Back from Australia....WOW!

[8th Dwarf]

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

[bayoulongbowman]

Ryan , congrats ...Im nursing a shoulder that was in a wreck ...thanks for sharing...Mark#78

[Gil]

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

[Donavan Daniel]

Mr. Brunner, sounds like a great trip! I hope to one day make it down there myself!

Cheers,
Donavan

[Ron Roehrick]

To paul and Ryan, congrats on your buffs, what awesome looking beasts and thanks foe sharing.Ron Roehrick, Faribault, Minnesota.

[8th Dwarf]

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!

[Basalt]

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.

[8th Dwarf]

See why I moved to New Zealand, guys?  The men are just more macho there and the women there know it!

Too Short

[Ray Hammond]

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?

[8th Dwarf]

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

[J from Denmark]

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

[Gil]

Paul,
Thanks for the info.Nice trophies.

Gil

[Ryan Rothhaar]

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

[Ray Hammond]

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?

[Ryan Rothhaar]

Ray

April will be awful wet if you are planning on hunting in the NT.

[Ray Hammond]

well...i guess that means I will have to make two trips.

[8th Dwarf]

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

[J from Denmark]

Too Short, Thank you