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Gentlemen, congratulations on great pictures, excellent taste in rifles and a hunt done the right way. It inspires us all.

I was born and bred in Darwin and outside a 15 year window where I lived in Melbourne and chased Sambar and other (to me) “exotics, I have hunted everything that the NT has to offer outside of Coburg Banteng and Sambar.

The majority of my time was spent in swamps chasing pigs and geese; buff hunts were a distraction; mainly conducted for interstate friends who wanted the experience. Seldom did we target them as locals, we were more into the camaraderie of the team hunts chasing hogs with dogs, it was and is great fun.

A rifle was only used as a “break glass” option when the dogs chased or worse still, lugged a buff in a swamp or surrounding jungle. Not an uncommon occurrence and one we actively tried to avoid.

My boots of choice during all these years were the British Army pattern Jungle Boots the canvas and rubber type as they were tall and provided ankle support when running through ruts and they laced right up which meant they were not lost in the bog of a swamp.

My personal choice was not popular in my crew with most choosing old runners and dive boots but they worked for me (and my dicky ankles). Currently I am trialling the US Army Jungle Boot; the leather, canvas and rubber type to see if they are an improvement. The jury is still out as I just acquired these via Amazon.

What prompted this reply was the comment to choose stitch down boots as the heat will delaminate the glue from non-stitched boots. I must admit as all my hunting was coastal flood plain and surrounding swamps our feet and shoes didn’t get that hot although the weather is always extreme, with heat and humidity as a rule. Our boots/shoes failed because they were constantly wet.

As I get older the boys and I find it harder to coordinate a hunt with family, work and social commitments taking priority so am thinking of smaller or solo hunts without the dogs and targeting buff. Travel will be mainly via the quad but I would love to walk them up
as well; boots and hydration are key points made in your story that has been in my mind for some time. In our harsh environment you cannot afford to get this wrong.

I have a pair of Courtney boots acquired for a safari that has been delayed, and am looking seriously at the Green River African Rangers, which are an African import as well.

In your experience what did the boys wear, what was their experience after doing the serious kilometres every day and what would you choose next time.

I have loaded the 375 H&H with some 350 grain Woodleighs and need to try them out.

Thanks once again for one of the best posts I have seen on this forum in years.

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