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Professional Hunter Andrew Dawson,
Safari Classics film crew and Boddington with his 1st
trophy buffalo.
Our 'Tracks Across Africa' series
includes four titles to date covering species from
duiker to elephant, but we probably shoot more film on
buffalo than any other species and had always wanted to
produce a buffalo-specific title when the time was
right.
Enter Craig Boddington into the picture.
Craig is without question the most prolific writer and
author of our generation. He is also a veteran of over
fifty African Safaris and one of the most widely
respected authorities on big game hunting in today's
Africa.
Craig's straight forward, non-nonsense
style of writing, whether it be a monthly column or one
of his 16 published books, has made him a popular read
with Africana enthusiasts and chances are if you 'read
Africa' you've read Boddington.
The famed Zambezi River Valley is the
backdrop for the filming of Boddington On Buffalo
I've seen him show a level of excitement
over the taking of a grysbok that most people would
associate with bagging of an 80 lb elephant! Craig loves
the hunt, pure and simple, and he is one of a rare breed
who can hunt hard all day, come away without a shot, and
talk all the way back to camp about what a great day in
the field it had been.
Another fact is that Boddington
absolutely loves to hunt buffalo. He has hunted them in
nearly every African country where they are on license,
has taken his share (he wont let me give numbers,
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but trust me, you would be jealous) of
which several are absolutely enormous and has done it
with a wide variety of calibers and action types.
Craig had also noticed that although a
vast array of printed material is aimed at the subject
of buffalo hunting, very little video production had
been directed at this great game animal other than the
usual 'Bang, bellow, "Man, they sure are big!" variety.
In 2002, Tim mentioned Safari Classics'
desire to produce an A-to-Z feature film on Cape buffalo
to Craig to gauge his feeling on the reception such a
film would have on the market.
Craig expressed his own thoughts that
such a film was not only missing on the market, but that
he had long wished to collaborate on such a project if
the right people and situation arose.
That simple meeting got the ball rolling
and it rolled all the way into what we hope will be a
timeless, well-received film featuring Boddington and
his favorite African game, the Cape buffalo.
Boddington on Buffalo
offers
the viewer a complete and detailed examination of
buffalo hunting as it is practiced in Africa today.
While there is plenty of dramatic footage of buffalo
being taken on camera, including two trophy bulls taken
by Boddington up close and personal, shooting is not the
only focus of this film.
Boddington on Buffalo
was
designed to cover all the important ingredients of a
successful buffalo Safari, such as: Prime Hunting
Destinations, Pre-Safari Preparation, Rifles, caliber &
Equipment, Hunting & Tracking Techniques, Trophy
Judgment, Shot Placement, Taxidermy & Trophy Care, and
The Danger Factor.
Boddington on Buffalo
was
produced in association with several respected companies
whose products and services target the Safari-bound
sportsman.
Craig takes this bull on camera with
his 470 double at 10 yards |
"We are very proud that our supporting
sponsors saw the need for this project and lent their
support to its completion," says co-producer Tim Danklef.
"Each is an industry leader in their field and produces
products and services that match the high standards we
set for this film."
Dakota Arms was a major sponsor of
Boddington on Buffalo. The team at Dakota Arms
created a beautiful custom engraved .375 H&H magnum
which we topped with a Swarovski 1.5 x 6 scope, which
was used on the bull described earlier in this story.
Boddington's custom engraved Dakota 375 H&H fitted with
a Swarovski scope.
"If you've hunted the Cape Buffalo then
I'm sure this film will help you re-live your adventure.
If you are planning your first Cape Buffalo Safari, then
I'm sure our time together will help you prepare for the
marvelous adventure that awaits you in Africa, hunting
the Cape Buffalo," says Craig Boddington.
Dave
Fulson, field editor for Hunting Texas Magazine and
co-producer of this film, had this to say about
Boddington on Buffalo: "This film has been five
years in the making,
and is a
project that I think any hunter who enjoys dangerous
game adventure will enjoy. Working with Craig was a
pleasure, as he is a world-class hunter, as well as a
wonderful guy to share a hunting camp with. Next May,
Craig will again join us in Zimbabwe, as we film the
second project in our African series: Boddington on
Leopard. We will be appearing at various hunting
shows in '05, and I envite our Hunting Texas Magazine
readers to drop by and say hello, and get their first
look at our project. I think they'll like it, and
hopefully take one home."
For information on Chifuti Safaris, visit their website
at
www.chifutisafaris.com
Note: You can
purchase this video along with other Boddington films by
going to our
online store.
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