WB
I shot mine at about 25 yds. I researched it some
Tuesday, May 12, 2020, 12:20

and even the Indians basically waded into the herd and simply poked arrows in as many as they could manage from very close range and followed them until they began to wobble and falter, finally falling over dead.

In some ways it's akin to going in to the pasture and shooting someone's cow. EXCEPT once you bring blood things can go sideways fast. Many who have not been around bovine very much may take their power for granted. A big one can easily overturn your car, or kill you inside it if it truly wanted to. An ATV would be like a paper hut. Also when a herd smells blood they can get all goofy too. You are pretty cool as long as you don't spook them in general until the hammer drops.

Unlike the African buffalo the American Bison generally cannot navigate too well on 3 legs. Blow one out and it's pretty much anchored. I have seen GNR bowl over a HUGE Buffalo with basically a souped up .41 Mag. It was a well practiced neck shot that killed the animal instantly. I was not confident in that field, in the rain, that I could hit a 3" area at 25 yds. off hand. SO I shot at a 6" area point of the shoulder. It knocked the animal down for good breaking both shoulders with a 410 gr. cast bullet at only 1100 fps, with my 6" .510 GNR - 27 gr. 4227 (?) breaking both shoulders. Far from dead though. Those huge lungs would take a long time to fill with blood and cause death. But I was able to maneuver up to point blank and finish it off. It was the best method for my personal situation. GNR would have (I have seen him do it) done it in one shot.

I also witnessed a guy try the shoulder shot and hit too high. What a wild chase. Another colorful story was a missed neck vertebra attempt and goozle shot Buff that gave unwanted sport. Again, once the hammer drops unexpected things can happen. Just don't take the cud chewing critter lazily standing broadside for granted. They can come alive and move faster than you can! It can be a big nothingburger or a butt grabbing high stepping "OH Sh*# RUN!" moment. Some of it depends on your choice and skill, some luck, some the Buffalo.

Having said all that I really think it is an enriching thing for a man to plan and pursue, a good Buffalo. The meat is wonderful if a bit too lean. Steaks needed to me marinated or aged well and eaten relatively rare. The burger is heavy and divine, a gut buster. My Buffalo was a half size 2 yr. old Bull, at a bargain. Back then they quoted $1500 for a head mount and $25 a sq. ft. for doing a rug. Only there are about 48 square feet, 4" x 6' x 2 sides x $25 = $1200! Just FYI. The meat processing was very reasonable for the amount of meat I collected. I'm about due a Water Buffalo next.