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Hunting in AUSTRALIA

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#21 ·
Wilderlife said:
Handguns are a different category and the only reason you can own one is if you are a member of a pistol club. At least, that's in my state. You can't own one for hunting or self defence. In fact, if you legally own one because you're in a pistol club and are caught with it while out hunting (even on private property) you can get in big trouble.

Semi-auto rimfires are category C and almost impossible for most people to obtain. This is obvioiusly a joke of a system, as people have decided that a 10/22 (for example) is more of a 'risk to society' than something like a Remington 7615 with a 10 shot magazine. Crazy!
Click to expand...
Half the country wants to do it to the USA too
 
Discussion starter · #22 ·
And we have the same discussions here. Only criminals commit crime with guns, no gun is 'more dangerous' than another if it is stored correctly and being used by law abiding citizens, blah blah blah. Some states in Australia have recently been smashed with more crappy rules around this stuff.

Still, despite our firearms laws being a bit silly, we have it pretty good here. I would say that in general, hunting here in Australia involves almost infinitely more opportunity than in the USA. Some states don't have public land access so you need to rely on private land, but we don't have many seasons to adhere to.

In my staste (NSW) there is a lot of public access, which I utilise a bit, but I mostly access private property. Having said that, there is no animal I hunt that seasons apply to. I can hunt rabbits, hares, cars, foxes, wild dogs, goats, pigs, and deer, literally limitlessly. No bag limits, no seasons, and no real restrictions on methods of take (except on public land).

The amount of hunting I get to do in a year would blow the minds of people in the USA. I feel very lucky to be able to do what I do.
 
#23 ·
Wilder does a great job of illustrating the hunting opportunities in Australia. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

I went with a group of friends in 2006 and it was a fantastic trip. Not only was it great hunting but the Aussie people were a refreshing can do crowd.

I would love to go back with my Recurve this time.
A little bit of stalking in Croc country (pic wont load)

my water buff
Image

I lost a bunch of those pics on a laptop that got corrupted.
The many big crocs on the banks every 100y along the Mary river fishing for Barras was a good reminder not to fall in.
 
Discussion starter · #24 ·
Cool to see you here, mate! You should come down my way at some point- I'll trade some chances on fallow for chances on elk!

The buffalo hunts up north are really sought after, but fairly expensive, even for Aussies. A lot of outfits are catering to clients from overseas now and that's where a lot of the money is. I'm still holding out on the idea that I may be able to gain some access to country up there, or be invited by a friend, but I may have to pay to get one. I have a friend going up in a few weeks with a paid outfit. He's taking an 84# Hoyt that he draws 30in with, and is shooting a 580gn arrow that has a 200gn single bevel broadhead on the front. Very keen to see how
he goes.
 
Discussion starter · #25 ·
Another little video of a hunt I had here a couple of summers ago, just as the worst drought in recorded history was breaking. I took my PCH into the same spot I got my first goat with it and caught a few fish since the river was up again. I shot this young billy before I walked out.



 
#26 ·
I’ve hunted Australia once. I went there for a red stag hunt. It was a great hunt even though I did t get one. I also hunted goats with Ozzy Clint. That was a blast, and all I did was miss!!!!

Bisch


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
 
Discussion starter · #28 ·
We can talk about this more soon, mate. My wife and I are expecting our first child this coming October, so the fallow rut next year (April 2024) is going to look a little different for us. Still, it's all good things happening.

I can't remember from Rokslide but I'm assuming you're in Colorado? I'm hearing a lot of things about elk tags in that state.

I have some friends in Australia who have been over there a few times. One had a nice tag in the Gila I believe and got a big bull. They've also had some good opportunities in Montana. I asked one of them what he thought about me going over for my 40th birthday (I'm 35 currently) and whether or not I should just pay for a guide, or do it myself. He said if I only had a week, pay for a guide, but if I could get a month, go to Montana, hire a car, connect with someone who would let me keep some gear at their house, etc, and I'd have a blast.

Obviously lots of things to look at between now and then but I like the idea of keeping the ball rolling.

It'd be much easier down here. Literally get on a plane and get to the airport in my time, bring your bow, and I'd do the rest. You'd have many opportunities at fallow deer and other critters.
 
#29 ·
Congratulations on the upcoming child. That will change your lifestyle.
I've considered Australia but New Zealand is a big draw as well. I'm looking at one of the two in the next three years.

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#30 ·
Yeah, let's talk but for now concentrate on your wife and child. That will be the best thing you ever did....they enrich your life. Just enjoy the time between now and about 13 when they know more than you- grin

I'm in Ca....but I hunt all of the western states. Key is getting a tag which ain't easy.
 
Discussion starter · #31 ·
GCook said:
Congratulations on the upcoming child. That will change your lifestyle.
I've considered Australia but New Zealand is a big draw as well. I'm looking at one of the two in the next three years.

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New Zealand definitely seems like a great option with the ease of access to public land. From what I understand, the hunting on a lot of public land in New Zealand is a little easier than parts of Australia. Having said that, there are great public land options in NSW and VIC that would see a lot of North Americans having a great time. Lake Dartmouth in particular, would be amazing, provided you had a way to hire or borrow a boat. Head off from the boat ramp with all your fishing/hunting/camping gear, find a spot on the bank to pull up, and do whatever you like. Almost no closed seasons on the trout or deer.

Beendare said:
Yeah, let's talk but for now concentrate on your wife and child. That will be the best thing you ever did....they enrich your life. Just enjoy the time between now and about 13 when they know more than you- grin

I'm in Ca....but I hunt all of the western states. Key is getting a tag which ain't easy.
Click to expand...
Yeh, I'm looking forward to getting the kid outdoors as much as possible, and although I don't want to dawdle, I have plenty of time to explore North American hunting options.
 
Discussion starter · #34 ·
Yeh, the pigs are in a league of their own up there.

They're in huge numbers in my areas at the moment. We had a terrible drought over 2018-2019 and then some of the wettest years on record. things are drying up again now and when summer hits and water is limited, the pig hunting will be fantastic.
 
Discussion starter · #36 ·
Mate, the cats are a big talking point, but it seems to me that the North Americans are obsessed with the idea. Lots of Aussies definitely love shooting cats, but they aren't talked about down here as though they're in bigger numbers, or are a bigger problem, than all the other ferals - foxes, cane toads, rabbits, etc.
 
Discussion starter · #39 ·
A bit of an update with a few things. My mates and I had a look at a new property we gained access to behind our archery club, mainly looking for sign of red stags. We found some, which is very exciting, and there is a lot of old pig sign as well. A decent sized property that will take a bit of work to figure out but next March could be very exciting.

I'm only 5ft 7in but this is definitely a big rub.


Wattle, one of our native flowers is in bloom at the moment, so the bush is full of yellow.




Here are a couple of longbow kills to mix things up. The first is a rabbit with a St Patrick Lake Pacific styk. The bow is 51# @ 26.5in and I was shooting an arrow of around 500gn.


This is a sow I killed with an Australian made longbow - a Chieftain made by Norseman Traditional Longbows. The bow is marked 65# @ 26.5in and the arrow was around 600gn.
 
Discussion starter · #40 ·
Heading out again this weekend so hopefully I have some more cool stuff to add to this thread. For the meantime, here is a picture of my first ever bow hunted animal. A decent boar from April 2018. I was using a Mathews No Cam at around 60#, set to 26.5in DL. Not sure about the arrow recipe.
 
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Wilderlife
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