Well the season has come to an end for me, Heck of a season it has been. Some wild adventure as always.
I had the Family over for the first week of the hunt and that was really great, Somewhat the highlight, to see Nige and my Father take a couple great Bulls as well.
Been back for a few days and its strange getting back into the swing of the rat race. And not sleeping under the stars with the sounds of a waterfall in the background.
When the season was done I worked out I had been hunting strait for 63 days only with the odd single day turn around to drop clients off and pick the next group up, So hell Im in good shape for the Elk season just around the corner, I know you guys are itching for that first Bugle! So am I!
here is a short Pictorial of the season.
So you can sit back and dream of a far away place, few have hunted. Never ending green swamps where the leaches trade blood for Hogs and grass filled floodplains where the Buffalo Roam.
The great beasts of the Far North.
(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h101/tradtusker/IMG_0976.jpg)
Had the pleasure of hunting with some of our Tradgang Dangerous Game hunters once again this season, a great pleasure as always! The guys really came prepared this year and it was great to see all the hard work and preparation pay off.
(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h101/tradtusker/IMG_1199.jpg)
Here is the new VPA 325gr Off set Single bevel that did the trick for me on 3 Bulls.
Also managed to do some nice testing and really get a good understanding of Buff Shot placement, with some interesting findings!
We'r following a fresh set of tracks, but these animals move faster then you can walk and catching up with a moving Bull is nearly impossible.
(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h101/tradtusker/IMG_0940.jpg)
Hot, tired and sweaty after a long day...
Preparing the head for the boiling drum to remove the horns.
(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h101/tradtusker/IMG_1022-1.jpg)
And plenty of tight line action for the hot afternoons at the "barra hole"....
(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h101/tradtusker/IMG_0895.jpg)
here is a shot i got of my father in action...Barramundi Fillet sandwich anyone?
(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h101/tradtusker/IMG_0881.jpg)
and before we'r through... Things really get Dangerous :scared: :scared:
(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h101/tradtusker/Screenshot2012-07-20at184339.png)
Great pics like always,Andy.
Thanks for sharing and good luck with the elk.
Fantastic! What an opportunity. Buff down under is definately on my bucket list!
Thanks for sharing your adventure!
Been waiting for this one, thanks for posting Andy.
Cant wait to see this thread role out.
Andy is the man. Love these threads when Andy let's us in to his world. Thanks mate!
:campfire:
Awesome stuff so far Andy! Great pictures as usual!
Great pictures along with a great hunt of a lifetime. I bet that tree in the last picture seemed as if it shrunk to toothpick size with that beast that close!!!
Definitely anxious to see more. Give the man some time. I understand he has been pretty busy lately.
:campfire:
:campfire:
Andy can't wait to hear the story in person!
That looks awesome, Andy! I'm glad to hear y'all had a successful season down under.
Bisch
Thanks
I had my new Shrew Scout Recurve that Gregg made earlier this year, with me in camp, it got into the action at the end of the season.
(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h101/tradtusker/Screenshot2012-07-20at185324.png)
Here overlooking a lagoon that is surrounded by huge swamps.
(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h101/tradtusker/IMG_1333.jpg)
Andy,
I would of deposited a Big load right there being that close to that bull.... :scared:
QuoteOriginally posted by Keefer:
Andy,
I would of deposited a Big load right there being that close to that bull.... :scared:
Thats the best way to get 'em. When they slip in it you get a quick shot off.
Yup...Too close for me Thank You!!
Great stuff Andy...keep it coming!
Eric
Appears like he's looking for you?
Thanks for sharing,great pics.
Leland
Wow that looks like fun. Looking forward to more.
:bigsmyl: :notworthy: :notworthy: :notworthy:
Andy, didn't you tell me to just sidestep him and whack him with your bow?
Or does that just work with the hogs?? Haha!
Thanks for sharing Andy.Always enjoy your stories and pics.
QuoteOriginally posted by smoke1953:
Appears like he's looking for you?
Bruce thats exactly what I thought! :archer:
wow! between your pictorials of hunting Africa and now this, it just goes to show we can all live are dreams once we define them. Thanks for taking us along.
You're living the dream, Andy! Thanks for taking us dreamers along with you.
Thanks Guys, Its funny I often think of the good ol days and how it would be great to be in some untouched wild African country hunting for irory or something...but the reality is these are the good days, Hunting access to the world is at our fingertips, opportunity's are open that have never been available to the average guys these days.
Here is a group of young bulls that have been kicked out of the herd and stick together until they mature
(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h101/tradtusker/IMG_1423.jpg)
I totally agree with you Andy these are the good ole days and opportunity abounds for the average guy.One just needs to attend one of the big industry trade shows and you can find adventure all over the globe.If you can dream it there is somebody there that can help you.
Andy love your threads keep it coming please.Down Under is on my bucket list.
Awesome Andy :thumbsup:
:campfire: YES!
these are my kind of threads
:notworthy: :notworthy:
:campfire: :clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
:campfire: :archer2:
you get paid in one of these at the end of every day
(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h101/tradtusker/IMG_1447.jpg)
easy to get a good feed out in this bush, just always have to be aware that there are some BIG Crocs lurking in these waters.
(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h101/tradtusker/IMG_1142.jpg)
One of the many lagoons that lay between the ridges
(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h101/tradtusker/IMG_1442.jpg)
here's one of my buddys Craig M from Hawaii glassing for hogs and Buff on an afternoon walk out from camp.
(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h101/tradtusker/IMG_0937.jpg)
and the usual broadhead retrieval once he had his beast on the ground.
(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h101/tradtusker/IMG_0931.jpg)
The bush camp
(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h101/tradtusker/IMG_1362.jpg)
we took some field testing to the next level one day by suspending a buffalo and setting it up just as it would if standing... it made for some interesting testing, here it is at the end after going through the layers for some great anatomy pics..ill put up on the Dangerous game forum.
(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h101/tradtusker/IMG_1267.jpg)
Interestingly after all the testing Im pretty convinced that the front on shot is one of the best shots to take on a buffalo. Will go into that some time. I killed 5 buff this year all with front on shots.
more to come..
Andy great pics as always, thanks. Hopefully some day I will make down there.
Holy cow, I'm going to have to keep coming back here. :campfire:
That sunset is simply stunning. :clapper: :clapper:
Andy what weight bow do you use on Buffalo?
That is some pretty country. Thanks for sharing.
Frank
:campfire:
Awsome. Lovin' it. Thanks for sharing.
THANKS Andy :campfire:
Absolutely amazing! Great pictures! :clapper:
Bernie Bjorklund
NC Iowa/SW Wisconsin
Andy, how incredibly awesome is this, you my friend are one lucky guy. While the rest of us work at our jobs to fund our passion, you my friend live yours. I am glad I got to share a hunt with you and your dad ( Javelinas in West Texas ) almost 4 yrs ago now. Perhaps, one day we can again share a fire and swap stories. Till then , Good Hunting my Friend.
Tu Compadres, Sutty
Thanks for sharing. Very interesting.
Just WOW :bigsmyl:
Andy,
Awesome pictures and great adventures as always...!
Thanks for taking us along...!
Always enjoy your posts Andy. Thanks for sharing!
dude only you would hang a buff off the ground to do broad head field tests! Talk about the maximum effort to test out equipment!
front on hey! i'm straight over to the dangerous game forum now.
top stuff as always andy!
We had a few buff skulls around camp that became a bit of a tradition to shoot into... here is one with a 300gr VPA 2 blade in it, un-scathed. If i recall 11 out of the 22 Buff that where killed this year where killed with various VPA heads. The results speak for themselves. Can not recommend these heads enough! For my personal hunting, its all I shoot.
(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h101/tradtusker/IMG_0905.jpg)
here is the new Off- Set Single Bevel posing with its trophy.
(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h101/tradtusker/IMG_1010.jpg)
Out in the plains... This is a Bull that Allan and I stalked, I think the first or second day of his hunt, we got into about 50m but the bull stayed in the flats.. I Said to Allan we would leave him un disturbed and come back for him...I did find him again for Allan and this time we got him close...but things just don't always go as we planned.
(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h101/tradtusker/IMG_1402.jpg)
Here is a Sunset the night Allan and Doug Arrived at our Camp.... I love the sunsets..The day is done and its time to dream of what tomorrows hunt will bring
(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h101/tradtusker/IMG_1397.jpg)
Beautiful sunset.
Andy what kind of camera are you using?
Ok now for the Story...
I had a few days to hunt with Mick near the end of the trip, with the interesting findings I had made regarding the front-on shot on buffalo I decided my new Shrew Scout Recurve from Gregg Coffee was capable of taking one down. Its been my go to bow since Iv had it and was never really intended for Buff.
We left one morning early and on the way through the Grasshopper Flats (Were Pat Kelly killed his bull) we picked up this younger Bull, He was out in the open but the wind was good and i decided Il had a stalk, its the first time this year Iv not been alone, whilst hunting myself and thats just as well or we would never see the pics that are to follow.
I got myself in front of the bull whilst Mick was behind the camera. I had to leopard Crawl about 50m into the tree line to get into position the problem was i could not get as far as i had wanted before the bull was heading my way, which basically left me 3m from the trail he was walking down...long story short this is what happened. (http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h101/tradtusker/Screenshot2012-07-20at185324-1.png)
he gets to about 6m and see's me tucked into the trees, then proceeds to walk withing touching distance to see what I am. This is for the most part what make a Water Buff Dangerous...it that they are curious and that curiosity brings them close to you something like this Very close. So if they get angry you are well inside the no escape danger zone.
The bull above was not sure what i was but he spooked and ran a circle about 25m, then stopped to look at me again, I had crouched and was ready I enticed him closer with a flicker of my Kuiu Cap and when he got to about 15m I drove an arrow down his chest.
Strait away i knew i had pulled the shot and hit him off center..but there was a lot of blood.. We tracked and found him lying about 120m from the shot, But not dead...far from it actually, I climbed a tree to get a good look at him and after waiting a while said to mick i was going to go in and put in follow up shot.
I left Mick behind and circled around, I had taken my shoes off and just moved in slow and silent. What i was faced with was a quartering away bedded bull with his spine also slightly towards me. Its the only option I had...I knew were to put the arrow and was 15m away between 2 trees.
I steadied and prepared for the shot.. Im still kicking myself now but at the shot I dropped my bow arm as I was so keen to see the arrow hit that it resulted in me hitting 10" lower then I had wanted... and as a result of that it skidded down the ribs and never even reach the chest cavity, that I knew strait away.
The Bull jumped to his feet and spun around to try find what had just stung him.. he locked onto me.. dropped his head and was coming. Full on Charge
(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h101/tradtusker/Screenshot2012-07-20at184339.png)
I jumped across and crouched about 1m behind the only tree I had, It was game on and I knew it..All my senses where on ultra high and things where happening in Slow motion. A buffs neck and horns are to long to simply keep a tree between it and you, it can swing that horn around and into your guts in a blink of an eye.
I had to know which side of the tree it was going to come, so I placed myself so that 80% of my body was showing to the right side of the tree..when I was sure he would go right..I could commit left ! Which is what I did.
His hit the tree with enough force to totally Smash you legs.
This is how it unfolded.
(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h101/tradtusker/BuffCharge1.png)
(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h101/tradtusker/Screenshot2012-07-20at185622.png)
(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h101/tradtusker/Screenshot2012-07-20at185830.png)
(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h101/tradtusker/BuffCharge2.png)
(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h101/tradtusker/BuffCharge3.png)
(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h101/tradtusker/BuffCharge4.png)
Blood spayed all over my quiver.... Fortunately the bull did not come back for seconds.
That is to close for comfort!!
:campfire:
sensational!! what's that running down your leg? LOL
Awesome brother....AWESOME!!!!!!!
Amazing! Fantastic stories so far! Looking forward to the rest, and the report in the dangerous game section.
Amazing hunt, I'm jealous! That last series of pictures shows you barefoot....did you start out that way or jump out of your shoes? :bigsmyl:
What a place to hunt! Great adventure. I imagine the adrenaline was overflowing on that experience.
Those pics are priceless Andy. definitely gotta hear more about the frontal shot!
Makes running with the bulls in Spain look pretty tame! Wow!
Is the frontal shot so effective because their bone structure is low allowing a good sized void to slide an arrow into their chest cavity?
wow! this is great!
I think I just broke a sweat...
QuoteOriginally posted by tradtusker:
[QB] Thanks
I had my new Shrew Scout Recurve that Gregg made earlier this year, with me in camp, it got into the action at the end of the season.
(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h101/tradtusker/Screenshot2012-07-20at185324.png)
No offense intended, but in this pic you look a mite scrawny...by comparison. :D
If you ever get tired of that Andy, looks like you'd make a great rodeo clown! Great pics and stories as usual :thumbsup:
"Ole!" Very cool Andy.....
Phewwww
Glad you are still with us! :eek:
Frank
Andy as always you have a way with stories and pictures. Awesome Brother.
Hey ,Andy, did you shout OLE'? GREAT job! Mick got some FABULOUS Action pics.. Times like these remind you THERE IS A GOD !!! :pray:
quote:
Originally posted by GANDGOLF:
Hey ,Andy, did you shout OLE'? GREAT job! Mick got some FABULOUS Action pics.. Times like these remind you THERE IS A GOD !!! :campfire:
These pics come from stills I took of the Video footage Mick got.
It was pretty intense ill tell you, but it was over pretty quickly, the Bull ran out another 200m and stopped again, then he walked in a shallow water hole where he died. It was the first arrow that killed him, the second as said above skidded off the ribs and had no effect other then to make him charge :banghead:
In 6 years of Buffalo Safari's this is the First full on Charge we have had. I never hunt with back up for my own hunting because Im alone most of the time, so if you don't have a .416 ...make dam sure you have a tree ha ha
We had to go back to camp to get the Toyota Landcruiser and pull the bull out of the water.
And finally the bull that nearly got me.
With my trusty Shrew Scout and VPA 325gr Single bevel
(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h101/tradtusker/IMG_1213.jpg)
That was not the only thing to fall to that set-up either..
I shot this big Barramundi from the waterfall up from camp one night, shot him in the head and pulled him out before the crocs got wind off it.
(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h101/tradtusker/IMG_1092.jpg)
Glassing one of the Big waterholes one early cold morning...yes it does get cold out here!
(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h101/tradtusker/IVY_20120511_3862.jpg)
and these two pics are from the last night in this wild country, the last Bush fire sunset as the big plains cracked and burnt through the night.
(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h101/tradtusker/IMG_1454.jpg)
and the second set of shoes retired for the season, while i sat back at the fire and think back at all the great adventures we had over the last 60 odd days..
(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h101/tradtusker/IMG_1180.jpg)
And the great part is im coming back to the States at the end of the month to chase Elk and will be in Colorado until Christmas.. Looking forward to catching up with some old friends. And If anyone happens to be heading through Gunnison CO give me a shout!
Thanks for sharing your hunt Andy. Good luck with the elk!
Andy, that is an awesome story! Man, that must have been pure adrenaline when the buff charged you. Glad you made it out unscathed. I guess you still had a little in the tank after that long season of stalking, lol. Great looking Barra, too!
Andy great going what is u bow and arrow combo thanks shane
Andy, You are living my dream. This is a hunt I would like above all else.
Awesome pics and story
Wow Andy, that was really something. As usual I enjoyed your posts. I look forward to hearing more about the head on shots. Good luck elk hunting.
Incredible Andy, Thanks for sharing!
Many thanks for sharing your adventure Andy.
Awesome pics and story telling. Congrats!!!
Great Stuff Andy!
You are the real deal....
Amazing story,thanks for sharing.
Thanks Guys!
QuoteOriginally posted by LITTLEBIGMAN:
dude only you would hang a buff off the ground to do broad head field tests! Talk about the maximum effort to test out equipment!
Ha ha
"If your gonna do something..do it properly!" (my dad's advise when I was a young kid)
Credit to Mick though it was his idea to suspend it.
I do a LOT of testing so that the advice I give comes from lots of time in the field and real first hand observation, experience and testing.
You just can't get the real thing done in your back yard.
Tracy.. the camera I use is a little point and shoot Canon S95 its compact and I can wear it on my belt, and the key is that I can take Images in RAW format. I use Lightroom for editing and storing my Images.
Snag...Yes that is one of the Advantages.
Wow, simply amazing memories you have created Andy. Thanks for sharing.
Awesome! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks, Andy----a great deal of enjoyment for me.
What a great pictural Andy, or should I say 'Dances with Buffalo'!
Good luck with Elk this Fall.
Andy.
I am totally awestruck! You are livin' the dream, dude! Excellent pictures, as usual.
:notworthy: :notworthy: :notworthy:
Andy,
Absolutely amazing! Oh to be young again :) Keep it up my friend. If you need any companions, my son is in Crested Butte...tippit
Andy,
You are truly living the dream,...Thanks for letting us share a little of it..!
Incredible pictorial essay of your dance with death sir! Thanks for sharing Andy!
So rare it seems to capture such events on camera! Done the around the tree game myself once, but it's only good for the campfire as it was never recorded. Simply awesome...Cheers!
~CB
Wow, thanks for sharing your adventures! Beautiful photography.
-Jay
I am pretty sure his adventures for this year are not over yet. ;)
Fully aware that your path of roses contains many of the most lethal thorns and grueling sacrifices.
My thoughts are that you must have some special source of power, whether it is a cape, spinach, fortified suit or a pill in order to tread far beyond my most implausible dreams.
Again, much thanks for sharing for you area true to life super hero.
Fantastic !
Unbelievable! Thank you Andy for taking us with you buff hunting!
A dream hunt for sure, may be one day I'll have the honor to be guided by you :thumbsup: :campfire:
F-Manny
Fantastic pics and story! :tumbsup:
All I got is a big WOW!!!! Thanks for sharing. For the 99+% of us that will never have this type of experience, I take my hat off to ya for letting us tag along with ya. Great storyline and very detailed photos. Congrats on your success; both with the kill and surviving the charge.
God bless.
Wow! And to think my biggest adventures are stalking black bears in Cohutta or driving through Atlanta on a Friday afternoon...
if I ever get to Oz to visit a couple friends...I hope to have the time and opportunity to chase after some buffs as well....maybe not quite as exciting as your adventure but an adventure nonetheless...
keep em sharp,
ron herman
Andy,
Thanks for sharing. Think this might be a new hunt for my bucket list....2014 or 2015 are still open :rolleyes:
Thanks, unexpectedly Iv just spent another 7 days up in remote northern Arnhem Land helping a buddy of mine with a Buff hunt, His partner could not make the trip after putting a VPA 3blade through his hand 2 days before they where scheduled to fly out. He Killed 3 great bulls.
Hunt hard....
Andy Ivy
Andy, can you tell us more about your frontal shots on the buffalo?
Feeding lots of mouths from the last trip.
Ribs seem to be the most prized piece.
the buff are known as "Ditong" out in this remote area
(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h101/tradtusker/IMG_1544.jpg)
Young girl from Central Arnhem Land
(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h101/tradtusker/IMG_1553.jpg)
Absolutely incredible! :thumbsup:
Outstanding pictures and you are CRAZZZZZY :notworthy:
thanks for all and take care !
WOW ... Andy that was truly incredible. Thanks so much for sharing the fine pictures and great story.
Yeah Buddy!!! That was a great read and pics were amazing. Thanks for sharing Andy. Unreal.
More up on the Dangerous game forum, with testing.
Thanks Guys.
Thanks again for the posts, Andy. Looks like a lot of happy people for the meat.