A few years ago on a Saturday morning I watched Tom Miranda hunt a Cape Buffalo with his bow. There in the bush, he was stalking this incredible animal that is so powerful, intense and exceptionally dangerous. Tom was finally on this fantastic bull and he is working his way straight to him. As I watched, my adrenalin was flowing. If this bull notices something amiss, we could be goners. Charge or retreat. No in between. You are either pregnant or not. The bull is browsing, coming closer. Shaking, Tom draws back his bow and holds, waiting for the perfect shot. And, we break for a commercial. UGHHHH! I looked over my cup of "floofy" coffee at my husband and said, "I want to do that". Naturally, he told me I was crazy, and no, I would not be hunting a buffalo with my bow. And so started my quest.
In March of 2004 at our Minnesota Bowhunters Inc. annual Banquet a hunt was being auctioned for American Bison, the largest North American game animal. They can outrun a race horse at a quarter mile at up to 40 miles per hour. They can kick sideways and turn on a dime. Watch their tail, I was told. When it starts going up, get ready to flee. But should they charge, don’t bother to run just find a tree larger than Cleveland to hide behind and pray. I happened to be on the "donation" committee and knew the hunt would be mine, that is, it would be offered and I would bid on it. The bidding started, and so did my hand. Some guy in the back of the hall actually thought HE was going to win. WRONG. I saw him back there trying to butter up Ed Eichten, owner of Eichten’s Hidden Acres Bison Ranch in Center City Minnesota. This was MY hunt. My adrenalin will be spurting out of my ears, not his. He continued to raise his hand, and my husband Mark tried to hold mine down. The bidding continued and so did we. Like a game of pong, until the guy in the back of the room finally submitted. " I WON! I told you I would," I said as I grinned at Mark. Never underestimate the power of a woman hunter with a check book and who is on a mission!
On January 31, 2005 Mark and I met Paul Korn of A1 Archery & Taxidermy in Hudson WI, and Travis Johnson at Eichten’s Hidden Acres in Center City Minnesota. Paul & Travis had offered to film my hunt for me, which I greatly appreciated and accepted. Paul had assisted several of his clients on their "dream" hunts and is very familiar with the "do’s & don’ts" of hunting Bison. He also had a 45 long barrel strapped to his chest, which added a bit of security to my psyche. It was just a little quicker than my bow, should we need it.
With my Hoyt bow in my hand, my release on my wrist and my quiver full of razor sharp arrows, I was ready for the hunt. Mark, and Ed with his high power rifle, headed a different direction on the Ranch while Paul, Travis and I began our journey through the woods. Suddenly, we came upon the bull of a lifetime! I knew he was the one. This bull commanded respect and from what I was told after the hunt, if he didn’t get it, he took it. He had killed another bull and wounded several others: a bit territorial you might say. The bull had separated himself from the rest of the herd, and was browsing alone in the timber. Our presence caused him to herd back up, and so the "cat and mousing" began. We decided to try another approach. As the herd of Bison made their way in our direction, Paul and Travis hunkered down in a deadfall of oaks some 25 yards behind me. I stood alone alongside a very mature oak tree. Just me and my bow. The herd was getting closer, and quickly, heading straight in my direction. They didn’t know I was there since they were approaching from the side. As the first few Bison passed by at about 8 yards, I really wanted to run away but I was quite honestly too terrified to do so. It was a good kind of fear, however. The bull I was after was quickly approaching. An adrenalin rush came over me as I stepped back, drew my bow, put my site on bull’s vitals, and released. The arrow sunk past the vanes and all the way up to the nock. It was a 30 yard shot, the longest I had ever taken on an animal. The bull ran about 70 yards and stopped, standing with another bull. The wounded bull began to sway and the other bull deserted him. Immediately Paul, Travis and I began to make our way toward the bull. I believed it to be lethal shot, but I wanted to be sure the animal went down quickly. These are huge animals with lungs the size of milk jugs so they can go a long time on a lung shot. I wanted heart, and minimal pain for this incredible animal. I stalked to within 30 yards and released another arrow, and another just below the second. He walked not 20 yards and dropped to his knees, then rolled to his side. From the first arrow to his last breath was less than 10 minutes. He weighed more than 2000lbs, scored 65 3/8 and is a Safari Club Gold Medal. This was an incredible experience and one that I will never forget. All sparked by the power of one man and his bow: Thank you Tom Miranda!
Now, there is a Cape Buffalo somewhere, waiting to meet me and my bow. And one day, we will.
Deb’s Set-Up For This Hunt:
Hoyt Viper Tec Bow
Winn Freeflight Release
NAP Crossfire Broadheads
Beman Axis Arrows
Quick Spin Vanes
