Well, In 9 days the adventure begins for "eyedoc" and I. We head to Numbluwar on a buffalo hunt.Hopefully we have everything in order, we got permits and more permits, and authorzations for ammo etc. We decided with the world cup in South Africa this summer we would choose a different location for our "safari". We have gone over the recomended packing list and gone over it again. Is there anything for those that have hunted there that they wished they had taken on the hunt? Any reccomendations on "anything"? Any input is appreciated.

Any recommendations on "anything"? Any input is appreciated.


A maid of around 24 years with points 'set way up high' to serve after hunt drinks.

Are you over nighting in Darwin before or after the hunt?

Knee gaiters,who are you hunting with??

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Originally posted by TOP_PREDATOR:
Knee gaiters,who are you hunting with??

What's a knee gaiter?? We have crocs here mate!! Is it some kind of croc protection??

Well, we are overnighting in Gove and on the way out in Gove and Cairnes... We are hunting with Paul Trucolo,sp? of Southern Safaris,, L. David Keith was our outfitter here in the states that arranged it. I do have my "Gaiters" packed to keep the burs and grass out of the socks, etc. 8 days and counting now,, wes

If your hunting in shorts you'll only need small gaiters that just cover your socks and top of your boots. You can pick up green cotton ones at most work wear shops here in Australia. One thing I found is that if your not used to hunting in shorts in the NT and you walk through long grass your legs will get bloody ichy...for weeks after. I was told by my Doc in Katherine (as I scratched my legs off) that there is a mite on the grass that is the cause. Ever since then if I was hunting in an area that I knew had long grass I wore long pants.

My buddy always hunts in shorts,, all over Africa,, and I always wear long pants. Our Ph wears shorts as well.I just find it safer to wear long pants and reduce the scrathes and scrapes and chances of infection,,, itching, etc. This time of year the grass is probably still pretty tall and it shouldn't be so hot that comfort wise i should be OK in long pants.My gaiters go up almost to the knee, they are soft quiet material. I am probably going to wear running shoes as my footwear as well, I read Matt's reccommended packing list and prepared accordingly. One week and I climb on the plane,, I am mostly sitting around smiling with a glassey look in my eyes right now!

You shouldnt have any problems with runners and if they do get wet and muddy they clean and dry faster than heavy boots.

I go barefoot and shorts mostly in East Arnhem - the country tends to quite sandy and relatively free from burr and thorns.

We are taking some canvas lace up ankle high tennis show, what we used to wear to play basketball in as kids. They are lightweight, above ankle,, [they don't pull off when walking in mud or water if necesary] dry quickly and pretty durable,, and rubber soles are quiet. And they are cheap. Most of the time we leave them when we leave so others can use, or Ph, trackers etc, if they want them. I have been wearing mine around here doing my work etc, to make sure they are broken in as good as possible.I don't doubt you run around barefoot there,, you Ph types are tougher ,, and crazier than me. Thanks for all your help wes

drwes please let me advise you that down south a pair of sturdy quality boots are mandatory.

Are they going 'down south' as well??

lets just say Matty that it was a tongue in cheek throw off to your barefoot capers,something I wouldn't recco to anyone in Ozzie snake country anywhere when they are about.

If you are really lucky you might even pick up a hook worm through the soles of your feet too.

One never knows whats about via Asia these days cobber.

quote:

Originally posted by gryphon1:
lets just say Matty that it was a tongue in cheek throw off to your barefoot capers,something I wouldn't recco to anyone in Ozzie snake country anywhere when they are about.

If you are really lucky you might even pick up a hook worm through the soles of your feet too.

One never knows whats about via Asia these days cobber.

Out of curiousity... in all your years hiking in 'snake country' how many actual strikes have your boots had... ie how many potentially lethal strikes have your boots prevented?

I am not recommending that anyone (not used to it) go anywhere in Australia without boots - just illustrating how relatively soft the country is up there (no need for heavy hunting boots) and that while there are plenty of snakes they are not a major concern... I'd be more worried about getting pulled out of a swamp by a crocodile or steam-rolled by a buffalo.

On the Walker Creek upstream from the ford between Karumba and Normanton while pig hunting with my dogs I was struck on the boot several times by a taipan or at least it was a fugn brown snake of an angry sort and I have also been struck by a black down here in the south Matty... now its not how many times one has actually been struck but its the possibility of being struck...better to wear boots if you have them,bearing in mind 80-90% of snake bites in Oz are below the knee.

Tell you now mate,the first bastard that gets you a good one on the foot will have you wearing boots haha.



I do have records of croc fatalities in Oz and there are many but how many people have been steam rolled by Water buff in Oz under hunting conditions?

More chance of dieing on a road than getting a fatal snake bite but I will keep driving.

Think I'll stick to the barefoot where it is appropriate - I know the risks and they are minimal. I own boots but choose not to wear them because I am more comfortable without and can stalk much, much better without.

Blackfellas seemed to get away with it for 50,000 years... quite successfully too and still do of course!!

I dont know of anyone who has been actually killed by a water buffalo in a HUNTING situation but of course plenty of close encounters have happened over the year. I have had one close enough trying to kill me that I could smell its breath... pretty close to being steam-rolled!!

quote:

I have had one close enough trying to kill me that I could smell its breath... pretty close to being steam-rolled!!

This will be a good read then Matty,hows about the real life version detailed here for us to have a gander at cobber.
Looking forward to it.

Ahhh ...hmmmm.... AR isnt an appropriate place to detail that particular story. Thats a campfire one...

Going back to the buffalo hunting history - I dont know of anyone who has actually DIED in a hunting situation from banteng or scrub bull either .... no denying those two arent nasty buggers (more so than buff) but for whatever reason they havent claimed hunters lives. Probably just a function of the (relatively low) numbers of people hunting them.

quote:

Originally posted by Matt Graham:
Ahhh ...hmmmm.... AR isnt an appropriate place to detail that particular story. Thats a campfire one...

oh come on Matty its an extremely appropriate place to discuss a potential death by buffalo.

This place is the Holy Grail of both the truth...and bullshit too as you would well know from reading the many posts.

I cant really because of others who were involved...

No bullshit here Gryph. I run all posts through the Bullshit scanner and they all come out clean. Even the posts from the Kiwi's

hhaaa there are quite a few that the bullshit scanner wont work on mate,you may need to upgrade to the 2020 model.

Our guide went within 1m of stepping on a fairly small coastal taipan last time I was in the NT . Luckily they're only the second deadliest snake in the World / Australia. No way was that snake was moving out of our path . He flattened himself out and was ready to strike anyone that was stupid enough to get close enough. We were 7 hours drive from Darwin and would have had to call in a chopper via satphone in the event of a bite . Five minutes later a whipsnake shot between myself and the hunter 5m in front of me . Venomous but not in the taipan league . Pretty good case for gaiters and/or long trousers IMO. Plenty of long grass up there and you can't see what you're about to walk on.
Bear in mind that a you are hunting in sparsely inhabited territory with generally poor roads . Not easy to get to a hospital with antivenom in a hurry . With all due respect to Matt there is no f___ín way I'd be hunting barefoot there (or here for that matter).

There is such a thing as first aid though... no person should die from snake bit with correct first aid ... with some notable exceptions (a. they are alone and have to walk to help OR b. if they get a body or face shot)

Most of our int. hunters and quite a few Aussie hunters are simply shit-scared of being bitten by a snake. For the O/S folk it is mostly because of the publicity that suggests that there is a snake every square meter waiting to eat you.

I have just never had any fear of snakes or snakebite really and never have a problem with them.

i am taking tennis shoes,, or runners as some call them here,, I am wearing my light weight hunting boots over on the plane,, I have my gaitors packed as well,,, I am scared of snakes,, but not unreasonablly of them,, I have killed two rattlesnakes so far this year. I expect to see them and I look for them and they sure do blend in well,, but I deal with them. My backpack will be such that if they loose my luggage,, I can hunt with what I have with me, of course I would have to borrow a gun, but i plan for the best,, and prepare for the worst. I will let Matt hunt barefoot. If my feet hurt,, my hunt is not as enjoyable,,,

Wes, I hope you and Mike have a great, fun, and safe trip! Look forward to hearing the stories next time our paths cross.

JF

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For the O/S folk it is mostly because of the publicity that suggests that there is a snake every square meter waiting to eat you.

Not just waiting to eat you Matt. Ready to chase you down like the dreaded HOOP SNAKE!

Remote as we will be I may hunt in Tarsan gear,loincloth!Hell ,I might even hunt naked if it gets hot enough.If the charter flight is as tough on the weight restrictions as they say they are I might HAVE to hunt naked.Man alive! My rifle and ammo weigh nearly 30 lbs by themselves.

Eyedoc and drwes,
Good luck on your hunt with Paul. The connections are tight. I'm scheduled for a couple of weeks after you guys are done, but am only taking a carry-on and will try to get by without checked luggage, just renting a fire-arm and ammo. Consider leaving anything you don't really want to bring back in camp.

Does NT get burnt like Africa each year? If not, shorts may not be as useful up there.

I wore sneakers to hunt sambar once and they were great until I stubbed my toe on a stick - it took my nail off eventually.

A certain African brand of boot could work well, though.

too right ... burnt ground requires extra protection..... thongs!!!

I wore shorts the whole time and a pair of Chuck Taylor Converse all-star high top sneakers.Worked great! Also short sleave shirts made by under-armor were real handy. Would suggest lightweight and quick drying sox if you wear any all.

Still quite green and very little burning had been done but there were crews out starting the burning while we were there. The buffalo were still quite scattered because of lots of water and feed but as things dry up they should concentrate more and more around permanent water.

We had no trouble finding buffalo and had killed our quota of twenty in four days.We bought another ten and finished them out in two days. Spent our last two days fishing for baramundi and had fair success on them as well.

Anyone going in in the next week or two may want to bring a few fishing baits if they are interested in fishing. 4" to 6" rattling rogues or Rapalas in gold will get action as will a Zara spook of the same size.I would bring at least three each.

Food was plentiful but not fancy.I especially enjoyed the smokers where we had fresh fruit and pickles,onions,olives and cheese. Soft drinks were always available as was bottled water.Camp staff and guide were good company and a pleasure to be around.

30 buff in 6 days!! Hope you left some of the big boys for me. Looking forward to your pix!

Steve-Since we were on a herd reduction hunt we left ALL the big ones for you.And we did see quite a few real bruisers. Big sweeping horns on what were tanks! You should plan on taking a couple big bulls and maybe a lot(10) of herd reduction animals as well.

Steve Turner Of Traveling With Guns handled our travel arrangements and I want to give him a very big reccomendation for anyone needing those kind of services.Before we left he provided us with a very comprehensive pre-trip package with itenerary,visas and travel advisaries. We were told what would happen and where to go and how to get where we needed to be.We were also advised of common mistakes and pitfalls to watch out for.

While I was in the airport for my first flight Steve tracked me down and called me to tell me that my flight was being delayed and to advise me that he was checking on alternative arrangements if the delay caused me to miss my connection.

Turns out we made it just in time because my next flight was delayed also. But it was good to know he was available had things gone south on me.He has definitely earned my confidence and business for the forseeable future.

steve, feel free to PM me to get a phone number if you would like to talk before you go,,we could probably give you several heads up on some things to make it easier for you. Southern Safaris also has management bulls available, before you go out, make sure you sit down with Paul and get a list of fees for what he has to offer. After we hunted the first day I had passed up a real old bull,, probably scored about 85 but had huge bases, he was pretty broomed off on the ends which hurt his score,, after the fact he gave me the price and had I known I would have busted it the first afternoon. In the first 2 days we saw at least 4 bulls in the mid 90's, we saw two bruisers over the trip the would have pushed the 100 inch mark. I was amazed at the pounding those buf could take and still keep on their feet. I was shooting a 416 rigby with 400gn cape shock Barnes x bullets and I never had a one shot kill and our shooting was on the mark. It was a real hoot! drwes