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98% of water buffalo hunting is fair chase. If you get a non-fair chase water buffalo hunt it is because you asked for it. Three or four properties around Australia have water buffalo behind wire, at least one in the Northern Territory, one in South Australia and one in Queensland. Maybe more. One should also make sure if hunting in a non-fenced area that the buffalo are wild and not released after being farmed.

Lets move away from non-fair chase water buffalo. No need for that.

You can hunt water buffalo on cattle station country (ie "ranches") which can be very very big. Or in true wilderness areas in Arnhemland.

Station water buffalo often are less plentiful or dense in an area. Trophy size can vary but some big trophies do come off the cattle stations. But the advantage of a station hunt is it can be a bit cheaper. A real advantage of a station hunt is that wild pigs are often more plentiful and allow other hunting "in situ" to the buffalo hunt.

Arnhemland hunts in good areas have plentiful buffalo and you are hunting in true wilderness areas. Some of the most remote countryside in the world. Most of Arnhemland has never been colonised by the "white fella" and was made an Aboriginal reserve back in the 1930's (from memory). The Territory in the 1930's was still a wild place with 'myalls' (wild Aboriginals) still in existence and in some Territory towns people still wore pistols on their belts until the 1950's.

A water buffalo is bigger than a cape buffalo and in my opinion a big one is a more impressive trophy than a cape buffalo to look at. Especially if it has wide sweeping horns. Comments I have received (I am not an expert on either!) say the while a water buffalo is probably not as aggressive as a cape buffalo initially they can be harder to put down. A .375 H&H and above is recommended.

A water buffalo hunt in the Northern Territory has very much an "African" safari feel and from what I have seen of Florida buff hunts, the animals as trophies are not comparable nor is the hunting. From my limited experience the hunting of either was similar in experience. The water buffalo I hunted were less shy of humans but that is actually because some of them have rarely seen a human being in the whole lives. The main difference I see in a Cape Buff safari vs a Water buffalo safari in the NT was Africa has more game of other species in the same hunting area. In Aust you might want to arrange some 'side' hunts for : wild boar; or deer say in Northern Queensland or New Caledonia. Banteng bulls (Asian wild cattle) and scrub bulls (wild bulls - ie cattle) are two other very good species to hunt.

A big benefit of Australia is that it is a First World Western country. You do not need innoculations against diseases. Hospitals are world class. You can buy films, batteries, fuel, etc etc. It is safe and without political strife and violence.

Another option I like to promote is if bringing your family it is very easy to tack on a wonderful holiday onto a water buffalo safari. Generally you will fly into the NT via Sydney and then via Darwin ('The Top End') or Cairns ('Far North Queensland and the Great Barier Reef).

The "Top End" and the "Red Centre" of the Northern Territory both offer fantastic holidays with many unique sights, such as Kakadu, Katherine River Gorge, Ayers Rock ('Uluru'), Kings Canyon, etc.

Far North Queensland offer great beach holidays, tropical islands and resorts, the Great Barrier Reef (the world's largest coral reef), snorkeling, rainforest bush walking etc. Many of the American Presidents have holidayed at the resorts there.

Both offer good shopping for the wife. Maybe not a plus

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Prices for a water buffalo hunt are in the range of US$5,500 to US$8,000, sometimes less from some outfitters. Including one buffalo trophy. You will need to get them to quote to you directly.

My recommendation is hunt both Cape Buffalo AND water buffalo! I do.

You may have seen this already but I have re-posted my buffalo story from last year into a more reader friendly format. Read it here.

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Water buffalo outfitters here, feel free to offer your comments.

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John aka NitroX

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Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"