Buffalo Hunting – Fitness And Attitude

By Ken Moody

As important as gun and caliber selection is fitness and attitude. Hunting Cape Buffalo is not particularly easy and at times can be demanding, both physically and mentally. The constant walking, checking tracks, driving areas, crawling, kneeling, glassing, and blowing a few stalks all take their toll on the unprepared hunter and can turn an exciting adventure into a miserable experience for both the client and poor professional serving as guide. Second guessing the professional, looking for easier options, and flat-out quitting are all the result of the unprepared mind and body. Let’s talk attitude first, as your willingness to improve your level of physical fitness directly correlates to the positive mental attitude required to achieve it. You cannot ‘think’ yourself into decent shape. You must first realize that you’ve taken on the hunt and that certain requirements are going to be made of you. Aside from shooting accurately, you must first be positioned to make the shot, which means you have to be where the buffalo is. If you’re sitting on the truck panting for breath, you’ll never be there when needed.

Before booking a buffalo hunt, it is important to first ask yourself why you want to do it. Hopefully, you’ll want to undertake such a hunt because of the difficulty it entails, the danger it provides, and the feeling of euphoric success that occurs when you accomplish it. Doing the hard things properly and achieving a hunting goal such as bagging a Cape Buffalo on foot in the thick jess is admirable. Prepare your mind and body for it by first realizing the value of having the opportunity to do it and project a positive attitude when preparing to undertake it. While others waste their precious time on this earth not doing the hard things, not accomplishing much of anything, not striving to push themselves, and never taking any chances, you’ve decided to risk your very life so that you might actually live! Celebrate your decision to be one of us, the buffalo hunters, and take pride as you prepare to undertake this life-changing safari. You are not ordinary, and the decision to hunt buffalo proves it. Never forget that! Now that you have the right mindset, start to think about your level of fitness. A new gym membership is not required, as bench pressing doesn’t impress a buffalo. You can pump all the iron you like, but if you can’t walk around the parking lot, you’re of little use in the bush. Increasing your stamina is the greatest single thing you should concentrate on. Simple walking is the best solution to improving your stamina and increases your ability to stay on track longer. You don’t need to work out to fitness apps, go to spin class, do calisthenics, or employ much work out diversity to prepare for a buffalo hunt. Just increase your walking routine and think in miles, not feet. Walk a mile and see how you feel. If you’re winded, keep your routine to a mile or so until it becomes easy for you and then increase to two miles. Once you can easily walk two miles, add uneven terrain to the regimen by incorporating a few hills and valleys into your walking. Go to local parks and walk in the woods as opposed to staying on a track or street. Enjoy the routine and your surroundings as you progress.

Once you feel like the two-mile treks are improving your stamina, put on a backpack and carry your unloaded rifle or similarly weighted object to simulate the hunt more closely. Carry the rifle, don’t sling it. You’ll be surprised at how heavy it becomes when it’s constantly in your hands, as it should be while buffalo hunting. In time, your stamina will improve and you might actually begin to enjoy the walks. You can then begin to incorporate other aspects of the hunt into the routine by walking two miles geared up, then immediately heading to the range to shoot from shooting sticks. If possible, you might set out targets along your route and practice stopping along the route and shooting while you’re a bit winded from the walk. Th is practice will best simulate the actual hunt and help you control your breathing when you need to put bullet on target accurately.

Once a month, try to go for a long walk of about five miles or so. Th is action will test and improve your stamina and greatly increase your confidence when you might need to take a long track in the bush. All of these walking routines will not only improve your health, but they’ll also keep you on track longer and ensure your attitude doesn’t suffer due to an improper level of fitness. Buffalo are hunted with your feet so make sure yours can keep up and help the professional help you by showing up to hunt in reasonable shape. Everyone will be happier in the end except for the buffalo, who hopes you arrive with a breathing mask, brand new boots, and a carton of cigs in your oversized backpack.