Quote:

---

He also said it's a good time to find a good bull, because all of the water is dried up, and the bulls will be more concentrated on the available water holes.

---

I'm not an expert and not a Top End resident lik Clayton, but that sounds like what someone would say in August not December. Unless there is no rain at all during the start of the "WET".

I have hunted late November on the Coast, and it rained - thunderstorms - every afternoon. It was close between 35 and 40 deg C every day and very high humidity. You are completely soaked through with sweat after a short time of walking/hunting. At least I was. I hunted with Matt Graham and he had at leas two showers at day. You need to carry a lot of water. We hunted on the coast on the Cobourg Peninsula and at least we had cooling breezes off the sea. Inland it might be quite horrible. Some Greek hunters hunting buffalo near Katherine flew up from Adelaide and flew back same flights as me. Tougher me than me. It would have been an oven inland at Katherine at the time.

Ha ha, if you are used to tropical hot climates during the monsoon season, go for it.

BUT make sure there is road access. Only properties that have good all season road access are generally huntable during the WET. Stations can be cut off by flooding and by river crossings being flooded or road culverts being silted up. Station tracks might be impassable. I know one guy, an NE member we haven't seen for years, who claims to hunt every Christmas but you do need WET season access. Generally closer to Darwin.

Where does Matt Kelman say you will be hunting?

As mentioned December is within the Cyclone (typhoon/hurricane) season.

A different time to hunt for sure.

--------------------
John aka NitroX

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

Post Extras:

Quote:

---

If you hunt in December you will earn it.

---

I love this statement.

--------------------
John aka NitroX

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

Post Extras:

Quote:

---

The hunt would take place at Carmor Plains. It is a 2.5 hour ride just east of Darwin. Check out his site www.australiawidesafaris.com.au.
I'm most likely going to wait and hunt next year, at this point. If I'm spending that kind of money, I want it to be good hunting.

---

Post Extras:

Quote:

---

If I had the option I'd tend to think Sept / Oct are the best months.

---

Note for Northern Hemisphere friends, even from those further South in the USA, September is a step up in heat from August and October a step up from September.

The reason, June to August are popular months for client hunting.

--------------------
John aka NitroX

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

Post Extras:

Quote:

---

Anyone Hunted With Matt Kelman at Australia Wide Safaris?
PapaScarface:
An older thread, but incase anyone is weighing up a hunt with Matt from Australia wide safaris.

I have hunted with Matt multiple times now and would recommend it to anyone thinking of chasing a big bull buffalo or anyone looking for a trophy boar, banteng or scrubber. Matt also offers seasonal fishing for barra and has the use of an airboat to access the floodplains. You can expect to see large numbers of buff and pig each day. With most of the hunting done early morning or late arvo to avoid the mid day heat.

The property itself is about 100,000 acres about 1 1/2hr from darwin by car with pick up or drop off available from your hotel.
And has a very large 2 story lodge over looking the floodplains. The accommodation is very comfortable and each cabin is air conditioned.

Matt is a wonderful guide who has plenty of knowledge on hunting here and abroad. And is always full of helpful advice.

Matt also offers the chance to hunt with double rifles for those interested in an open sight big bore adventure.

---

--------------------
John aka NitroX

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

Post Extras:

Quote:

---

I see your point Rule303. But if I'm paying $12-15K total, with airfair, for a hunt, I want the best chance possible for an enjoyable hunt and a successful one as well. In short.... I like to pull the trigger....;)

---

Post Extras:

Quote:

---

I see your point Rule303. But if I'm paying $12-15K total, with airfair, for a hunt, I want the best chance possible for an enjoyable hunt and a successful one as well. In short.... I like to pull the trigger....;)

---

Post Extras:

Quote:

---

Oh, and down in that swampland their will be SOME Mosquitos.
Great time and place for catching Barramundi though.

---

I wish I took a photo of my back after the hunt at Gan Gan. It was one huge mozzie bite. Mosquitos like my blood for some reason ...

Interesting about the barramundi. Didn't know that. I let a one way airticket go to waste once but thought a quick flight at Christmas/New Years or later might be fun. During the Wet. The fishing might have tipped the difference. The rest of the $$$ required tipped it the other way at the time.

--------------------
John aka NitroX

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

Post Extras:

Quote:

---

Well it looks like I'm going to do the December hunt. Wish me luck! Matt tells me he actually prefers December to hunt buffalo, due to easier tracking and the water holes being more easily located. He tells me that is the best time for a really big bull. I live in a hot climate myself, so maybe I can tough it out. We'll see.

---

Maybe, but bring PLENTY of 'Mozzie' repellent, you will need it... A gallon should suffice

Post Extras:

Quote:

---

water holes being more easily located

---

I do find this extraordinary if it rains and the Wet has astarted but in any case ....

Bushman's is a good mosquito repellant. RID next and Aeroguard close to useless in the tropics. Bushmans comes in a couple percentages of DEET. The Australian Army has a repellant in plain green tubes that has enough DEET to melt plastic. That would be the most effective.

Moquitoes in the Territory can sting through a normal cotton safari shirt. So the areas of skin covered can still get stung. I learned that the hard way.

Bring a head/face net to put over your hat or face. Not for when hunting but if you have a rest can give some protection.

I haven't hunted there later than November. I did hunt in September on a coastal cattle station for pigs. In many area no problems with too many mosquitoes but some areas they swarmed us by the clouds of hundreds. And of course at night they come out everywhere.

Hunting Cobourg in end of November I don't remember mosquitoes being a big problem at all. The sea breezes may have helped.

I really look forward to seeing your photos and read your stories. It should be a different and exciting hunt to read about. Good luck.

--------------------
John aka NitroX

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

Post Extras: