Water Buffalo Hunting On A Budget

[TOBY458]

I've been thinking about doing another water buffalo hunt in the NT. The outfitter I went with in 2015 has since sold his business, and is no longer doing hunts.
My question is, are there any forum members here that offer reasonably priced buffalo hunts? I would like to be able to take maybe 3 decent bulls, a couple of cows, and maybe a scrub bull.
I'm going to Africa this year, but maybe could do a NT hunt in 2020, if the price is right.
Any ideas?

 

[NEW ZEALAND SAFARIS]

Toby if you could shoot me an email I can get a package together for you, I have been guiding Buffalo for the last 10 years now that works in well with New Zealand and did my apprenticeship under Australia's most experienced and professional Buffalo Outfitter hunting in the traditional style.
With that I do offer reasonably priced hunts, but do not do budget style hunts. All the animals I hunt are completely wild and free ranging, on aboriginal land. I do not hunt on the fenced `ranch style` Buffalo hunts as most guides tend to do now. The quality of the hunt, the experience, and age of the animal is as important as the trophy it's self. If you could get in touch with me I can put a package together for you and if you would prefer I can personally give you a call to see if I will be the right fit for your type of hunt you are looking for.

look forward to hearing back.
Jim Gibson.

 

[BenKK]

Jim, I disagree. There is almost no ranch-style hunting for buffalo in the NT. Mary River, yes. Conways, no - it is a cattle station but they conduct(ed) their hunts in their wild northern country with no fences and really it is just an extension of Arnhemland up there. Even their cattle production area is wild enough, and the buffalo are constantly smashing fences breaking-in. Those fence-wreckers are completely wild animals and at one stage were providing some good culling opportunities.

 

[NEW ZEALAND SAFARIS]

Ben I’m not here to debate this issue, I offer exclusive hunting on large vast unfenced and wild areas that I don’t share with multiple outfitters the same as New Zealand and built my reputation on such.

 

[BenKK]

No worries at all, I certainly didn’t want to come across as looking for a debate. Where do you hunt here, Jim?

 

[NEW ZEALAND SAFARIS]

Depending on the species and how remote clients would like to hunt East Arnemland and the top of the Northern part.

 

[BenKK]

Beautiful country, there. Hope to experience it someday. Very different to Central and Western Arnhemland (which is beautiful in a different way).

 

[Shaneb]

Been looking at a buffalo hunt in the future as well. How much could one expect to pay on average water buffalo hunt?

 

[JPbowhunter]

If you find one let me know! It's become ridiculously expensive in recent years.

 

[TOBY458]

My last hunt in 2015 was $9500 for one trophy bull and all accomodations. Then the additional management bulls were $1000 each and cows were $400 each. We saw hundreds of buffalo during my 5 day hunt. And hundreds of hogs as well. I ended up shooting 3 bulls and 1 cow.
I would love to return to hunt more buffalo, but not sure I'd want to spend that much again. Maybe I'm being unrealistic?

 

[JPbowhunter]

My last hunt in 2015 was $9500 for one trophy bull and all accomodations. Then the additional management bulls were $1000 each and cows were $400 each. We saw hundreds of buffalo during my 5 day hunt. And hundreds of hogs as well. I ended up shooting 3 bulls and 1 cow.
I would love to return to hunt more buffalo, but not sure I'd want to spend that much again. Maybe I'm being unrealistic?

Given that the govt culls them and they're classed as pests in NT i think it's way overpriced. It's just an artificially inflated market due mostly to American and European hunters that in recent years have been willing to fork over big money. Prior to that many southerners like myself could get up there and pay meat prices or like my old man in the 80s hunt for free!

It has always bothered me as an aussie who was born, bred, worked and paid taxes here that i have no way to hunt a declared pest without using an overpriced guided hunt (some of which aren't even citizens of this country - go figure). It's a hunt I dreamt of since reading "the green eyes are buffaloes" as a kid but I'll probably never get to do it despite living here. As you can probably tell it frustrates me a tad! Haha

 

[TOBY458]

Given that the govt culls them and they're classed as pests in NT i think it's way overpriced. It's just an artificially inflated market due mostly to American and European hunters that in recent years have been willing to fork over big money. Prior to that many southerners like myself could get up there and pay meat prices or like my old man in the 80s hunt for free!

It has always bothered me as an aussie who was born, bred, worked and paid taxes here that i have no way to hunt a declared pest without using an overpriced guided hunt (some of which aren't even citizens of this country - go figure). It's a hunt I dreamt of since reading "the green eyes are buffaloes" as a kid but I'll probably never get to do it despite living here. As you can probably tell it frustrates me a tad! Haha

That's what I was thinking! They want to thin them out and reduce the population, but then they charge huge money to shoot them. Doesn't make sense!

 

[JPbowhunter]

That's what I was thinking! They want to thin them out and reduce the population, but then they charge huge money to shoot them. Doesn't make sense!

It's a joke.

The other aspect to consider is safety. There's guys like Ben on this forum who obviosuly has a lot of buff experience but most guides have no professional hunting training. I saw a new outfit the other day made up of a couple guys in their early 20s. Neither is Australian and neither have been in the country more than a couple of years but they're guiding people on potentially dangerous game. Makes me wonder chasing wounded animals in thick cover if blokes like this are really equipped and experienced enough to deal with the animal safely and manage the safety of their clients when shit hits the fan.

 

[Opposite Pole]

Another thing is the government actually pays to have the herds thinned in places like Kakadu but will not allow hunters or so called “professionals” to get in there and do it for free. I know a bloke who offered NT government payment in exchange for ability to go in there and reduce the herds but was laughed at. Not long after several hundred thousand tax $ were spent on doing just that.

 

[JPbowhunter]

Another thing is the government actually pays to have the herds thinned in places like Kakadu but will not allow hunters or so called “professionals” to get in there and do it for free. I know a bloke who offered NT government payment in exchange for ability to go in there and reduce the herds but was laughed at. Not long after several hundred thousand tax $ were spent on doing just that.

Yeah I believe that because I did something similar. I tried hard over a few years contacting nt gov, land council, private groups etc. No one was interested in considering it particularly the govt. It's frustrating being a genuine person willing to do the right thing and not getting an opportunity for things like you've mentioned. They have similar issues in vic and nsw with deer. Where I live the vast majority of deer are in national park which a hunter would lose their guns for hunting in. But the govt is doing its second round of culling in two years at the moment at the cost of hundreds of thousands of dollars.

I know of a couple guys down my way that headed up north and did some buff shooting, one was definitely poaching and the other I'm certain was too. The same guys poach the NP here and are also praised on social media for their accomplishments. Boils my blood, but that's the country we live in!

 

[NEW ZEALAND SAFARIS]

Beautiful country, there. Hope to experience it someday. Very different to Central and Western Arnhemland (which is beautiful in a different way).

Yes I think those coastal areas are very diverse as far as hunting from tropical jungle, open plains to tidal salt flats and sandy rivers it just adds to a very unique experience.

 

[NEW ZEALAND SAFARIS]

Been looking at a buffalo hunt in the future as well. How much could one expect to pay on average water buffalo hunt?

You would be looking at approx $10,500 inclusive for one hunter, $9500 2x1 for 2 hunters.

 

[Timbo]

It's because of the similarity in prices that Africa provides a better value for money hunt (wide range of game from dik-dik to elephant, different cointry/culture etc etc). As I stated in Mike's thread, African countries charge different prices depending on whether you're a citizen or international hunter. But here in Oz all prices are based as if you're an international hunter, with the citizen hunter being treated with a "take it or leave it" attitude by the Guides. This is all the more galling as the buffalo are regarded as vermin, and is a domesticated animal gone feral.

 

[sambarhunter]

I do not hunt on the fenced `ranch style` Buffalo hunts as most guides tend to do now.

I do not agree with that remark at all, it really comes across as if you are bagging the opposition eh!

There are a few blokes on several forums that live up north and just go out and shoot 1/2 a dozen at any time including big bulls for sfa.

 

[Michael Dean]

You're being unrealistic. You're attempting to shoot a half dozen animals for $10,000. The price you got on your last trip was exceptional. I'd contact that outfitter again.