Daddybang wrote:Try Australia wide safaris I've heard they're ok (looking at this myself next year). Plenty of sites net. September is middle of the dry and the animals are not in the best condition.
Chronos wrote:Daddybang wrote:Try Australia wide safaris I've heard they're ok (looking at this myself next year). Plenty of sites net. September is middle of the dry and the animals are not in the best condition.
Interesting. I though the middle of the dry and the buildup were the best time to hunt them. There’s certainly bigger all chance of finding them in the wet right?
Chronos
Daddybang wrote:Chronos wrote:Daddybang wrote:Try Australia wide safaris I've heard they're ok (looking at this myself next year). Plenty of sites net. September is middle of the dry and the animals are not in the best condition.
Interesting. I though the middle of the dry and the buildup were the best time to hunt them. There’s certainly bigger all chance of finding them in the wet right?
Chronos
Easy to find in the dry but poor condition on the animal . End of the wet and beginning of dry animals are in a lot better condition(still plenty of good feed). This may effect rifle/round selection. If the op is going on a guided hunt they should know where to find them regardless of season
duncan61 wrote:I did an Arhnem land guided safari with an outfitter that lived near me at the time I learned a lot on the 6 day hunt.We get it for nearly half the price of internationals because the guide knows we will help out around the camp where the full paying clients are fully catered.I get that you are doing a paid Safari as you are paying $5000AUD for 2.What I know is you have to get a permit to go in to Arnhemland which will be done by the guide you are doing this with,The deal is to cull out the old bulls with the big horns so that when they are rounded up for export back to Indonesia the herd settles and can be worked with.If an old bull gets stroppy it will lead all the herd out of control and it gets dangerous for the crew rounding up.This is done before the wet season starts.I am not sure what condition has to do with anything its not like you are going to eat Water Buffalo bulls its the horns that are the prize and some of the best horns are on old worn down animals that will die in the next wet anyway.They only live about 10 years or so.A royalty of $1000AUD is paid for each animal shot so getting a small one for food you would be the first bloke to ever do that its about experiencing the N.T. The rivers are full of big sooty grunter and Barramundi,I put in a trap and caught super big cherabin.I took my 7mm Rem Mag and a single shot hornet and had a ball blasting cane toads with the hornet so take a rimfire if it fits in your case.For a fee you can have a go at scrub bulls I shot one that was stuck in mud so I got it for free and still got the horns.Big pigs are where you find them.Have a ball I still remember it as if I had done it yesterday
duncan61 wrote:What rifle and chambering are you taking.The crew I went with allowed a bloke to use a 6.5x55 but thats getting a bit on the light side for water buffalo bulls.The 7mm Rem did the job but the guides had Ruger Safari in 416 Rigby
duncan61 wrote:Daddybang I am almost certain the O.P. is going on a guided Safari in the N.T. but if you have access to Water Buffalo in FNQ then good luck to you and I get where condition is important.We have a few in the Northern Kimberly but I am not sure how you go about getting them.Where we hunted in Arnhemland they were everywhere and it was rare to see a track that did not have dung and hoofprints.I am sure a small one would be good tucker
Baz460 wrote:Interesting about a 2 day hunt for $13000, s**t that is African price.
I have contacted probably half a dozen outfitters regards a 5 day hunt for two, with one trophy bull each and a management animal, the prices fully catered for range from $20,000 for two all inclusive, to $11,000 for two all inclusive. The $20,000 hunt, the bloke wanted US Dollars, and I mentioned to him that I am bloody Australian and will be paying in Australian Dollars. LOL. some of these jokers think they are in Africa, and want you to pay in US Dollars. Anyway, I have 6 months to find someone suitable, so will wait and see what turns up. On the small calibres, I have know doubt that you can drop a bull buff with a brain shot from a 6.5 and a solid, but me, I will be using a 500 double and my mate a 458 Lott.
Thanks for your replies. Baz
Baz460 wrote:Thanks for the input gentlemen. I have emailed 4 outfitters and spoken to one, and am now in the process of deciding which way to go.
The prices have varied from $11,000 per person, for one trophy and one management animal, full accommodation transfers, trophy fees, head preparation and licenses, etc and on the other hand, I have been quoted $5500 per person for the same hunt, all inclusive, which I think is more realistic, and for Die Juducil getting a quote for $13000 per person for a 2 day hunt, that is a crazy price. One of the outfitters because my mate is an American, wanted us to pay in US Dollars, I had to remind him that this not Africa, and being Australian I would be paying in Australian currency, and that was that, and he all of a sudden he changed from US dollars to Aussie dollars, LOL So I will wait and get some more quotes and then make a decision for next year. Plus being an ex slaughterman, I have absolutely no doubt that a 6.5 solid in the brain would drop a buffalo, as I have brained hundreds of big bulls with a captive bolt, but my mate will be using a 458 Lott and I will use a 500 double.
Cheers Baz.
duncan61 wrote:The hunter using the 6.5 x 55 Swede had solid big game handloads and he belted them in the boiler room and it did the job.I doubt you will have to put more than 2 shots in with a 458 lott or 500 but I bet you reload anyway.If you try to head shoot you could ruin the horns which is what you are chasing.It is an amazing place and you should enjoy the moment.I got a 6 day hunt for $2500 but it was a while ago and at the end of the season and I had to book my own flights etc.I am suprised that a 30/30 did not penetrate the brain box on that steer but it was a soft nose no doubt.I had a single shot H&R in hornet for dispatching dairy cows and it got in there real good
duncan61 wrote:Apparently the hunter with the 6.5x55 claimed he could do the job and did it well with shot placement.I am not sure how many he put in it but I hit my buff at about 80 metres in the heart lung area and then stood there smiling as it went down but it got back up and started to look for us so I put the other 3 in the mag into it then reloaded 3 more and ran out from behind the tree I was using and closed to about 40 metres then put 3 more in the heart lung area then reloaded with the next 3 and got behind on a 45 and put 2 more in it and seen them come out its chest and it went down again.Then it stood up again and because it was an old bull its spine was showing and it staggered around broadside I am now about 20 metres and I scoped up the backbone and put one through its spine and it splayed out and stopped for the last time.The guide went crazy as I walked around in front of it but it was dead as and I tapped its eyeball and there was no reaction.A solid bullet in 6.5 with enough energy could do the job but I agree it is light for big game and I would rather use a 50cal out of an armoured car