Australia Buffalo

[PCC600]

Have been across to there three times now and booked for a fourth for next year.
I've hunted both the floodplains and the inland areas. Both great areas but markedly different hunting. Flood plains tends to be a lot of looking over vast areas for specific animals and then conducting a stalk into them. Inland was long walks, bumping into animals.
Flood plains tend to have bigger bulls, and banteng.
As much as I love the water buff (and will continue to hunt them) there is something very special about banteng.
I think you would have a very hard time to look past Walkabout Safaris. Outstanding area, great guide, wonderful camp and great animals. I'm booked for a third time with him!

This is a point well made . The hunting over the flood plains is very different to the inland around Katherine . My preference is the inland . More interesting country and much closer hunting - but no Banteng . Still plenty of crocs !

 

[Sarg]

Not recently but I've been to OZ twice and hunted buffalo in the NT with friends; for my 3rd trip I want a Banteng and the only huntable population of them on earth is in Arnhem land NT.

I spoke with Alex Jagers @BIG COUNTRY SAFARIS AUSTRALIA at SCI Nashville this year and when it comes time for my 3rd trip I'll be going after Banteng with Alex; friends in both OZ and America had recommended him before I went to SCI.

I actual just finished lunch in Coburg, after a late first morning start hunting Banteng !

Will be heading out again soon to check some swamp margins.

I’m with the only licensed outfitter on Coburg, if we get something in the next few days I’ll post it here if you want ?

 

[Brian]

I flew through Sidney and on to Darwin. Not only do you need an import license to get a rifle in, you need an export license to get it back out. When we were flying home from Darwin and back to Sidney, we showed up four hours before our flight to have time to get the permit, However, the local Police hemmed and hawed then punted on our export license and told us to get them in Sidney. We had to go from the Domestic Terminal to the International and collect our baggage since we couldn't check through to Houston because of the lack of an Export Permit. Collected bags headed to International and Police Checkpoint to get Export paperwork and was told it would be a minimum wait of two hours. Missed our connection to IAH. Rerouted later that day to San Francisco. San Fran wasn't expecting our guns on the plane so that threw TSA into a tizzy since we had to go to Customs as first POE to get them logged and then back to TSA to check them to Houston. Almost missed that flight... needless to say it was a mess brought on by the Police at Darwin that were too lazy to get our export permits a day or so before...

Never again.

Thanks for explaining your experience. Brian

 

[Sika98k]

More difficult than Africa and Europe?

There seem to be a lot of hoops to jump in and out of relating to importing a gun into Australia.

 

[PCC600]

There seem to be a lot of hoops to jump in and out of relating to importing a gun into Australia.

I must admit I leave my guns behind when I shoot overseas . Easier to hire . Anything to avoid dealing with our bureaucracy .

 

[JPbowhunter]

I’ve only travelled in the opposite direction with guns but it was always just a B709a for to get it in and another to get it out of the country. I haven’t been overseas for a decade but I don’t recall it being all that much of a headache.

Except the first time when I didn’t realise I needed one to bring it back in and our guns were impounded until we could get the forms sorted out. My brother also got grilled about why he took 50 rounds and only had 40 something on the way back. The girl didn’t seem to click that they would be fired and that would lessen the amount my brother had.

 

[PCC600]

I’ve only travelled in the opposite direction with guns but it was always just a B709a for to get it in and another to get it out of the country. I haven’t been overseas for a decade but I don’t recall it being all that much of a headache.

Except the first time when I didn’t realise I needed one to bring it back in and our guns were impounded until we could get the forms sorted out. My brother also got grilled about why he took 50 rounds and only had 40 something on the way back. The girl didn’t seem to click that they would be fired and that would lessen the amount my brother had.

I booked some hunting yesterday . I actually looked at the export reimport process for Australia today . I just shuddered closed the file and thought easier to rent overseas . Just not worth the hassle .

 

[BIG COUNTRY SAFARIS AUSTRALIA]

Morning All

Some interresting comments here on my ability to get back re communication. This is something I pride myself on and many members in here who have hunted with me will vouch for this.

Brian you have emailed me multiple times since 2021. We even spoke on the phone this year at length when you were wanting to book. We made a plan you thought it was great. I was even going to guide you out of my airconditioned lodge not our bush camp as it would be warming up in late september and be brutal on someone in their 80's. I made you a great deal

You then asked me to call you again which I tried 5 times and you didn't answer, you don't even have a mobile phone, you told me so I was ringing your landline. You then emailed me back wanting a price that I had given you the year previously which I couldn't do and you were still happy to proceed with the hunt. Then you ghosted me and started talking to other outfitters some of whom are my friends and my booking agents who all messaged me asking me if I know who you are. You told me you were going to revisit Australia for 2027 after I emailed you saying I was trying to call you. Do you want me to post these emails on here for all to see?

For you to get on here and rubbish me is astounding, I am more then happy to post all the emails we have had back and forwards for everyone on here to see seeing as though you have attacked my integrity with false information. This business feeds my family. Just admit it Brian you wanted a better deal which I don't begrudge you for and went elsewhere, don't bullshit. You are a AH forum warrior and full of shit.

As for you Surgeon I tried to call you back as well when I was in Atlanta and am looking at a message I sent off my phone right now after I missed your call that I sent you with no reply? I will give you the benefit of the doubt as I know calls and text messages between Aus and US phone providers sometimes don't make it. Im also more then happy to post the text message I sent you the same day with no reply?

If anyone emails me or whatsapps me I will always get back to you. I still guide every week and run a very busy and succesful operation

As for everyone talking about gun permits into and out of Australia. If the outfitter you are hunting with is worth what you are paying them they will organise all the import and export paperwork for you. I personally have completed training with the Australian Border Force office to make this process easy, It's part of being a great outfitter. My clients have there completed paperwork done by myself and handed back to them before they leave my camp so that there is no stress at the airport. In the 12years i have done this I have never had a problem with clients and guns. Just ask many of the members on here who have brought their own gun to Australia. We have had 24 cleints this year bring guns in and out with us and not one problem. In fact I encourage my clients to bring their own gun! Doesn't that add to the excitement of a trip? If the outfitter you are using is leaving you to organise your own paperwork, then that's on them and you have not done your homework.

CamoJ is in my camp right now with his own gun and having a great time just message him

Again if anyone wants to get hold of me whatsapp +61429398704 or email bigcountrysafaris@outlook.com

Have a great day everyone and don't let the truth get in the way of a good story. Peace Out!

Regards Alex

 

[CamoManJ]

Guys, let’s settle down please.
I back up Alex & Big Country Safaris 100%.
I am having the best hunting safari of my career, hands down. From the firearms process, to the people in this country are very welcoming, the camp, staff, food & incredible amount of quality animals. No flies, not a single mosquito or bug bite and no snakes seen yet, no worries Mate!
I will emphasize that Alex & his operation is Top Notch, everyone works extremely hard & they very good at what they do.

I will post a proper hunt report with pictures when I get back, I still have 2 days of hunting remaining. 1 cull cow, 1 ancient management bull, 4 pigs and I got my bruiser of a Trophy Bull last night. Trophy quality is Exceptional!

Today we are going after Scrubbies & I still have 1 more cow cull probably for tomorrow.

Everyone chill, Life is Great down here with Alex & his camp. Let’s support him and each other.

 

[CamoManJ]

I will add…Alex made it very easy to get my rifle into Australia, too easy. He knows what he doing & he knows the officers who work in Darwin, etc. Alex had my back through the entire process, I’ve never had an outfitter do that for me & I am a solo hunter.

Flying into Melbourne & going through with a rifle took less than 5 minutes. They checked the serial numbers, stamped my license paperwork & I was on my way. Too damn easy, easier than Africa & without bribes.

 

[deewayne2003]

Please tell me what port you went through, Brisbane or Sydney? What part was difficult?
Did you do the paperwork/forms yourself?
I have never been to Australia. Thank you very much for your experience on the process. Brian

@Brian your problem will be dealing with airport and customs staff that were born and raised in disarmed Australia where you literally can’t carry a single blade pocket knife; nobody will have any clue what to do when you ask questions and being Canadian you understand how bureaucratic former British territories can be.

But good sir, nobody on earth can come up with random firearms laws lake Australia and the difference from state to state can be infuriating.

Example: I have friends in Australia and if I go to Australia with my own rifle to hunt with a Safari company and then hunt with friends I would have to lock up my rifle in a safe and borrow a rifle from my friend to use, because…..

The only purpose for importing a rifle is Safari hunting or competition with invitation letter - so if it’s allowed in the country for Safari hunting, it’s illegal to use it when not in the company of the Safari outfit that wrote you the letter.

My first trip to OZ I went through the process of getting a …
“International visitor firearms permit - state of Victoria”
Just so I could borrow a gun while in Victoria.

I had to go to the state police barracks in Austin Texas and have them sign forms and submit passport photos and submit the 1 page form that has 3 pages of instructions and then fedex it to Melbourne and wait 30days after arrival and permit wasn’t issued until after I boarded plane in LA headed to Melbourne.

I’ll give it the NT is different, but the state of Victoria was such an unmitigated pain in the ass that I didn’t even attempt it my second trip.