I was out fishing in central Arhnemland with a few mates on the last of the run off. I had been meat shooting the night before and knocked off a few good sized Buff for the community. Due to my extrememly late night I ended up waking well past dawn but on an excellent tide to do a spot of fishing at a snag I know holds Barra most of the year.

After seeing a few little Buff in the edges of the paperbark we drive on not even thinking about hunting. We set up and got stuck into the barra who were going off! We landed about 20 keepers in a half hour between four of us so we were all very happy indeed. During this time I could hear Buffalo crashing into the water and swimming across the river further upstream.

I could not take it any longer and left the boys to go and check it out. I had quietly poked my way upstream about 200-300m when I saw this old fellow staring at me. He would have been about 150m from me so I closed the distance as best I could down to about 75 metres. At that range I let loose with a soft point into the boiler room from a quartering towards angle. The old boy took it hard and then ran off into a thick grove of trees by the river. I ran across a small clearing and took up the blood trail.

By this time my mates had caught up with me and we were able to help with the tracking. We moved through some thick undergrowth and he was standing there waiting for us. A quick second and third shot ended him not 3 metres from the rivers edge!

I understand ground shrinkage and on goats and other buff I have had it big time. This old boy just kept getting bigger and bigger!!! I was amazed at how long and symetrical his horns were and the thickness of his horns too was very impressive.

The 404 did a great job as ever and the Woodliegh's held up very well indeed. The first shot had smashed his heart and exited his left shoulded breaking it. Below you can see how close he got to the river although it was a two metre drop to it.

Overall it was an unexpected and great hunt that I will remember for a long time yet!

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Here is an image of the river valley fom where I pulled this bloke out of. There are a few like him around if you can find them or stalk successfully over a half sodden flood plain for 800m!

Finally cleaned up and at home. The round is a 404Jeffery dummy round for comparison.

Hopefully going out again next week for a week lets see how that goes!!

Regards,

MOG