Table of contents for Edition 75 in Australian Hunter

Every hunter carries at least one, many of us a few on each outing. Knives are an essential tool in any hunter’s kit. From skinning and boning out animals to feathering a stick to start a fire, without a knife, the life of a hunter would be complicated to say the least. Given the need, it is not surprising that debates on what makes a good knife can become rather heated. What works for one person may not apply for another. In addition to this, what suits boning out an animal will not suffice for batoning wood or cutting a length of paracord to tie off a tarp. On day trips or when light travel is essential, I often carry only one main blade, but I supplement it with a…

Perception is an interesting thing. What our eyes detect is processed by the brain and often subject to the influence of a judgmental mind. On the open plains of south-west Queensland I didn’t dare stalk closer. The pig was feeding on grassland under the watchful corvine eyes resting high in the scattered trees on sentry duty. Along with a pair of brolgas gracing the landscape, further movement would be announced far and wide. Beyond the pig I spotted a shape among some scrub under a tree, a large goat I judged. It provided a useful guide to estimate range while finding a steady rest for my Winchester .270 on the branch of a fallen tree. Gentle pressure on the trigger blasted a shot across the quiet landscape. The pig raised…

This is a one-pot meal that is designed to cook quickly over high(ish) heat without burning the ingredients. Brown the minced pork and goat (lamb is an alternative to goat). The pork has been pre-seasoned with ground pepper. As an option I’ve included some of the bones in the mix. An alternative to the leg bones could have been to toss the goat’s neck into the pot. Place the ingredients into the camp oven, then stir together: • 750g game mince(s)• 2 onions, chopped• handful fresh herbs, roughly chopped (optional)• 2-3 teaspoons harissa powder• 1 tablespoon ras el hanout (use curry powder as an alternative option)• 1 teaspoon cumin seeds• 1 tablespoon tomato sauce• 400g tin chopped tomatoes• green capsicum (optional)• 1 cup water Handy Hint: Use a variety of…

It had been years since purchasing factory centrefire ammo of any description after enjoying success with handloads in my hunting rifles. I recently acquired a new Sauer 100 Classic in 6.5 Creedmoor, with the sole purpose of using only factory ammo, although I bought various boxes of different load and projectile weight combinations to trial. Seduced by the lure of economy, I couldn’t pass up the affordable price of Hornady American Gunner ammunition in containers of 200. The retailer explained if I ever changed my mind about using factory ammo and decided to reload, it would be cheaper for me to purchase the box of 200 rounds, fire once and reload the case as opposed to buying brand new brass cases. I purchased a single box of 200 Hornady American…

Hunting isn’t just loading your firearm, aiming at prey and firing. Reloading your firearm, aiming at another animal, firing again and so on. Hunting takes into consideration a number of factors like seasons, weather, quarry and terrain. Most hunts here in Terra Australis involve considerable amounts of trekking. A few hours of ‘hiking’ is common to just reach or spot potential quarry and this means lugging around your firearm, ammo, binos, backpack, knife, canteen and so on. Comfortable and practical clothing are a major factor. Winter, summer, breathable, layers for warmth – all important. But it’s your boots that must endure and provide comfort and practicality, taking the load. Only coming off when back at home or camp or even when it’s time to hit the hay. Your hunting boots…

Now, here’s a knife that performs far better than expected for the price. The Browning Ignite is, as the name suggests, a knife which can double as a fire starter. Included with it is a small but highly functional Ferrocerium rod. This is a pyrophoric alloy which produces hot sparks. It occurs by fragmenting and having those tiny slivers exposed to oxygen. It is a brilliant way of obtaining heat enough to start a fire even in wet conditions if you have dry tinder. Gas cigarette lighters can run out of fuel or become wet, as can matches, but this rod will continue to provide sparks and heat enough to kindle your fire going when out in the field. It’s a great idea to have it included in the sale…

When it comes to hunting knives, everyone has their favourites. There’s no such thing as one size fits all. Just because I love them so much, I’ll often take two and sometimes three blades even when I’m on weekend trips. I’ll usually include a small knife, either fixed blade or folder, for cleaning fish or tiny animals like ducks or hares. Then I’ll require a larger, tougher knife for camp chores. A heavy-duty knife capable of splitting branches for firewood, creating makeshift tent pegs or breaking down larger animals like water buffaloes, camels or some of the nightmare-sized feral pigs to be found up Cape York way. I’ve always had a soft spot for larger hunting knives. Not oversized Bowie-style, but something a bit bigger than a fillet or pocket-sized…

In case anyone hadn’t noticed there are a lot of the world’s problems that can be solved around a campfire. It doesn’t have to be so big you can’t be near it to cook something. It just has to be the right size to provide a little warmth on a cold bush night, and have the right sort of ambience that allows some fertile thoughts to bubble to the surface. After a day out hunting, regardless of the ratio of success, the campfire is that holiest of places for a tired hunter to park his/her backside and stare into the coals. After all, it’s not known as the bush television for nothing. I have a preference for simple camping, but a fire is right up there in terms of importance.…

I consider myself to be in the enviable position of having access to plenty of deer hunting properties. A good mate of mine, Terry, has been hunting on an acreage for many seasons and now that our boys are growing older, he has asked Carl and me to accompany them on a couple of occasions. The latest invitation didn’t take much for an acceptance and before long we were sitting by the campfire exchanging yarns with plenty of banter. The howls of wild dogs could be heard within a few hundred metres from camp and drew the boys’ attention. They didn’t waste any time nagging us to go for a foot-mounted spotlight session. Taking the Brno .22 out under our supervision and using a bright torch, Terry’s son Daniel shot…

There would not be too many travellers these days who don’t pack some sort of first-aid kit. After all, it’s like insurance; you hope you don’t need it but it’s great to know it’s there. But the more ‘traditional’ kits are often done up in boxes and can be a bit hard to pack. For some this may mean leaving it behind in favour of a few band-aids in the glove box. Tracy Beikoff lives in Far North Queensland and likes to ride horses and go fishing with her husband. Over the years the 37-year-old had seen her share of accidents in the bush, and knew that there was a need for something more portable. After a lot of head scratching, the Rescue Swag was born. An appearance on the…

There are three types of night vision devices. Firstly, there is optical image intensification of visible light, followed by digital image intensification of visible and infrared light and lastly, thermal imaging. As light conditions become darker, optical night vision begins to struggle as visible light declines. As it turns out, it is much easier to intensify electrons than photons (optical light which includes infrared) and that is how digital image intensifying night vision devices work. The incoming light (photons) is converted into electrons which are then intensified and the resultant digital image is shown on a small liquid-crystal display (LCD) screen in the device. Thermal imaging uses a different approach by detecting the heat of the object rather than light. These devices have great range, but are much more expensive.…

In my pursuit of wild dogs, I rely on trail cameras to find out if and when my quarry is moving about. At times I place my cameras over well-used pathways emerging from heavy rainforest. But, mostly I place them over dead animals. In my prowling about looking for dog sign, I am always on the watch for dead cattle. If there is a suitable tree or fence post close to the animal, I position the trail camera there. Fence posts can be risky unless the paddock is clear of stock. Cattle are very inquisitive and will sniff, lick and nuzzle at a trail camera placed too low. I secure my cameras as high as I can reach. In the tropics, carcasses go off really fast. The flies arrive first,…

While similar to beef, a meal of camel meat creates exotic expectations. It can sometimes be tough, depending on age, conditions and how it was harvested. Just like its native desert habitat, camel meat needs at least several hours of moist heat to temper gaminess and soften its texture. Slow cooking with this recipe delivers a sweet taste similar to veal that fits well with a flavour developed with bold spices. Ingredients • 750g camel cut into 3-4cm cubes• 2 tablespoons olive oil• 1 onion, peeled and chopped• Small bunch of fresh coriander, stalks chopped• 1 400g can chickpeas, drained• 1 400g can cherry tomatoes• 1½ tablespoons of beef stock powder• 2 cups water• 400g butternut pumpkin, chopped into 50mm chunks• 120g pitted prunes• 2 tablespoons brown sugar• 2 tablespoons…

These are the carbohydrate constituent of this balanced meal. Carbohydrates are a source of energy for the long walks that hunters often pursue. This damper recipe and cooking technique are for a flat scone. The secret to competent carbo cooking is to watch and test your grill in order to know where the hottest parts are as well as the coolest areas of the hot plate. You are working with fire and it can become seriously hot – it is not uncommon for some parts of the grill to reach higher than 500 degrees Celsius. Cooking with this amount of heat is dramatically different to working with a normal grill at home. This level of heat is great for sealing and searing. However, if you attempt to cook through at…

We arrived at camp in the early evening where our good friends already had tea on the go and handed out a couple of coldies to us. A few beers and a good feed later, the talk turned to the colourful history of Toby’s recently purchased Brno .375. The previous owner, Hilton Graham (a good friend of Toby’s) had been a buffalo guide in the late 70s and early 80s for Nimrod Safaris on the La Belle Station adjacent to Stapleton Station in the Northern Territory. As a buffalo guide Hilton had many a close call, one of which was reported in the Northern Territory News (April 15, 1981) when he was attacked by a four-metre saltwater crocodile and only survived the encounter due the heroic actions of a 13-year-old…

I felt like I had just blinked and the first half of the year had flown by. I’d already had a successful deer rut, taking my best red stag to date (later scored at 352DS and the Australian Deer Association’s current number 9) plus managing to gain access to several new properties in the same region. During that time my good friend John had suggested we catch up for a hunt down his neck of the woods in winter. Next to deer hunting my next favourite species to hunt is pigs. The bonus is both can be found in great numbers on John’s properties in central New South Wales. The game plan was to hunt a block he has access to which is quite rocky and covered in bush. This…

In these times of red dot sights, and thermal imaging, along with what often seems to be a preoccupation with velocity and telescopic sights of Hubble dimensions, it’s far too easy to lose track of why we hunt. I guess the bow hunters have never forgotten those roots, but sometimes everything new seems to have replaced, or at least put the basics on some sort of back burner. So I went and bought a Winchester Model 1894. Nothing new about that you might say, there’s plenty to be had on used gun pages like ssaagunsales.com You can call it a mid-life crisis if you like, but at 74 years old it’s probably a bit late for that. My idea was sparked to a large extent by a chance remark by…

My hunting journey began some 50-odd years ago, like many who cut their teeth chasing the ubiquitous rabbit in briar patches in Warrandyte and the Dandenong Ranges east of Melbourne. Sometimes with a rifle, other times with ferrets. In 1971 I found myself in Townsville serving with the 2nd Battalion. The Vietnam War was about to reach its finale for Australians in December of 1972. While serving in the Royal Australian Regiment (2RAR) a few likeminded men and I would occasionally go roo shooting for a weekend’s recreation. Not particularly my cup of tea but it helped to whet my appetite for feral pig hunting. Fortunately for me, my wife’s father hunted pigs and introduced me to a world that I could only have imagined existed. It was through my…

After smokeless powder replaced black powder and the velocity of projectiles increased and their size and weight decreased, a few theories developed. One of these was that if you hit an animal with one of those high velocity projectiles, the hydrostatic shock would kill it even if not hit in a vital area. American legend Roy Weatherby wanted to examine this theory and took several of his rifles chambered in Weatherby calibres to Africa in 1948 and tested them on a large number and variety of game. He found that game still had to be shot in a vital area such as around the heart, lungs or brain for a quick kill. Other experienced hunters reported similar results and so it generally became accepted that shot placement was the most…

When people ask me to select my favourite hunt, I typically answer: “My next one!” The allure of an adventure in truly wild, remote places, along with the animals and people who inhabit them, has always been a passion which ignites my wanderlust to travel and hunt. Over the years I’ve often posed myself the question: If there were just three hunting trips I could go on, which would they be? It’s not an easy one to answer. There are places I haven’t been to yet, so how could I faithfully give a straightforward and honest opinion? My solution to this problem was to make a mug of tea, sit down in front of an open fire and then whittle a long list down to a mere three. Here they…

I do not like the heat but in a moment of weakness I found myself committing to a January hunt in Townsville. It had been a decade almost to the day since hunting with my mate, Grant ‘Country’ Thomson. That all changed when I bumped into another mate, Dodge at a SSAA Shot Expo. “You ever hunted chital?” Dodge, who acts as a guide, asked. I replied that I hadn’t but had always wanted to. To cut a long story short, six months later Country and I were on a flight heading north. When we first stepped out of the air-conditioned comfort of the plane, we sampled the tarmac, which seemed to be melting. Nevertheless we met up with Dodge, loaded up on last minute supplies and headed to the…

This is a 'recipe' for roasting vegetables on a camp oven placed directly on top of a ‘fire-grid’. It’s good to choose vegetables that will cook at approximately the same rate - potatoes and pumpkin, or sweet potatoes and onions. Also to ensure that the vegetables are all cut to about the same size. I use duck fat in the following recipe but any cooking oil will suffice with perhaps a tablespoon or two of butter added. Place the sweet potatoes and brown onions (both in their skins) into a pot that has ample duck fat in the bottom. Sweet potato is a great campfire vegetable because it cooks (softens) quickly and cooks at about the same rate as an onion. Place the lid on the Dutch oven and put…

Within the entire group of sporting shooters and hunters we have owners, collectors and users with a passion or interest in certain areas. These are diverse, stemming from the ownership of varying calibre rifles or shotguns, shooting black powder bore guns to the acquisition and restoration of vintage firearms and cartridge collecting. The list goes on. During the past couple of years, I have had the pleasure to make the acquaintance of Stephen Barnes from the Kimberley region of Western Australia. He’s a fellow sporting shooter and hunter who has had an appreciation for fine English and continental rifles over a lifetime. In recent times, he has specifically favoured English 12-gauge side by side shotguns. He recalls back in 1969 as a youngster aged 10, accompanying his father on duck…

Single-shot rifles appeal to many hunters; more, in fact, than actually shoot them. I was always drawn to single-shot rifles, but it was decade or two before I owned my first one. Since then I have enjoyed using a variety, from the .22 Hornet through to .458 Win Mag. To me, a single-shot rifle encapsulates everything that hunting should be. The careful stalk, choosing the target animal, the well-placed shot, a feeling of satisfaction with the quarry cleanly despatched. For any considering, or just entering, single-shot hunting there are a few things I have learnt that are worth sharing. The cold barrel Single-shot, break-action or falling-block actions are capable of superb accuracy. In setting up your new single-shot rifle, there are some important differences compared to bolt-actions. Single-shots do not…

Binoculars have been part of my hunting kit as long as I remember. Growing up in Europe, where many hunts are stake-outs for a specific animal at first and last light, it is hard to go without them. Though I’ve long used Swarovski and Leica binoculars, last year saw me switch to Meopta MeoStar B1.1 in 8x32 as my primary ‘compact’ pair. My 8x42 Zeiss Ultravid HD has accompanied me on almost all my hunts during the past few years. The weight never bothered me on surveillance and the light-gathering capabilities of the larger lenses is fantastic. However, as the number of stalked hunts increased due to the fact that I moved to an area where this is both permitted and more effective, I wanted something lighter. In response, I…