For many years I had dreamt of hunting the big game of Australia's Northern Territory, well I've finally done it....had an awesome week in the Top End! Had the hunt of a lifetime with Hunt Australia Safaris, guided by Leith Graham and hunting buffalo with Brisbane-based hunter Sean Joyce.

We were looked after very well, Leith worked hard from before dawn 'till after dark each day to run a good camp with excellent meals to boot, and he is a talented hunter too getting us up close and personal with a lot of big game. For this hunt I was using my Interarms Mk. X .458 Win Mag with 480gn Woodleigh handloads, Sean used a CZ Safari Magnum firing 410gn Woodleighs.

A dream come true for me, my 105 SCI Buffalo bull, taken at 25 metres in close cover after a tense stalk and standoff on the second morning. I've had longer shots and tougher stalks...but all combined, this was probably the best individual hunt I've ever had for sheer excitement. The .458 Win Mag worked a treat and he hit the deck within 10 metres by which time I'd smacked him twice more -



Sean managed a real heavy 95 SCI bull with his .416 Rigby on the first morning -


Both bulls cleaned up for the taxo, these were BIG caping jobs for our guide!


A couple of pigs, we didn't target them a great deal as we were looking for buff, but did take a few nice ones and photograph quite a few more in our travels -




We made some great stalks during the week, trailing our barefoot guide and getting in close to lots of game which was cool...



Donkeys -



Feral donkeys and horses are a real pest to the station owners and the environment and are taken and utilised in bait stations for the hunting of boars.

I took a Scrub Bull (Wild Ox) on the second last day after looking at heaps and putting in some good stalks.....there were plenty there to choose from, but Leith was holding out for a real good one. This big old bugger went 62 SCI -


Did a great morning's fishing via canoe in a beautiful billabong, we managed a heap of catfish and sooty grunters but no barra sadly -



And a cool off in the creek was awesome after a big morning hunt....no big 'snapping handbags' in this little creek! -


One happy hunter with both my bulls -


Overall I had an awesome week, certainly one of the highlights of my hunting life that exceeded my expectations. We saw heaps of game and shot Buffalo, Scrub Bull, Pigs, Donkeys, Horses and Dogs; amongst great company in a comfy and friendly camp. Thanks to Sean for his great company, Leith ('the dreaded hunter') for looking after us so well, and to Matt Graham of Hunt Australia for all the behind-the-scenes organisation....I'd highly reccommend this outfit! Heaps of hunters hit 'the territory' this year and there's a reason why - it's just awesome. Get up there and do it, you won't regret it! The only problem is once is never enough.....

Cheers,

blacks

Hey blacks,

Sean looks like he's looking for crocs in the swimming hole

See, I did leave a good 'un for you

Cheers,
Mark.

Looks like a great trip.

Fantastic adventure!
Cheers for posting.

What a great trip. Thanks for posting.

Congratulations Blacks,
+1 Matt certainly runs a good outfit. I hunted with Leith and Matt in 2007 and had a great time. Good to see Leith still running around barefooted, as does Pete Harding.

Did you hunt out of Dorisvale or Gan Gan? The donks, brumbies, pigs, and scrub bulls implies that it was out of Dorisvale.

Geoff

Thanks guys!

Geoff, your assumption is correct mate. A great property for a 'mixed bag' hunt, there are some pretty good numbers of buff there these days too, just not the size or numbers of Arnhemland. But, someone's gotta get lucky!! hehe...

blacks

Hey Blacks ... thanks for posting the story and pics mate!! There is a few photos I hadnt seen before - I love the catfish!! big bugger..

Very pleased you enjoyed your hunt.

blacks; you cannot ask for a better hunt in Oz than that

quote:

Originally posted by bondy:
blacks; you cannot ask for a better hunt in Oz than that

Cheers Bondy, I must say I am feeling much the same way. It will take some time to top this I reckon...

Those big bulls sure get the adrenalin up as you'd know yourself!

Thanks all

blacks

Sounds like a great hunt!

Thanks for sharing.


.

Congrats on the hunt!

What are you using as a grip on your Mark-X? Any Chance for a close up of the rifle? Thanks!

quote:

Originally posted by Sevens:
Congrats on the hunt!

What are you using as a grip on your Mark-X? Any Chance for a close up of the rifle? Thanks!

Cheers mate. My Mark X wears a Rosewood Laminate that I finished myself, Devcon bedded with dual Talley crossbolts. (It did pick up a cracked tang on this trip so I have some more work to do...)
When I finished the stock I decided (being a large cal) that I'd like more grip so I masked it up and used some 'deck and paving grip' under 3 coats of clear. This is a fine powder designed as a non slip additive for paint. I went a little heavy on the pistol grip area though so will redo it at some stage. It worked well, especially with sweaty hands in 102+ degree temperature. Hunting dangerous game in these conditions I reckon calls for function over form!

Cheers,

blacks

Blacks,
those are very nice buffalo, and just a superb scrub bull--he has horns shaped like Banteng, bet there's some in his background somewhere.
4 years ago, I was there (west of Kakadu), and we trapped a 15 ft cattle-killing croc in a creek about the size of the one you're swimming in.

quote:

Originally posted by SGraves155:
Blacks,
those are very nice buffalo, and just a superb scrub bull--he has horns shaped like Banteng, bet there's some in his background somewhere.
4 years ago, I was there (west of Kakadu), and we trapped a 15 ft cattle-killing croc in a creek about the size of the one you're swimming in.

Thanks a lot mate. Yep I'm pretty stoked with the scrubber....we looked at a heap, there are some good ones there, all different types of horn and colour combinations. I was happy with a couple but I'm glad my guide kept holding off to find a real ripper!

Yep you gotta be wary of the crocs....a pig hunter was taken in the Adelaide River not far from here just before my trip. This particular swimming hole has shallow rocky rapids at either end, and has been well surveyed for slide marks etc. While it might hold the odd freshie, the chances of finding a saltie in there are slim. After hunting buff in 40 degree heat it sure felt nice to sit in there with a coldie!!

Cheers,

blacks

I've hunted in south africa where they sell the meat, what do they do with all that protein in isolated rural Australia?

great pics by the way.

quote:

Originally posted by martinbns:
I've hunted in south africa where they sell the meat, what do they do with all that protein in isolated rural Australia?

great pics by the way.

Cheers. You are right, remoteness is a big issue which prevents a lot of the meat being used. However, none really goes to waste in the scheme of things. Clients/guides take some meat if they choose, buffalo gets made into biltong and we had a good feed of donkey curry in camp....surprised me - it was bloody good! Whatever cannot be used is placed on bait stations for the hunting of boars. It only takes pigs a couple of days to munch through a couple of donkey, horse or buff carcases. A lot of the bait stations even have permanent high seats over them.

In some areas, the local aborigines will take a lot of meat off the hunters too.

So it all gets used in one way or another, even if it is just to hunt bIg pigs over!!

blacks

quote:

Originally posted by blacks:

quote:

Originally posted by martinbns:
I've hunted in south africa where they sell the meat, what do they do with all that protein in isolated rural Australia?

great pics by the way.

Cheers. You are right, remoteness is a big issue which prevents a lot of the meat being used. However, none really goes to waste in the scheme of things. Clients/guides take some meat if they choose, buffalo gets made into biltong and we had a good feed of donkey curry in camp....surprised me - it was bloody good! Whatever cannot be used is placed on bait stations for the hunting of boars. It only takes pigs a couple of days to munch through a couple of donkey, horse or buff carcases. A lot of the bait stations even have permanent high seats over them.

In some areas, the local aborigines will take a lot of meat off the hunters too.

So it all gets used in one way or another, even if it is just to hunt bIg pigs over!!

blacks

Thanks, it sure looks like fun hunting those giant beasts.

quote:

Originally posted by SGraves155:
Blacks,
those are very nice buffalo, and just a superb scrub bull--he has horns shaped like Banteng, bet there's some in his background somewhere.
4 years ago, I was there (west of Kakadu), and we trapped a 15 ft cattle-killing croc in a creek about the size of the one you're swimming in.

You were just a bit closer to the coast than Blacks!! He was about 100 miles up a freshwater river!! There are a few salties in the general vacinity ... but if you take care they wont be a problem.