Millionaire Texan Gored to Death by “Black Death” Buffalo During Safari

In a brutal twist of fate, a wealthy Dallas ranch broker and avid trophy hunter was killed in South Africa after a one-ton Cape buffalo—infamously known as the “Black Death”—charged and gored him during a high-stakes hunt.

52-year-old Asher Watkins, founder of the Watkins Ranch Group and a prominent figure in luxury ranch real estate, died almost instantly on August 3 while tracking the massive beast through the Limpopo Province bushland. The attack unfolded in front of his professional hunting guide and tracker, just moments before his mother, brother, and stepfather—who had accompanied him on the safari—were set to reunite with him at the lodge.

Watkins was deep in the 50,000-acre Bambisana concession when the Cape buffalo, reportedly unwounded but visibly agitated, exploded from the bush at 35 mph. The animal drove its horn into Watkins with such force that he died before help could arrive.

According to the safari organizer Coenraad Vermaak Safaris (CVS), the attack was “sudden and unprovoked.” CVS professional hunter Hans Vermaak told Newsweek, “This is a devastating incident. Our hearts go out to his loved ones.”

Known in elite circles as both a conservation advocate and an unapologetic big-game hunter, Watkins had long argued that ethical trophy hunting helped fund wildlife preservation. He was a proud member of the Dallas Safari Club and Ducks Unlimited, and frequently participated in global hunts while supporting conservation groups financially.

“Asher lived with courage and adventure,” said family friend Shannon Wherry in a heartfelt tribute. “He died facing down one of Africa’s deadliest animals, with the same fearlessness he brought to everything in life.”

Wherry added that Watkins was “a devoted father” to his 16-year-old daughter Savannah and remained close to his ex-wife Courtney. “Please lift them in prayer,” she wrote.

Watkins made his fortune trading sprawling ranch properties in Texas and across the U.S., often through high-end firms such as Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty and LIV Sotheby’s. Colleagues remember him as bold, passionate, and magnetic.

“Asher never met a stranger,” said fellow realtor Tyler Thomas. “He was loud, loyal, and loved a good challenge. He lived large, and he left just as big.”

The shocking death has reignited debate around big-game trophy hunting, with critics calling the practice reckless and outdated. Defenders, like Watkins, have long insisted that regulated hunts contribute to local economies and conservation funding—especially in Africa, where human-wildlife conflicts and poaching remain serious issues.

The Cape buffalo, often dubbed one of Africa’s “Big Five,” is responsible for an estimated 200 human deaths each year in southern Africa, according to Kenya Wild Parks. These animals are notoriously unpredictable and extremely aggressive when provoked—or even when left alone.

South African officials have launched an inquest into Watkins’ death. Coenraad Vermaak Safaris has pledged full cooperation with local authorities and is assisting the Watkins family during the aftermath.

Watkins’ death has sent shockwaves through the international hunting and real estate communities—and left one Texas family shattered by an unimaginable loss thousands of miles from home.