I'm planning on coming home around May next year and want to go shoot some buff.
Year ago I got myself a great bull that I had mounted but it fell off the wall and went back to the taxidermist for repair. In the interim he died and his widow must have sold off all the stuff he had lying around. Not wanting to press the situation, since he suffered a nasty death and she couldn't talk about it I decided to use it as a good excuse to get another one.
So I want to go on a hunt that allows me to shoot bunch of cull buffalo as well as a trophy. I would like to take my bow as well, and shoot some pigs, scrub bulls as well.

Who is running a good outfit with fit young guides at the moment?

I'm doing the same hunt with Hunt Australia in July. I couldn't tell you about fit young guides, I've lost interest in seeing who can run the legs off of whom some time ago.

At the end of the day it's the guides that make or break your hunt, and if you are in better shape than your guide, which is usually the case for me, it is frustrating.
I've done so much research on outfits in the past years and what I've learned is that when you are sitting at 14,000ft on a mountain in Kyrgyzstan, or out in the African bush, it doesn't matter much what your outfitter or agent said back in civilization, it all comes down to the man you are hunting with.
From now on, I want to try and get to know about the guides as much as the outfits.
Cheers.

I'd say definitely look up Matt's Hunt Australia operation. I have personally hunted with his outfit.

Great buffalo area for big bulls and has culls available.....As for super fit guides, I just can't answer that as most buff hunting isn't climbing high or long as you're aware.

Cheers,
Mark.

Hehe - no one every called me super fit!! But I reckon I'll be the last man standing!!!

Pete Harding, the head guide at our Arnhem buff camp - I reckon is arguably the best buff guide running around NT at the moment.

EXPRESS - it wouldnt be THAT (trophy bull, cull buff, scrub bull + good pigs + bow) easy to do all of that on the one trip to the one area- might be a case of booking a couple different hunts to better areas for more specific hunting??

Anyhow - we have a number of different areas - if you are keen to get some info just shoot me an email with reference to this thread... office@huntaust.com.au

plenty other guides out there too - some good guides and outfitters too - but once again I would be looking at more specific hunts to get the best!!

Cheers
MG

Matt,
Reasonably, on a 5-7 day hunt, how long does it take to locate a nice trophy? not just a representative....

I've heard of guys going over there and blasting a big one very early on, or even taking out all their allotted culls in one day.

Your thoughts? And I realize that it's hunting...what would be your best estimate?

quote:

Originally posted by Oryxhunter1983:
Matt,
Reasonably, on a 5-7 day hunt, how long does it take to locate a nice trophy? not just a representative....

I've heard of guys going over there and blasting a big one very early on, or even taking out all their allotted culls in one day.

Your thoughts? And I realize that it's hunting...what would be your best estimate?

Depends on the concession mate, time of the season, lots of different things!! On average I would say at our main concession we would see one big bull every day but often they are too far out in the water or whatever. See about 20 mature bulls in a day I would hazard. Other concessions would be less. I would say 3 days generally you can expect to get a trophy bull off our place but it sure does vary... I had a 4 day hunt this last season where I couldnt find one to save myself - thats wild hunting though!!

With the culling it is much the same - but as a rule I would say you can rack them up pretty fast but that is why were are reducing their numbers!!

If you are asking can you do a trophy and a bunch of cull cows on say a five day hunt then I would say yes, in that kind of concession - so long as you dont laze around camp!!!

Matt, I don't expect to drop the lot on the one trip, especially with the bow.
I'd bring the bow along for the pigs and maybe a few buff, but I wouldn't make it an exclusive bow hunt.
I've sent you a PM to find out more.
Cheers.

Express,
I've been on Matt's buff cull and trophy combo. I did not take a trophy, since I took one on an earlier hunt with Matt. However, my partner did take a nice one that scored green SCI 105 3/4.

Lots of cows to cull and lots of fun. Pete Harding is the best in Arnhemland and knows Matt's concession like the back of his hand. My partner and I enjoyed the hunt immensely and are talking about returning perhaps next year or 2013.

I endorse Hunt Australia 100%.

Geoff

Hunt Australia. Matt can handle all you ask for.

Go later in the year when it's drier !!!

(It's bloody wet up there ATM ! LOL)

.

Yet another personal recommendation for Hunt Australia here. I shot a great 105 SCI bull, was looked after well by a great guide, and I will certainly go back at some stage to test my .458 a little more on some cull animals.

Have fun!

blacks

I did a cull hunt this past summer. I hunted with Paul Trucolo in Arnhemm Land, near Numbluwar. We saw great trophies daily and getting plenty of action was easy. I shot 15 buff and ran out of bullets, and money! I booked through L David Keith , Grey Ghost Safaris who posts here on Ar as well. I had already booked with Paul before I met Matt Graham at the Dallas Safari Club. Even though he knew I had booked with a different outfit, Matt was extremely helpful and voluntered loads of information that was not something he had to do. Totally a class act if you ask me and I would not hesitate to book with him in the future.

I met Paul at DSC this year ( David too) seems like a great fellow. I'd hunt with him in a minute!

Just gotta get to Oz..................


.

quote:

Originally posted by drwes:
I did a cull hunt this past summer. I hunted with Paul Trucolo in Arnhemm Land, near Numbluwar. We saw great trophies daily and getting plenty of action was easy. I shot 15 buff and ran out of bullets, and money! I booked through L David Keith , Grey Ghost Safaris who posts here on Ar as well. I had already booked with Paul before I met Matt Graham at the Dallas Safari Club. Even though he knew I had booked with a different outfit, Matt was extremely helpful and voluntered loads of information that was not something he had to do. Totally a class act if you ask me and I would not hesitate to book with him in the future.

Nice of you to say that Wes... I am happy if hunters come to Australia and have a great experience, no matter who they hunt with.

Matt,, I hope these floods will not wreck your season,, seems like last year there was a cyclone that wrecked havoc as well,, Hang in there

quote:

Originally posted by drwes:
Matt,, I hope these floods will not wreck your season,, seems like last year there was a cyclone that wrecked havoc as well,, Hang in there

It floods nearly every year in buffalo-land!!!