When it comes to booking an Africa hunting trip for a prized Cape buffalo trophy, many hours have been spent around a campfire discussing free-range buffalo hunting versus fenced buffalo hunting.
Which game hunting experience is better, or more ethical? Does fenced-in buffalo hunting take away the concept and understanding of what equates to fair chase? Is the additional cost of a free-range Cape buffalo hunt warranted? Is the Cape buffalo hunt less dangerous in a fenced-in game ranch than on a free-range concession?
The above, but certainly not limited to, are some of the most debated topics entertained by hunters on any African big game hunting adventure.
What is The Best Rifle For Targeting The Cape Buffalo?
Free range or fenced-in, a .375 caliber is the legal minimum.
African buffalo hunts fall into the category of dangerous game hunting and as such there are always two important requirements for a successful buffalo hunting safari:
- Shot placement
- Stopping power on a wounded buffalo
If the hunter is taking the first shot at a distance exceeding 50 yards, a .375 equipped with an accurate scope is essential to ensure a quick and humane kill. This applies to a fenced-in buffalo or free range.
If the situation becomes “up close and personal,” or the Cape buffalo is in full charge, a big bore rifle such as 500 Jeffery, .458 Lott or 500 NE will be needed for stopping power. Many African big game hunters prefer having both options available. When it comes to big game hunting, the circumstances associated with the actual hunt can change in an instant.
As the famous saying goes, it takes a single bullet to kill a buffalo, but takes another nine to convince the buffalo of that fact!
Fenced Areas for Cape Buffalo Hunts: Development and Management
South Africa, Namibia, and the lower areas of Zimbabwe are well-known areas for fenced-in Cape buffalo hunts. These fenced-off land areas are usually privately owned ranches kept for big game hunting safaris. Ranch owners fence the perimeter of their suitable areas with 2.4 standard game fencing which is a requirement by Nature Conservation authorities in most of the African countries.
These fences are then electrified. Inverters and solar panels supply independent power generating a “shocking power” of at least 10000 watts to contain the Cape buffalo. But, when it comes to Cape buffalo if they want out, they will go! In South Africa, the minimum ranch size to breed Cape buffalo is eight hundred acres.
The ranch owners and game management team will then assess the requirements of the buffalo hunting concession and improve areas by:
- Building of man-made dams (If no perennial streams)
- Building access roads and infrastructure
- Constructing temporary and permanent game hunting blinds that are built in selective areas.
Benefits of Maintaining Cape Buffalo in Fenced-Off Areas
- Ranch owners can easily monitor animal health. Fecal matter samples can be done to measure worm count and animals can be treated accordingly.
- It is a legal requirement that Cape buffalo in fenced-off areas are TB (Tuberculosis) free and that a buffalo spends time in quarantine before being moved, bought, or sold. The majority of Cape buffalo in free range/reserve areas such as the Kruger National Park are infected.
- Animals can be supplementary fed during the dry season ensuring that their condition does not drop.
- Ranch owners can introduce “new” genetics to improve herd quality. In places such as Thaba Tholo in South Africa, Cape buffalo over 50 inches (spread of the horns) are bred regularly. These prime specimens are then sold to other game breeders.
- Older animals that no longer contribute to the genetic pool can be targeted for a buffalo hunting safari.
- Ranch owners can also manage data such as the age of the buffalo, horn size, genetic history, and birthing ratios.
- Buffalo that are not up to the standard of ranch owners in fenced-off areas will often get marketed and sold as a “discount buffalo hunt.”
- In places like South Africa, ranch owners can make applications for nature conservation and apply for a P3 permit. This means that hunting Cape buffalo will not be limited to any season and can then be hunted all year round.
Fenced Area Cape Buffalo Hunts
Many international hunters are against fenced-off Cape Buffalo hunts as they believe that the principles of fair chase do not apply. i.e. the buffalo cannot escape, and the conditions favor the members of the hunting safari.
What is a consideration when planning an Africa hunting trip for fenced-in Cape buffalo hunting is the size of the ranch, the ruggedness of the terrain, and whether there are any internal fences.
The hunter needs to obtain all the big game hunting details from the booking agency and or the African outfitters. Speaking from experience, having hunted buffalo in Mozambique and within fenced-off areas in South Africa, there is very little difference when it comes to the danger or the adrenaline during the hunting safari. What does make a material difference is the size of the ranch.
In my opinion, Cape buffalo hunting on foot should not take place in areas less than 4,000 acres. This may not seem like a big area compared to “free range”, but the hunter can walk around every day following fresh tracks and never see a game fence for weeks on end. The length of the perimeter on a range of this size would be more than 30 miles.
Fenced-off Cape buffalo hunts are also on average lower in cost compared to free-range Cape buffalo hunts. For many international hunters pondering an Africa hunting trip, the direct costs of the game hunting safari are a substantial factor and budgets need to be considered. Internation hunters focussing on trophy buffalo also need to consider the cost of shipping back to their home country, as these costs are substantial. Shipping costs still then exclude the cost of taxidermy.
Free-Range Cape Buffalo Hunts
Free-range Cape buffalo hunts take place in prime locations such as Zambia, Mozambique, Botswana, Namibia, and Tanzania. The size of the Cape buffalo herd can range from a few buffalo in small bachelor herds to thousands in size, presenting the hunter with a choice of trophy Cape buffalo. The challenge, of course, will be to track, find and successfully hunt the “Dugga Boy.”
The Africa hunting trip for free-range Cape buffalo hunts is normally conducted over a safari period of a minimum of 10-14 days. The primary difference between the free range and fenced hunt is that the hunter, pre-hunting safari will have no idea as to the quality and size of the buffalo within the concession at the time of the hunting safari. Cape buffalo herds are known to traverse large areas. Hunters who are in favor of free-range Cape buffalo hunts believe that the Cape buffalo has a chance of “escaping” by leaving the concession.
The hunter needs to rely on sightings by local community members or guess “what Africa will provide” by reviewing previous trophies marketed by the outfitters in Africa.
These game hunting safaris are in remote areas, with terrain varying from woodlands, wetlands, mountainous and forests. Accessibility into these areas is usually a challenge and the hunting safari group must access the concession with specialized 4×4 vehicles or private charter planes. Logistics relating to access and transport substantially increase the cost of the African hunting trip for free-range buffalo.
Is There a Right or Wrong Answer Relating to Free-Range Buffalo Hunting Versus Fenced-In Buffalo Hunting?
Not at all. It all comes down to personal preferences, opinions, and individual circumstances.
Read more about Cape buffalo hunts and whether they are value for money when hunting in Africa.
Author: P.C. van Wyk
