AUSTRALIAN BUFFALO HUNTERS
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OLD STYLE HUNTING - ARNHEM LAND & THE OUTBACK
CONSULTANT, TRAINING & GUIDING SERVICES
Frequently Asked Questions
Hunt Consultants & Guiding Services
Q 1. AUSTRALIA - Information.
Q 2. NORTHERN TERRITORY - Information, Weather, Hunt season.
Q 3. ARNHEM LAND - Information, Do I need FLIGHTS ?
Q 4. History of the Asiatic WATER BUFFALO in Australia.
Q 5. What are BUFFALO habits and foods ?
Q 6. How big are Water Buffalo ? What RIFLE or BOW ?
Q 7. How do I find a reliable SAFARI OUTFITTER ?
Q 8. When to BOOK ? Can I bring my own RIFLE to Australia ?
Q 9. What species do AUSTRALIAN BUFFALO HUNTERS offer ?
Q 10. Can we shoot KANGAROOS and DINGOES ?
Q 11. TEMPERATURES in the Northern Territory.
Q 12. NT Police Licensed Outfitter.
Q 14. How are my Trophies Exported ?
Q 1. AUSTRALIA - General Information and Climate
Australia is very big, almost as big as USA, and just as big as Western Europe. Surrounded by oceans, it consists of almost every kind of terrain, the sandy beaches, great barrier reef, deserts, mountains, snowfields, dense forests, rich soils for dairy, wine and farming country on the more southern half and coastal areas. Further inland are large farms for grain, sheep and cattle, then north or inland are outback sheep and cattle stations of enormous size, many with only the native grasses and brush for feed. In the central regions we have very hot dry arid country and many large deserts. It is a big country, and driving from Perth to Darwin, or Melbourne to Darwin will take 3.5 or 4 days. Qantas and Virgin Airlines fly between states and cities. Australia's main population is in the South, which has the opposite seasons to the northern hemisphere, with December, January, February, March being our mid summer, and June, July, August being the cold rainy winter.
However NOTE that the Northern Territory has a Tropical climate, please read on....
Q 2. NORTHERN TERRITORY - A Tropical Climate and Hunt Season ?
Best Hunting Time in Northern Territory - June, July, August, September. The top 1/6th​ of Australia has a TROPICAL climate. Darwin is the main city. The Northern Territory (NT) and Arnhem Land are hot all year, with a DRY season and a WET season. The tropical rains are at the opposite to the rest of Australia in the far south. During WET Season of Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, March the Northern Territory will have tropical storms and (often daily) heavy rains, heat and high humidity. We ABH do not hunt in the Wet Season. Vegetation and grasses have incredible tall growth, rivers and creeks are regularly flooded, rain, humidity, bugs, and the ground is too boggy for vehicles to get into or around the hunt areas.
Best Hunting Time is - June, July, August, September and is called the Dry Season, and perfect for NT Buffalo hunting. Outside of the city of Darwin, we have a huge Kakadu National Park, many cattle stations (eg; huge ranches typically 1,000,000 - 5,000,000 acres and bigger). Our company ABH does not hunt on the cattle stations. we only hunt in remote Arnhem Land wilderness which is further east.
Q 3. ARNHEM LAND HUNT CONCESSIONS - Information ? Do I need FLIGHTS ?
Arnhem Land is then situated further to the East of Darwin, and is a massive wilderness area of almost 100,000sq km owned by Aboriginal Traditional Landowners. No farms, no fences, no development, just genuine wilderness. Some areas in Arnhem Land have very low numbers of Buffalo, and some areas have good numbers of Buffalo. Hunters need to book a 1 to 2 hour charter plane flight to reach the few hunting concessions. ABH seek the best charter plane prices for our hunters, we do not book or mark up the price. Often this flight cost is shared. Safari Hunt areas in Arnhem Land are managed by the Northern Land Council, a Licensed safari operator will organize your NLC hunting access permit.
Q 4. History of the Asiatic WATER BUFFALO in Australia ?
Buffalo were imported from Asia by sailing ships for meat in the early northern settlements in the 1820's. The buffalo soon colonized through the tropical country, swamp lands, and spread across the top of the Northern Territory. Since the 1880s animals were harvested on foot, from horseback and eventually four-wheel drives. Many businesses processed meat for human consumption (local and export), pet meat, hides, animals for live export and game for hunters. However by the 1970s, feral buffalo numbers were high enough to damage some coastal wetlands... and thought to potentially harbor disease that could effect the beef export market. Beginning in 1980s at a cost of $95M the Brucellosis and Tuberculosis Eradication Campaign "included" the eradicated of feral buffalo's from all the station country, national parks and wild areas. Following the end of BTEC all the remaining buffalo were derived from buffalo populations where infection had never been present. ie the herds in central and eastern Arnhem Land. These Buffalo are controlled on the coastal wetlands. Inland the Buffalo are now still a valuable sustainable resource, for meat and hunting by local Aboriginal communities and licensed safari operations. Mustering companies (when viable) conduct live capture and inspection of wild Buffalo for the meat export industry. Arnhem Land Buffalo herds roam freely and like most wild animals sustain their own numbers according to seasonal conditions.
Q 5. What are Buffalo habits and foods ?
During most of the dry season (May-October) it is common for males and females to live separately. Females and young are led by an older female. Males inhabit more open plains or slopes with dryer vegetation. When the season breaks, the older males join the females and drive away younger males. Although having young anytime, there is a peak of mating in about March, and pregnancy lasts about ten months. In wet areas buffalo also graze on aquatic grasses, and in dry areas they eat a broad range of grasses and the leaves of shrubs and pandanus. Bulls eat up to 30kg of dry matter each day. For over a 100 years Dingoes (hunting in packs) and crocodiles occasionally prey on young buffalo, but once adulthood is reached individual Buffalo typically live 15-18years.
Q 6. How big are Asiatic Water BUFFALO ? What RIFLE or BOW ?
Water Buffalo in Australia are similar in size to the African Cape Buffalo and bulls weigh from 1600 to 2200lb (700-1000kg). We are hunting on foot for the biggest bulls. Therefore we use larger calibers such as the 9.3x62, 375 H&H, 416 Rigby and 458 WM etc and premium quality Expanding/Soft point or Solid/FMJ bullets. Bow-hunters require heavy bows +70- 80lb and suggested tough 2 blade broad-heads and a heavy 800-1000grain arrow weight. A big buffalo bull's ribs can be up to 1/2" thick, and the ribs do not overlap.
Q 7. How do I find a reliable SAFARI OUTFITTER ?
A safari company with long term SCI and DSC membership is good, and Long term booking agents is good (as agents can't afford problems). You need 100% success. Do you want a Arnhem land wilderness hunt ? Do you want a ranch or station hunt ? Always follow up past references and ask questions.
Q 8. Can I bring my RIFLE to Australia ? Temporary License ? Loan Rifles.?
Prime HUNT time is June, July, August, September... (but you must do your License application in Feb, March or April..).
Contact your Airline if travelling with a Rifle and Ammo.
YES; You can bring your own 1 or 2 Rifles and Ammunition. I suggest take rifle apart in a shorter case, for extended travels.
Complete the new NT ONLINE application for a Northern Territory Police International Visitors Temporary Firearm License. NOTE- the Application should be completed as soon as possible to prevent delays, this can take 15minutes, with scans of your face, passport, drivers license, firearm/carry license.... and you will need the Arrival airport, and Departure airport flight details, visa details, outfitter name and company license, hunt location and hunt dates. This will result in you receiving a Temporary License and Import permit.
It is best to arrive and depart Australia at the same main city, ie Sydney.
ARRIVAL: Border Force (customs) will inspect your firearm, check and copy all your paperwork.
LEAVING: When leaving Australia with your firearms, 2x export papers must be completed at the airport Border Force (customs) office... Allow 4 hours between 9am and 4pm Monday to Friday to do this... well before the departure flight. Thus it is recommended to have a night in Sydney. (these 2 items can also be done just after arrival, if you have 4 hours between International & domestic). Please ask.
Safari Company Loan Rifles: If you chose to use our excellent 375 H&H & 404 Jeffery rifles (under guide supervision), you just need to fill in Name & Address etc on a simple one-page declaration, which we submit well before the hunt starts.
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OTHER STATES: New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria will recognize your Northern Territory Temporay License, for transitting only, not for hunting use. If you intend hunting with your rifle in these states you will need to complete that particular States International FA Lic application.. seek further information.
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Q 9. What species are available ?
Our safari guides specialize in Water Buffalo, and Banteng (in North West Arnhem Land). Scrub Bull and Wild Boar are sometimes available.
Q 10. Can we shoot a KANGAROO or DINGO in NT ?
No, recreational hunting of kangaroos is restricted to suitably licensed pet meat shooters. For many years it has been illegal to shoot Dingo in the Northern Territory.
Q 11. TEMPERATURES in the Northern Territory ?
The Northern Territory has a tropical climate of a DRY season and a WET season. The Dry season is pleasant summer weather (max 25-34'C 80-95'F) for hunting during the months of - June, July, August, September. A very similar weather pattern to Zimbabwe or Caprivi.
We Do Not operate in the tropical Wet season, high humidity and heavy rains (max 30-40'C 85-104'F) during Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, April.
Q 12. NT Police Outfitter
NT has laws for hunt operators. Any person conducting, guiding and selling a hunt in NT must 1/ Have a NT Police Corporate Safari License, 2/ All guides must have a NT Police Employee license to the company, 3/ The NLC Concession/s are endorsed on the license and your temporary license. Questions to the Northern Territory Police Fire Emergency Services on Tel +61 8 89223543 or email FirearmsRegistry@pfes.nt.gov.au
Q 13. How are my Trophies Exported ?
Australian Buffalo Hunters are a certified AQIS Australian Quarantine Inspection Service treatment facility (also listed with EU Traces), and we clean, treat, and package our hunters trophies. We next get them to an Export company with decades of experience sending trophies, who will contact you. They will obtain a State Veterinary Certificate and a Certificate of Origin. Please provide your Taxidermy and Freight company details before your hunt.
ANY MORE QUESTIONS..? PLEASE ASK...
Graham Williams Guide / Professional Hunter, Company Ranchman Investments Pty Ltd, trading as Australian Buffalo Hunters (NT).
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