G'day Tradgangers,
Just got back from a hunt that most Aussies have on their must do list, Cape York Peninsula. The plan was simple, head North with some mates and chase Boars, Scrub Bulls and catch Barramundi for a week.
I had and absolute ball, and the only thing that stopped me having a better time was the fact that I missed everything I shot at! Yep the only time that the excitement took over, and it lasted all week. Hunting the big boars of the North was obviously too much excitement for me to keep a lid on, and as the miss tally grew, so did the self imposed pressure.
Some days we covered 30km on foot and to miss was just heartbreaking after the effort we put in to get a shot opportunity.
We had a day or two of fishing to break it up and on Day 5 we headed back to a promising looking swamp for an afternoon hunt. We arrived at the lagoon and sat down to wait for 10 minutes to see if any Boars would come in and feed. We had only been sitting for a minute when Ben whispered "Scrubbers"
I looked up to see a bull meandering through the scrub in the late afternoon light. he was followed by a cow and calf, then another. Soon we were looking at a mob of about twenty Scrub Cattle. A couple of the Bulls were huge bodied, despite only average horns. I would have loved to shoot one, but without any cover between us, they are too dangerous to attempt a stalk on. I had to be content with some photos of the big fellas instead.
After they watered, they stood facing all directions, listening for danger. These Scrubbers are very wary creatures. Up here, if they see a human, it usually means that they are shot or rounded up and end up as hamburgers. They know what man is, and can be very dangerous.
After about 10 minutes, Ben got out a Blunt and drew back his Raven Vanquish recurve. Aimed at the big horned cow 55yds away, and released. The Arrow flew perfectly and hit her over the heart. It had the desired effect, as she took off startled, taking the herd with her.
We stalked around the edge of the lagoon, with the wind in our face. Ben headed over the savannah to check out another patch of water, while I continued on. It wasn't long before I spotted a boar. This fella was feeding in the Bulkuru reeds, ploughing up great clods of mud. I slipped off the footwear and moved when he had his head in the mud and froze when he lifted his head. The boars can be very wary, especially with Crocodiles around, so ground must be made quickly, and in no time I got in to about 12 meters. Meanwhile, Ben had come back was watching me and couldn't see the boar, but could see some reeds moving around. He then realised that it was a decent Saltwater Crocodile cruising around the shallow water, and for a moment he thought I might get into the water and stalk it.
Lucky for me, the boar was on the edge of the bank, feeling the self imposed pressure of previous misses, I drew and shot over his back. As the arrow, hit the rock hard dry mud, the boar took off, breaking a big stick as thick as my arm as he ran. I sank to my knees and knocked another arrow.
He took offense to being disturbed and stopped after a short distance and came back chopping his tusks and looking for a fight, and he walked in to about 10 meters, hackles raised front on.
As I slowly canted my bow, I was on autopilot now. He turned sideways, slightly quartering on. I aimed close as I dared to his shoulder blade, and smashed him.
He took off and 30m later was doing the dizzy circles in the grass. I punched the air in relief as he fell, and could hear Ben giving a few muffled "Yes!" calls in the background.
Finally, a Cape York Boar! His tusks were only small, as the young boars often have. He was an absolute keg, weighing around 80 kilograms (180lbs). I was absolutely stoked to have him, and we snapped some pictures in the last of the days sun.
So Tradgangers, if you ever get to Cape York and you're drawing on a Boar, for goodness sake anchor, aim and save yourself the heartache.
But don't worry about me, I'll be back and those Boars are going to be in big trouble
Cheers,
Memo
Topic: Cape York Boar.....Finally. (Read 635 times)
