Folks from down under?

[matt matney]

What are the different type of big game species   you guys hunt in aussie land?

[Rick McGowan]

Well, I'm not from there, BUT I have spent a LOT of time there. Essentially, the hunting in OZ is for feral species and there are different species in the various regions. Pigs are one of the most common and widespread, several deer species red, rusa, hog, axis or chital and fallow. Goats, sheep, donkeys, camels and brumbies(horses). The two biggest species are scrub bulls(wild cattle) and water buffalo, there are also bantang, which is the original wild cattle, but they are very restricted in distribution.

[matt matney]

Rick,  How was it when you were there?   I want to go to Australia so bad.  matt

[matt matney]

ttt

[Benny Nganabbarru]

G'day Matt, here's some pictures:

 http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=98;t=000014

Cheers,

Ben

[Al Kidner]

Ben your the coolist School teacher I know!

[tradtusker]

i second that Al, i bet the kids cant wait to go on field trips with MR kleinig.

Matt i just returned for a years backpacking aroung Australia had an amazing trip, and got quite a bit of hunting in, if you need any info on places or pics just give me a shout!

and dont forget ozz is a fishing Mecca      

[Rick McGowan]

Matt, I was fascinated with OZ since I was a kid and when my sister was transferred there it finally gave me the excuse to go. I went there every year after that and even guided hunters. I would absolutely go, just figure out how to make it happen and do it!

[matt matney]

Ben,  Thats awesome!!!!!!

Tradtusker,  backpacking Australia that is cool.  I love fishing but i didn't have a clue ozz was such a place for fishing.  

Rick,  I've been thinking about how to make it happen and I think I will be able to no problem in about 2 years.  

To all,  Can I do the hunts myself or do I have to have a guide?

[Rick McGowan]

In most cases you don't need a guide, but you will need permission if its private land and there may be trespass/trophy fees and you do need to know what you are doing, many areas are very rough and remote with very little water.

[Benny Nganabbarru]

You could tee-up a hunt with local bowhunters in the areas you visit. Look me up if you come through Katherine.

An even better bet would be to firstly research the species you really want to hunt, and if you find that you're really keen to nail pigs, goats, donkeys, horses, or camels, it's pretty-much a sure thing to get work on a station in an area that has some of that game, and then you're in like Flynn. Stations are desparate to employ people, because the pay's not great and many of the able-bodied fellows are going to the mines. You'd be able to glean quite a bit of experience and knowledge just working on these places which would benefit you when you went hunting there on your weekend or in the evenings (although there are some times when you'd be flat-out from dawn 'til dusk working).

If you want to hunt pigs, donkeys, and horses, then try the cattle stations in the Kimberly, Top End, or Gulf and Cape (though without the donkeys in these last two). If you want to hunt donkeys, horses, and camels, then try the stations around the Alice or around Newman. If you want to hunt goats, then try the sheep stations around Carnarvon. They're all desparate for workers.

I hope this helps.

Ben

[Benny Nganabbarru]

I noticed you're a LAME (or equivalent); they'd like that, too, as most stations in the interior have a 152 for bore checking and mustering.

[matt matney]

Ben,  I'm a LAME, been working on Aircraft for 6 years now.  I worked with some of your Aussie brothers overseas.  All I can say about that is pure comedy.LOL  What are these stations your talking about and what kinda work are they doing? Are they like Ranches here in the states?

[Benny Nganabbarru]

Yep, they're the same thing. They run cattle or sheep.

[Rick McGowan]

Ben is right of course! They are always looking for station hands for all kinds of work, fencing, mechanics, mustering stock(round ups) often all on the same day! The boys working on the stations I am familiar with though, worked daylight to dark+ six days a week with a "easy" day on Sunday, it didn't mean a free day, just an easier on than the other six! No wonder they prefer the mines!

[matt matney]

I worked as a ranch hand when i was a teen.  Lets just say Hardwork!!!  I think i'm going to try what Ben said about hooking up with other bowhunters.  Matt