Limpopo,South Africa – Texas ranch broker Asher Watkins,31,was fatally gored by a cape buffalo during a hunting safari in Limpopo province,South Africa,on August 26,2025,according to local authorities and a statement released by his family.
Watkins was the founder and head of Watkins Ranch Group, a brokerage specializing in high-end ranch properties across texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. The company handles sales of multi-million-dollar ranches, catering to a wealthy clientele. He was hunting with the Coenraad vermaak Safaris, a registered professional hunting outfitter operating in South Africa.
“This photo is from another time, another chapter of our lives-but it’s one that will always be a part of our daughter’s story,” Courtney Watkins, asher’s wife, posted on social media alongside a now-deleted photo of the couple with their daughter. The post was reported by The New York Post.
“We’ve been in a state of shock and heartbreak ever since, trying to process not just the loss, but the complexity that comes with it,” Courtney Watkins added in her statement.
Cape buffalo (Syncerus caffer) are considered one of Africa’s most hazardous animals. They can weigh between 900 and 2,000 pounds and stand up to 5.5 feet tall at the shoulder. Known for their unpredictable temperament, especially when injured, they frequently travel in herds ranging from 12 to 500 individuals. They are responsible for more hunter deaths in africa than any other animal.
The incident occurred during a controlled hunt, and the circumstances surrounding the goring are currently under investigation by South African authorities. Coenraad Vermaak safaris has not yet released a public statement. Watkins Ranch Group has temporarily suspended operations following the tragedy. Asher Watkins is survived by his wife, Courtney, and their young daughter.
