Haven't posted on here but have read a fair bit so thought that I would share this hunt with you guys as a start. I'm primarily hunt deer in Australia but take these NT hunts when they are there as they are totally in contrast to what I normally do.

Just got back from 8 days up NT and to say we had an excellent trip was an understatement, it was non stop action packed hunting with a bit of everything along the way. The 375 Ruger made light work of all the game it was presented with and most animals went down to a single shot. I ended up running 300gr Barnes TSX doing 2550fps and they were absolute dynamite, I couldn't have asked for any more.

I'm still getting a full article together but this is a brief run down of the trip. I managed a heap of video and pictures so still working my way through it.

The first day saw us right in the thick of it with 3 Buffalo taken 1 bull by me and 2 by Lee one young and one mature. It was a relief to have connected on a nice bull from the start and made for a nice exploratory 7 days after that looking for new and exciting grounds. Unfortunately the spot where I got my bull had been mustered and had 200 taken off it so will go a bit earlier next time. I put the game camera on the carcass and all I can say is over 4 days the video footage was insane with monster boars and sows ripping it to pieces.

The next few days was spent, fishing, exploring and rolling scrub bulls where I managed to take 3 mature bulls and 2 young ones for baits. Unfortunately the barra had shut down when we were there but I did manage a bull shark that was cruising the surface.

After that we put our attention back on the buff, pigs and deer and I managed to roll a young bull buff and a trophy pig whist I was in the middle of taking a slash. In that time we did manage to find an insane buff creek that will have a majority of my attention next year. It was non stop up close and personal hunting in this creek with 10m contacts common over the 1.5kms that we walked. We managed to see and photograph 8 buff in this small strip and moved a very big bull out of its bed as well, which was a very adrenaline filled moment. I loved every bit of the tight big game hunting and was a memorable hunt.

The pig went 30 douglas had only 2 top molars left so wanted to get him on the wall, he had clean ears as well so that was suprising and was a very old pig which is rare for the parts I took him, he had avoided a heap of hunters thats for sure.

Unfortunately they wouldnt ship my pig cape home (well they checked it in and then I find out at Sydney it didn't make it frozen) so I am on the look out for a ginger one like in the shots, I dont imagine its going to be too easy to come by unfortunately, but I had mine frozen and it thawed in the temps before it got into the plane unfortunately and they must have bust the packaging. The rest of the bone got rescued by a mate up there thankfully. Stoked to get a bull down thats representative and now we can go back whenever we want after getting plenty of connections willing to have us there, so I have the bench mark now for future trips. This trip was one to remember and for the price of a ticket one that I plan on doing time after time.

Here is a clip I just got together as Im going through all my video from the trip.

Buffalow vs 375 Ruger

Pigs Eating the Buffalo




[img width=800 height=533]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v439/mickgibbo/Hunting/IMG_9656CEResize900.jpg[/img]



[img width=800 height=533]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v439/mickgibbo/Hunting/IMG_9576CResize900.jpg[/img]

Great post & awesome animals. Welcome to AR & thanks for sharing.

Great stuff Mick and good to see you over here mate!

blacks

Welcome to the site Mick. Good write up and pictures.

Hell theres some good pigs on that carcase!
Why did you choose the ruger over the H&H?

Mick, Welcome, and Great pix!
Australia is just a great place.

That video of the pigs eating the buffalo is wild. I never realized they would do that.

How much would those pigs weigh that you shot?

The ginger boar was about 80kg the others more around the 60kg mark. A few of the ones in the video would be pushing the 100kg mark.

The hogs were nothing like the monsters from last year but this place isnt known for its real tanks, just some long ones with big hooks.

Impressive Mick:

Just what I'm looking forward to doing when I make the trip over there.
Could sure use some personal info IF you're willing to e'm a bit to the US.
Am wanting to make the trip over within two yrs and spend a couple months at it. sambar among the animals I want to hunt.

Re: gldwight@yahoo.com

Thanks much,
George

Darn you! That looked so good that now I want to go hunting in Oz.

Would I need an outfitter or a guide or is there public land to hunt?

Ron, a mate tells me there is at least one bit of public land open to public hunting. I haven't been there and don't know exactly where it is yet - but I intend to give it a try.

For folk from overseas who may have more trouble with firearms licences etc, a professional guide would probably be the best way to go.

George,
sambar hunting in Victoria (the smallest mainland state) is much more accessible. If you have a contact here it should not be too much trouble. Getting a good one in a week or two could be the hard part.

- Paul

I have read your hunts before of course Mick; but they are always worth another look. Some great trophies there .

You should put up details a few more of your hunts here; I am sure they would be appreciated.

George The hunt was taken on Private land but with the right people to ask this is more than possible.

Ron much the same answer as above

Professional guides are the easiest way to go but Im sure that there are quite a few blokes on the forums out there that may be able to help you out.

Bondy Cheers mate I will have to get my butt into gear I'm lagging with the Internet stuff these days.

Mick, thanks for the reply.
I've got the sambar and some other's figured out already.

I'm looking to set up a month or two tour of the country hunting various animals. So far no contacts up NT, or over west. Nor where the pigs are. Looks like from your vids they can be had along with the bulls.

Would appreciate if you fellows would pass my contact info around to those that might could help me out on the trip. I'll be coming over alone and a good deal of walking will do me in.
Am mostly looking for a leisurely time of it all rather than hitting it hard like some do. I'll have the time.

Thanks to all.
George gldwight@yahoo.com

Mick: Nice shot placement on that scrub bull. I'd sure love to hunt buffalo down your way, but it is so bloody expensive for Americans, it seems.

Hey Bill

Expensive compared to what?? Just wondering. There are some outfitters you know, who try to fit hunts into peoples budgets and the airfares can be surprisingly cheap at times, particularly if you can travel at short notice.

The thing that a lot of people dont understand about Australia - is that it ISNT a third would country (like most all African countries), so the expenses are high... very, very high. I travel around the USA a lot and I am always looking at and comparing prices... I would say that on average the input cost of doing business in the USA is roughly HALF of that in Australia. Food, fuel, labour, etc - all double in Australia... and your dollar is worth exactly the same as ours at the moment.

Anyhow - I just thought some people might be interested in that info!!

Matt: Good points all, and yes, our poor little dollar has lost a lot of its punch. I didn't realize how much more expensive things are down there. I guess I tend to compare with Africa. I sure hope that croc hunting opens up again down your way. Crocs and buffalo would be a very enticing hunt!

Hello Bill:
any idea when you'd be planning on going over yet?

I'm thinking in the fall there. Doubtful this yr, most likely next year I'll have things finished up on this end where I can be gone that long.

Thanks,
George

quote:

Originally posted by Bill/Oregon:
I sure hope that croc hunting opens up again down your way. Crocs and buffalo would be a very enticing hunt!

Amen brother!!!

G'day Mick,

I never get tired of seeing these pictures, mate!

Cheers,

Ben

Awesome hunt, deffinately on my list of to do's.