Australia & Northern
Territory
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. AUSTRALIA - Information
? Weather & Climate ?
Q2. NORTHERN TERRITORY - Information ? Weather & Climate ?
Q3. ARNHEMLAND - Info ? Do I need FLIGHTS ?
Q4. History of the Asiatic WATER BUFFALO in Australia ?
Q5. What are BUFFALO habits and foods ?
Q6. How big are Asiatic Water BUFFALO ? What RIFLE or BOW ?
Q7. How do I find a reliable SAFARI COMPANY and OUTFITTER ?
Q8. When to BOOK ? Can I bring my own RIFLE to Australia ?
Q9. What species do AUSTRALIAN BUFFALO HUNTERS offer ?
Q10. Can we shoot KANGAROOS ?
Q11. TEMPERATURES in the Northern Territory ?
Q1. AUSTRALIA - Information ? Weather & Climate ?
A. Australia is bigger in area than the USA, and bigger than Western Europe.
It consists of almost every kind of terrain, the famous sandy beaches, great barrier reef,
mountains, snowfields, dense forests, rich soils for dairy, wine and farming
country. Further inland are large grain farms, then north are outback sheep and
cattle stations of enormous size with only the native bush and grasses for feed. In the
central regions we have very hot dry arid country and large deserts. It is a big
country, and driving from Perth to Darwin, or Melbourne to Darwin will take 3-4 long days
with minimal stops. Well priced airlines Qantas and Virgin are popular to fly
between states and all cities. Australia's main population is in the south, which
has the opposite seasons to the northern hemisphere, with January Febuary being mid
summer, and July, August being cold rainy winter.
However Darwin and the Northern Territory are different, read on....
Q2. NORTHERN
TERRITORY - Information ? Weather & Climate ?
A. NOTE: The top of Australia has a TROPICAL
climate. The Northern Territory (NT) is always hot, and its
rainy season is opposite to the rest of Australia.
During Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, March the Northern Territory will have tropical storms and
heavy rains, high humidity, called the Wet Season. Vegetation and grasses have
incredible growth, rivers and creeks are regularly flooded, and the ground is too boggy to
get around.
The hot and dry months of June, July, August,
September are called the Dry Season, and perfect for hunting. Outside of the city of Darwin, most of the land
remains native bush and is cattle station country. As the cattle stations are so
large (500,000 - 1,000,000 acres) helicopters are mostly used to muster the cattle.
Q3. ARNHEMLAND
- Info ? Do I need FLIGHTS ?
A. Arnhemland is situated East of Darwin.
Arnhemland is a massive wilderness area of almost 100,000sq km owned by Aboriginal
Traditional Landowners. No farms, no fences, no developement, just real genuine
wilderness. Some areas in Arnhemland have high numbers of Buffalo, some have
none. Hunters need a 1 1/2 hr charter flight to reach the remote hunt
concessions. We obtain the best cost price for hunters. Most times this flight
cost is shared. Access to Arhnmeland is restricted.
Q4. History of the
Asiatic WATER BUFFALO in Australia ?
A. Buffalo were imported from Asia by
sailing ships for meat in the early northern settlements in the 1820's. When these
settlements were abandoned the buffalo soon colonised through tropical country and
swamplands, then spread across the Northern Territory. Over nine decades from 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 so high that they were damaging wetlands and potentially
harbouring diseases that could effect the beef export market. Beginning in 1979 the
Brucellosis and Tuberculosis Campaign over an intense 3 years erradicated feral buffalos
from all the station country, national parks and wild areas. The only remaining
Herds were left in central and eastern Arnhem Land. These Buffalo are now a valuable
resourse and used for meat and hunting by local Aboriginal communities and licensed safari
operations. Plus live capture and inspection allows many Buffalo to be used for
Export, and some relocated to private game ranches. Arnhemland Buffalo herds roam
freely and like most wild animals sustain their own numbers according to seasonal
conditions.
Q5. What are
Buffalo habits and foods ?
A. During most of the dry season
(May-October) it is common for males and females to live seperately. 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 graze on
aquatic grasses, and in dry areas they eat a broad range of grasses and the leaves of
shrubs and pandanus. Bulls eat upto 30kg of dry matter each day. Dingos and
crocodiles occassionally prey on young buffalo, but once adulthood is reached individuals
may live 15-20years.
Q6. How big are
Asiatic Water BUFFALO ? What RIFLE or BOW ?
A. Water Buffalo in Australia are similar
in size to the African Cape Buffalo and bulls weigh from 1600 upto 2200lb
(700-1000kg). They require large calibers such as the 375H&H, 416RM and 458Lott
and quality Soft point or FMJ bullets. Bowhunters require heavy bows +70- 80lb using
tough 2 blade broadheads and heavy 800-1000gn arrows. A buffalo's ribs are upto
3/4" thick and do not overlap.
Q7. How do I find a
reliable SAFARI COMPANY and OUTFITTER ?
A. If a company had 25 clients last year,
ask for 25 references or emails. A safari company with long term membership to
professional hunt organisations is good. Long term associations with booking agents
is good (as agents cannot afford complaints). You want 100% honesty and 100%
productivity. Ask yourself what do you want ? Do you want to hunt wild game
? Do you want a hard and rewarding wilderness hunt ? Do you want a shorter
ranch hunt ? Is everything legal in the country ? Follow up the references.
Police outposts were established in 2007 in remote Arnhemland communities, and one of
their duties is to inspect vehicles and stop poachers. As a safari operator we carry
copies of our safari operators firearms licence, permit for vehicles, staff and hunters,
land use authority and have your International Visitors Firearm license at hand. In
our 15 years we are proud to have always operated honestly and correctly.
Q8. When to Book ?
Can I bring my own RIFLE to Australia ?
A. It's best to Book your Safari in Nov,
Dec, Jan or Feb and have your paperwork completed by March or April. The hunting is
in June, July, August. Yes you can bring your own rifle and ammunition. We
assist (no charge) with your Northern Territory Police Visitors firearm license
application, and we will pay the fee. NOTE - the Application must be completed as soon as possible to
prevent delays, this will take 15minutes, plus getting photocopies of your passport and a
hunt or firearms license... easy. Also when leaving Australia with your firearms the
Licence and Export papers must be completed and returned to the airport customs office,
(similar system as foreigners going in/out of USA).
Q9. What species do
AUSTRALIAN BUFFALO HUNTERS offer ?
A. Our safari company specialises in
Arnhemland hunting for big game such as Water Buffalo, Wild Boar and Wild Ox (Scrub
Bull). For our International Buffalo hunters we can arrange many other hunts
Australia wide. Banteng in the Northern Territory. Free range Rusa, Red,
Chital, Fallow in Queensland, and Sambar deer in Victoria. Wild Boar, Feral Goat,
Scrub Bull, Fox and Rabbit in Western Australia.
Q10. Can we shoot
KANGAROOS & Dingo's ?
A. Recreational hunting of kangaroos is
restricted, although where damage permits are issued suitably licensed shooters control
kangaroo numbers which are too high in many southern farming regions. For many years now
it has been illegal to shoot Dingo's in the Northern Territory.
Q11. TEMPERATURES
in the Northern Territory ?
A. The Northern Territory has a tropical
climate with extreme DRY and WET Seasons. The Dry season is very pleasant hot summer
weather (max 25-35'C 80-95'F) and is most suitable for hunting during June, July, August
and September.
We do not operate in the Wet season which is very unpleasant, humid, raining and
hot (max 30-40'C 85-104'F) during Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, April.
ANY MORE QUESTIONS PLEASE ASK...
AUSTRALIAN
BUFFALO HUNTERS
Real Hunting - Real Wilderness - Real Adventure
www.biggameaustralia.com