Trad Gang
Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: Benny Nganabbarru on August 04, 2014, 01:10:00 AM
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G'day TradGang! It's been way too long since I've contributed. But something happened yesterday that was really significant for me, and I want to share the little story with you mob. It involves hunting buffalo.
I've been out of the bowhunting scene for a few years. Some tough stuff happened, and I didn't have the mental or emotional energy to do archery. I barely touched a bow. I sold my heavy bows to pay bills and finance other things, as I truly thought I'd never have a use for them again. Then I went for a bit of a sea-change this year, making the transition from town teaching to remote bush teaching in an Aboriginal community. It really has given me a new lease on life, I'm happy to say. So, I found myself in the middle of Buffalo Heaven, with no suitable bow. Being that I cut my bowhunting teeth to a large extent on Black Widow longbows, it was a familiar and trusted choice for me to make an order for another. I took delivery of it three weeks ago, and have been practicing as much as I can. It is a take-down bow of 66", 75# @ 28", tillered for three-under. It has that larger "Toby Grip". It has tiger myrtle veneers and a zircote riser, with no red glass. I love it. I'm just running some old Grizzlystik Safaris through it, with brass inserts and steel adaptors. And STOS broadheads. They weigh not much more than 900 grains. I named the bow "The Pilgrim" after a Kristofferson song that helped me through, and the Black Widow team wrote it on the top limb.
Some of you may recall that almost ten years ago, as a novice bowhunter, I killed a young buffalo bull with a 60# recurve. I never really forgave myself for killing that bull, because I didn't earn it by hunting it. I simply stepped out of the vehicle and shot it with my bow, and regretted it ever since. For years I then tried to hunt one the right way, hiking and stalking, without success. Then my few opportunities dried-up. Until now.
This past weekend, my girlfriend and I packed the ute and headed to the river to set-up camp. From there we could hunt the nearby swamps and creeks. We soon found that mornings and evenings were the best chances to get close, as during the day the animals are far too alert as they rest, and the wind is far too fickle.
Yesterday evening, we walked away from camp to some nice grazing in some swampy country. Getting to fifty metres was easy enough, but then I was stuck. No matter where I moved, I would be seen. With nothing to lose, I tested an idea that I'd been working on. See, buffalo don't like people much, and if they see us, they're gone. By crawling really low, it prevents them from recognising the human form. So I crawled to the only suitable tree, flat on my belly, just using my toes to push me along, and pushing my bow in front of me. I had left the back-up rifle back with Meg, kind-of by mistake. I made it to that tree, and eased into a sitting position. If I peeked around to the right, I could see the bull looking at me. If I peeked around to the left, I could see the cow and yearling looking at me. They could probably see my knees and feet, and parts of my bow. They were about twenty-five metres away, front-on. No shot opportunity for me. I need them to be side-on and even closer. I've really struggled with target panic in hunting situations over my last few years of bowhunting. I wouldn't pick a spot, I wouldn't even get to full-draw let alone anchor. So I sat there behind the tree waiting, and decided to calm myself down. I came to full-draw and aimed at the tree. I just held and aimed at this tree two feet in front of me, while the buffalo on the other side tried to puzzle it all out. Then I slowly let down. Some more time went past. I thought these buffalo would turn and dash away at any moment, so I thought I would take the opportunity to work on my target panic some more. I leaned out to see the bull, and came to full-draw, ordering myself to hold and aim, and not to shoot. And I did it! The bull was there, front-on at twenty-five metres, and I drew on his chest and aimed without releasing the arrow. I gently lowered the string and resumed waiting. More time passed. Suddenly the bull remembered how hungry he was and put his head down to resume grazing. He moved into full view of me, but still quartering-on too hard. I got ready. At twenty-two metres he was almost side-on, just quartering-to ever so slightly. I picked a spot just forward of the shoulder, a third of the way up. I drew, anchored and aimed. And suddenly my arrow was there, right on target. Half-penetration. He bucked and whirled and snapped the arrow. The three of them galloped about a hundred metres before he stopped, wobbled and collapsed. I looked back to wave Meg over. The bull rose, slowly walked twenty more metres, and went down for good. We got there a few minutes later, and there wasn't even a flicker.
I'm still feeling a bit overwhelmed by it all. I'm very thankful.
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View from camp...
(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l164/b_kleinig/2014%20Adventures/L1010349.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/user/b_kleinig/media/2014%20Adventures/L1010349.jpg.html)
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Hollowed-out tree stump...
(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l164/b_kleinig/2014%20Adventures/L1010303.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/user/b_kleinig/media/2014%20Adventures/L1010303.jpg.html)
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An unsuccessful stalk...
(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l164/b_kleinig/2014%20Adventures/L1010300.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/user/b_kleinig/media/2014%20Adventures/L1010300.jpg.html)
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Mud...
(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l164/b_kleinig/2014%20Adventures/L1010326.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/user/b_kleinig/media/2014%20Adventures/L1010326.jpg.html)
(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l164/b_kleinig/2014%20Adventures/L1010318.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/user/b_kleinig/media/2014%20Adventures/L1010318.jpg.html)
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Waiting out the heat at camp...
(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l164/b_kleinig/2014%20Adventures/L1010333.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/user/b_kleinig/media/2014%20Adventures/L1010333.jpg.html)
(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l164/b_kleinig/2014%20Adventures/L1010344.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/user/b_kleinig/media/2014%20Adventures/L1010344.jpg.html)
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The fallen bull...
(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l164/b_kleinig/2014%20Adventures/L1010375.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/user/b_kleinig/media/2014%20Adventures/L1010375.jpg.html)
(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l164/b_kleinig/2014%20Adventures/L1010365.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/user/b_kleinig/media/2014%20Adventures/L1010365.jpg.html)
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Ben, I've always enjoyed your posts. It's good to see you hunting again. Great story and nice bull! We moved from Fiji back to Alaska this June.
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The wound. It looks like a neck shot, but it isn't. It was a chest shot. It's just the way he was facing combined with how he fell.
(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l164/b_kleinig/2014%20Adventures/L1010384.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/user/b_kleinig/media/2014%20Adventures/L1010384.jpg.html)
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Enjoying a celebratory ginger beer back at camp. A real beer would be nice, but it's a dry community.
(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l164/b_kleinig/2014%20Adventures/L1010390.jpg) (http://s96.photobucket.com/user/b_kleinig/media/2014%20Adventures/L1010390.jpg.html)
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Wonderful story; both of the hunt itself and of your perseverance through trying times. Congrats on your personal victories!
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Nice story and buffalo. :campfire:
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Ken,glad to see you back and with such a great trophy,congrats.
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Great story and a great buff. Welcome back
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Good to see you back Ben. I've always enjoyed your stories and pics. Congrats on a sweet buffalo.
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This is just the story we were waiting for Ben. Excellent as always. I'm very glad to see you back and in top form. Good luck to you.
Shick
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Wow Ben, that's incredible. Very cool experience. Thanks for taking us along for the ride, and glad you didn't need that backup rifle!
Ok so the rest of the story... I want to know how does one exactly get one of those things OUT? Frame pack? Dump truck?
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Ben, your back, great job on control of many things in your life. Hard times hit everyone but too few pull themselves up, they enjoy wallowing & being a victim....Meg is a keeper too.
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Ben you've put a smile on my heart buddy!
Thank you for sharing!
It's proof once again that it matters not how many times we get knocked down but how many times we keep getting up.
:archer:
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Ben,
It's good to see you back at it. I've always really enjoyed your hunts and I was wondering about you the other day.
Awesome suprise to find this thread.
Great read and I'm happy things are looking better for you.
Keep at em!
Great hunt and congrats.
Todd
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:thumbsup:
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Dude ...
A. Where is the beard ?
B. Methinks you owe me a phone call ... Don't be all selfish with your adventure ... It's very hard to live my life vicariously through you if I don't know the details .........
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Gosh that's terrific! Glad you are in a better place and back at it again. Great story and pics.
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Great to hear from you again Ben. I too have always enjoyed your posts and congrats on a fine animal!
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Very nice patience, good for you.
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Cheers mate, good for you! :thumbsup:
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Awesome!!!
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Be , congratulations
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Congrats Ben! Awesome hunt and animal. One heck of a way to enter back into hunting. Good for you! Congrats again
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That's awesome, congratulations!!
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Congrats all around.
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Ben, congratulations
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Thanks Ben, i have always enjoyed you posts. :thumbsup:
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Ben....
I'm glad your back at it, And nice Buff.
I see ya still have that Armguard I made ya....
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Wow Ben when you start your swim you go head first! Great hunt and great bull. Welcome back man!
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Ben,
Good to see you back and hunting, great story and hunt.
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I am with everyone Ben good to see you back great story.
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Very Nice!
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Congratulations
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Great to see you back Ben! Congratulations on your success with the buff, you're living the dream! :thumbsup:
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Great job Ben! Very well written story(as usual), you've got a real gift for story telling and hunting, obviously:)
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Excellent story Ben and glad you made the turn back to bowhunting, the hunting world needs you in it!!!
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Great to see you back at it Ben! Congrats, life looks good in the outback. Glad your change in scenery is working.
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Ben my far off northern brother... Or should this one who deals death to water buff whilst removing himself from the clutches of target panic......be called "Benny Nirto" !?
Firstly mate, bloody well done! Finally eh! There is no greater feeling then doing what you have done on your own terms and limitations... A true test to your character.
I too have walked those same lonely roads and have felt the same dull pain of trudging through life with no real purpose... I think they simply call it existing.
Now... It seems life has come full circle again for you mate. You can see it in your face and this hunt and time away with the new lady will be something you will hold onto for decades to come as it's important to die old with good memories.
Welcome back Ben... As always stated and offered, mine is yours.
Cheers,
ak.
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Great hunt and story , congrats Ben!
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Welcome Back Ben. Congrats on your beast!
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That's a great story Ben. Welcome back to the brotherhood. I feel your pain with going through some rough personal times, as I'm just getting over some myself. I've always enjoyed your posts, even way back to the old Widow Wall. Congratulations.
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Wow, congratulations. What a great hunt!
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Nice story and pics .Congrats on the bull. Are'nt you worried about snakes down there?
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Outstanding story! One thing that really surprised me...there are "dry" communities in Oz????? Who woulda' thunk it....
Chad
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Way cool. Congrats, way to make it happen !
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Great to see your name this AM Ben.....welcome back!
Tremendous story and pictures. Thanks for sharing and looking forward to seeing you again and again on TG.
Congrats!
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G'day fellows, and thank you for the warm welcome back! It feels so good to have bowhunted again. Can't wait to go out and try again!
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Ben, we exchanged a couple of PMs about 4-5 years ago. I don't remember what we discussed other than the fact that my father was a B24 Pilot in WW2 and had been in Australia a couple of times on R&R. If memory serves, one of your relatives saw duty on a "Liberator" as well. My Dad did love Australia. I am sorry to hear you have had some difficult times and I hope this finds all well. Jim
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Welcome back Ben. Thank you for sharing your buff adventure with us. Really cool story. :thumbsup:
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Well done!
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Great job and welcome back. :thumbsup:
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Awesome story. Good to see that you can overcome target panic with concentration. Good on ya!
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Congrats Ben! :thumbsup:
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Well done.... Happy for you! Nice rig, I too remember communications on the old widow wall. Take care, may there be many more adventures to come. Thank you for sharing...
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Good to hear from you again!
F-Manny
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Good stuff Ben, go the new BW!
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What a great come back !
:clapper:
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What an incredible beast! Great to see you back in the same Ben. It sounds like life is coming around to a very good place for you, and that is fantastic to hear.
Congratulations!
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Good to see you post again Ben ... welcome back and may your future continue to be bright.
Very nice bull :thumbsup: Congrats
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Hello Ben. Way to go on the hunt and it is a pleasure to see you posting.
Be well my friend.
(only in OZ can a fella kill a Bull while wearing Crocs :cool: )
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Hey, Chuck! I was barefoot, mate! I'd left the Crocs 150m back. Thanks for the kind words, my friend!
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well done. it truly is a fantastic feeling to not only achieve a goal, but do it in the manner that you want to achieve it. been there and done it myself so i know how you feel.
couldn't happen to a nicer guy.
clint
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Awesome story!
Congrats on a fine bull!
Bisch
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Awesome Brother welcome back indeed :clapper: :shaka:
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My hats off to you. I know nothing of your trouble but from the looks of things you got life by the horns now! Beautiful bull, beautiful girlfriend, and livin' life on your own terms. Good for you!
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You don't know me, but I've always enjoyed your input here on TG, and am glad to see you posting again!
What a great animal! Congratulations!
Archie
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Ben,
Great story and great pics, good on ya man! Congrats.
:archer:
Bob.
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Great story Ben.