Tabla de contenidos para Edition 56 en Australian Hunter

Welcome to Australian Hunter 56. First up, senior correspondent John Dunn heads to the Northern Territory in search of banteng bulls. The guided trip on the Coburg Peninsula - one of the northernmost areas of Australia - was part of John’s hunting ‘bucket list’. Staying north, Dick Eussen visits Queensland’s Gulf Country during the wet season build-up to cull feral pigs and rogue scrub bulls and brumbies. Grant McKenzie then cools us down with a rugged New Zealand hunt for mountain-traversing tahrs. In Practical Hunting, John Hill discusses ‘first shot syndrome’ - the frustrating situation where a rifle will ‘throw’ its first shot - and Dick Eussen returns with some tips for hunting by quad bike. We take a look at Walther Pro and Spika Challenger knives, the Savage Model…

During the build-up to the wet season, the tropical Gulf Country swelters under 45C-plus heat. It’s not a nice place to be, but being a bit mad helps, as the rewards are there for those who dare. Dam hot The historic boundary of Queensland’s Gulf Country and the Cape York Peninsula is the Mitchell River, one of Australia’s largest river flows. Its source is in the Main Coast Range behind Mossman on the east coast and forms Australia’s largest estuary west from Kowanyama where it enters the Gulf of Carpentaria. Almost half its length is through rugged mountains and hills of the Great Dividing Range, much of it being gold-bearing country such as the Palmer River and the Groganville goldfields. This is also cattle country where a network of station…

It was only a short flight from Melbourne and in a little more than three hours I had landed in Christchurch. I was picked up by my guide, John Royle, and we went to enjoy a beer. Christchurch was still devastated by the earthquakes at this time and it was terrible to see how much damage had been caused. The Kiwis are tough and they had rolled with the punches, but you could tell they were hurting. There was a major blizzard overnight and John was worried about us travelling from Christchurch across Arthur’s Pass to where we were meeting the helicopter. I had decided to organise this hunt in the midst of winter, which meant it was not for the faint-hearted. Luckily, the crews were able to clear the…

The esteemed name of Walther immediately brings to mind the range of handguns that this company has been producing for more than 100 years and for which it is renowned. It is a brand that has been synonymous with quality for generations. The Walther PPK and P99 gained fame as the pistols used by James Bond as well as shooters and armed forces all over the world. Aside from its range of firearms, a new line of products under the Walther Pro name are now available. Knives, multi-tools, torches and more are part of the array of items to carry the German manufacturer’s name. I recently received some samples for review, including a multi-tool and two knives: one a folder and the other a fixed blade. The first thing that…

There is little doubt the late Jeff Cooper would be pleased to know the compact, all-purpose rifle he championed as the Scout back in the late 1980s is these days a mainstream firearms production genre. Admittedly, not all the current offerings adhere to Cooper’s original specifications, but a good idea is hard to kill so his concept has not just survived, but prospered. In line with a number of other large manufacturers, Savage Arms introduced its version of the initiative in 2015 as the Model 11 Scout rifle. Like others of its kind, it blends sporting rifle looks with law enforcement practicality, which suggests the rifle is capable of performing in a variety of roles and in real terms, I have no doubt that is the case. The action The…

The Exo 5500 is a serious new contender in the market of backcountry hunting packs. Designed by and for hunters, I knew it would be worth looking at. Exo Mountain Gear, based in Boise, Idaho in the United States, has been concentrating on the backcountry hunting market with an ultralight, ultratough and minimalist functional focus. The excellence of the firm’s products has led to an explosion of orders from dedicated hunters who appreciate value. I had to wait a few months while the company caught up with backorders and was able to initiate new orders. Quality sells itself. Features The pack can be obtained in 3500 (57.35 litres) or 5500 (90.13 litres) cubic inches. I purchased and tested the Exo 5500 with all available accessories. The 5500 actually provides for…

For more than 85 years, Black’s Veterinary Dictionary has been a bestseller and has become a favourite with generations of animal owners, farmers, veterinary professionals, nurses and students. It was first published in 1928 and is an essential reference tool for everyone with a professional or sparetime interest in the care and humane treatment of animals. This book is much more than a glossary of veterinary terms. The scope is wide-ranging and with the expansion of the SSAA Farmer Assist program into other states, this new and updated edition will be a valuable addition to the bookshelf of any farmland shooter. A quick browse of this once in a while will exponentially increase your knowledge of domestic and commercial farm stock, and if you can report something that you feel…

The bush is a wonderful place to spend time in. It opens up scenes filled with wonders. Its clean, crisp smells and the sounds of its daily business are played out among the swaying tree tops, as the wind rattles the leaves. Summer storms and rain-swollen flooding creeks wash away the old and make way for the new. In winter come the cold, foggy mornings, the crisp, clean white frost biting your face with its bitterness. As a hunter, it provides me with a wealth of enjoyment through its chorusing birds and the busy mammals all on life’s journey. It also delivers so many things for use in human life. For instance, there is wood from the trees that you can work with your hands or burn for firewood. Rocks…

Industry Liaison and Lobbying The SSAA works closely with the Australian and international firearms industry and has an Australian federal parliamentary presence to communicate with Australia’s elected leaders and those departments that affect our chosen sport. The Association also has official Non-Government Organisation status within the United Nations and regularly participates in discussions with affiliated and like-minded international groups. Website The SSAA website keeps members and supporters informed of social, political and environmental developments, news about our Association and industry, and other matters of interest. Our SSAA National Facebook page and free-of-charge SSAA National E-newsletters also empower subscribing members to become politically proactive regarding current events, stories, online polls and other important news. Research The SSAA coordinates research projects and initiatives using data from a range of reputable sources, all…

These great SSAA Store products and lots more are available at our online store - Hunter merchandise - store.ssaa.org.au store.ssaa.org.au SSAA Essentials small canvas crib bag NEW Originally designed for Australian on-land mining applications, whether slinging it over your head in the city or in the remote outback, this shoulder bag manages to be all things to all people! Made for everyday use, this 13-litre, multi-purpose bag is crafted from strong, hard-wearing canvas, which has a waterproof treatment applied to help protect your paperwork and digital devices during transit. The main entry point is made through an oversized storm flap, secured with a zip and two press studs. Constructed with heavy-duty, weather-proofed cotton canvas with shoulder strap. it measures 370x270x130mm - 13-litre. Code ECB001 $37.50 Twin light pack The P7.2…

For your chance to win one of these competitions, write your name, address and daytime contact 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 56 competition PO Box 2520, Unley SA 5061 Or enter online at www.ssaa.org.au/win Competitions close May 31, 2016 WIN Blackbelt shotgun ammo belt pack (includes gun sling, ammo belt, safety buckle, side holster and belt pouch) Valued at $115 Kindly donated by Eagleye Hunting Gear www.eagleyehg.com.au WIN Tramontina knife roll Valued at $69.95 Kindly donated by SSAA Store store.ssaa.org.au WIN SSAA outdoor pack (includes fly hat, beanie, knife sharpener and enamel cup) Valued at $59.80 Kindly donated by SSAA Store store.ssaa.org.au SSAA’s Cooks…

The Fabbrica Armi Isidoro Rizzini (FAIR) firearms manufacturing facility was established in 1971 in Marcheno, Brescia, right in the heartland of the historical Italian gunmaking region. While 40-odd years may be considered quite ‘young’ compared to some Italian gunmakers, in its catalogue, FAIR claims to be the second largest shotgun manufacturer in Italy, so it must be doing something right. Trophy Arms in Essendon, Victoria, has set its sights on and is doing well in establishing FAIR shotguns in Australia. FAIR aims to combine the latest in technological development with regard to materials and production coupled with the traditions of handfinished, artisan workmanship. The finish inside its guns is all completed by hand during the final assembly and the shotguns are adjusted to perfection before leaving the factory under a…

Travelling south with the crew, when you factored in a dinner and fuel stop, we were still about nine hours away from the great expanse of forests, conservation zones and national parks that would soon be our hunting grounds for the next five days. Tim, Darcy, Simon and I had been planning the hunt since our last visit in 2012, but this time around we would be spending a full five days in the area. With the closest town roughly a 100km round trip from our campsite, we needed to be self-sufficient, so spread across our little convoy we had enough diesel, water, food, drinks and gear to fully provision our adventure. The five days would give us an opportunity to hunt new ground. Having covered the eastern parts of…

To say members of my family were keen duck hunters would probably be a bit of an understatement. I am proud of my family’s duck hunting heritage. My father, uncles, brothers and my cousins, even my grandfather, were in their time dedicated duck hunters. And why wouldn’t we be, for my grandparents’ house was situated just 200m or so from our own duck swamp, known locally as one of the best spots in the district. I spent many days down at my grandparents’ hunting ducks as a teenager. We all had our favourite gundogs, right back to my grandfather. The earliest gundogs we had were locally known as Murray River curly coated retrievers (MRCCR). The first one came into our family thanks to good luck more than good management. My…

Offal is often the best meat to cook the same day as the kill. The term offal includes the variety of internal organs and meats from a butchered animal, such as the heart, kidney, liver and suet, which are often considered delicacies. To butcher an animal for its offal, you need to start with the evisceration process and then target in on the heart. In the following procedure, we are operating on a hanging deer carcass that has been skinned and then has the heart removed. 1. To start the evisceration procedure, ‘unzipper’ the skin of the belly by inserting the curved blade of a gutting knife into the centre line of the underside/belly side of the hanging deer carcass. Push the knife upwards for the full length of the…