Monster Termite Mound Down! (Snippets of Tropical Australia Bowhunting)

[Benny Nganabbarru]

Matt Wright contemplates the descent into the gorge:


We were checking unlikely, extreme spots, because doggers (bless them) have been hitting the main area where we bowhunt.

[Benny Nganabbarru]

A piggy paradise awaited us at the bottom of the gorge:














We saw the rear ends of a pair of boars crashing out of the impenetrable pandanus as the wind swirled. A better plan will be to hike in before dawn, and try to catch them before they bed, and before the ever-swirling wind picks up.

[Benny Nganabbarru]

I was fortunate enough to encounter this absolutely top class non-typical termite mound, and duly slew it with a pair of well-placed arrows:


This termite mound was a real pleasure to shoot, as it was not very hard on the arrows, like the typical ones are at this time of year. The best time to hunt termite mounds is during the wet season, when they are softer.

[Benny Nganabbarru]

A pair of fine, new-this-year Black Widows, in their natural habitat:






Matt had this tulipwood PL made at 70# @ 29" to replace his stolen zebrawood PL of the same weight; he accidentally left it in his car outside his house after a hunt one night, and, Katherine being Katherine, the window got busted and somebody scored a bow that they would have no idea how to use, nor the strength to use it; hence the inscription.

[Gerardo]

Nice !!!

Wish australia was at a driving distance

In my bucket list to roam that land with my bow

[piggy]

Some nice shots there Ben, That spot at in the gorge looks like a great spot for pigs in the heat.
Some sweet looking bow

[Joseph]

I really miss Australia.  That was the funnest 3 weeks I have spent anywhere!

[ozy clint]

nice spot mate. plenty of water there.


oh, i know how it feels to have the doggers find a spot. that's to bad.

[Wolfkiss]

Good spot, hope its productive for you.

Shame about the bow, there's no escaping scroats.

Looks like Matt is wearing a 'Jim Blacks bush hat'


Great pics as usual.

[Al Kidner]

Good to see you getten out mate... I like the looks of that PCH... pity I'm about to head under the knife for shoulder problems.


ak.

[Benny Nganabbarru]

Al, I hope it all works out for you, mate.

[GrayRhino]

Hi Ben, great to see you getting out with the new bow.  That's a beauty for sure.  I'm sure you'll get a pig or two on your next 'shoot-em-up' in the gorge.  Great photos....but I have to ask, what's a "dogger"?
-Ryan

[Benny Nganabbarru]

Doggers hunt pigs with dogs and knives (or guns, but usually knives). The dogs wear armour made of seat belt material, and lug at the pig's ears, keeping it under control whilst the dogger approaches from behind and slips a knife in behind the front leg. With good dogs, you can hardly miss a pig. The dogs sniff them out wherever they may be. Many of them are nice-enough blokes, but many are not, too. But, nice or not, they clean an area out very easily, and the few remaining pigs become extremely wary and ghosty. We traditional bowhunters (and even compound bowhunters and riflemen) take pride in our stalking ability and finally our marksmanship. The process is as important if not more important than the end result. For a dogger, I imagine the lure is the adrenaline rush of combat with man's traditional best friend. I also suspect that results are more important than process, in many instances, which is, arguably, the opposite to traditional bowhunting.

[Guru]

Good stuff Ben!

[Mudd]

Thanks for sharing with us Ben!

It's always educational to read your posts.

I can see the "why" of the "Doggers"... Can you just imagine the rush of jumping in with a critter that can be one very mean rascal armed with those cutters.

I mean if everything doesn't go just according to plan... it could be "Katie! bar the door" for him.

Great pictures!!

Thank you again!

God bless,Mudd

[wv lungbuster]

Great pics.

[rastaman]

That is one monster termite mound!  Thanks for sharing Ben!

[Ragnarok Forge]

Beautiful area and looks like some hog kills will be made soon.

[Davt]

Love the pictures. I have not been to Australia but I think I should go. Where can I look to get more information on hunting, hiking and general outdoor adventure.
David

[Charlie Lamb]

Good shootin bud (mate)! Did you have to lead him much?
  :D