.44-77 on Buffalo

Share your tales (tall or otherwise) of hunting adventures.

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Ken Heier
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Re: .44-77 on Buffalo

Post by Ken Heier »

That's funny about the boystrying to pick "straight" powder, Gannon.

The paper can wait til we get together somewhere. You gonna make the Bismarck show?

Ken
"When small men begin to cast long shadows the sun is setting" (unknown)
borderdogs
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Re: .44-77 on Buffalo

Post by borderdogs »

Gannon,
Nice bull and great to have that experince with your boys. I am sure 50 years form now they will be telling stories about that time with dad.

Hey I have a question for you about the hunt & meat, something I always wondered about. If a guy from back east takes a guided hunt for a buff out in SD what happens to the hide, head, & meat? I have seen that some guide services cape the head as part of the serice but what about the meat is there some limit to what you are allowed to keep? Also how practical is it to hunt out there if you have to get back here (NH) with a ton of meat, hide, & head?

Probably sound like stupid questions but I really don't know.
Thanks,
Rob Drummond
aka "borderdogs"
aka "borderdogs"
bobw
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Re: .44-77 on Buffalo

Post by bobw »

Unless Gannon can tell you different , when you contract a hunt like his your buying the buffalo lock stock and barrel. They can and will arrange for processing the meat, and probably any taxidermy services extra. If you flew out it could get damned expensive getting the meat home.Having the hide made into a robe is probably +$1000 for a bull like he had and a skull mount another $300-500 and processing $300-$400 plus shipping the meat next day air which would be very expensive. Or you could drive out and haul all your self. More than one guy has made a pickup box cooler out of R-25 styrofoam insulation and duct tape. But with the likely hood of $5 gas... It might be best to buy a good cooler with wheels ,pay the airfreight and take home just a coolers worth. Naturally the best cuts,the tongue and hump. If you get a hunt at Triple U buff ranch north of Pierre like Gannon did I could come over from Rapid City and pick up the rest of the buffalo you don't want, no charge. But get your info right from the outfitter you choose by all means. bobw
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borderdogs
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Re: .44-77 on Buffalo

Post by borderdogs »

Bobw,
Thanks for the info. I'd figure a trip like that with all the bells & whistles 3-5K easy. I always figured the best would be a cooler or two of the best cuts, robe & skull mount but I haven't seen it laid out in some of the outfitters websites. I was on one site a while ago where you buy cull bulls or cows and only get portions of the meat. I forget where that was now.

I looked into a guided hunt in Maine on Red Deer and with a two day hunt plus expenses was somewhere near 2K. Guess that's why I stick to hunting whitetails on my own land.

Thanks again for the info Bob,
Rob

Rob Drummond
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bobw
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Re: .44-77 on Buffalo

Post by bobw »

No problem Rob, bunch a guys on this site do a buffalo hunt every other year for a 900 lb yearling,its what they fill their freezers with to eat. A bull like Gannon got usually runs about 3k not counting processing,shipping and taxi. You want to keep your hunt before 12/22 or so cause after that the hair on the hide starts to decline in quality. Yup it's expensive but so are a lot of things these days. I have never heard any Shiloh forum member say they didn't get their money's worth from the better outfitters though. A lot of the guys get a bull like Gannon's just once and when they go again its strictly for a meat hunt( 1 year and 3-5 month old bull ). bobw
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Don McDowell
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Re: .44-77 on Buffalo

Post by Don McDowell »

I believe Dakota Dick has been shooting yearling and two year old bulls for about 1800.
I threw my name in the pot to get on the wild bison priority list this year. Maybe with some luck will get to take the 44-77 after one of Jellystones finest....
Anyway the taxidermist at Lusk says it's 17$ a sqft for tanning the robe and a head mount, not a full shoulder mount, cost 800 but you get the bleached skull with the horn caps , he makes fake horn caps for the head mount. I suspect processing one is going to cost about 60 cents a lb. but could be more. If I get on the list and actually get one I'll probably quarter him and bring him back to Douglas for processing.
AKA Donny Ray Rockslinger :?
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Mike Johnson
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Re: .44-77 on Buffalo

Post by Mike Johnson »

Great shot, nice shoot, great pictures and a wonderful memory made for your boys. Bet you are enjoying the meat
Shiloh 1863 .54 MR
wyoduster

Re: .44-77 on Buffalo

Post by wyoduster »

The most Inportant thingis that you took the boys hunting with you!!! anybody can go for any big game.. But taking the boys and having those memories.... PRICELESS
black river smith
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Re: .44-77 on Buffalo

Post by black river smith »

LongCarbine,

I hope you re-recheck this posting.

Can you please tell me the diameter of the Meplat for the reproduction bullet mould? I am trying to reproduce actual Sharps bullets for the 45-70. A 400 GG and 420 PP.

Knowing the pour hole diameter of the original Sharps moulds would be appreciated.

Thank you
Kurt
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Re: .44-77 on Buffalo

Post by Kurt »

Gannon.

I been following you posts on this hunt. Your .44-77 did a fine job with a clean on shot kill on a very nice bull.
I also use a bullet that I had cloned from an original Sharps mould like you have but mine was made by Steve Brooks in a adjustable.
I used a 500 grain in my .44-2.5/8 BN that hit a 2 year old like a sledge hammer. That bullet is a very good bullet for just about anything, hunting or what ever.
It's time I refill my freezer and this time I will also use my .44-77 Hartford with that bullet again.
Again nice job! and keep teaching those two little fellows the right way to hunt.

Kurt
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longcarbine
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Re: .44-77 on Buffalo

Post by longcarbine »

black river smith, the pour hole on my .44, .45, are .220" and .250" on the .50.

Kurt and others, thanks for the responses.

Gannon
black river smith
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Re: .44-77 on Buffalo

Post by black river smith »

Thank you for the reply and information.
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Warhawk
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Re: .44-77 on Buffalo

Post by Warhawk »

bobw wrote:Unless Gannon can tell you different , when you contract a hunt like his your buying the buffalo lock stock and barrel. They can and will arrange for processing the meat, and probably any taxidermy services extra. If you flew out it could get damned expensive getting the meat home.Having the hide made into a robe is probably +$1000 for a bull like he had and a skull mount another $300-500 and processing $300-$400 plus shipping the meat next day air which would be very expensive. Or you could drive out and haul all your self. More than one guy has made a pickup box cooler out of R-25 styrofoam insulation and duct tape. But with the likely hood of $5 gas... It might be best to buy a good cooler with wheels ,pay the airfreight and take home just a coolers worth. Naturally the best cuts,the tongue and hump. If you get a hunt at Triple U buff ranch north of Pierre like Gannon did I could come over from Rapid City and pick up the rest of the buffalo you don't want, no charge. But get your info right from the outfitter you choose by all means. bobw
I needed to haul a load of processed elk home to Texas from Colorado. I looked into the price of coolers and ended up buying a medium sized chest freezer for about the same price as two big coolers, roughly $220. This had the benefit of being able to plug in the freezer if necessary (when stopping for the night). But it was cold enough in my case that I didn't need to. The chest freezer also makes an excellent large cooler.
black river smith
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Re: .44-77 on Buffalo

Post by black river smith »

Longcarbine,

Could you provide some additional information since you stated that you also have a 45PP mold?

What is the length of your 45PP bullet and what diameter is it? I realize that it tapers but what is the base diameter

Thank you
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