Table of contents for Edition 70 in Australian Hunter

I accidentally stumbled upon the Ultimax range of riflescopes online through English shooting and hunting identity Richard Utting, who reviews high-quality optics. His review of the Ultimax, specifically the 3-12x56 with the illuminated reticle, impressed him so much to the point that I had to investigate further. Initially, I managed to glean some additional information on the Ultimax line in that it is manufactured under the Nikko Stirling Optics marque and that it includes three models in the 1-6x24, 2.5-10x50 and the 3-12x56. With the Nikko Stirling line being distributed in Australia by Outdoor Sporting Agencies, we arranged for a review on Ultimax scopes in the 2.5-10x50 and the 3-12x56. The packaging for the scopes is somewhat inconspicuous. The black cartons only stated the name, model and reticle and ‘Made…

In early 2018 my family moved from the Top End to Canberra, so it has been quite a change in both climate and culture. One of the many adjustments has been the increased time I spend in the bush, fishing and hunting, alone. Previously I had always carried a minimal snakebite kit and had normally hunted with a good friend, who is a highly capable bushman. A stumble down a wombat hole on the banks of the Murrumbidgee - that could have easily resulted in a broken leg and the prospect of an agonising crawl many kilometres back to my car - made me reevaluate what I need to carry to ensure I arrive home safely, no matter what. After a little research and some deeper consideration of the things…

Sunrise revealed a group of camels out on the treeless plains. We were using a small ridge as cover, the last crest before a vast open expanse. They were about 1.5km away. The camels aren’t always in this area, they come and go, and can walk long distances in a night. Daytime temperatures were in the low-30s. It was such a glorious morning, everything was perfect. I peered over the edge with my 8x30 binoculars, looking for a big bull camel with a thick neck and a large bump on his forehead. There were some bull camels in the group, but they were not mature enough. We decided to stalk to another high point to see if there were any good bulls on the other side of the ridge. A…

If you are a keen rabbit hunter like me, it’s only a matter of time before you will feel a real draw to take a hare. They are pretty much super-charged versions of the rabbits you are used to - wily, faster and bigger. They boast longer ears, longer legs and a coat that holds more tan, black and white as opposed to the regular grey bunnies. They were initially introduced to Tasmania in the late 1830s with little success and were later released on Phillip Island, purely as a ‘sporting’ pursuit, with coursing still popular. Not long after, they were again trialled on the mainland and their numbers soon took off. I very rarely see them around these days but they are curious to watch as they go about…

The variety and quality of rimfire ammunition has, in the last 30 years, reached a point where today’s hunter and target shooter are spoiled for choice. Never has the rimfire shooter had such a fine array of top-value ammunition to select from to use in their rifles, be it in the .22 Long Rifle (.22LR), .22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire (.22WMR) or any of the hot .17 Rimfire loads. Brands from Europe and America, together with excellent local products, both in target and hunting specifications, have enabled hunters and target shooters to find particular loads suited to their firearm and application. Prices vary greatly too, from a few dollars per pack to $15 (per box of 50) and upwards for ultra high-quality European Target ammunition exclusively designed for high-end competition such…

Fiocchi is an Italian manufacturer of sporting ammunition. The company was established in 1876 by Giulio Fiocchi and is managed by the fifth generation of the family, in conjunction with Charme Funds, who recently acquired a majority ownership. The Australian importer and distributer for Fiocchi is Tasco Sales Australia. Fiocchi manufacturing is still based in Lecco, Italy, right where it all began. A few decades ago, a facility was also established in Springfield, Missouri. Fiocchi employs in excess of 600 people, with the major focus on sporting ammunition. The company is proud that Fiocchi ammunition has been used by winning competitors in many international shooting contests that include 15 Olympic titles. Fiocchi produces some law enforcement products, but that is a relatively small part of the company’s output. In Australia,…

For your chance to win one of these competitions, write your name, address and phone number on a piece of paper and place it inside an envelope, and write the name of the competition on the front of the envelope, and send it to: Australian Hunter 70 PO Box 2520, Unley SA 5061 Or enter online at ssaa.org.au/win Competitions close November 30, 2019 (Name of competition) Australian Hunter 70 PO Box 2520 Unley SA 5061 Enter online at ssaa.org.au/win Winchester ammo box + 2 decals Valued at $99.85 Kindly donated by Winchester Australia winchesteraustralia.com.au Outdoor Edge Razor-Blaze Valued at $99 Kindly donated by Beretta Australia berettaaustralia.com.au Dingo head lamp Valued at $139 Kindly donated by Wolf Eyes Tactical Torches wolfeyes.com.au GlowShot Last Stand Target Stand Complete Kit Valued at $169.95…

The overnight fog had been burnt off by the advancing morning sun. Our guide, Clark McGhie, took note of the conditions as we waited in a clearing on a dry ridge at the end of a 4WD track. It was July, but the day looked like it would hit the high 20s temperature-wise under a clear blue sky in Queensland’s high ranges. The breeze was the issue; it was very light but also fluky. This constant change of wind direction, even when this light, would dictate the next few hours of the hunt. Given how close we might need to encroach to take a shot, perhaps within 20m in this type of bush, every breath of wind was likely to be a game changer. Why were we here? I was…

In any given firearm the traditional component parts of lock, stock and barrel work together to enable the user to aim and deliver an accurate shot. What constitutes an accurate shot varies considerably. On the range it might be a benchrest shooter aiming to slip a projectile through the hole made by a previous shot. In the field it may be a hunter aiming to head-shoot a rabbit or drive a hunting bullet into the chest cavity of some game animal he needs for meat or wants as a trophy. Obviously, there are a whole range of variations in between but whatever their personal needs may be, all experienced shooters and hunters agree that a good trigger is an essential requirement for accurate shooting. In his book The Hunting Rifle…

I missed out on a lot of hunting opportunities in my early days due to shift work, as most of my hunting mates were employed in normal hours with weekends off. I eventually started hunting by myself and had done so for many years until my boys were old enough to accompany me. I had enjoyed my own company while hunting, but eventually comes a point in time where some companionship in the bush is nice. Time goes by quickly and now three of my four sons have grown up and left home, leaving just Morgan to hunt with his old man but only on weekends and school holidays until he also exits the nest. For millennia, it’s been natural for man and dog to team up, to bring down…

Leatherman’s Surge model was first introduced in 2005. It was an immediate success and continues to be a strong seller. It’s a big boy, fullsized device featuring 21 tools all up. When originally released, one of these tools was a tiny interchangeable bit driver for tightening very small screws, such as those found on eyeglasses. Nothing wrong with that, it’s pretty innovative. But the Surge received a facelift in 2013. That small bit driver was dispensed with and replaced with a small flathead screwdriver which can’t be removed. A larger interchangeable bit driver has always been a feature. So older models feature two interchangeable drivers! The big improvement came with the introduction of a redesigned, more substantial plier head which incorporates interchangeable hard wire cutters of improved steel. It is…

Do not be deceived by the almost cuddly nature of the title of this article. It refers to cats of the feral nature and kittens as in the offspring of the Oryctolagus cuniculus, or European rabbit - as released in Australia in the 1800s. Over the summer months we had noticed a slow but steady increase in the number of rabbits going around our place. One of the realities of country life is that following a concerted effort at fox baiting to keep our lambs safe, we see a surge in the presence of bunnies. Initially, my wife observed the ‘cuteness’ factor of a couple of conies shuffling along at the bottom of the house paddock. My offer to shoot them was met with some resistance. However her attitude experienced…

I hold the opinion that nothing is more personal in a hunter’s kit than a knife. It’s an ‘up close and personal’ tool. It receives way more use than my rifles when I’m out hunting, even on extended trips. On a weekend red deer hunt I may only fire three or four shots (I’m a meat hunter, predominantly). Sure, my Winchester Model 70 in 7mm/08 puts venison in the freezer multiple times each year, but that firearm plays a supporting role. It’s the knives which do the lion’s share of the work. My late father was a butcher’s apprentice when he was a kid and although he did not go on to become a butcher (conscription took him), he never lost the skill and I learned a lot of knife…

I have a couple of headlamps, one a small compact unit, the other a much larger version utilising a separate lamp head and battery pack design. Both are good quality headlamps that have served me well camping, fishing and hunting. However, they are each showing their age with the smaller a little under powered, while the larger is slightly too heavy. It was with this experience that I reviewed the Nextorch headlamp for Australian Hunter thanks to Beretta Australia. The focusing headlamp is part of the Nextorch H (Headlamp) series designed for outdoor activities. The aluminium and polymer constructed headlamp utilises a separate battery unit/lamp head design with the direct USB rechargeable battery pack measuring 75mm by 60mm by 25mm, while the lamp head is a 37mm round lens on…

In August 2018 the New South Wales Government introduced changes to the kangaroo management program. The revamp was enacted to help landholders manage the impact of kangaroos during the drought and included allowing landholders, and shooters, to use carcasses for non-commercial purposes. As a result, I’ve been able to harvest quite a bit of kangaroo meat and experiment with a number of a different recipes. Smoked roo fillet with tomato and macadamia salad I had been ageing some small roo fillets in the fridge for about 10 days, when we had some friends visit for dinner. While I would not categorise this group as fussy, they are certainly not accustomed to regularly eating game meat. With that in mind, I decided to smoke the fillets and use them in an…

As hunters, we spend a lot of time looking for game. With growing experience in the field, we see more game and our hunting success increases. For newcomers to hunting the challenge is converting looking into seeing. When I first began hunting I was constantly disappointed by the amount of game that I only spotted as it sprinted away from me. The goal of every hunter is to see the game before it moves, ideally before it is aware of the hunter’s presence. As my game spotting progressed, I tried to analyse what it was that had led to my improvement. I determined that I had endeavoured to detect what I call the key lines. A large part of seeing game is learning to identify the key lines that distinguish…

We only just seemed to blink our eyes a couple of times and 12 months had gone by. Now it was almost time for the annual roar in southeast Queensland again. My brother Darcy and I made a pact a while ago to hunt together every year for red deer at rut time (‘Two old-timers’ - edition 66). We don’t walk all that far anymore, it’s rather about being in the bush and enjoying it. Just the smell and sounds, the different things you see and experience on each hunt. Sitting around the campfire at night after tea listening to stags roaring to each other and telling old worn-out hunting stories. But they sound good anyway. This year I was hoping to find Darcy a good stag carrying a top…

Many a hunter at some stage has had an aspiration or experienced a yearning to hunt medium to big game, such as wild boar or the Asiatic water buffalo, in Australia’s Top End. Venturing abroad could mean Africa’s tough plains game like kudu, oryx, wildebeest and Cape buffalo to name a few. Or you could go to British Columbia for mountain goat, caribou and elk; New Zealand for chamois and tahr; even Mongolia or Tajikistan for the ibex or Marco Polo ram, if the pocket allows. Then by chance, a medium to big bore game rifle is crossed in a store, website or through a mate who has already experienced the elation and excitement of such a hunt, and the mind starts to go into overdrive, pondering the decision whether…

The sheer volume of specialised gadgets and knick-knacks aimed towards the keen hunter can be mind-boggling. Most of these are tailored to the American and European markets but we Australians know hunting is hunting, no matter where in the world you are. Some products really make our efforts much easier and safer. Other items leave you scratching your head and having a laugh at the same time. Dressing game in the field is something that most hunters take seriously. Converting a despatched animal into food fit for human consumption takes some know-how and having a set of tools to make the task more straightforward. Meat can be spoiled or totally ruined if hygienic handling of the carcass is not carried out. On a recent trip for deer a few friends…

There is a story that is still told today by the hunters of Carinthia (the eastern Alps of southern Austria), lovers of the Pirsch (deerstalking). It is the tale of a legendary trophy, a great pale grey chamois, stuffed and shown in the Salzburg Haus der Natur (Museum). It is said that this beast was, like all white game, marked with the seal of invisibility, protected by the Salinge Frau (wild or white alpine woman), who lives on the slopes of the Austrian Alps. This exceptional chamois was killed on August 27, 1913, by one of the most famous hunters of the Austro-Hungarian Empire: Archduke Franz Ferdinand von Osterreich-Este, born in Graz on December 18, 1863. But woe unto him who touched the Salinge Frau’s white game! Archduke Ferdinand and…

For years my ‘go to’ hunting rifle was a Brno combination in 7x57 and 12-gauge, topped with a 2-7x40mm scope or red dot. Versatility was added with a .22 rimfire insert for the shotgun barrel. The set-up was perfect for snap shooting game in long grass or stalking a mob of pigs. As south-west Queensland dried up, grass and low vegetation thinned out while sight lines became longer. Opportunities for a second or third shot at increasing range arose more often. Careful landowners saw the warning signs and managed for the long term. Feral game scattered to source food and water. Dwindling numbers meant that survivors were experienced or lucky. The lucky learned from experience and developed skills at adapting to the changing environment. Pigs also became harder to hunt.…

When students in one of my university classes describe a discovery from the 1950s as “old”, I tend to roll my eyes and sigh. But, given that they were born, well… yesterday, the 50s, 60s, 70s and even 1980s seem to them the dark recesses of history. So when I refer to the technology used to produce a novel chronograph system as ‘new’, it is or it isn’t, depending on where we start its developmental clock. Even I would admit that the experiments of the German physicist Heinrich Hertz on electromagnetic radiation in the 1880s, making possible the development of ‘radar’, were a bit before my time. And the research in the 1930s, resulting in the application of radar in World War Two is also beyond my experience. However, when…