First buffalo
Posted: Fri Jan 26, 2018 10:25 am
On Sunday December 10, 2017 my friend, R.J. Cudworth and I arrived at the Comstock Premier Lodge in Sargent, Nebraska, to hunt, or should I say, shoot, buffalo. It's not a barn lot shoot but it definitely isn't hunting.
On Monday the 11th we went out to get out animals. Since I put the whole thing together R.J. let me go first. The day before, the weather was calm, in the 50's, sunny and very pleasant. But on the day we shot it was overcast, in the low 40's and the wind chill was about 32 degrees. The wind was very strong and had I been wearing the cowboy hat I took it would have wound up in the next county in short order.
The animals are not tame but they don't run when they see you, either. I doubt you could walk up and pet them, save for a couple that seem to have had past human contact. As a result, getting close for a shot is not difficult. The difficulty is trying to get a clear shot because the animals are constantly milling around one another. Just when you think you have a shot, your animal will move behind another or vise-a-versa. My shot was on cross sticks from only 30 yards as measured by R.J.'s laser range finder. However, with the strong wind and the animals constantly moving it wasn't like shooting at a pumpkin.
I used a C.Sharps Arms Sporting Rifle in 50-70, with a Lee 450 grain bullet I cast over 70 grains of Swiss 1.5. I shot a 3 year old bull about 2" in front of the right ear and 2" below the right horn. It dropped like a rock, kicked its hind feet once and was down for the count. Mitch, the Comstock owner, wants head shots when possible due to some animals in the past not going down or staying down and coming after the "hunters".
R.J. got his animal, a 3 year old bull, later in the day. His shot was from 60 yards from cross sticks. He was using a Shiloh Number 1 Sporter in 45-90 with a bullet he cast. He cheated, though, using a scope. I guess when I'm that old I probably will as well.
Still, it was great experience and I really was happy to spend time with R.J. after not seeing him for a couple of years.
On Monday the 11th we went out to get out animals. Since I put the whole thing together R.J. let me go first. The day before, the weather was calm, in the 50's, sunny and very pleasant. But on the day we shot it was overcast, in the low 40's and the wind chill was about 32 degrees. The wind was very strong and had I been wearing the cowboy hat I took it would have wound up in the next county in short order.
The animals are not tame but they don't run when they see you, either. I doubt you could walk up and pet them, save for a couple that seem to have had past human contact. As a result, getting close for a shot is not difficult. The difficulty is trying to get a clear shot because the animals are constantly milling around one another. Just when you think you have a shot, your animal will move behind another or vise-a-versa. My shot was on cross sticks from only 30 yards as measured by R.J.'s laser range finder. However, with the strong wind and the animals constantly moving it wasn't like shooting at a pumpkin.
I used a C.Sharps Arms Sporting Rifle in 50-70, with a Lee 450 grain bullet I cast over 70 grains of Swiss 1.5. I shot a 3 year old bull about 2" in front of the right ear and 2" below the right horn. It dropped like a rock, kicked its hind feet once and was down for the count. Mitch, the Comstock owner, wants head shots when possible due to some animals in the past not going down or staying down and coming after the "hunters".
R.J. got his animal, a 3 year old bull, later in the day. His shot was from 60 yards from cross sticks. He was using a Shiloh Number 1 Sporter in 45-90 with a bullet he cast. He cheated, though, using a scope. I guess when I'm that old I probably will as well.
Still, it was great experience and I really was happy to spend time with R.J. after not seeing him for a couple of years.