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Top End 2005

I will be posting two stories:

"Buff, Bulls, Barra & Bream";

and

"Belles & Boars"

Top End 2005 - Main Index

This is the start (Part I) of the first story, "Buff, Bulls, Barra & Bream". Each installment will be added progressively over the next few days. Then later the second story "Belles & Boars" will be posted for your reading and hopefully enjoyment.

A couple of notes:

1. Each post contains a fair number of photos. Users using slower dial-up connections (like me) might like to use a THREADED view so lesser photos load up with each page. I will be adding a THREADED menu to each post.

2. A number of our members are eagerly waiting to discuss (argue) about the merits or otherwise of using smaller medium sized calibres on buffalo. I would appreciate it if these discussions could be continued on the following thread

Is the 6.5x54 mm M-S adequate for buffalo ?

Hope you enjoy my hunt story. I certainly enjoyed this magic Top End hunt.

NitroX

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Top End 2005 - "Buff, Bulls, Barra & Bream"

Due to the number of photos these posts are best viewed threaded

Since hunting water buffalo in Arnhemland in the Top End of the Northern Territory of Australia in 2004 I wanted to go back. Water buffalo the biggest game of Australia and larger than Africa's Cape Buffalo represent an exciting challenge for hunting in Australia.

This year we would be hunting with Graham Williams of Australian Buffalo Hunters. His concession is located in central Arnhemland near the Northern headwaters of the Wilton and West Wilton Rivers. In this concession the game available includes water buffalo, scrub bulls and the feral Razorback boars of the Top End.

The countryside at the end of August is dry. Hilly low ranges of hills with valleys in between and often lovely streams of fresh water breaking up the harshness of the countryside. These streams also contain several species of fish as we were to find out, barramundi in some of the larger water holes and snooty grouper, or "black bream" as they are also known in pools in the streams. Johnsons or freshwater crocodiles also inhabit these streams but are relatively harmless unless one perhaps steps on them.

Orion and I booked a two by one hunt with Graham who was also guiding an American hunter and his wife the same week, Wal and Anne of the NE of the USA. Our guide was to be Paul, a fellow Westaustralian like Graham. In the seven days of hunting Orion and I were interested in taking at least a couple of buff trophies apiece, maybe an odd boar, and for myself I was also keen on a good scrub bull. Another bovine to add to my Aussie Bovine Grandslam, leaving banteng for a future trip.

At a reasonable pace it takes about four days to drive up from South Oz and we stopped at Cooper Pedy again the first night staying in the same underground hotel I stayed in last year. They remembered me!

Our Landcruiser. Orion's Landcruiser is a petrol 'troopie' but
with the second petrol tank replaced with a LPG (liquid
petroleum gas) tank. LPG probably halved our fuel costs to
about $1,200 for the drive up and back, compared to well
over $2,000 if our petrol or diesel was needed. A big saving
considering the currently very high fuel costs.

Then onto to Alice Springs. Orion had not been to Alice Springs for twenty years and it had changed considerably in the meantime. The first hotel on the main road in was no longer the first, maybe the eigth and the main road was different too. Next night we planned on camping off the road but in the last ten or more years the highway has been fenced off to keep cattle off the roads and lessen the enivatable road accidents with the rusted hulks which once littered the sides of the highway with regularity. We ended up staying in a pleasant roadside camp ground at Banka Banka which was cheap at $6 a head with of course facilities thrown in. Finally on the fourth night we arrived at Katherine necessitated by the need to purchase one or two item and ready to start the drive to the North East on the Central Arnhemland Highway.

Our camp at Mainarou Store in the middle of Arnhemland,
the day before the start of the seven day hunt. The camp
near Mainarou Store had a pleasant water hole for swimming.
Other than one other vehicle we had this simple camping area
to ourselves.

An easy drive the fifth day as it turned out with us meeting Graham and co the next day, the first hunting day when he dropped off his last clients at the airstrip and picked up Wal and Anne.

We were to arrange to meet Graham at the Aboriginal town of Bullman early that morning but actually came across them on the highway on the way to the airstrip. Damage to the Bullman airstrip necessitated a change to the Mount Catt airstrip, a longer drive for them. Graham's successful client was a gunmaker from the USA and he toted a hefty .505 Gibbs. Better him than me.

We proceeded onto Bullman, but consulting our maps worked out the main road to the hunting concession was closer so waited for them at the turn-off instead. A good time for a cold drink though looking at maps proved difficult as everyone stopped to ask us if we needed help. I put the maps away.

A bit later with Anne and Wal within we made greetings and we were off to the hunting country. Always an exciting prospect, seeing new country, what it holds, what prospects are promised for the next seven days of hunting.

A view of the hunting country. At this point the road
descends down an escarpment into the valley below. Our
concession was in the hills in the distance.

Photographer: Orion

Along the way some buffalo were sighted. Wal's first sighting of these big bovines. A promise of good things to come.

Our plan for the day was to arrive at camp. Have lunch, then check the zero of the rifles. As I planned on using my iron sighted double I decided to forgo this pleasure prefering hair, hide bone and muscle as targets. My rifle was again my W.J. Jeffrey in .450 No.2 Nitro Express. Loaded with 480 gr Woodleigh Weldcore Round Nose Softpoints. I didn't think the cartridge would be inadequate

as long as the bullets were put in the right place.

Orion intended to blood his "new" vintage 6.5x54 mm Mannlicher Schoenauer on this hunt. Numerous species of deer, hare and other species already been taken with it. 140 gr Barnes X were the chosen pills along with some 160 gr pojectiles. Careful and deliberate shooting would be required.

More buffalo were spotted from the road.

THE PEOPLE

NitroX, attempting to look purposeful

Orion with his 'new' favourite rifle

Wal and Anne, Graham's American clients

Graham and Helen Williams. Helen was joining Graham for a
couple of weeks while on annual leave.
Graham is holding my double. I had to prise it off him.

Paul, our guide, with a suitable PH steely look.
Paul is holding one of the PH's standard rifles, a .CZ 416 Rigby.

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Ezine.NitroExpress.com

Edited by NitroX (06/11/05 01:13 AM)

Top End 2005 - "Buff, Bulls, Barra & Bream" - Part III

INDEX
"Buff, Bulls, Barra & Bream";

Top End 2005 - Main Index

DAY 3

Awakening soon after dawn we all set to a good breakfast and discussed the plan for the day.

Wal had taken a buffalo bull. Graham asked me if I wanted him to guide me today . Wal was interested in a scrub bull if an opportunity arose but probably not a second buffalo. Plus a pig if one was seen. The idea was if we saw a trophy buff I was to hunt it, if a scrub bull, it was Wal's opportunity. This would allow higher chances for Orion and I both to score. I checked with Wal and he had agreed to this so it was a go.

Orion was to continue with Paul, and Helen wanted to go for a drive as well, rather than sit in camp. So we would be two parties of four and three.

Paul's party set out with us following soon after. The herds to South were to get a good look over. Paul to search the countryside closer to camp and us to head further out. We passed the "green monster" hunting car on the way out. Paul, Helen and Orion were already in the bush looking for buffalo.

It is fun not to have to rush things. We sighted a number of buffalo bulls along the way, and as I also wanted some video footage some fake stalks were called for. Being a "ham" is easu to do when you know it is not a real stalk, much better to film the real thing. However no matter what it is fun! During one of these stalks with a buffalo bull only 40 metres in front I realised my rifle wasn't actually loaded. I decided it might just be a good idea to put some shells in the chambers. Just in case!

We stalked this buff bull in the high grass. He was not far from the road and not a shooter.

He was aware of us but uncertain of what we were and approached us for a closer look.

He kept an close eye on us the whole time. A approach using trees and cover allowed us to approach to within 50 metres. In the end he decided retreat was the option and turned tail.

Having a fun morning, sighting a number of buffalo, we returned for camp for a midday lunch.

What do we again find?! Orion has taken a nice buffalo bull. I will leave that story for Orion in Part IV and when Orion's photos are uploaded.

Lunch was to be a mini-celebration.

***

Off in the afternoon. My turn was to be next.

Driving further out than the previous time a bull or two were spotted in the savannah glades. Careful glassing of them with binoculars to ascertain their trophy worthiness. We continued on.

A bull spotted! A good one. Well away from the track maybe 600 metres, we loaded up and off we went. Graham in front, myself following with my .450, Anne agreed to be video camera woman with Wal behind.

The buff bull was awake but had not spotted us. Even though the countryside appears quite open, the occasional termite mount, the many trees, the depressions and high grass provide good cover. Using tree trunks to cover our approach we managed to make 200 metres from the bull and stopped to glass him again. Graham assured me he was a good bull and he looked fine to me. I would take him given the opportunity.

Again we stalked towards the bull being careful to use each tree slowly, in single file so only one person's front could be exposed to the bull at any one time. Sometimes a careful slow sideways manouvre was required to align another tree trunk to provide cover. The bull had his head up but was drowsing in the afternoon heat.

Cutting the distance to about 100 metres Graham got Anne to come up to us. She was to stay behind the cover of this tree and film from here. He and I would continue closer. Wal was about 30 metres behind waiting.

Two more tree trunks would provide potential cover.

We made it to the first. I approached the second alone. Now I was about 60 metres from the bull. Just as I reached the trunk the bull lept to his feet. We had been spotted.The bull was facing towards us but at a slight angle. Perfect!

I past the side of the tree bringing the double rifle to my shoulder and as soon as the sights aligned on the shoulder of the bull I fired. The 480 gr Woodleigh Weldcore smacked into the bull's shoulder and continued on to break its spine. He was down but not out. I reloaded and moved forward and fired another round raking the bull's lungs behind the shoulder. This second round had no seeming affect and the bull continued to try to rise using its front legs but had no use of most of its body due to the spinal damage. Graham also fired at this point as he explained later due to the video running. However his shot also had very little effect and after a few moments the bull lay down and eventually died. It did not bother me Graham shooting as that bull was not going anywhere.

A few fast and furious seconds.

Anne had caught most of the action on film up to the shot when she went all wobbly

from excitement. The big bangs and the excitement causing the camera to move around a bit. I think she was more excited than us others.

Intrepid camera woman Anne posing with the buff bull

The team. Graham, myself, Anne and Wal

This perfectly performing Woodleigh 480 gr Weldcore was
recovered just under the skin on the far side of the chest.

Graham and I posing with the bull.

I am embarrassed to admit that I had another double discharge on this bull. I had not had one even though I extensively tested for one since the last buffalo hunt. However this time I felt my finger slap the second trigger on recoil. From this point on I now shoot the rear trigger first and this has proved more successful.

All of us were taking only skull and horns as trophies so far on this trip so dealing with the trophy was relatively quick at this point. We had good hunting time so would return later to recover the head, the cape not being important.

A short time later we sighted another buff bull. A good bull but not better than either we had taken. Wal and Graham mocked stalked the bull while I followed close behind with the video. Wal fired a shot from his .416 Rigby over the bull's back and a second as it fled. I believe it will be some great footage, but I teased Wal, it will show him missing twice! It is much easier to take some film when exposing oneself to the bull to film it and following behind the hunters does not jeopardise a legitimate stalk.

Driving further along the track we came another stream which crossed the road. This stream was to be our route for several kilometres on foot, then crossing over cross country to another tributary of the same stream to arrive back at the vehicle.

The walk was pleasant coming across a number of buffalo along the way. Myself I was interested in a second larger buffalo and Wal too might be persuaded if the buff was very large. Scrub bull of course remained on his agenda.

Along the stream we came across a herd cooling off in the stream. Our sudden appearance causing them much panic thundering off into the distance. On the far side of the stream a bull watched us.

Cutting across country we arrived at the other tributary stream and headed back towards the car.

Some typical countryside of the area. As can be seen even
though the terrain is fairly flat and open the numerous trees,
occaisional termite mound and grass allows a close
approach to an unaware buffalo.

The convulence of the streams. Insignificant during the dry
season, but a major obstacle during the wet.

Back to the vehicle, a drink and off back to the downed buffalo to recover its head. Off with the head, a stop to clear a fallen tree from the track and doubling as a collection of firewood we made our way on the many kilometres to return to camp. A successful day. We all now had our first buffalo.

Some scrub cattle were sighted off the road side, some crossing the road in front of us but running away. We stopped to get some video footage. No big bulls here. Back into the car, off around the corner and WHOA .....

..... a big scrub bull rushes across the road only twenty metres in front of us. The herd bull and he was a good trophy. Graham informs him the bull is very good. Wal is unsure whether to take him. He is an old school hunter and wants a good hunt. This seems to be a little too easy. He asks "Should I take him?" to me and us in general. I reply "Hell, I would!" and the decision is made. Sometimes you just have to take an easy hunt. They make up for the difficult ones and the unsuccessful ones. Wal is out the door. Graham asks me if he can use the double and on my reply off he goes as well.

The bull is not too far away, Wal takes a offhand shot in the gloom of dusk, hits the bull but the bull isn't going down. Off the bull goes running. Some more difficult shots from both Wal and Graham on the running bull. Finally Wal uses the .450 DR to finish off the scrub bull. He remembers my mistake and uses the rear trigger

.

I videoed the encounter from near the vehicle and returned to the vehicle to drive the Landcruiser as close to the bull as possible along the track. The bull had managed to run several hundred metres before expiring.

Graham and Wal with the excellent scrub bull

It is a fine bull. Good strong thick horns. A cape with character markings. A red bull.

The Red Gods of the Hunt have smiled on us this day. A water buffalo for Orion and myself and a Red scrub bull for Wal.

Another head loaded onto the roof rack with the buff and wood and we return to camp.

A fine meal to celebrate. We break open some good red wine, a bottle of Jamiesons Irsh Whiskey and I find a box of Cubans in my luggage. Those of us who smoke celebrate a Waidmannsheil and an attempt to get into "Cigar Aficianado" magazine. Pity it is night.

Orion, Paul and John (Nitro)

Orion

Paul

John (Nitro)
PS I am actually very happy. I don't like cameras!

SOMETIMES THE RED GODS SMILE UPON US

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Edited by NitroX (30/09/05 06:48 PM)