Bag Butcher Buffalo

[tinkering]

What caliber to kill buffalo?
It would be nice to get a buffalo draw one year but so far no luck. That part of the discussion is welcome here too.

My present question pertains to a friend who has a buffalo to slaughter. He doesn't know what caliber to use or whether to shoot it in the head or the boiler room.
I thought the head would be best seeing the animal is basically a close up sitting duck. I thought 30-30 point blank in the brain would suffice but maybe I am wrong. I get the robe and head so I would like it with minimal damage. Who has some good slaughter experience?

[bat119]

A 22 behind the ear works for cattle not sure about an ornery buffalo

[stob]

Originally Posted by bat119

A 22 behind the ear works for cattle not sure about an ornery buffalo

Same...we used a 30-06 in the wind bags when we needed samples for the vet etc from all parts of the animal (Cattle beasts NZ and OZ for analysis for the strain of the breed when we had offspring/genetic concerns...after samples it all went to dog tucker)

[hayseed]

30/30 behind the ear

[-JR-]

The trouble with a head shot is , you have a very small area where the brain is in that big head. You might end up missing the brain and just injuring him as he runs off. If you do happen to drop him with one shot to the brain he will not bleed out making the meat all blood when it comes to butchering and will have a lot of blood on the butcher table etc.
I find having a big caliber that can poke a hole threw both lungs bleeds them out the best

[tinkering]

Originally Posted by -JR-

If you drink bud light and have a man bun. Your 6.5 might work

No on both.
6.5?

[huntinstuff]

I hit one between the eyes with a 3006....

That did it

[Peace Meal Farm]

30-06 180 grain ..... pretty much the lowest legal caliber (muzzle velocity) for taking one in the Yukon. yes, i know hunt vs slaughter.

this old timer got 2 through the heart at 150 - 200 yards and didn't take more than two steps.

[Greatwest]

We slaughtered 10 in 1 day and the 30-30 behind the ear dropped them all in 1 shot. Man does the dust fly when you shoot some of those bigger bull in the head.

[tinkering]

Originally Posted by bat119

a 22 behind the ear works for cattle not sure about an ornery buffalo

👍

[tinkering]

Originally Posted by hayseed

30/30 behind the ear

👍

[tinkering]

Originally Posted by Greatwest

We slaughtered 10 in 1 day and the 30-30 behind the ear dropped them all in 1 shot. Man does the dust fly when you shoot some of those bigger bull in the head.

Directly behind the ear right where the ear meets the head?

[fordtruckin]

Whatever caliber you have behind the ear. You nick that vertebrae and it will drop. You sever the vertebrae and it dies quick. I’ve seen too many buffalo take multiple shots in the vital run for several miles to rely on that. Had a hunter 2 seasons back shoot this bull 4x in the vitals with a 45/70 and it ran 5 miles before I caught up to it and dropped it. I’ve used a 12g 308 and 375h&h. All work. A butcher that takes the ship for slaughter bison from Yellowstone national park uses a 22mag to the head. To each their own but I’d always go behind the ear. I generally shoot 2-3 per year at work.

[oldgutpile]

I have shot numerous buffalo for slaughter at my plant. 30-30 behind the ear is good medicine, and shouldn't damage the skull for a euro mount. An old open sighted 94 is great for the purpose, but if its in the field, say even at 30 yards, you may want to consider something with a low power scope. For this, I used a 458x2" (glorified 45-70 for ballistics) with a 1-6 swaro.

[Ackleyman]

Friend raises Bison in the GP country. 30-30 2" above eye line , slit throat and hang from loader

[El Carnicero]

A .223 works from close range. Make an imaginary X between the base of the horns and the eyes, the center mark is where you want to hit it.

Alternatively you can shoot it just behind the ear and that should do the trick too.

Those are what we use in the facilities I am in. Works every time.

[calgarychef]

I’ve found lots of old Buffalo skulls with a hole right in the forehead. Seems a good place to shoot unless you want a skull without a hole. As a bow hunter I can say for sure, two lungs gone=death.

[walking buffalo]

Originally Posted by El Carnicero

A .223 works from close range. Make an imaginary X between the base of the horns and the eyes, the center mark is where you want to hit it.

Alternatively you can shoot it just behind the ear and that should do the trick too.

Those are what we use in the facilities I am in. Works every time.

Originally Posted by calgarychef

I’ve found lots of old Buffalo skulls with a hole right in the forehead. Seems a good place to shoot unless you want a skull without a hole. As a bow hunter I can say for sure, two lungs gone=death.

Center of the forehead is Not a good spot.
This is where the skull is thickest with lots of sutures to absorb the impact.
Aim 2-4 inches to a side of center.
This will also give a chance for less skull bone damage.

Angle of the skull on forehead shots is a Big concern.
Lots of bullets have remained impeded in the forehead, or more likely just skipped off.
The angle of horns to nose needs to be more than 90 degrees from vertical. Head down, not up.

[sns2]

Originally Posted by fordtruckin

Whatever caliber you have behind the ear. You nick that vertebrae and it will drop. You sever the vertebrae and it dies quick. I’ve seen too many buffalo take multiple shots in the vital run for several miles to rely on that. Had a hunter 2 seasons back shoot this bull 4x in the vitals with a 45/70 and it ran 5 miles before I caught up to it and dropped it. I’ve used a 12g 308 and 375h&h. All work. A butcher that takes the ship for slaughter bison from Yellowstone national park uses a 22mag to the head. To each their own but I’d always go behind the ear. I generally shoot 2-3 per year at work.

You ol killer!

If I lived in Montana, I would love to go on a ride a long with you. You have quite the adventures!

[NCC]

Can you guys that shoot behind the ear upload a pic with where you’re aiming? I tried that shot once on a longhorn steer because I wanted to save the skull. He ended up with a hole behind his ear and one in the forehead.

If the bison are relatively tame, have someone drive you close in the box of a truck and run an broadhead through his lungs.

[amosfella]

I've killed a few buffalo and a lot of cattle in my time so far. 45-70 with winchester 300 gr JHP would be my first choice. I've also used a 44 mag from a carbine with American eagle 240gr JHP. If a cow, or a smaller bull, the 44 mag would do the trick with proper shot placement.

44mag and 45-70 damage a lot less meat than other similar killing power rifles. You can almost eat up to the hole. Faster 30 cals cause a lot more bloodshock and bone fragments. Slower heavier bullets penetrate better than faster lighter bullets.

For cattle, I've killed a lot in the filed with a 44 mag. But big old bulls, I'd bring out the 45-70. Esp charlois, limosine and buffalo big bulls.

If you're shooting behind the ear, you want to hit directly 90 degrees to the side behind the top 1/3 of the ear. When you get good, you can understand where the bullet goes to take angled shots. When you get really good, you can kill cattle with one shot from straight behind the animal while it's facing forwards.

You can put it straight down the ear too if you're not looking to keep the skull.

Buffalo this time of year can be tricky with all the extra fur.

[fordtruckin]

Originally Posted by sns2

You ol killer!

If I lived in Montana, I would love to go on a ride a long with you. You have quite the adventures!

Tell me about it… the stuff I stumble into is straight out of a Joe Pickett novel. Responded to a bear mauling a few weeks back turned out to be a homicide. Legit axe murderer.

[calgarychef]

Originally Posted by walking buffalo

Center of the forehead is Not a good spot.
This is where the skull is thickest with lots of sutures to absorb the impact.
Aim 2-4 inches to a side of center.
This will also give a chance for less skull bone damage.

Angle of the skull on forehead shots is a Big concern.
Lots of bullets have remained impeded in the forehead, or more likely just skipped off.
The angle of horns to nose needs to be more than 90 degrees from vertical. Head down, not up.

Tell that to those dead bison with holes in their forehead 😎

[walking buffalo]

Originally Posted by calgarychef

Tell that to those dead bison with holes in their forehead 😎

Sure.
And you go talk to those without the hole.

[Ackleyman]

Friend says dont need a cannon , one shot 30-30 and their down. he did say shots are not always dead center but close to it.

[fordtruckin]

Originally Posted by Ackleyman

Friend says dont need a cannon , one shot 30-30 and their down. he did say shots are not always dead center but close to it.

Perhaps the largest bison I’ve seen taken by a tribal hunter to date was an old timer with a 30-30. One shot dropped it. Anomaly?? Maybe or maybe the man knew his rifle and knew his prey!

[58thecat]

Originally Posted by fordtruckin

Tell me about it… the stuff I stumble into is straight out of a Joe Pickett novel. Responded to a bear mauling a few weeks back turned out to be a homicide. Legit axe murderer.

Man I watch those Montana wardon shows and you guys are stupid crazy. Stay safe and thanks for all input to the forum, greatly appreciated.

Bison are tuff animals, thick hide, heavy bone and muscle then toss in all the crap they get in or on their hair behind the earball does the trick.

[tinkering]

Originally Posted by NCC

Can you guys that shoot behind the ear upload a pic with where you’re aiming? I tried that shot once on a longhorn steer because I wanted to save the skull. He ended up with a hole behind his ear and one in the forehead.

If the bison are relatively tame, have someone drive you close in the box of a truck and run an broadhead through his lungs.

I'm also asking the behind the ears guys to upload a picture of precisely where to place the shot.

I might be doing the job and I think I might use a 30-30 Glenfield. Behind the ear with the barrel horizontal (parallel to the ground), or with the butt end up 20 degrees or what? How far behind the ear? There is great information here so far. I just need to fine tune it.

[bat119]

For pigs we dropped some feed on the barn floor the pig put his head down to eat giving a clear shot downward into the brain through the soft spot behind the ear
This article shows brain placement
https://www.business.qld.gov.au/indu...killing/cattle

[tinkering]

Originally Posted by bat119

For pigs we dropped some feed on the barn floor the pig put his head down to eat giving a clear shot downward into the brain through the soft spot behind the ear
This article shows brain placement
https://www.business.qld.gov.au/indu...killing/cattle

Ahh, brain placement.
Thanks