Trad Gang
Main Boards => Dangerous Game => Topic started by: Ryan Rothhaar on June 13, 2005, 09:04:00 AM
-
Well guys, sorry to be so long getting posted, but been pretty busy. Got back from Australia a week from yesterday, and all I can say is WOW!!! Amazing hunt, better than I expected. This has to be some of the best wild hunting area left in the world. Saw average of 40-50 buffalo most days(and the guides said things were slow). Got onto a bunch of good stalks and killed a nice buff on the 9th day with Rick McGowan guiding. Rick and I got onto some good pigs too, and I managed to take 4 really dandy boars with tusks in the 7-9 inch range. The buffalo hunt is everything the guys that have been there have told me it would be. Buffalo as hard to approach and as tough as advertised. The pig hunting is great, with the pigs pretty unsophisticated and really fun to stalk. I shot my buffalo at 15 yards after a tense stalk into the middle of the herd resulting in a 10-15 minute staredown. The buff caught us making our last crawl and I ended up shooting over Rick from a low kneeling position with Rick still on hands and knees. Hit the buff good with penetration nearly to the fletching and it went maybe 150 yards before going down. Lots of smiles after that...any one-arrow buffalo is a good deal. Travel to-from Australia was no problem, including importing the animal parts. Great country, I'm sure the Dwarf will post more when he gets back....they had been there a week when I left, his partner took a good bull and Paul was into buffalo and had some great pictures I hope he'll post.
I used a 75lb @ 29 inch MAII Widow, duplex aluminum arrows with modified STOS heads weighing 1000 grains total. No penetration problem on the buffalo, but I hit it far enough forward to avoid the biggest ribs. Shooting a buff in the ribs with an arrow sounds like hitting a plywood board...I'd consider my equipment as pretty much on the light end. Anyone that wants to go needs to do it NOW....the good old days of Australian buffalo hunting are today.
Ryan
The Buff:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v195/RyanRothhaar/buffalo2.jpg)
A good pig:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v195/RyanRothhaar/pig1.jpg)
-
Welcome back, thanks for sharing. :thumbsup:
-
Congrats on an obviously fantastic hunt and welcome back.
-
Very Nice Ryan ! I am glad things worked out for you.
-
Awesome, I'm green with envy. Congragulations.
-
Ryan, congrats, quite an accomplishment. Show me a pic of your modified STOS if you will...big fan of those.
And although I've got no desire to chase the buff, tell me more bout the pigs! Unsophisticated you say? Heaven, I say!
-
I'm happy for you Ryan my ol mate! Hope to catch up with you next time.
Al in Oz.
-
Man that's a giant buffalo...congrats on such a fine animal.
-
That's cool :thumbsup: :notworthy: congratulations, Joseph
-
Congratulations Ryan ! Nice buff and hogs! I seriously thought about joining Paul when he had the opening and talked with Rick McGowan too. I decided I really needed more time to prepare for the hunt so I thought it best to decline at this time.
Thanks for sharing your experience. It just makes me want to go all the more now!
-
Doggonit Ryan,
I have been trying to kick the urge to chase buff next year, but now my bug is in full swing again. Seems I am going to have to book a hunt after I get back from Africa next month. It's just too cool to hunt things that scare the daylights out of you!!!! When is Rick getting back in country?
-
For those interested in Aussie buff, we have one unexpected opening in August of this year on Melville Island. The full story of last year's exploratory hunt will appear in the next issue of TBM. I cannot compare the two operations since I have never been to Ric's location and I don't want to get into that anyway. But I can assure you of comparable numbers of buffalo in one of the most exciting wilderness settings I've ever visited. Will be returning in a month. Feel free to contact me at [email protected] for details. Cheers, Don
-
Ryan, congrats on a GREAT hunt! Sounds like fun.........Raven :thumbsup:
-
Ryan, That's awesome man!! For now I can only dream of far off places like Africa and Australia....but some day!!!!!
Congratulations !!!!!
-
hey ryan a real big CONGRATULATIONS. :bigsmyl:
-
Congrats, Ryan. I'm glad to hear you had a safe and fun hunt.
-
WELL DONE!!
-
Way to go Ryan! Did you shoot the dead buff with a snuffer?
-
Well done! Fantastic achievment! Thanks for sharing. Like JC, would love to see how you modified the STOS.
-
Thanks guys.
To answer a few questions from the posts:
Rick came over around the 26th of May, and he will be there for 3 months, so he should be back around the end of August.
As far as the STOS modification goes....not really alot of changing, but pretty important on "hard" animals in my opinion--round off the tip. I ended up filing the tips to a rounded profile of 1/8-1/4 inch width. During my testing I had zero failures with tips of this profile, but substantial amount of rollover with sharp tipped heads (STOS and others). I found the STOS to be as strong, or stronger, than any of the normal traditional type 2-blades out there (tested Grizzly 160's, but not 190's). Also for the buffalo I sharpened the trailing edges. All the pig broadheads came through unscathed, but we never did find the buffalo arrow, we looked around quite a bit too. Maybe Rick will pick it up later.
For J.C.---The pigs may have never seen a human before. You can't give them your wind or they're gone, but they aren't as observant as pigs I've hunted down south. They also move around all day and can be found anywhere, any time. Sneaking into carcasses of animals shot earlier in the hunt is also a productive way to hunt pigs. I killed the big black boar below on the buff carcass.
Here you go, JC!
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v195/RyanRothhaar/pig2A.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v195/RyanRothhaar/pig3.jpg)
Didnt get a chance to shoot any Snuffers into the buffalo.
The freshwater Barrimundi fishing is good, also lots of sooty grunters to catch. Only fished about 1 hour while I was there (then found pigs along the river and the fishing pole was abandoned for a bow). Brunner was barri fishing with fly gear when I left.
-
Congrat and awsome pics! I guess that just added another hunt to my list :thumbsup: !
Cheers,
Donavan
-
Daaaaaaaaang....so, who's in for an Auzie pig excursion?
-
JC, I am going down next May for 3 weeks. Hogs and Axis deer. I think there is room for more. Give me a holler if you want to no more. Joseph
-
Hey Ryan, could'nt ya keep from killing a baby buff? Geez. Im sure he was the runt! Lol. Man that is a monster! You just walked up and stuck him huh? Did ya clean your shorts after? Wow. I will have to try that one day now that i have a 76 pound longbow.
Jeff
-
The Barramundi fishing was awesome!!!! I'd post a photo here of my Buffalo, but I'm too dense to figure out how to post photos!
I'm glad that Ryan was wearing his hat, otherwise the GLARE would really detract from the photo quality!
Too F. Short (who does NOT have a comb-over!)
-
Well, 2short, then send the pics to Ryan. He obviously knows how to post them. :D
Conrats Ryan. :readit:
:bigsmyl: :bigsmyl: :bigsmyl:
-
Here's the Dwarf's buffalo. This would be what is known as a PIG. Dandy bull and a good hit, the arrow hole looked a little low in the other pic he sent, but I'm sure the arrow was going UPHILL. The good thing about wearing a do-rag is that you can deny a combover with no reprisals...however WE know the truth. Good thing to see you can still sit down, Paul, considering what I suggested Denny to do with your Digeridoo!
Good on ya!
Ryan
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v195/RyanRothhaar/PaulsBuffalo.jpg)
-
WOW! You have made a great trip! Congrats!
-
That is a beautiful bull! I'd love to hear the story!
Congrats!
Cheers,
Donavan
-
Congrtas on a great bull, 2short. :thumbsup:
-
Thanks...I'm still walking on air! What a great hunt. I'm already booked back next June first with two of my hunting mates. I can't wait!
Cheers...
Too F. Short
-
Thanks for the pics and stories guys.
-
C'mon, Paul, tell all!!!
-
Oh, what's to tell? How the hunting was? The stalk? What the Shielas look like in Darwin? Crocodile on a fly rod?
I mean, you have to give me an idea what you want!
Too Short
-
You've got to tell all :bigsmyl: !
Congrats again on a fantastic critter!
Cheers,
Donavan
-
This croc on a fly rod sounds good.
Cheers,
Donavan
-
No, tell about the Shielas :D !
Cheers,
Donavan
-
The stalk then? LOL
Cheers,
Donavan
-
How about the plastic frog???!!
Wait, NO ONE could tell that one as good as Bill.
Got your CD yesterday, thanks much! Will take a look tonite.
By the way, how was Denny doing when you left? He should be getting back before too long.
later
That tall, good looking guy that would only show respect for his ELDERS
-
Yeh ... please tell me about the "swimming handbag" on a fly...
Ala in Oz.
-
Well, there I was Barramundi fishing...
I looked down right below me and there was a four foot long "Freshie" (fresh water Crocodile) lying on the bottom. I let my fly sink down alongside him and gave a yank. Whoa! Just like hooking a freight train! He came boiling up off the bottom, snapping those cute wee needle-like teeth at everything and anything. Then the fly pulled loose and as he turned, it re-hooked him on the back foot.
Man, these guys can take a fly reel into backing in a hurry! He went into a tangle of roots and then the fly pulled loose. I actually retrieved it undamaged.
Then there was the bull we stalked until he started feeding towards us. At about 3 1/2 yards, I still didn't have the shot angle right. The problem is he was chewing on the clump of grass behind which my outfitter was hiding....they were about 1 yard apart...nose to nose. Then the wind changed!
The bull did what was natural. He went straight ahead. As he went by Andrew (the outfitter), Andrew yelled in self defense. The bull turned his head to look at Andrew and tripped. His brisket plowed a furrow in the sand about 2 feet deep...RIGHT BESIDE ANDREW ABOUT 3 FEET FROM HIM!!!!!! Then he was up and gone. I don't know who was scared the worst, the bull or Andrew. All I know is that Andrew's hands were shaking like leaves in a storm when I walked over to him.
We had a few other close encounters, too. It was a fabulous trip!
Cheers...
Too Short
-
Ryan , congrats ...Im nursing a shoulder that was in a wreck ...thanks for sharing...Mark#78
-
Too Short,
I would like to know what bow you used and also the rest of yoour hunting setup for this trip. How I envy you guys, I cant hunt buffalos here because its usually pulling a plow and a farmer behind it.Heck I even ride on the back of one sometimes, but even farm buffs are temperamental as I was attacked by one when I got too close to its calf when I was abouot seven, good thing the calf ran away and the mother followed.Would love to hunt the wild ones in the future.
Gil
-
Mr. Brunner, sounds like a great trip! I hope to one day make it down there myself!
Cheers,
Donavan
-
To paul and Ryan, congrats on your buffs, what awesome looking beasts and thanks foe sharing.Ron Roehrick, Faribault, Minnesota.
-
The bow was a 74 pound Wolverine, made by Dave Windauer, of Schafer Bows. The arrow shafts were made by Bob Burton, of Whispering Wind Arrows. Diamond Wood, laminated shafts. With my cresting, dip, and 125 grain Magnus, the arrows weighed in at 950 grains on the button. Penetration was right to the fletch and the broadhead stuck deep in a rib on the off side.
The shot was long for me, but the bull had just caught my wind and there was no time for debate. Picked the spot, hit anchor, and released. 28 yards. The arrow hit exactly where I aimed. The bull was "chuffing" immediately, wobbling at 50 meters, and down in 100 meters. I wet myself!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Cheers!
-
Ryan and Paul great bulls guys, WELL DONE. They're exciting critters to hunt that's for sure. I just got back from guiding two Kiwi guys, both got bulls. The compound guy, two arrows both sticking out the off side. First one from 25yds and the second from 35yds and took out both lungs. His son shot a New Zealand made longbow 74lb @ 26 1/2" and took his bull from 8 yds, cut the hose off the top of the heart.
-
See why I moved to New Zealand, guys? The men are just more macho there and the women there know it!
Too Short
-
macho
is that a down under word meanin' 'tiny' eh? Since the hunt I had worked out fell through i think I'm gonna have go to Australia and follow that up with a trip to NZ.
can you hunt in both places in the March/April time frame OK? Or is that monsoon season in Australia?
-
Ray...
Early April is when the Red Deer "Roar" happens. They are starting to roar in March. Trout fishing is still good then, too. Also, Fallow Deer are getting real rutty then, as well. If you need info, let me know. I'm now a permanent resident there and roam the South Island in a fifth wheel trailer.
Cheers...
Too Short
-
Too Short, Did you modifie your magnus head in any way ? What do you think of the Water Buffalo compared to the Cape in terms of toughnes in ribcage, tember etc ?
Jacob
-
Paul,
Thanks for the info.Nice trophies.
Gil
-
Thanks for the congrats, guys. Its still hard to believe how great the whole deal was and I'm working on a story for the PBS mag right now. Actually, my buffalo is a giant herd cow. (You probably caught onto that Basalt? :) ).
The really big cows are fully the size of a good sized bull and can grow as big, or bigger, horns. Although they dont get the horn mass of a big bull, they tend to hold the length better as they age since they dont fight and break off the tips. When Rick and I spotted the herd in the thick stuff we thought this one was the herd bull since it was a foot or so taller at the shoulder than the rest of the animals, and had a good set of horns. An hour or so later when we got back onto the herd in the open we identified the largest animal as a dry cow, and since there was no calf in tow we went after her. Rick gave us about a zero chance of successfully working into the middle of a mixed herd of cows and calves to take the matriarch but somehow things worked out.
Anyone heard about about how Denny Sturgis did yet? I reckon he ought to have gotten back a week or so ago?
later, guys
Ryan
-
Paul,
That sounds like THE life, man. Will Australia also work at the early April time frame..would seem like it would be Fall then there, right? Opposite us- I think? Or is their fall wet?
-
Ray
April will be awful wet if you are planning on hunting in the NT.
-
well...i guess that means I will have to make two trips.
-
I did not modify my Magnus 125 gr. head. I had a serrated edge on it, not a shaving edge. I think the two animals, Water Buffalo and Cape Buffalo, could easily interbreed. They look EXACTLY the same except for the horns. The Water Buff is supposedly about 200 pounds heavier on a big bull. Ribs are the same and it is a MYTH that they overlap and that you can't shoot through them...trust me. It takes a HEAVY arrow, and although some recommend at least 750 grains, I would not consider anything less than 900 grains.
Cheers!
Too Short
-
Too Short, Thank you