Pete, the PH I did my first buffalo hunt with made an excellent point during the hunt. A LOT of buffalo clients are older because they can't afford to go until then. They may have hunted some, but rarely with a rifle that kicks as much as even a minimum buffalo chambering, such as the .375 H&H--and due to hearing so many tales of "unkillable" buffalo they may bring a rifle that kicks a LOT harder. So they don't practice much before they head over.
They're often in not great hiking shape, and all the time they're tracking buffalo over hill and dale, they're thinking about the stories they've heard. As my PH said, "By the time they actually get a shot, they're equally scared of the buffalo and their rifle! It's no wonder quite a few botch the shot."
Interesting observation.
I know quite a few hunters that have killed Cape Buffalo from here. People I know very well, many are past their physical prime.
The best hunter of all of them all, however was killed by a wounded buff as he was hunting African antelope in 2005.
This guy was a relative, an outfitter of some reknown and had a reputation for his Spring Grizzly hunts, which I witnessed at times.I also worked and hunted with him.
He used to say" Someday, I am going to get it" . Well, that summer, a wounded buff ( wounded by a poacher) came out of the tall grass and took Bob out.
A sad day that continues to bother me.
My respects to this family too.
