areas," said Rick Copeland, CEO of Wilderness Unlimited.
"We knew there was tremendous hunting to be had on private lands, and we developed a system where property owners could share their resources and hunters would find a quality hunting experience at a very modest price."
"The Bar-Y Ranch is a great example of an opportunity the hunting public is allowed because of our agreements," Copeland said.
Back on the hunt, I eventually was able to harass the herd far enough away from the downed bull so their flight instincts took over and they did not return. It was a great relief.
Moving the huge bull into a position for photographs proved almost impossible. And having previously dealt with gutting buffalo on the ground, I was overjoyed to see Glenn slowly driving across the frozen prairie with a big tractor to lift the beast.
Although I chose to skin and butcher the buffalo myself, the Bar-Y can make arrangements to do all of the processing of the meat and caping for head mounts or rugs. This is suggested for everyone except the extremely experienced or mildly insane.
Hunters may bring their own sleeping accommodations, rent a trailer at the ranch for a small fee or stay in the nearby Spring Creek Ranch motel in Chiloquin. Dining is available at the Junction Café just a short drive north of the ranch.
Although modern rifles are often used on this hunt, the intimate distance necessary when using a bow, pistol or black powder gun can push the adrenaline level to an explosive point.
For the hunter desiring a challenge to both sense and senses, a close-range hunt for the monarch of North America is one experience you will never forget.
The hide on these great beasts is as tough as anything you will ever encounter on this continent, so carry a blade up to the task.
Equipment concerns
Due to the buffalo's thick hide, extreme muscle depth and massive bone structure there are specifics for equipment modifications.
I cranked the draw weight of my bow to 80 pounds. Use big-game arrows with added weight and strength and titanium broadheads to top the package.
With excellent terminal kinetics, my fast shooting bow pushed the heavy carbon arrow through the center of a huge rib on entry and shoved 12 inches of shaft out the backside of the bull's massive chest.
The hide on these great beasts is as tough as anything you will ever encounter on this continent, so you'll need a reliable blade. Instead of having to re-sharpen several fixed blade knives, I utilized a replaceable blade sheath knife on this bull.
Although American buffalo often use their speed and agility to outrun predators across many miles of open terrain, veteran hunter Tom Lawrence explained, "Having hunted these animals at close range, I found their sense of smell can't be topped by any other big game in America. Attention to wind direction and scent concealment is paramount."
Therefore, neutral colored camouflage is a good choice in the dead grass of early winter and snow patterns are advisable once the prairie blankets in white.
A hunter can find himself following a herd for miles before a shot opportunity can be had, so boots with good traction, a thin comfortable profile and an adequate provision for warmth are a good pick.
Packaging the meat
American buffalo meat is prized for its rich, sweet flavor and the fact that it's an extremely lean and beneficial meal. It is significantly lower in cholesterol and calories than beef, pork or skinless chicken.
It contains less than one-third the fat of skinless chicken breast and yet is high in protein, iron and many essential fatty acids.
Due to the incredible amount of meat on the buffalo, vacuum packaging should be a serious consideration if you decide to butcher the beast at home.
If the choice is made to have a professional cut the meat, pay the extra money to have him vacuum seal it for you.
In either case the meat will stay in excellent condition three to fives times longer when packaged this way, and you won't find yourself throwing out hundreds of pounds of freezer burned paper-wrapped buffalo just a year later.
A final word
Those who have hunted the American buffalo consider it one of the grandest creatures on earth. It is an animal with the same temperament as a grizzly bear — at more than double the size!
Buffalo can exceed 2,500 pounds, reach speeds of 30 mph in two quick hops, spin on their massive front legs and reverse direction in their tracks, and toss a 4-wheeler 12 feet into the air with a hook of his horns.
Caution is not a word to take lightly around these beasts.
There are many reasons that make the bison a tremendous animal to hunt. Once your bull is on the ground and you have successfully driven the rest of the herd away, your senses will eventually calm down and you will begin to understand all of them.
This is a reality only a buffalo hunter can fathom. And it's worth every drop of nervous sweat!
For information and to make arrangements for your hunt, call Wilderness Unlimited at (510) 785-4868 or email buffalo@wildernessunlimited.com.
#board-1066 (OUTDR) Outdoor Adventures
#board-1124 (Rock) Rock n Roll
#board-1142 (CNTRY) Country Music
#board-1148 (NFL) Pro Football
#board-1293 (NCAA) College Football
#board-31 (NBA) Pro Basketbal
Caution is a necessity around beasts that can exceed 2,500 pounds, reach speeds of 30 mph and toss a 4-wheeler 12 feet into the air
By Frank Medicine Wolf Springer
Special to ESPNOutdoors.com
When pursuing American bison, you're safety frequently is in question.
CHILIQUIN, Oregon — The 2000-pound beast swung its massive head, swiftly ripping the 18-inch long curve of his pointed coal-black horn along the ribs of the buffalo bull that was blocking my arrow's path to his boiler room.
I had witnessed the white begin to rim his dark eye just before he threw his head. The pain from the crushing blow made the smaller bull haul back and another lurched forward to avoid becoming involved in the brawl.
As the violence rippled through the herd of more than 200 American bison, the monster stepped into the gap provided by his aggressiveness … and he locked his full gaze directly onto me.
At 30 yards, with my bow at full draw and no more than inch-high grass between us now, I realized — as thousands of ancient ones had come to know — my fate largely was a matter for this bull to decide.
In the exact moment of his step forward, I released the arrow.
The monarch swung back into the jostling mass of the herd, and I understood his decision was to allow me life. Whether the other bison would allow me this dispensation was still an unanswered question.
"The cows are most likely to charge because of the calves, and will make a pass at you," cautioned Glen Derra, manager of the Bar-Y Ranch here. "Whether they hook you or miss, they'll most often keep on going.
“ The cows are most likely to charge because of the calves, and will make a pass at you. Whether they hook you or miss, they'll most often keep on going. But buffalo bulls stay after you until everything is torn to bits and nothing is left; they just don't quit. ”
— Glen Derra, manager of the Bar-Y Ranch
"But buffalo bulls stay after you until everything is torn to bits and nothing is left; they just don't quit."
Comforting words, to be sure.
The bull intently made 60 yards of prairie before he began to sway from the lethal effect of the broadhead. The mass of animals thundered to surround him again as he crushed into the ground.
At once all control exploded and pairs of bulls began to bash and spar, as cows and other bulls nudged and hooked at the fallen beast in an attempt to raise him back to his feet.
In a fashion interestingly similar to the great elephants of Africa, this exotic and ancient display of force and concern was a rare and amazing sight to witness
My problem now became how to retrieve my bull without joining him on his final journey.
Upon my arrival at the property 50 miles north of the California border, Derra had shown me the extensive boundaries of the ranch, with its more than 13 square miles of prairie and woodlands and 700 adult buffalo.
Here a hunter could choose a monster trophy, a smaller animal for superior eating or a combination somewhere in the middle.
That the buffalo are "on" the ranch becomes somewhat dubious, however. The wild and wandering nature of the buffalo often spurs them to simply walk through the barbed-wire fence with no more effort than sauntering through a line of willows.
Derra has a full-time job convincing the herd that the Bar-Y really is really home.
The author poses with his prize.
Few can doubt that these are free-will, free-roaming, fair-chase game. This constant interaction also has also reinforced the buffalo's knowledge that a man on the ground is a predator and their instincts deal with the hunter accordingly.
The opportunity to hunt American buffalo at this convenient location is offered by Wilderness Unlimited — a broker for some of the finest hunting properties on the Pacific Coast. The Bar-Y bison hunts are available to the general public through Wilderness Unlimited without restriction of membership.
Unlike many of the buffalo hunts offered across the west, when you kill your bull at the Bar-Y Ranch, the entire animal is yours — skull, hide and meat.
"The reason we started this years ago was because we were hunters who had found the public-land hunting experience had become a problem in many areas," said Rick Copeland, CEO of Wilderness Unlimited.
"We knew there was tremendous hunting to be had on private lands, and we developed a system where property owners could share their resources and hunters would find a quality hunting experience at a very modest price."
"The Bar-Y Ranch is a great example of an opportunity the hunting public is allowed because of our agreements," Copeland said.
Back on the hunt, I eventually was able to harass the herd far enough away from the downed bull so their flight instincts took over and they did not return. It was a great relief.
Moving the huge bull into a position for photographs proved almost impossible. And having previously dealt with gutting buffalo on the ground, I was overjoyed to see Glenn slowly driving across the frozen prairie with a big tractor to lift the beast.
Although I chose to skin and butcher the buffalo myself, the Bar-Y can make arrangements to do all of the processing of the meat and caping for head mounts or rugs. This is suggested for everyone except the extremely experienced or mildly insane.
Hunters may bring their own sleeping accommodations, rent a trailer at the ranch for a small fee or stay in the nearby Spring Creek Ranch motel in Chiloquin. Dining is available at the Junction Café just a short drive north of the ranch.
Although modern rifles are often used on this hunt, the intimate distance necessary when using a bow, pistol or black powder gun can push the adrenaline level to an explosive point.
For the hunter desiring a challenge to both sense and senses, a close-range hunt for the monarch of North America is one experience you will never forget.
The hide on these great beasts is as tough as anything you will ever encounter on this continent, so carry a blade up to the task.
Equipment concerns
Due to the buffalo's thick hide, extreme muscle depth and massive bone structure there are specifics for equipment modifications.
I cranked the draw weight of my bow to 80 pounds. Use big-game arrows with added weight and strength and titanium broadheads to top the package.
With excellent terminal kinetics, my fast shooting bow pushed the heavy carbon arrow through the center of a huge rib on entry and shoved 12 inches of shaft out the backside of the bull's massive chest.
The hide on these great beasts is as tough as anything you will ever encounter on this continent, so you'll need a reliable blade. Instead of having to re-sharpen several fixed blade knives, I utilized a replaceable blade sheath knife on this bull.
Although American buffalo often use their speed and agility to outrun predators across many miles of open terrain, veteran hunter Tom Lawrence explained, "Having hunted these animals at close range, I found their sense of smell can't be topped by any other big game in America. Attention to wind direction and scent concealment is paramount."
Therefore, neutral colored camouflage is a good choice in the dead grass of early winter and snow patterns are advisable once the prairie blankets in white.
A hunter can find himself following a herd for miles before a shot opportunity can be had, so boots with good traction, a thin comfortable profile and an adequate provision for warmth are a good pick.
Packaging the meat
American buffalo meat is prized for its rich, sweet flavor and the fact that it's an extremely lean and beneficial meal. It is significantly lower in cholesterol and calories than beef, pork or skinless chicken.
It contains less than one-third the fat of skinless chicken breast and yet is high in protein, iron and many essential fatty acids.
Due to the incredible amount of meat on the buffalo, vacuum packaging should be a serious consideration if you decide to butcher the beast at home.
If the choice is made to have a professional cut the meat, pay the extra money to have him vacuum seal it for you.
In either case the meat will stay in excellent condition three to fives times longer when packaged this way, and you won't find yourself throwing out hundreds of pounds of freezer burned paper-wrapped buffalo just a year later.
A final word
Those who have hunted the American buffalo consider it one of the grandest creatures on earth. It is an animal with the same temperament as a grizzly bear — at more than double the size!
Buffalo can exceed 2,500 pounds, reach speeds of 30 mph in two quick hops, spin on their massive front legs and reverse direction in their tracks, and toss a 4-wheeler 12 feet into the air with a hook of his horns.
Caution is not a word to take lightly around these beasts.
There are many reasons that make the bison a tremendous animal to hunt. Once your bull is on the ground and you have successfully driven the rest of the herd away, your senses will eventually calm down and you will begin to understand all of them.
This is a reality only a buffalo hunter can fathom. And it's worth every drop of nervous sweat!
For information and to make arrangements for your hunt, call Wilderness Unlimited at (510) 785-4868 or email buffalo@wildernessunlimited.com.
#board-1066 (OUTDR) Outdoor Adventures
#board-1124 (Rock) Rock n Roll
#board-1142 (CNTRY) Country Music
#board-1148 (NFL) Pro Football
#board-1293 (NCAA) College Football
#board-31 (NBA) Pro Basketbal
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