Buffalo Safaris Australia

Scrub Bulls (Feral Ox in the SCI record book) are wild cattle that have descended from escapees off ranches in the early days of settlement up to 100 years ago. They have no marked appearance other than significant characteristics from the old British breeds, most will have beef shorthorn blood in them as this is the most aggressive breed but features of Texas Longhorn, Angus, Hereford and Brahman can also be evident in some individuals. They are easy to spot even when mingling with ranch cattle as all farmed cattle have been Brahman breeds for the past 50 years. Suspicious by nature they require much more care than buffalo when stalking but they can also be very aggressive and unpredictable and have killed a number of people over the years. We have experienced charges whilst on foot and also unprovoked attacks on our vehicles. Even when running together they are constantly fighting for supremacy and it is common when an individual is wounded by a hunter for his companions to immediately attack him. Weighing up to a ton, they make challenging and exciting hunting. Here are four examples that demonstrate no two individuals are exactly alike.

Our hunting area

We have exclusive rights to safari hunt over an area of native land totalling well over 1,000,000 acres. Surrounded by limitless wilderness to the north and east and bounded by the privately owned Mainoru cattle ranch to the west and Wongalara wildlife conservancy to the south. We have continuously conducted safaris for over of 20 years in this area, previously on both Mainoru and Wongalara indicated on the map above and have an intimate knowledge of the area and wildlife. Our Mt Catt concession is largely trackless virgin bush with the small Mt Catt native hamlet of 5 homes sited next to the mountain that bears its name. The movement of Buffalo, Wild Oxen (Scrub Bulls), Wild Horses, Donkeys or Pigs is totally unimpeded and their location varies with the season and abundance of water. Many miles are covered in a day accessing a limitless pool of wild game which is free to move over boundless wilderness.

Hunting with us: A typical day.

A typical day: Unless we plan to hunt at a far corner of our concession you will not be required to be up in the wee hours of the morning. The birds will wake you around 6.00 am for a leisurely breakfast before we depart around 7.00—8.00. In the cooler winter months buffalo graze on and off through the night and morning till the sun begins to bite around 11.00. They will then head for their favourite watering point to drink, have a wallow and rest in the shade, venturing out again around 3.00 in the afternoon. Our hunting technique is to spot grazing animals from the vehicle or on foot in the mornings and afternoons then institute a stalk to assess their trophy quality. By midday we too will seek a cool shady spot for our lunch break or return to camp for lunch. Our hunting method between 11.00 and 3.00 is to stalk into likely resting spots in search of animals or walk quietly along the water ways in the hope of discovering them bedded down. In the dry dusty conditions fresh tracks are readily apparent and tracking combined with local knowledge yields a high degree of success in locating buffalo. You will see plenty of animals, the challenge for us is to find one that is carrying an exciting trophy.

All in a day’s hunting: The not so glamorous aspects of a day in the field. From top to bottom, Negotiating a difficult creek crossing. We can get just about anywhere with care and a little effort. Searching for buffalo on an open plain. You would be surprised how little cover a buffalo needs sometimes. ‘I know its here somewhere’ exploring new ground. Few whites have ever set foot on much of our hunting area. To find new features we often have to rely on maps compiled from aerial photos. Now the hard work begins….. In Australia your PH does the skinning. Helping with the carry out ‘Not too far to go now Dave’. Sometimes it is impossible to get the vehicle close to the trophy, necessitating a carry out.

Price

• 7 Day Safari – 5 full hunting days. (You arrive on day 1 and depart on day 7) Hunter (1×1) US$10,900, Hunter (2×1) US$8,900 per person, Non-hunter US$1,400
• 9 Day Safari – 7 Full hunting days. (You arrive on day 1 and depart on day 9) Hunter (1×1) US$12,800, Hunter (2×1) US$10,400 per person, Non-hunter US$1,500
• TROPHY PREPARATION & PACKING FOR EXPORT: US$300 per hunter regardless of quantity. Prices are all inclusive of: You will be the SOLE hunter (Hunting group) in our concession. Return transfers from Darwin BY ROAD. (Total travel time each way by road is approximately 8 hours.)

Optional Extras

• OPTIONAL AIR CHARTER Return air-charter from Darwin is between US$1,600 and US$3,200 EXTRA per person depending on number of passengers.
• TROPHY FEES for additional animals: Buffalo Bull US$3,400, Trophy Buffalo Cow US$1,400, Scrub Bull US$1,400, Boar US$400 (tusks over 4 inches total length) Non trophy pigs US$30, Donkey US$50. (Surcharge for skinning and preparing a full body skin to enable a quality lifelike mount, Buffalo US$1000 Boar US$500)

Prices are all inclusive of:

• You will be the SOLE hunter (Hunting group) in our concession.
• Return transfers from Darwin BY ROAD. (Total travel time each way by road is approximately 8 hours.)
• Trophy fee on one Buffalo Bull. (Extra animals may be taken and trophy fees paid at the conclusion of the hunt)
• Field preparation of trophies regardless of quantity. (Skinning and quality field prep of a full body skin is extra)
• All meals and reasonable quantities of alcoholic beverages. Spacious, 2 roomed, traditional canvas accommodations serviced daily with separate bathroom facilities.
• Daily laundry service.
• Free use of fishing gear.
• Free processing of all firearms / Shooters licenses and fees for the importation and export of your firearms. Free use of our quality Bolt Action Rifles in suitable calibers for hunters not wishing to travel with firearms.

NOTE: It is a requirement of our Liability Insurers that guests sign a disclaimer prior to the hunt to obtain the protection under the policy in the unlikely event of an insurable misadventure.