Alamo Chapter SCI

CHARLIE DOEGE

I recently purchased a Buffalo hunt in Argentina. I was fortunate to have Jim Miller, Producer/Show Host of TexMex Adventures, go with me to film the hunt for his show. Jim is an excellent bow hunter and is nicknamed “Killer”.

Jim and I should have known this trip was going to be a little different when we started our journey. We left for Dallas in the afternoon but as soon as we pulled away from the gate the captain informed us there were weather problems. We sat on the tarmac for about 45 minutes and finally took off. As soon as we landed in Dallas, the same thing happened. We sat on the tarmac and when we finally ran for our connection for Buenos Aires, we were informed they had closed the doors on the plane. We were fortunate they opened the doors for our journey. At the time, this appeared to be good fortune. We arrived in Buenos Aires and our outfitter had someone pick us up and take us to another airport for our destination to Santiago Del Cortez. At this time we were informed our baggage did not make the flight. Oh well, we were confident they would arrive the next day.

We were picked up by Leo and his companion and traveled north by truck for another sixty minutes. We stayed at a famous General’s house that evening. I had been instructed not to bring my own guns (with which I was uncomfortable) because they had plenty. Even though I was a lefty, the owner was as well and they stated there was a good .375 for me to shoot. Unfortunately, I never saw the owner and the .375 I shot that evening was right handed, and the shell would not extract after one shot. Remember the scene in “The Ghost and the Darkness” where Val Kilmer borrowed a gun and almost got killed by the man eating lion? Interesting.

The next day we went hunting for white lipped peccary. It was great. We hunted with dogs and I shot him with a shot gun loaded with buck shot. Killer (I mean Jim) loves cabritto. After the hunt Leo bought a cabritto and cooked it for us. It was fantastic. During the afternoon we hunted for buffalo but only saw one track. We left the General’s house that evening and drove about one and one-half hour to hunt Brocket deer by spotlight. It was thirty-two degrees and very, very dusty. I mean very, very, very dusty. We were miserable. I informed Leo about two in the morning this was not a good idea and let’s head to the hotel. We arrived about four in the morning but at least we finally had a hot bath.

The next morning we hunted puma. I was very fortunate and shot a very mature, battle scared puma that was starting to go downhill. Jim told me it was a very large cat and should score high with SCI. We were informed we would be hunting Brocket deer in the evening. Jim and I strategized and had a meeting with Leo. We informed him the hunt so far had been great but we were after buffalo. We finally got his attention and we thankfully didn’t hunt Brocket deer in the evening. Tomorrow would be our day for buffalo.

By the way, the bags that didn’t make it four days earlier finally arrived. Actually, mine arrived. I was very happy because I had been hunting in my cowboy boots the whole time. They are great for two stepping but running through the brush is not very good for the boots, or my feet. Jim on the other hand, well, I just stayed upwind as best I could.

As I started telling this tale initially, I mentioned our good fortune? Well, as Jim, I, Leo and his new companion, who I will call dumb#!#! (you will understand shortly), started hunting buffalo we realized I was the only one who had a gun. Remember the right handed .375 whose bullet didn’t extract? Yep, that’s the one. Jim and I looked at each other with a puzzled look. Earlier in the week Jim said he thought these guys were afraid to hunt buffalo. I wasn’t sure what to think.

We finally came upon a beautiful field with golden grass about four feet tall blowing in the wind. The first book I ever read about Africa was “Death in the Long Grass” by Peter Hathaway Capstick. This is what crossed my mind. About 125 yards away we also saw a beautiful 2000 lb. buffalo walking through the grass. He looked as if he was floating because you couldn’t see his feet moving. His large head moved side by side and was enormous. Leo informed me his friends were in the brush and to shoot before he joined them. I saw a straggly tree about 20 yards in front of me and told Leo I wanted to reach it for support. We moved forward but before we could get to the tree the buffalo started for the brush and Leo told me to shoot.

I shot offhand and hit the buffalo. He immediately turned upwind smelling for us. Leo’s eyes were very big and he told me to shoot him again because he was going to charge. Well, remember the first shot I fired and the shell didn’t extract? Yep, that’s what happened. When I showed the gun to Leo, he didn’t look very happy. He extracted the shell and I moved forward and shot. I thought I had missed him but later found out I had creased his shoulder. The buffalo moved towards us and I shot him again. He went down and the four of us stood for awhile. Leo told us very excitedly to be careful of his friends in the brush. As we moved forward towards the buffalo, he decides to stand up and charge us from about 10 yards. I shot him and he went down. We waited awhile and moved forward. Leo and dumb#!#! stood on one side and me on the other. Jim stood at the tail of the buffalo.

Now picture this. The four of us are all standing within 3 feet of the buffalo and I notice he is still breathing. I tell Leo I am going to shoot him. Leo says “Always save your last shell.”
I’m sure I had a very puzzled look on my face when I repeated “Always save your last shell?” So, I’m thinking, I only have one shell left in my rifle. I tell Leo, "Give me some more shells." He informs me, “You have the only shell left.” Now, I am no expert on hunting, especially on big game, but I’m thinking, something is not right with this picture. About this time dumb#!#! picks up a stick and throws it on the buffalo. As my voice raised a few octaves, I ask Leo, “What is he doing?” Leo informs me he is testing to see if the buffalo is still alive.

Now my voice really increases in octaves, urgency, despair and other things while I tell Leo, “I know he’s still alive because I can see him breathing!” While I’m standing there pondering the situation, I am thinking, if someone had just shot me and now they are throwing sticks on me with my last dying breath I’m going to take them out!

About this time, dumb#!#!, picks up another stick and throws it on the buffalo. Now, my new found friend, Jim Miller, “Killer”, who as you all know when hunting bonds when spending a week together, who I thought would stand by me thick or thin, facing the challenges of every encounter we may have, hollers “AH #!#!” and takes off running. Obviously Jim is much, much smarter than me because he sees the buffalo stand up. Leo and dumb#!#!, their mouths dropped open and eyes wide as saucers, start running.

Now in retrospect, I made a grievous error at this point. They were directly opposite me and I waited until they cleared before I shot the buffalo. After putting us in this situation, I should have just shot and hoped I would get the buffalo as well as a couple of others.

Anyway, my newfound, faithful friend, Jim, returned. As the rest of journey continued, anything that went somewhat afoul was embraced with the articulate English of “AH #!#!”.

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