Trad Gang
Main Boards => The Dark Continent => Topic started by: tradtusker on March 08, 2013, 04:51:00 AM
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Not quite the Dark continent, but wild just the same.
Over the last few years, I have been guiding safaris in Australia, it opened my eyes to some wild country and I can say Iv come to appreciate this vast country and the beautiful landscape and game it offers to the adventurous bowhunter. Iv had the privilege to have some of our own Tragdagners in camp on some of these adventures and its always a pleasure to share in their hunts.
This is a vast land, and its a hard relentless country, the sun pounds day after day, the mosquitoes find no trouble biting through two layers of plaid shirt and will suck you dry faster then a sailor. Home of some of the most venomous Snakes and spiders all of which iv had my fair share of close encounters with, the shear remoteness of some of the camps and hunting area's mean that one good tagging from a deadly snake and there is little you could do to make it out alive. This hard dry bush can kill you just as fast as the coldest wildest mountains!
Follow along we'r heading for the Northern territory. Where the Buffalo Roam....
(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h101/tradtusker/IMG_1553-1_zps321c58f4.jpg)
From "The Proposition" worth a watch.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUVsDy0sc3k
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My good friend Allan DeVore Glassing some prime Buffalo country, We have shared some great hunts together over the last few years.
(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h101/tradtusker/IMG_0850-1_zpsc409143c.jpg)
Sadly this valley was shot out by "pet food" culling the buffalo to make place for Cattle ranching selling the meat for pet food and crab baiting in the ocean. I had come to know this area like the back of my hand, I lived in a bush camp here for 2 months at a time, Living on Buffalo Biltong and fresh Baramundi during the season.
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There are buffalo out there, lets go find them.
(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h101/tradtusker/IMG_0910_zps6368b213.jpg)
there's one out in the flood plain, lets go take a look, dark color and solid build "I think he's a Big one"
Note the grass "topped" by the Buffalo, they have been feeding here frequently.
(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h101/tradtusker/IMG_1402-1_zps597def74.jpg)
Light is gonna drop fast now, lets move in.
Nice work, careful now. Arrow is nocked. "ready yourself"
(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h101/tradtusker/IMG_0976-1_zps5f3dde99.jpg)
"Half way up the body, right on that blade of grass, he's about 26m"
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"nice shot, hold your ground" ...."watch him, watch him i see blood from the nose" "he's going down"
unbelievable! Congrats!
Craig Moy, with his bull.
(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h101/tradtusker/IMG_0915_zps16bb953b.jpg)
Great hunt bother.
(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h101/tradtusker/IMG_2352_zpsef1b0d63.jpg)
Lets get him back to camp, ill take care of it there.
(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h101/tradtusker/IMG_1022-2_zps69beb797.jpg)
Craig told me during our hunt
" your mind is like a parachute, its only good if its open " :campfire:
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Its not Australia without PIGS. Lets head down this river I have seen good diggings of the river flat.
hard Klms on the boots here, you hunt with me you need to be ready to walk.
There is one, he's heading to the right, "stop" he's stopped, ears pricked. You must pay close attention to the ears, they give you important body language, Shhh got away with it, let him go feed....
(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h101/tradtusker/IMG_1132_zps713afbbb.jpg)
ok lets make the stalk, he's rooting in the burnt grass, "get close" Ill hang back.
"here we go, pick a spot Allan"
(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h101/tradtusker/IMG_0791-1_zpsd8058266.jpg)
Let me take a look at that Arrow.
(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h101/tradtusker/IMG_1395-1_zps6dee0c73.jpg)
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My duffel bag of memories and dreams has seemingly reached flood stage.
Your altruistic sharing of these respendit experiences have served to make the decision all too easy.
I just procured another duffel bag especiically designated for extraordinary memories and uncommon dreams.
Again, Thank you!
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Yip, good blood. He wont go far. Solid boar.
(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h101/tradtusker/Screenshot2013-03-09at070628_zpsa4ea839c.png)
lets take a break, wanna fish?
(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h101/tradtusker/IMG_0895-2_zps06168f87.jpg)
Give the lure plenty of action, real in and jig it...Bang your on!
(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h101/tradtusker/IMG_0759_zps05a980e1.jpg)
and
(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h101/tradtusker/IMG_0881-1_zpsab125797.jpg)
this next Lagoon, I talked a client into helping me hand carry the boat into, its no doubt the first and Im sure for a Very long time will be the last time anyone will ever touch that water with a boat again. Some good size flat dogs in there as well.
(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h101/tradtusker/IMG_1142-1_zps61a4bd81.jpg)
A man can work up a honest hunger (and thirst :saywhat: )
Heat up the skillet.
(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h101/tradtusker/IMG_1146_zpsa1db1775.jpg)
(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h101/tradtusker/IMG_1148_zpsc2f24e1b.jpg)
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Heck yeah Andy, great pic's both the fish and the critters. I don't believe I've set foot on that continent for the last time!
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Great stuff Andy! A buff hunt didn't materialize for me, so thanks for taking me (and the rest of the Gang) along via pics!
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Daniel, you and I are hitting NZ high country amongst other things , just waiting for the card to be dealt.
Chris where is Au are you based now?
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Perth, until June, then back to the States.
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You know it Andy, can't wait! In the meantime I'm enjoying these pics of the NT.
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Sometime you just come across and area and think WOW
(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h101/tradtusker/IMG_1011-1_zps9e58a2af.jpg)
if you could hunt ducks you have some action
(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h101/tradtusker/IMG_1083-1_zpsdc9e52d3.jpg)
Through my bino's
(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h101/tradtusker/IMG_1435_zpscbf922dd.jpg)
mmm whats that Pat?
(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h101/tradtusker/IMG_1085-1_zpsb0f90b87.jpg)
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Thanks for sharing. Great shots. Love the NT hunts boars and buff.
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Great pics Andy, luv the pic of Allan drawing down on the pig.
Thanks for posting, cheers Macca.
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Andy,
Goodness... I sure do love your threads, pics are always top notch. And you are leading a dreamed life.....Congrats !!! Glad the Kanati is agreeing with you, sure are great bows.
PS..Quickly becoming one of my heroe's :campfire:
Froggy
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Wow! That's all I got for you. Just Wow! :thumbsup:
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Great pics,Andy. One day I'll join you.
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Thanks for the respite from the everyday grind Andy.........
Your adventures warm the soul of this old hunter :)
:campfire:
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That is AWESOME Andy. I wish i could shoot enough bow and come back over there for a buffalo hunt. Next time you see Mick, tell him Bisch said hello!
Bisch
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very nice, thanks for sharing
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Great thread, bro. Definitely brings back the senses and memories for those that have had the privilege of roaming those wilds with you! :campfire:
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Great pic's Andy
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wow!
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You have brought back some great memories, Andy. I can't say I have ever enjoyed hunting any more than I did on the trips there to Oz with you. It hurts me terribly to have the hunting area wiped out of buffs just to feed household pets. I knew it was going to happen, but the loss is depressing. I'm glad I had two fantastic hunts on that old cattle station before the slaughter. Every few days I re-live in my mind the walking and glassing, or the stalks you and I did, and I savor the memories of the shots when we got them. And there were the afternoons of fishing for barramundi in the croc infested pool or of relaxing in the swimming hole with the heated waterfall. As the saying goes, "Thanks for the memories." Those experiences were the stuff life is built on. Hope you make it back to Oklahoma soon so we can hunt deer and turkey together again.
Allan
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I have fond memory's of that as well Allan. We had some pretty neat hunts together out there, very sad to see the end to the property and the great Buff that were there. Relive some of those hunts often, and wont forget the look on your face when I first told you to take off your boots we'r going to walk up to that Big Bull in your Avatar out in the flat burnt only one tree flood plain. It was about as good as your face when the Bull fell to the earth after a heavy arrow to the chest. Some wild hunting to share my friend!
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Thanks!! :) :thumbsup: :)
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Hold on let me put my eyeballs back in....yep that is awesome.
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thanks for this dream time travel looking at your pics !
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Always enjoy what you post buddy.
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Incredible hunt! Thanks for sharing :campfire:
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Awesome! Thank you for the journey!
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Always love your posts and Storys,fantastic in every way.Thanks ever so much for sharing.
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Andy,
Where are you calling home these days? Still guiding in OZ? or off to South Africa?
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Read / looked at this post several times, love the images.
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Great looking picture of PDK !!!
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Bill Im living in Australia now. Freelance guide and timber cutter, As well as what ever else I can turn my hand at.