Key Point Summary – Big Game Hunter Gored

• Asher Watkins, 52, killed by charging Cape buffalo in Limpopo, South Africa
• Buffalo weighed 1.3 tons and charged at 35mph from dense bush
• Watkins was on £7,500 guided hunt with professional hunter and tracker
• Cape buffalo kills about 200 people in Africa yearly, often hunters
• Watkins was a Texas ranch trader, father of a teenage daughter, and keen trophy hunter
• Family and friends describe him as devoted father and adventurer
• Incident sparks renewed debate over big game hunting ethics

Fatal Safari Turns Deadly In Seconds

An American millionaire’s African adventure ended in horror when a Cape buffalo charged from the bush at 35mph, killing him instantly.

Asher Watkins, 52, was in South Africa’s Limpopo Province last Sunday, tracking a massive 1.3-ton bull. With a professional hunter and tracker by his side, he closed in on the animal — but it struck first.

The impact was brutal. The buffalo’s horns hit with deadly force, leaving Watkins no chance of survival. It remains unclear if the animal was later killed or escaped back to its herd.

The Hunt That Became A Trap

Watkins, a Texas ranch trader, believed hunting was essential to wildlife preservation. His social media brimmed with images of him posing with mountain lions, deer, and wildfowl — even boasting of killing thousands of doves in Argentina over a three-day trip.

The Cape buffalo he pursued that day had not been wounded, according to safari officials. Yet it became agitated and suddenly turned predator, a scenario seasoned hunters dread.

Known As The Black Death

Cape buffalo are notorious across Africa. Nicknamed “the Black Death,” they kill around 200 people a year, more than lions, elephants, or crocodiles. Hunters say they are the most dangerous big game species to stalk.

Weighing up to 1.5 tons, standing nearly six feet tall, and with a bony shield of horn across their foreheads, they are capable of absorbing multiple gunshots before going down — and they often charge without warning.

Family Receives The Shattering News

Watkins’ mother Gwen, brother Amon, and stepfather Tony were at the luxury lodge when word came. His ex-wife Courtney, still close to him, and their teenage daughter Savannah were notified soon after.

Courtney’s tribute on social media painted a picture of grief and disbelief. “Our hearts are heavy,” she wrote, noting how deeply Savannah adored her father. “We’ve been in a state of shock and heartbreak ever since.”

Tributes From Friends And Safari Guides

The safari company, Coenraad Vermaak Safaris, called Watkins a friend as well as a client. “This is a devastating incident,” said professional hunter Hans Vermaak. “Our hearts go out to his loved ones.”

Friends described Watkins as fearless and adventurous. “He came face to face with one of Africa’s legendary buffalo,” wrote Shannon Wherry. “He lived his life head-on.”

Deaths That Echo Through Hunting Circles

Watkins’ death is not an isolated incident. In 2018, guide Claude Keynhams was killed by a buffalo in the same province. In 2022, Benjamin de Bruyn met the same fate at Steenbokpan. Both were experienced hunters.

The tragedy comes as big game hunting faces renewed scrutiny, particularly after the killing of “Blondie” the lion in neighboring Zimbabwe sparked global outrage.

A Dangerous Debate

Supporters argue that regulated hunting funds conservation and protects habitats. Critics call it outdated, cruel, and dangerous. Watkins’ death — at the horns of the very animal he sought — will only intensify the argument.

Whether it changes minds or reinforces beliefs, one fact remains: in Africa’s bush, the hunter and the hunted can switch roles in a heartbeat.

Tags: big game hunting, South Africa, Cape buffalo, Asher Watkins, wildlife tragedy, hunting ethics, safari deathTools