Place: Ted Turner's Armendaris Ranch in Truth or Consequences, NM.

Date: 2001

Weapon: Ruger M77 30-06

Distance: 15yards

Guide: E.D. Edwards

I just stumbled across your site and here are some pictures of the 2001 Buffalo I got at the Armandeaus Ranch in NM.

Weighed in at about 2000 pounds. The ranch is owned by Ted Turner and covers 570,000 acres. The ranch also offers Oryx (Gemsbuck), Pronghorn and Deer hunts.

On this hunt I took my 30-06 Ruger M77 and shot a Winchester Silver tip 180gr bullet. I have a spinal cord disease called Spino-Cerebellar Degeneration that is similar to MS. He scored a 58.3 in the Safari Club International record books. He weighed between 1900 - 2000 lb.

At 10:00 am we spotted him bedded down in a Mesquite thicket about 2 miles from Red tank where I eventually set up my blind. My guide (E.D. Edwards) said that the Buffalo wouldn't be heading for water until afternoon so we toured the ranch. We found numerous herds of Antelope(200 head) and quite a few herds of cow Buffalo (300 head). There was also a herd of about 15 Oryx. They were only about 50 yards off the road.

Around 1:00 we were back at Red tank glassing the Buffalo but he was still bedded down so we opted to return to the site where we first spotted him. About 45 minutes later he got up and started to move towards the tank. We hustled back and set up my blind about 80 yards from his usual trail. I put my camouflage jacket over the wheel of my chair and put a few tumbleweeds in front of me and settled in for a wait. Finally the Buffalo moved out of the Mesquite thicket but he stepped behind a big old Yucca and disappeared. The next time we saw him, he was bedded down 1400 yards away.

An hour later he finally decided to get a drink so towards us he came with that big ol' buffalo head a bobbing with each step. I could tell it was about to happen. And boy was i ever right. At about 500 yards I chambered a round into my 30-06 and clicked the safety on. At 50 yards from me was some Mesquite brush. As he stepped behind the Mesquite I clicked the safety off and shouldered my rifle. On he came but not following his normal trail, he was headed straight for us! As he neared all he offered was a steep quartering broadside shot. At 18 yards he finally turned a little and offered a better broadside target so I took it. The shot went in just behind the elbow, 8" above the bottom of his belly and passed clean through the heart, lungs and exited between the ribs. After the shot I quickly jacked a fresh round into the chamber because he turned and looked straight at us. My guide had his 30-06 reticule trained on the bull's ear. I remember thinking that somebody ought to be shooting. As the Buffalo's eyes started to glaze he took a step towards us then made a left turn giving me a perfect broadside shot which I took and again the 180 gr. 30-06 bullet passed through the heart, this time at 15 yards and crossed the previous shot. I chambered a third round but as I did he pointed his tail at us tried to take a step but his rear end broke down and he finally collapsed.

My hunt was a management hunt and it cost me $1700.00 but they offer a Trophy Bull hunt for $2500.00. I was told that a Oryx hunt ran around $3500.00 + a NM permit (all permit prices are for non-resident) $1509.00.The Antelope hunt was $1500.00 + $202.00 NM permit and the deer hunt was $4500.00+ $190.00 NM permit. I guess I was the first wheelchair hunter the guide ever was around but he bent over backwards to help out. That was my first guided trip and I was highly impressed.

This year I have me a Moose hunt up in BC and a Antelope hunt in WY.