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Texas big game hunter killed while stalking African Cape buffalo
NPR ^ | August 9, 2025 | Alana Wise

Posted on 08/09/2025 6:16:30 PM PDT by BenLurkin

A Texas real estate magnate and trophy hunter was killed by a Cape buffalo during a hunting expedition in South Africa, according to a safari company, which described the incident as "sudden and unprovoked."

Asher Watkins had been tracking the bull for a kill when the large horned animal staged an attack first.

"Asher was fatally injured in a sudden and unprovoked attack by an unwounded buffalo he was tracking together with one of our professional hunters and one of our trackers," said Hans Vermaak, leader of the safari company Coenraad Vermaak Safaris (CVS), in a statement.

"The family and our team members who were present at the time are understandably shaken. Out of respect for the family's privacy as well as our staff members involved, we will not be sharing further details," Vermaak also said.

He described Watkins and his family as "long-standing friends and part of the CVS family."

Cape buffalo are considered one of the "most 'wanted' dangerous game animal by trophy hunters across the globe," according to the safari company.

No other animal has "a more fearsome reputation than a cape buffalo!," the safari company said.

"Responsible for several deaths and many injuries to hunters each year, the buffalo is regarded as the most dangerous animal to pursue in Africa, let alone the world," CVS also said.

The nature of Watkins' death – being killed by the same animal he had sought to take down – sparked discussions online among animal rights groups and activists on the ethics of trophy hunting.

"Asher Watkins went on a luxury hunting trip in South Africa when he stalked a Cape buffalo," animal rights group PETA wrote on Instagram. "The terrified buffalo was cornered and retaliated. Animals aren't trophies or wall decorations. Trophy hunting must end!"

A comment under the post that said "cheers to the buffalo" has racked up thousands of likes.

Watkins led the real estate brokerage firm Watkins Ranch Group, where he was responsible for multimillion-dollar properties across Texas, Colorado and Arkansas.

Watkins was a lifelong outdoorsman who enjoyed fishing and hunting, according to his company biography.

Watkins' mother Gwen, daughter Savannah, brother Amon and stepfather Tony are among his surviving relatives, the safari company said.


TOPICS: Outdoors; Travel
KEYWORDS: africa; african; banglist; biggame; capebuffalo; hunter; hunting; texas; wildlife
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To: BenLurkin

Regardless the wording of the announcement, he took on a dangerous hunt and was killed. Not sure what people think is funny.
On the internet, every liberal idiot is cheering his death.


21 posted on 08/09/2025 6:36:10 PM PDT by Williams (Thank God for the election of President Trump!)
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To: Jim W N
When someone is stalking you with a large bore weapon, I would not call that an "unprovoked" attack.

22 posted on 08/09/2025 6:37:28 PM PDT by Governor Dinwiddie ( O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is gracious, and his mercy endures forever. — Psalm 106)
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To: know.your.why
Not to be trifled with that's for sure


23 posted on 08/09/2025 6:37:47 PM PDT by xp38
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To: BenLurkin

Buffalo Bill Cody was a reason the American bison nearly went extinct. He would shoot them while riding in a train. Not funny but at the time it was “OK.”


24 posted on 08/09/2025 6:37:58 PM PDT by Fungi
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To: BenLurkin

I love the “sudden and unprovoked attack”! Cape Buffaloes are well known for their size, their ferocity, and for their resistance to gunfire.

Not like hunting cattle -

Sounds like this “hunter” wasn’t up to this hunt.


25 posted on 08/09/2025 6:38:28 PM PDT by Chainmail (You can vote your way into Socialism - but you will have to shoot your way out.)
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To: BenLurkin

Sometimes you get the buffalo and sometimes you get buffaloed!

Big game hunting is a dangerous sport!


26 posted on 08/09/2025 6:41:38 PM PDT by Tom Tetroxide (Psalm 146:3 "Do not trust in princes, in the Son of Man, who has no salvation.")
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To: know.your.why

Exactly.


27 posted on 08/09/2025 6:42:06 PM PDT by No name given ( Anonymous is who you’ll know me as)
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To: Tom Tetroxide

Very.


28 posted on 08/09/2025 6:42:30 PM PDT by No name given ( Anonymous is who you’ll know me as)
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To: BenLurkin

You’re tracking and animal. Unprovoked attack is an asinine statement at best but it is NPR.


29 posted on 08/09/2025 6:42:42 PM PDT by maddog55 (The only thing systemic in America is the left's hatred of it!)
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To: Flag_This

It’s not the kill, it’s the thrill of the chase.


Nice DP reference

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7GERh0sQzY


30 posted on 08/09/2025 6:43:26 PM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: mairdie
Smiling. Just smiling.

The transcontinental railway China is building across Africa is an existential threat to African wildlife, while big game hunting funds most of the conservation efforts.

But you go ahead and grin like a lobotomized loon.

31 posted on 08/09/2025 6:44:11 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum (Democrats are the Party of racism, anger, hate and violence.)
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To: Bruce Campbells Chin

Backup as in a revolver that shoots .454 Casull!


32 posted on 08/09/2025 6:44:28 PM PDT by Tom Tetroxide (Psalm 146:3 "Do not trust in princes, in the Son of Man, who has no salvation.")
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To: Williams

The liberal idiots, (and yes, l&g they are well represented here) think that the meat fairy stocks the meat coolers in their Walmart every night while they are sleeping and no animals were ever harmed in the production of that meat.


33 posted on 08/09/2025 6:46:00 PM PDT by Segovia (https://townhall.com/columnists/kevinmccullough/2025/07/06/fossil-fooled-lives-vs-lies-n2659950)
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To: BenLurkin

What kind of gun is he carrying in the picture?


34 posted on 08/09/2025 6:46:52 PM PDT by LeonardFMason
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To: BenLurkin

Buffalo that fatally GORED millionaire American trophy hunter is shot and killed
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q51CJ7dPwbQ


35 posted on 08/09/2025 6:48:00 PM PDT by Tom Tetroxide (Psalm 146:3 "Do not trust in princes, in the Son of Man, who has no salvation.")
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To: BenLurkin

Where was the guide and tracker, behind him???


36 posted on 08/09/2025 6:52:27 PM PDT by shotgun
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To: BenLurkin

I guess he had to hunt it like his caveman ancestors with a scoped high-powered rifle instead of killing it with a drone from the comfort of his hotel room because all the drones are being used to hunt Russians now.


37 posted on 08/09/2025 6:56:57 PM PDT by KarlInOhio (I refuse to call the left "progressive" because I do not see slavery to the government as progress.)
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To: Segovia

They also don’t understand you pay a fortune to hunt the selected animal, and the meat goes to feed a local village.

The result of this hunt shows it’s dangerous and not just an easy kill.


38 posted on 08/09/2025 6:57:50 PM PDT by Williams (Thank God for the election of President Trump!)
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To: KarlInOhio

He was killed so why do you think there was anything easy about this hunt?

Hunting is extremely difficult and challenging, with a low success rate. And that’s in America, much less in Africa against the deadliest animal on earth.


39 posted on 08/09/2025 7:03:03 PM PDT by Williams (Thank God for the election of President Trump!)
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To: Williams

A man’s got to know his limitations.


40 posted on 08/09/2025 7:04:10 PM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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