David Johnson - Wyoming 2004 Buffalo Hunt

Buffalo hunting is one of those North American events that’s so steeped in tradition that the mere fact that you’re doing it gets peoples attention.

There were times when the buffalo were so numerous that the Indians likened them to blades of grass on the prairie. Today, they are widely distributed, from protected federal lands to ranches that raise them as livestock. The truly wild buffalo on private ranches are free ranging but are contained within the ranches perimeters.

The buffalo pictured here is a 2400 pound plus adult bull in the 12 year old range.

The Hunt.
Finding the IPY ranch in Wyoming was the first challenge my neighbor and friend Kurt Roemer and I faced. The actual entrance to the ranch is located within the Devils Towner National Monument state park. We drove by the park entrance a few times, before finally calling George White who manages the property and admitting to our inability to find the place. We’re we surprised when he drove OUT of the parks entrance to guide us back to the bunkhouse.

Once inside the high fence that protects the park from the “all too free range” animals on this well managed ranch, we started seeing game immediately. Buffalo, mule deer, elk, white tail and more. I remember seeing the smile on Kurt’s face as we drove down the dirt trail towards the camp. It reminded me of the look on young child’s face as they enter their first amusement park. I must admit to having the same look on my face.

After the introductions and personal tour of the sleeping and eating quarters, George explained the safety rules and hunting process we were to follow in the coming days. Unpacking the truck and setting up our gear while we waited for our guides to arrive made best use of the next few hours.

The combination of anticipation and an unfamiliar bed always makes the night before a hunt challenging when it comes to restful slumber. Only with buffalo hunting, there is no real advantage to getting up early before sun up and getting in a stand. Buffalo are where ever buffalo want be. You go find them, as opposed to waiting for them to come to you.

Ready to head out, after sighting in our rifles (around 9am), the guides split up Curt and I. George took me in his truck to go find the herd, while Kurt left for parts unknown. After some cross country driving we stopped on a remote hill top to search the skyline for the little black dots that would point us to buffalo. Somehow, George spotted 4 bulls near the top of a remote hillside. It took me a few minutes to see what he was seeing. Even far away those dot’s seemed big. Returning to the truck, George contacted the others using the ranches well designed radio communications system. The plan was to have Kurt and the other guide approach the herd from the lower road while George and I slowly approached up the back hill side towards the 4 sentinel bulls. The buffalo were on us from the start. They didn’t seem too worried until we broke cover and stood looking at them from about 75 yards from the hill top. What I couldn’t see was the 50 or so buffalo over the top facing Kurt. Once our bulls got wind of what was going on the entire herd thundered down the hill towards Kurt and his guild. Standing near the baby blue reconditioned Ford Bronco with rifle raised, Kurt watched as the herd approached then turned to his right as the leader saw the truck and sensed the danger. From the hill top I was able to see and hear Kurt’s shot as one of the larger bulls passed by him. A second shot brought the big bull down for good.

George and I returned back down hill to the truck. At this point the buffalo we’re very aware of what we were up to. Hunting them now will be a totally different game. As the herd moved through the countryside, they used every trick that generations of pursuit from predators has taught them. Cows would place themselves between the bulls and the hunter, effectively shielding them. Bulls would use terrain and thick timber to say out of sight. It became a cat and mouse hunt. We would hustle to get in front of them and they would change direction or stop to see which way we would go then back track to loose us. Finally the herd was force down a single file draw that allowed me to get into position on the uphill side. As they came down one by one, I was able to select from the herd that one single bull that would become my trophy. Finally George agreed, “that’s the one”. Bringing the 1977 Winchester model 70 to the shoulder, I had complete confidence in the 400 grain Woodleigh bullet and load I had spent several months developing for just this event. Waiting for a quartering away shot on this regal bull, the savage recoil resulted in a massive impact that downed the bull quickly and humanly. Within two highly charged hours the buffalo hunt was over. Now, the real work of field dressing these two monsters begins. In the old days the Indian women and children had the task of processing these animals into all of the bi-products they generate. Today, the hunter and guides have this added responsibility. I have scheduled another buffalo hunt for Nov. of 2006. I can only hope to have as great an experience as this has been. Anyone who tells you a buffalo hunt isn’t exciting hasn’t hunted them in free range fashion. Do it, if you can. You won’t regret it.