The week that was my Birthday week was hectic! Work was pilled up out the door! By Wednesday I could see the light at the end of the tunnel, my beautiful wife Amanda had organised a weekend away for the 2 of us to chill out, unwind and do some much needed shopping that isn’t possible in our little town. I was looking forward to a weekend away and a break from the gruelling weekly Sunday hunt in 110+ deg heat…. I know I must have needed a week away!! The weekend was fantastic, though Monday came around far too quickly and I was back at it. Work required me to travel 300Mile to the east to supervise a project I was managing. “Beauty Just what I need”! I thought, a few days in the wilds of the Gulf Country, fishing and hunting in the afternoons, a few of the finest beers Australia has to offer, no mobile, no emails and NO WORRIES! I headed out early Tuesday morning with the car full of fuel, necessary fishing and bowhunting apparatuses and cold beverages. The road out there is half gravel road that was heavily corrugated and progress was slow. Numerous river crossings added to the excitement of the 6.5hr drive but I was relieved to see the station in the distance. Upon my arrival I caught up with the contractors completing the works, they had made good progress and anticipated an early departure the following morning. The contractors’ son and I lined up an evening fishing trip down at the river crossing that afternoon. 5:30 came quickly, beers loaded into the esky and rods in the 4 wheel drive we headed 10Mile back up the road to the secret local fishing hot spot. We hadn’t been there long when John hooked a nice barra but lost it at the bank when it spat the lure out. Bummer!! 3 other fish were hooked but not landed that afternoon. The Barra were feeding in the shallow rocky rapids and hitting like freight trains but applying pressure to turn them in the rapids only resulted in pulled or spat lures… At the time, the sighting of a massive scrub bull (wild ox) was little more than a chance to hone my stalking and camera skills. I had left my bow at our camp…. I got a couple of nice pictures of the unawares bull as he walked along the high bank of the river. Man I wanted him bad! But armed with my camera and Shimano fishing rig I knew I had just missed the opportunity of a lifetime at a bull of a lifetime! That night around the fire we told the manager about the bull we had seen and I asked about the possibility of taking a scrub bull. He told of a huge baiting and aerial shooting program that they had planed next year to cull the troublesome rogue stock and said any that I shot was 1 less he had to get rid of That said my Katera was bought from the darkness of my room to the table in which we were having a social beer around to show the manager what a modern day bow looked like and tell him tales of my bowhunting success. . In Australia these wild bulls are seen as an extremely worthy opponent for a bowhunter. I awoke bleary eyed the following day with someone beating a hammer against my head, man….. Those social beers are a killer! A strong coffee was made and 4 broad heads were worked till they were razor sharp and placed in my bow quiver, my bow was placed back in my room were it would await my return from work. The day was slow and extremely hot, all I could think off was “that bull”. We worked through lunch and knock off thankfully came early. Visions of the bull still filled my mind…. I threw on a camo shirt grabbed my bow, leupold rangefinder and Binos and hastily made my way out the front gate towards the river where the bull was seen the night before. Several other mobs of scrub cattle were seen on the journey but none had the WOW factor that “big red” had and after a quick glass the 4 wheel drive was back in 1st gear and kicking up dust along the bush track. I had a very fitting song playing on the CD player- Foo Figthers- To all the cows…. I arrived at the river, I was shaking like a leaf. I had been thinking about this far too much and it was playing on my mind. No matter how many times I hunt dangerous game I still get the buzz that I got when I faced my first beast. It was game on, and I had to get back in control of the adrenaline that was surging through my body. Hunting pack on, bow in hand I crested the large sand hill that formed the bank of the river- I was now in hunter mode! Walking along the top of the bank was noisy. The leaf litter was pilled up high from the long dry season and sounded as though I was walking on broken glass. I had purposely climbed the river bank 400m down wind of where the bull was located the previous afternoon hoping he would be near the same spot- a real long shot but all I really had to work with. The wind was strong and soon enough the smell of cattle filled my nostrils. Ohh yer there’s that adrenaline again…. I crouched down on my knees and glassed the scrub ahead. I could see a large bulky frame through he bushes about 100m up. I slowly made my way forward- “it was him” I thought has his horns became visible through the bush. I was within range but the bull was bedded up under a large tree. The sun wasn’t going to stay up forever so I decided to make my move. An arrow was nocked and bow at the ready, as he stood at 25 yards he would present a perfect broadside shot. I through a rock in his general direction but I had a little too much power on it and hit the bull in the ribs on the second bounce. I am not sure if it was the down hill angle or my lack of throwing skills…. He jumped to his feet and trotted off. Bugger!! I blew it!! You idiot!!! Just as I finished giving myself volley of abuse the bull stoped. I ranged him, 47yards quartering away. I drew took aim and placed an arrow exactly where I wanted, straight through his lungs. He bucked, kicked then trotted a couple of paces when he realised he was in pain. He bedded up again. I decided that a follow up shot was required but I needed time to let the broad head do the damage required to take down such a beast. I gave him 10 minutes. It isn’t something I would normally do but an enraged bull with broad head wound no matter how fatal the shot is not something to take lightly. I knew the first shot was perfect but this was not the time to pressure the beast. The first shot was the killer but the second at 20 yards was insurance. He didn’t manage 10yards from the initial shot a very efficient kill on such a beast. Words can’t explain how happy I was. The feeling of placing one’s hands on the horns of a dangerous game animal is something that is hard to explain. It is the combined feelings of utmost accomplishment, relief and respect to a true warrior.
Hmmm... might have to add one of them to the dance card when Will and I come over for water buffs... What poundage, draw length and arrow weight are you using on those beasts?
Rob I used my 70lb Hoyt Katera @28 inch with Easton Axis nano shafts and Blackstump broadheads. All up they weighed in at 560gr. I got a full pass through on the 1st shot as the bull quartered away. I have found that set up ample for all big Aussie game. I have busted ribs on both buffalo and scrub bull on entry and nver failed to enter as least to the off side rib cage. The broad head is the key. Most of us Aussies use strong 2 blade heads. These are the pick of them in my opinion. They are supper tough and will not fail! www.blackstumpbroadheads.com.au they arent cheap but they will not let you down. I would rather pay the extra $$$ and know that that big critter aint gunna catch me!
Cool. Just about exactly the setup I got a pass through on my bison with this winter. 70#, 29.5", 560 grain Axis but with a G-5 Striker. I'll likely go to a larger head by the time I come over but I won't bother ordering the 80# limbs that I was thinking of.
I never weighed him on the hoof as I was more than 300 mile from home. I would guess him at about 1600 - 2000 Lb. Thanks guys, was a cool hunt and I love to share my experiences.
these scrub bulls are by far tougher and have some more "mongrel " in them. They sure have an attitude
its a real race to get off as much as you can and pack it into the esky (ice box). These old bulls are real tough to eat but make great stews. They have a great taste to them!
