Well, it's been a year in the making and my buddy Craig just returned from Trophy Bowhunts Australia. Craig gave me permission to submit a few photos for the Gang. Once he releases the "full story" I'll be sure to share it with all of you!
(http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t142/rysanpei/OZ1.jpg)
Here's a link to the full story on preparing for the buff hunt.
http://strictlysticks.com/category/back-to-the-drawing-board/craig-moy/
Their humble abode...
(http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t142/rysanpei/oz3.jpg)
(http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t142/rysanpei/oz4.jpg)
I can hardly wait for this one to unfold. :clapper:
Bill
Mick and Andy
(http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t142/rysanpei/oz2.jpg)
:bigsmyl: :archer:
:thumbsup: :archer2:
(http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t142/rysanpei/oz9.jpg)
more of the landscape
(http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t142/rysanpei/oz8.jpg)
a young bull
(http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t142/rysanpei/oz6.jpg)
one of the many "creatures"
I get so pumped when I see your posts come up,they are fantastic,can't wait for this to unfold.If ever I had a hero,besides my son,its that young Andy!LOL
Taking a break to go fishing
(http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t142/rysanpei/oz12.jpg)
(http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t142/rysanpei/oz11.jpg)
Totally agree Steve, I've got much respect for the young Andy Ivy. Brother's going to be a bowhunting legend!
The guide himself with a few Barras
(http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t142/rysanpei/oz15-1.jpg)
(http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t142/rysanpei/oz14.jpg)
What would you choose to eat?
Fresh Barra sandwiches or...
(http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t142/rysanpei/oz7.jpg)
Vegemite...
(http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t142/rysanpei/oz16.jpg)
Some of the stream crossings
(http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t142/rysanpei/oz18.jpg)
(http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t142/rysanpei/oz17.jpg)
:campfire:
The local swimming hole
(http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t142/rysanpei/oz20.jpg)
(http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t142/rysanpei/oz21.jpg)
(http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t142/rysanpei/oz22.jpg)
:bigsmyl:
Looking forward to the posts, as a BTW, there seems to be a lot of Aussies with the name Mick, is the name short for Mickey, or would we know it as some other name? Just curious.
Needless to say, Andy did his job once again and guided Craig successfully to this bull.
(http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t142/rysanpei/andy.jpg)
I'll be sure to share the full story once it's published!
Aloha!
Ryan
Thanks for posting this for us, Ryan!
Bill
Thank you Bill! Sorry, I couldn't share the whole story....yet! ;)
iohkus,
If I'm not mistaken, his name is Michael. I'll double check though.
Congrats once again to Craig, Andy and Mick! Job well done brothers!
(http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t142/rysanpei/craigbuff.jpg)
Thanks to South Cox for building this "buff longbow" for my hunting partner!
Aloha!
Very cool, thanks for sharing!!! Hope to share a campfire someday with Andy!
I can't wait to hear the whole story!
:campfire:
Awesome! :thumbsup:
Can't wait for the whole story!
What an awesome animal! What were the specs on the bow? A hunt with Andy is on my bucket list!
A most majestic experience in living life to its fullest.
Really cool.....As far as the eats.....I'll take a fish san'mich.......I've had Vega-mite before and I don't care if I ever have it again!!! LOL!!!
Spectacular! Waiting for the story! Think I rec'd pix from this hunt? Buff w/bow! Spectacular!
QuoteOriginally posted by rastaman:
What an awesome animal! What were the specs on the bow? A hunt with Andy is on my bucket list!
X2!!
Nice!
:thumbsup: to everything except Vegemite!
Congrats to Craig!
I wonder if Mick hunts buffalo in his crocs like he does red stag?
And you guys can have the congealed motor oil, err, I mean vegamite!
Bisch
Craig was hunting with a 71# Custom Stalker Longbow built by South Cox.
His arrows were Easton Dangerous Game FMJ's 300 tipped with a 225gr TuffHead and a 75gr adapter. Total arrow weight was just under 800grs.
QuoteOriginally posted by bohuntr:
Very cool, thanks for sharing!!! Hope to share a campfire someday with Andy!
As well you should. Hunting with Andy is great. I met Craig and Brian Lum in Mcarthur River 10 days ago. They were on their way out, me on my way in. The both shot fine Buff. I just got back to Darwin in the Northern Territories and I am going to catch a flight soon. I will share my story on a separate thread when photos are ready, but many congrats to Craig for a fine Buff. Can't wait for the rest of the story.
Aloha Gang, thanks to Ryan for helping me keep up with the posting, so sorry for the lag but work keeps getting in the way....
I had an absolute blast, easily the highlight of my hunting career so far. Great meeting you on the way out Patrick, I was so jealous that you were on the way in--I didn't want my adventure to end just yet and wanted another crack at that bull I stalked on the last day, I'm sure Andy must've filled you in on my encounter....can't wait to hear your tales!
Not sure if Mick is short for something, but I started calling him Mickey and he answered, sooo....now that I think about it he answered to all kinds of stuff! And yes he does hunt buff with his crocs!
Bisch, Ron W., Where's the love for the Vegemite? As you can see on the label its even made by Kraft, purveyors of such fine delicacies as Cheez Whiz. Nobody likes the Vegemite but me? I even brought a jar home that I got in Boorroola. What about poi? No one likes that either? Sheesh, tough crowd.... :D
Appreciate all the good feedback, will work on the goods--for now, Happy Father's Day to all!
Awesome hunt in beautiful country, congrats.
Great stuff Ryan. Congrats on the great buff Craig!
A dream hunt in some beautiful country..!
:bigsmyl: :jumper: :jumper: :jumper:
Great job! Mick and Andy are two of the best. :thumbsup:
I love your posts!!!
a truly great adventure
Did Andy get a hair cut?
Someday....until then congrats on a fine animal! I look forward to the day when I get to go. Looking forward to reading more about your adventure!
Great pics guys, looking forward to the full tale.
Aweing!
I love the swimming hole!
:notworthy: :notworthy: :notworthy: :notworthy: :notworthy: :notworthy: :campfire:
Good stuff....CONGRATS!
Craig , Congratulations. All the time you spent researching and preparing paid off. :clapper:
:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Nice buff, Craig. Glad you guys are getting Andy and Mick warmed up for my return hunt in July. The Tuffheads look great, and I'm glad they did the job well. I will be taking a couple of broadheads to shoot, test and compare, the Tuffhead 300 with 100 grain adapter (total 400 grains) and the VPA 325 grain single bevel 2 blade offset head. If the Tuffhead 225 will penetrate a buff like that one, the Tuffhead 300 ought to be overbuilt for the task. Your pictures take me back and fill me with excitement and anticipation.
Pat, I'm eager to hear your stories. I have a good feeling ... :archer:
Allan
What a place :clapper:
Thanks for sharing and congrats with a nice bull!
Awesome adventure! Can't wait on the story. Congrats on a fine buff!
Thanks again everyone, my feet haven't touched the ground yet. Andy's hair is still the same Buff, and could you believe they never even touched my dip???
Charlie, that warm spring swimming hole is a gem, sadly we only got to visit it once. The pics don't do it justice...
Thanks Joe! The preparations did pay off, but now I'm wondering how to prepare for high stress
action like that--10.0 on the adreno-meter!!!
Allan, Andy and Mick are now fully warmed up after Patrick, you should do well with either head, although at 400 gr that granddady of the TuffHead line is gonna be awesome...It was your posts last year that I referenced for terrain and conditions, very descriptive and spot on!Wish you and Doug luck--go get 'um!!!
Craig, congrats! I love the pics, can't wait to check that country out for myself someday. I told Ryan I would gladly hideout in your luggage, but he said he already had dibs and there wasn't enough room for both of us :(
Hey South, helluva bow I was "brainwashed" into carrying, lol....
Ryan could just about fit in my carryon, may even make weight :scared: And with your skills IF you could just somehow manage to make a takedown version of yourself, it just might work....
Craig -- Thanks for warming up Andy and Mick for us! I know we will have a great time following in your footsteps, hopefully ending with a shot at the kind of buff you took. Glad you think the Tuffhead 300s will work well. They sure look good. And so do the VPAs.
My 70# Shrew Safari was spitting out 1000 grain arrows at about 150 fps as Pat Kelly and I measured it through a chronograph at the range today. That may not sound like much, but those arrows are 14.2 gpp, which is very high. My 850 grain arrows are coming out of my Safari at 160 fps, and they are a hefty 12.1 gpp. At 10 gpp, I expect I would get a very respectable 170+ fps out of the Safari. These are very close to the same speeds I get from the 68# Super Shrew Samurai "Buffalo Bow" I used last year, which makes sense when there is only a 2 pound difference between them. The biggest difference is the beauty and strength of the Safari, which Gregg says is far and away the stronger of the two bows. Either one is strong enough for me, but it's nice to have the additional confidence that my bow won't let me down. Now I just need to make sure Mick doesn't drive over the bow. Do you have any chronograph testing on the velocity of the arrows you were shooting, Craig? I know you have a shorter draw length, which will also have an effect.
Allan
Allan, sounds like you're geared up and ready to roll--you could shoot a tank with that bow/arrow combo!!!
@26" and 71lbs the Stalker got 166fps (3 shot ave) with my 790gr arrow. When I first began putting an arrow together I was getting about 151-2 fps with a 872gr arrow, and then even tried to go heavier but didn't like the trajectory. The arrow weight I settled on seemed to be in a "sweet spot" range that the Stalker liked and was most efficient.
I'm trying to stretch my arms longer, but no success :help: .
I envy you and Doug for being able to return--sounds like this may be it for awhile unless somehow Mick manages to find new grounds--make it count buddy!
I think you did the right thing by finding that "sweet spot", Craig. The additional 3 1/2 inches of stroke I get at my 29.5" draw length can make a significant difference, even though our bows are basically the same poundage at our respective draw lengths. That really seems to show up with the heaviest arrows. Doug and I will do our best to kill buffs as nice as the one you got! I was convinced I could not exceed the buff I got last year, but Pat Kelly tells me it is a distinct possibility based on some of the animals he saw, especially since we will be camping where Marty Thomas (BUFF) did when he shot 4 buffaloes.
Allan
Don't you guys ever sleep, lol. Once again, congrats on a fine animal, Craig. And Allan is going to do well with his setup, for sure. Good night, guys.