Written in partnership with: James and Ayden Doumtsis, Twin Elements
Australia’s Northern Territory, or “top end” is a rugged, remote landscape. The terrain varies greatly with vast rocky escarpment or gorge country rolling into endless floodplains and low topographical areas of abundant green vegetation and water. The “dry season” is characterized by the winter months and falls in the middle of the year here in the southern hemisphere. As water sources that were filled from monsoonal summer rains over the wet season begin to dry up and evaporate, these smaller limited pools of water concentrate animals. This includes introduced “feral” animals such as the asiatic water buffalo and wild pigs. A plethora of Australian native wildlife such as birds, mammals and reptiles are also dependent on these scarce water sources.
Covering lots of country during this time of the year is the strategy when hunting and often the most advantageous for locating game animals. This can mean huge days on foot traversing the tricky terrain in temperatures that exceed 35 degrees celsius and relative humidity levels around 70% in the cooler months.
That's correct, the cooler months!
Setting off from a basic bush camp that particular morning, we had accumulated some twenty kilometers on foot when we finally found a small green oasis. On this particular hunt using mapping software and assessing the land in front of us, we followed a small spring fed creek which opened up at times into scant waterholes with reeds and green growth surrounding the water edge. Ahead there seemed to be a large patch of paperbarks which during the middle of the day would no doubt accommodate animals seeking shade and relief from the heat.
As we neared the bedding area, the sign on the ground increased and soon what small trails we were following became highways, littered with the tracks of water buffalo and feral pigs. We knew we were now in the right area, so covering the miles turned into deliberate, thoughtful foot placements. With the wind steadily in our face we slowed our approach and began to glass into the shadows with our binoculars. Nearly immediately we were rewarded and spotted a large, solitary mature water buffalo bull.
Being solitary was the first clue that this bull had some age. As buffalo get older they choose to distance themselves from mobs of cows and calves and live in areas with less hunting pressure. At times this may mean choosing to live in a secluded area with less resources, similar to a bull elk during winter which may live in a small patch of timber quite happily. Easily being overlooked.
Assessing the bulls horns it quickly became evident that he had mass and impressive arcing horns which ended in a sweeping curl. One horn was broomed off, splintered and blunt whilst the other glistened as the tip came to a razor sharp point. Noted.
Closing the distance we stealthily decreased the gap to within twenty yards. Despite being so close to the bull, the shooting lanes within the brush of the thick paperbark swamp prevented an immediate shot. Additionally the bull, unaware of our presence, continually closed the gap, feeding quartering on towards us slowly.
As the bull approached all we could do was remain motionless, waiting for the correct shot opportunity to present. That opportunity came when the bull which was now at twelve yards began to turn from quartering on to broadside. As the bulls head rummaged through the vegetation, with its view and hearing compromised I drew back the bow and settled the pin.
Instinct took over and as the bull's near side leg opened as it stepped forward the arrow was released, zipping into the bull and halting at the fletches.
In a standoff that lasted milliseconds the pull made eye contact and the intimate interaction was broken as the bull crashed off at menacing speed through the scrub. He was hit well and arched in a small semi circle before crashing out of sight approximately sixty meters away. Six hundred odd kilograms of meat, muscle and horn makes quite the commotion when it crashes to the earth.
Due to the sheer size of these dangerous game animals, we gave the bull time before taking up the blood trail. There was immediately good blood and the mix of water and blood along with a muddy trail made the search rather quick. As we approached the downed bull, much to our surprise and excitement the sound of fighting feral pigs erupted less than one hundred meters away. When two mature boars (male pigs) fight there is often little noise.
Easing our way towards the initial commotion it was apparent that the two mature boars that were fighting were quite evenly matched. As we closed in through the stand of upright timber in the paperbark swamp we laid eyes on the two pigs. There was one jet black boar and a mud encrusted ginger boar which seemed to be the more impressive of the two. Making minimal noise except for a thudding as their bodies collided, the boars would hit one another with enough force that froth would fly from their mouths.
Now within twenty meters of the spectacle, when the boars stopped fighting and the ginger boar looked to chase off his rival, I settled the pin and made another shot count. The hit was good and the adrenaline crazed boar ran around forty meters before expiring in the same swamp as the water buffalo bull. Less than one hundred meters away.
Choosing to drag the boar to the buffalo and not the other way around was a quality decision as we snapped a few images and made the long embark back to camp, where we returned well after dark.
Hunting in vast expanses of country is an incredible adventure, yet sometimes all you need to find is a little hidden oasis for the hunt to unfold. This story is an example of just that. Knowing the seasonality, animals requirements, and having the mental and physical wherewithal to withstand the harsh conditions makes the hunt a culmination of success.
Written in partnership with: James and Ayden Doumtsis, Twin Elements
__________________________________________________________________________
Gear Used:
Pnuma Renegade Quarter Zip | Pnuma Renegade Pants
Water Buffalo and Feral Hog archery hunt in Northern Australia 2024
Written in partnership with: James and Ayden Doumtsis, Twin Elements
Australia’s Northern Territory, or “top end” is a rugged, remote landscape. The terrain varies greatly with vast rocky escarpment or gorge country rolling into endless floodplains and low topographical areas of abundant green vegetation and water. The “dry season” is characterized by the winter months and falls in the middle of the year here in the southern hemisphere. As water sources that were filled from monsoonal summer rains over the wet season begin to dry up and evaporate, these smaller limited pools of water concentrate animals. This includes introduced “feral” animals such as the asiatic water buffalo and wild pigs. A plethora of Australian native wildlife such as birds, mammals and reptiles are also dependent on these scarce water sources.
Covering lots of country during this time of the year is the strategy when hunting and often the most advantageous for locating game animals. This can mean huge days on foot traversing the tricky terrain in temperatures that exceed 35 degrees celsius and relative humidity levels around 70% in the cooler months.
That's correct, the cooler months!
Setting off from a basic bush camp that particular morning, we had accumulated some twenty kilometers on foot when we finally found a small green oasis. On this particular hunt using mapping software and assessing the land in front of us, we followed a small spring fed creek which opened up at times into scant waterholes with reeds and green growth surrounding the water edge. Ahead there seemed to be a large patch of paperbarks which during the middle of the day would no doubt accommodate animals seeking shade and relief from the heat.
As we neared the bedding area, the sign on the ground increased and soon what small trails we were following became highways, littered with the tracks of water buffalo and feral pigs. We knew we were now in the right area, so covering the miles turned into deliberate, thoughtful foot placements. With the wind steadily in our face we slowed our approach and began to glass into the shadows with our binoculars. Nearly immediately we were rewarded and spotted a large, solitary mature water buffalo bull.
Being solitary was the first clue that this bull had some age. As buffalo get older they choose to distance themselves from mobs of cows and calves and live in areas with less hunting pressure. At times this may mean choosing to live in a secluded area with less resources, similar to a bull elk during winter which may live in a small patch of timber quite happily. Easily being overlooked.
Assessing the bulls horns it quickly became evident that he had mass and impressive arcing horns which ended in a sweeping curl. One horn was broomed off, splintered and blunt whilst the other glistened as the tip came to a razor sharp point. Noted.
Closing the distance we stealthily decreased the gap to within twenty yards. Despite being so close to the bull, the shooting lanes within the brush of the thick paperbark swamp prevented an immediate shot. Additionally the bull, unaware of our presence, continually closed the gap, feeding quartering on towards us slowly.
As the bull approached all we could do was remain motionless, waiting for the correct shot opportunity to present. That opportunity came when the bull which was now at twelve yards began to turn from quartering on to broadside. As the bulls head rummaged through the vegetation, with its view and hearing compromised I drew back the bow and settled the pin.
Instinct took over and as the bull's near side leg opened as it stepped forward the arrow was released, zipping into the bull and halting at the fletches.
In a standoff that lasted milliseconds the pull made eye contact and the intimate interaction was broken as the bull crashed off at menacing speed through the scrub. He was hit well and arched in a small semi circle before crashing out of sight approximately sixty meters away. Six hundred odd kilograms of meat, muscle and horn makes quite the commotion when it crashes to the earth.
Due to the sheer size of these dangerous game animals, we gave the bull time before taking up the blood trail. There was immediately good blood and the mix of water and blood along with a muddy trail made the search rather quick. As we approached the downed bull, much to our surprise and excitement the sound of fighting feral pigs erupted less than one hundred meters away. When two mature boars (male pigs) fight there is often little noise.
Easing our way towards the initial commotion it was apparent that the two mature boars that were fighting were quite evenly matched. As we closed in through the stand of upright timber in the paperbark swamp we laid eyes on the two pigs. There was one jet black boar and a mud encrusted ginger boar which seemed to be the more impressive of the two. Making minimal noise except for a thudding as their bodies collided, the boars would hit one another with enough force that froth would fly from their mouths.
Now within twenty meters of the spectacle, when the boars stopped fighting and the ginger boar looked to chase off his rival, I settled the pin and made another shot count. The hit was good and the adrenaline crazed boar ran around forty meters before expiring in the same swamp as the water buffalo bull. Less than one hundred meters away.
Choosing to drag the boar to the buffalo and not the other way around was a quality decision as we snapped a few images and made the long embark back to camp, where we returned well after dark.
Hunting in vast expanses of country is an incredible adventure, yet sometimes all you need to find is a little hidden oasis for the hunt to unfold. This story is an example of just that. Knowing the seasonality, animals requirements, and having the mental and physical wherewithal to withstand the harsh conditions makes the hunt a culmination of success.
Written in partnership with: James and Ayden Doumtsis, Twin Elements
__________________________________________________________________________
Gear Used:
Pnuma Renegade Quarter Zip | Pnuma Renegade Pants