Table of contents for Edition 60 in Australian Hunter

Scrub bulls are high on the bucket list for many hunters. In recent times, due to low beef prices and droughts, some stations have been forced to shoot these animals. Previously, they contracted bull catchers to round up and capture the bovines, but these days, it’s not worth the cost associated with the high-risk muster. Stations strive to build herds with no horns, as ‘polled’ cattle sustain fewer injuries during transport to markets and therefore attract higher prices. Horns cause damage and will bruise cattle when they are jammed together in crates and yards. Most scrub bulls have horns and when they engage in a fight with a poll bull, they invariably win. In extreme cases, they injure their opponent to the point that he will die. The winner is…

Fixed blade knives are a staple tool for any situation, whether it is hunting, camping, the kitchen or just being prepared. However, with all the fuss over ‘survival’, we can be coaxed into buying so-called survival knives and it is easy to overlook a simple locking, folding knife. Walther is famous for making quality firearms, which it has been doing with its pistols for more than 100 years. The firm’s tools though are also some serious pieces of gear, as it manufactures fixed blades knives for hunting and outdoor applications, machetes, axes and hatchets, multi-tools and folding knives. Walther has a generous selection of folders, including two Walther Pro items under review here. The Walther Pro Black Tac and Black Tac Tanto each sport blades of 12C27 Sandvik stainless steel,…

The old HiLux pulled up next to the helicopter hangar. We stepped out and the sun burned down on us, but the mountain air sent a chill, cooled down by the distant snow-capped peaks - the very peaks we were going to call home for the next five days. Near on 100 years ago a fascinating creature was introduced to New Zealand’s Southern Alps and it has thrived. Thrived to the point where they now outnumber their brethren in their native range; the majestic and unique Himalayan tahr. My close friend and hunting buddy Stu and I were ready to pit ourselves against this king of the ridgelines as well as the steep bluffs where they sought refuge from the likes of us. We boarded the chopper and flew down…

I have been embarking on epic bird hunting trips to Argentina from my home in Strathmore for the past six years and some of my mates from Victoria have joined me during that time. In June 2016, I instigated the biggest travelling group yet, with eight eager Aussies setting off to South America for a seasoned wing shoot. Incredibly after a week’s shooting near Santiago Del Estero, we bagged a whopping total of more than 17,000 birds. That may seem hard to believe but the many species include doves, pigeons, ducks and pheasants as well as native breeds which inhabit the groves of trees in the region and move in flocks. It would be fair to say that the numbers are almost out of control so the locals are always…

There are lots of funny and quirky ‘proverbs’ that attempt to describe the many challenges of putting theory into practice. My favourite runs along the line that ‘in theory, theory and practice are one and the same thing; but in practice, they never are’. To start a conversation discussing bullet energy, sectional density and momentum in any meaningful way as applied to hunting, we need to know what these terms actually mean and their relationship with one another, before we can understand their importance and influence for humane hunting outcomes. For example, when we describe any three-dimensional object at the most basic level, we must include if nothing else, at least the length, breadth and depth of the object. To use only one-dimensional measurements does not tell us anything about…

A quality pocket-knife is probably one of the most important items to carry in the bush, not only from an emergency point of view, but for the countless other uses they are called upon to execute. The Spyderco Ambitious G10 folding pocket/belt knife is a palm-sized workhorse, offering significant performance in a compact format and would certainly not be out of place in any hunter’s personal carry-around kit. With a closed length of 91mm, an open length of 147mm, a blade length of 57mm, a blade width of 3mm and weighing a modest 93g, the Ambitious G10 is a strong, well-constructed folding knife. While being fairly light in weight, it is certainly not light-on when it comes to features. The belt clip for example can be located with the open…

At the foothills of the granite rock outcrops, the rainwater run-off pools into gameattracting ponds. Around their edges are mud ‘spas’ that pigs love to wallow in. Minor man-made enhancements in the form of earth dam walls hold more of the run-off. This makes the habitat even more to the liking of the boars that hide, like the highwaymen of historical legends, in the tree-studded, bush-covered hills. At the edge of the pools of water, pigs wallow in the shallows and make individual mudbaths. As the daytime temperatures rise from mid-October onwards, the pigs’ need for the cooling effects of the water increases. By mid-summer, the pigs can’t help themselves. Hopefully for the hunter, on a sweltering hot afternoon, the pigs must venture down the rocky slopes to wallow in…

After much planning, Peter, Trevor and I set off for some backcountry ultralight hunting in the Victorian Alpine region. We initially arrived at our location late at night to find recent snowfall and an ominous sky that suggested a forthcoming snow storm. After a few hours of sleep in the cars, we allowed ourselves a quick coffee and set off in the early morning walking until we found our camping spot on a high ridge. No streams were nearby, so water had to be sourced either from creeks at lower altitude or by melting the abundant snow. Being the energetic bunch that we are, we opted to melt snow. Interestingly, the weather eventually changed from cold to very hot and all the snow melted before our eyes, prompting us to…

In March 2016, I hunted chital deer on Water Valley in South Australia (see Australian Hunter 58). At that time, the rusa deer were still growing out their velvet antlers but we saw lots of good animals. Four months later, I went back to hunt the rusa rut. It had rained heavily the week before we arrived and for the first time in all the years I have been hunting on the property it was living up to its name. Wherever we looked there was water lying about. Grassy basins that had never been anything more than low-lying green patches were now shallow lakes. Ephemeral gully lines were actually running water and the drainage channels were all full and flowing fast. There were ducks and swans, spoonbills and ibises where…

It was late January 2008 and my brother and I were up at first light to search for wild dogs. This was the second day of what I was starting to believe would be an unproductive weekend of hunting dogs. The morning silence was broken by a kookaburra and currawong’s first call for the day. Even though it was January and typically hot for this time of year, the temperature at that point of the day was cool and pleasant. Sitting on the eastern side of a hill behind the cover of a clump of trees, facing the sunrise, we listened intently for any howling. Howling by wild dogs is not uncommon on this property and in fact I had heard them many times before. Sure enough, a soft but…

Whoever penned the phrase “necessity is the mother of invention” could have well been referring to the Finnish mentality when it comes to designing implements used in their national pastime, hunting. The Finns are a proud hunting nation and take such culture very seriously. When it comes to hunting products, the two names synonymous with Finland, Sako and Tikka (both part of the Beretta Holdings Group), are known throughout the world as quality purveyors. The Finnish way also extends to shooting accessories and one recent item which has appeared at Australian firearms retailers is the 3HGR Gun Rest & Carrying System. Imported by Beretta Australia, the 3HGR is an extremely versatile, adaptable and easy-to-use product. The Finnish designers not only challenged the traditional concept of the gun sling, but also…

Being ‘bush wise’ means shortand long-term safety and protection against the elements and things that nature tosses at us. Sun and insect protection is relatively easy to achieve, but what happens if a snake bites you or you become lost or hurt? Fear not, there are things you can do and use that will make any bush escapes easier and safer. Cover it up I have been wearing Akubra hats since I penned my first words more than 50 years ago. In fact, many readers don’t have a clue what my name is, as many refer to me simply as ‘the bloke with the big hat’. I was wearing Akubra Sombreros well before old mate Les Hiddins, the Bush Tucker Man, appeared on the small screen, which resulted in the…

Cooked in a potjie, African bobotie recipes are one of the great treats of meat cookery - a blend of baked mince meat and spices plus the added sweetness of fruit. And there is more - a surface ‘crust’ that offers a textural variation and flavour change. These dishes evolved throughout Africa as European cultures settled there during the 17th and 18th centuries. The fruit in the bobotie is a classic ingredient, as fruits are found in dishes right across the width and depth of the land known as the dark continent. Potjie (pronounced poy-kee) pots have been utilised for decades in South Africa as a multi-use cast iron camp oven placed over a fire or hot bed of coals. Potjies have long legs (longer than camp ovens normally have),…

Back in 1990, I discovered a small gunshop tucked into a boating dealership close to where I used to work. Being my first job as a technical officer in a medical laboratory after finishing my university studies, money was tight. But as I was new to hunting and looking for my first centrefire rifle, I would regularly drop by before work and see what was on the secondhand rack of the gunshop. One rifle which caught my eye was an early model Tikka LSA-55 in .222 Remington and it duly became my pride and joy. Even though it was used when purchased, it sported a Japanese Tasco 8x40 scope and shot quite well. I refinished the woodwork, acquired a five-shot detachable magazine to complement the standard three-shot unit and used…

As with anyone who has been a keen rifle shooter for a long time - in my case, more than 40 years - a question I am often asked is: “I’m just starting out rifle shooting and need a scope. What do you recommend that isn’t too expensive as I’m on a bit of a budget?” Invariably those new shooters who don’t ask anyone for advice will frequently end up purchasing a scope from an internet auction site which can result in something of dubious quality, clarity and reliability. It’s regularly hard to recommend a scope of the more affordable variety as with so many features, some needed, some not, it’s easy to lose sight of the simple things required for a first-time rifle shooter. Happily, I now have one…

My initial introduction to shooting sticks was way back around the end of the 1960s when I first went deer hunting with my late Uncle Charlie. After he parked the Toyota Lite Stout ute (forerunner to the HiLux), I watched as he whipped out his machete and carefully selected two saplings of about ¾" diameter and about 40" long. “What are they for?” I asked as my curiosity gained the better of me. “Shooting sticks,” was the answer and Charlie proceeded to show me how and why he used them. He merely held the two sticks crossed in his left hand as he sat, with the rifle rested in the V, which could be simply raised or lowered to suit the situation for the shot. This basic system worked well,…

After spending a lot of time researching and obtaining prices, then checking to make sure the outfitter you have chosen to hunt with is reputable and reliable, it comes to the moment to part with your hard-earned dollars. However, this is often just the start of the costs involved in hunting overseas. While the initial outlay of your hunting package may seem to be a bargain, there are some things that you need to be mindful of. There is the issue of gratuities, for example, and as a nation of typically non-tippers, it was a totally alien concept for me when I first travelled so I had to ask how it works. Basically if you are satisfied with the way your outfitter has conducted the hunt and the service that…

With knife sharpening, there is no acceptable or precise approach to know or measure that your blade is as sharp as it is possible to be or to make the statement that ‘my knife is sharper than yours!’ There are a number of means to sharpen a knife, with the question arising: Which process produces the best result? In the following we will look at three methods and examine the sharpening of skinning/filleting knives only. My Oxford Dictionary defines sharp as “with fine edge or point, not blunt”, which is not of much use. There is no way that we can accurately measure the level of ‘sharpness’. However, we can compare outcomes or at least accept that if our blade can skin two Asiatic buffaloes and three feral pigs and…

I think it would be fair to say that most hunters and their families prefer magpie goose breast meat over that of legs and thighs. I, on the other hand, differ. My favourite magpie goose recipe is a rogan josh-style curry made with deboned leg and thigh meat. Personally, I find the strongly flavoured magpie goose meat is much more suitable for use in lamb or beef recipes than as a substitute for duck. Rogan josh is a Persian-style curry traditionally made with lamb and relatively mild dried chillies. It is wonderful with magpie goose. This dish can be cooked in a slow cooker, large heavy-based pot or even a camp oven. If you live outside of the Northern Territory it will work just as well with goat as it…

SSAA first aid box An absolute must-have for home and the car. You never know when the next little emergency might strike - be prepared. This well-equipped box will make an important addition for the next hunting trip. For full details on the contents of each pack see store. A must for home or in the field Contents 1 Pair of blue powder free gloves (large) Shears Plastic carry mini box Fabric dressing strips 8cm x 1m Plastic latex free dressing strips Hypoallergenic paper tape 1.23cm x 9m Heavy elastic crepe bandage Sterile gauze swab 7.5cm x 7.5cm Dressing non adherent 7.5cm x 7.5cm Dressing non adherent 10cm x 7.5cm Oval sterile eye pad Blunt S/Steel scissors sharp Forceps splinter S/S 12.5cm Crepe Bandages Triangular bandage Safety pins Antiseptic rapaid…