Bowmancam
01-10-07, 07:10 PM
"You been out to these swamps Mick?" I asked while pointing the finger at a couple of blue dots on the topographic map. "Nah mate. One day I’ll hike out there but it's a bloody long way" came Micks reply. Mick Baker runs Trophy Bowhunts Australia and this was the third time I'd been privileged to hunt the great blocks he has access to, and my second time on this particular block right in the middle of Cape York. With interest Mozza, Grunter and myself keenly eyed off these far away swamps. A quick calculation revealed it would be at least a twenty "k" round trip. A Long walk by any standard and even tougher in the heat of the Cape, but how keen the intrepid bowhunter is never ceases to astound me, as three bowhunters filled their kit and topped up extra camelback bladders in preparation for what was to be an amazing day.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y32/bowmancam/goanna.jpg
(a friendly camp Goanna - photo by "Piggy")
The dawn was crisp, almost cool as distant dingos sang an eerie duet with the raucous blue winged kookaburras just above our camp. Time for action. A hearty breaky and a double check we had all we needed and the vehicle was packed. After about 20minutes the road ended and the hoof work began. With waypoints programmed into the gps the night before navigation was a breeze and within half an hours walk we were at the first of a series of swamps we hoped to hunt during the day. Alas no pigs were spotted and the next waypoint was cued up and we were off again. 25 minutes later we were approaching our next chosen swamp but this time ... the hogs were there! About 20 in total slowly started feeding away from the swamp and into some of the dryer, tall grass. I quickly closed the gap to what I thought was 18mts, only to send a shaft falling just under a nice boar’s brisket. Before I had a chance to curse myself another arrow was on its way, this time from Mozza's Matthews. Unfortunately after seeing my arrow fall short, he over over-estimated the distance and shaved the hogs back. And that was that. 20 pig bums vanishing into the long grass. At least they were heading the same direction we were planning and within no time we approached another swamp. This time even before sighting pigs the guttural roar of boars fighting was clearly heard and we fanned out with about 40 meters between us and approached the mayhem ahead. A big boar ran out to my right and turned back looking back at the boar that just gave him a touch up. Now I was looking fair up this boar's clacker at 25 meters but it was clear he was going to take off so I took the shot. After missing the first pig low I aimed slightly higher only to watch my arrow fly millimetres over the pigs back. Not happy Jan! The boar was off and I was fuming, but anger soon turned to humour while I was looking for my arrow... Over to my left I noticed Mozza coming to full draw, but what he was aiming at was obviously getting closer and closer until he was just about pointing straight down at his feet, at which point he backed off his draw. He then turned 45 degrees and came back to full draw again aiming at a ridiculously acute angle but this time the shaft was released and a young boar copped the full power from about 2 meters. Turns out this pig didn’t even see Mozza and in fact ran into his legs!! The boar then stood back 2 meters looking at this strange object he had collided with, just long enough to wear a well placed shaft. Mozza knowing the young boar was down then tore off after the other pigs in the mob. I spent another few minutes looking for my arrow but with no luck I pressed on. Turning on my radio to get a fix on the boys I was instantly hit by radio chatter. First Mozza "I've hit 2 and I’m blood trailing" to which Grunter returned "I've hit 1 as well". I managed to catch up with the boys but the tracking was tough and we unfortunately failed to find Grunters and Mozzas second hog. The long grass just swallows them up in no time. We returned to the suicidal swine Mozza dispatched 20 minutes earlier for the photo session and a quick bite to eat then we were off again.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y32/bowmancam/mozza2.jpg
(mozza and the suicide swine)
Covering many more "k's" and looking over many swamps we finally came to the swamps we'd been planning to reach and approached with caution. Mozza took a wider line as we entered the swamp and I stupidly was watching him move towards the swamp instead of looking where I was walking and put up a big tusky boar only 15 feet in front .... he crested a bank and was off like a rocket. As I crested the same bank it seems another boar had been disturbed by the vacating hog moments before and was cresting the bank from the opposite side. So there I was, about 5 feet, face to face with a tusky hog not sure quite what I was. I fumbled to get an arrow onto the string but at such close quarters the boar was off while I tried to come to full draw. I couldn't believe it. 2 great hogs in 2 seconds and not a shaft despatched. I looked into the ditch the boar had just came from to see the fresh wallow he vacated only to see another big pig stick its head out from cover. With an arrow nocked already from the boar moments earlier I came to full draw and waited for the hog to reveal its vitals. One step and the arrow was gone, punching straight through both lungs and burying itself into the soft mud behind. The huge sow, as it turned out, only travelled 10 meters and was down. A quick 'insurance' shot was put in and her show was over. Trying to lift the sow I reckon she would have been well over 80kilos and she even had a set of hooks bigger than some boars I’ve shot. After the photos we were off again.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y32/bowmancam/sow1.jpg
(1 fat sow taken by the author)
The swamp had turned into quite a long, narrow, steep sided and deep billabong. Not overly productive for hogs yet while we managed to spook another solid boar, the rest was a bit disappointing considering this was the 'blue dot' on the map that had grabbed our attention. We had planned a big circle route that would take us passed other likely creeks and swamps on our way back to the car. Not long after the 'blue dot' swamp we found a likely looking creek. Just the perfect Cape York creek really. Plenty of cover and small pools of water. Everything a tropical hog needs. In a flash Mozza was off, muttering something about a hog further up the creek. Crouching down, with bino's in hand, I looked up the creek to see a great looking boar, head down, bum up eating mussels from his particular pool. Knowing Mozza had his headset on a few words of encouragement where issued from mine and Grunters radio "Don't blow this one mate, he's a cracker" and "mate, we can see the hooks from here" , just the thing a bloke who hasn't shot a boar with tusks wants to hear, but what are mates for aye? Peering back into my glasses I wondered when the hit would come, when "smack" the hog leapt fully from the water in an impressive spray of mud and water. The big boar only managed about 8 meters and was down for good. Now what has to be questioned next was who had the bigger pearly whites. The grin on Mozzas face rivalled the 28point hooks on the boar that now lay before him.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y32/bowmancam/mozzatusk.jpg
(mozza's awesome 28point boar)
It was an absolute highlight of my trip to see the look on Mozza's face. Well worth the long, hot walk. Well as you'd expect the cameras came out and the obligatory photos were taken but with the afternoon also becoming 'long in the tooth' we decided to follow the creek for a little while before we'd have to make a direct b-line for the car, still over 12k's away. After half an hour or so we came to another creek and while we decided where to cross grunter pointed no more than 10meters directly in front of us at a boar sound asleep right under our noses. They can be tricky buggers to spot. Quickly nocking and coming to full draw a tricky shot was taken past some fallen timber concealing the boar. A quality shot was issued from Grunters Matthews and the hog struggled to his feet, up the bank and that was that. A quick final shot was put in and the hog never made another meter, but as they do, managed to snap both arrows.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y32/bowmancam/jboar.jpg
(Grunters well spotted hog)
Again the 'paparazzi' came out and flashed away at Grunter and his hog and i slipped out while the tusk removal was happening to see if we could get the trifecta. I only walked 30 meters and put up a pig in some thick cover and figured I’d blown my chance at a boar for the day. Regrouping we checked the gps. 8.75 k's to the car as the sun slipped quietly towards the horizon. It was time for a 'military march' and that’s what we did. Sitting on about 5km/h we managed to get back to the car right on dusk, and what a sight it was. The hum of the engal fridge and the cold beer it held were a true delight after such a gruelling walk. With the leg-weary bowhunters aboard we headed back to camp. With the fading light we wondered whether a lumpy boar previously seen on a carcass would be there. As if on cue as we rounded the bend there he was, about 150meters away and coming in for a festered feed. With shooting light almost gone I was off at speed into a full on gale of a head wind. Almost perfect. Almost. The hog had no chance of smelling me yet I was copping the full brunt of the stench of death that only a rotting carcass can produce. By the time I arrived the hog was half buried inside the old bull finding some unimaginable joy out of his putrid feast. Coming to full draw at around 18 yards I realised I couldn’t get a clear sight picture. I strained my eyes searching for a faint fibre optic hint. Then I got it. I could clearly define my 20 yard pin, held it low and the shaft was gone. With a roar the boar spun and started coming at me. Another arrow was immediately on its way hitting him solidly. Slowly backing away through the mud I kept an eye on him but it was obvious he was going no further, a final finishing shot was despatched and he was down. Un-bloody-real, we each had now grassed great boars on our epic days hunt. Gloves were donned while I removed the jaw, and what a stench!!!
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y32/bowmancam/nightboar2.jpg
(The author trying to pretend there's no smell ...)
Back in the landcruiser we all shook hands recapping what an incredible day we had all had. Now it was well and truly dark so we figured we'd better get back before the search party started looking for us. Sure enough the boys at camp were starting to get a little concerned but the looks on our faces when we returned, still full of adrenalin, set their minds at ease, and the 3 jaws in the back where proof of a prosperous day out. Stories were told of the days events as the jaws were boiling away. Meanwhile Jindy had asked for our gps to plug in to his laptop (yes a laptop in the cape!) to see our days trip. When asked how far we thought we'd gone, estimates varied between 20 and 27 k's, to which Jindy replied "Try 35, almost 36!!!" It almost seems impossible, even now, to imagine not only walking such a distance but hunting along the way and in the cape as well, just again goes to show how crazy us bowhunters are.
"Where we goin tomorrow?" one of the boys asked ...a quick look at Mozza and Grunter, "back out to blue dot swamp" came the reply, but that’s a whole other story.....
Cheers, Cam
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y32/bowmancam/goanna.jpg
(a friendly camp Goanna - photo by "Piggy")
The dawn was crisp, almost cool as distant dingos sang an eerie duet with the raucous blue winged kookaburras just above our camp. Time for action. A hearty breaky and a double check we had all we needed and the vehicle was packed. After about 20minutes the road ended and the hoof work began. With waypoints programmed into the gps the night before navigation was a breeze and within half an hours walk we were at the first of a series of swamps we hoped to hunt during the day. Alas no pigs were spotted and the next waypoint was cued up and we were off again. 25 minutes later we were approaching our next chosen swamp but this time ... the hogs were there! About 20 in total slowly started feeding away from the swamp and into some of the dryer, tall grass. I quickly closed the gap to what I thought was 18mts, only to send a shaft falling just under a nice boar’s brisket. Before I had a chance to curse myself another arrow was on its way, this time from Mozza's Matthews. Unfortunately after seeing my arrow fall short, he over over-estimated the distance and shaved the hogs back. And that was that. 20 pig bums vanishing into the long grass. At least they were heading the same direction we were planning and within no time we approached another swamp. This time even before sighting pigs the guttural roar of boars fighting was clearly heard and we fanned out with about 40 meters between us and approached the mayhem ahead. A big boar ran out to my right and turned back looking back at the boar that just gave him a touch up. Now I was looking fair up this boar's clacker at 25 meters but it was clear he was going to take off so I took the shot. After missing the first pig low I aimed slightly higher only to watch my arrow fly millimetres over the pigs back. Not happy Jan! The boar was off and I was fuming, but anger soon turned to humour while I was looking for my arrow... Over to my left I noticed Mozza coming to full draw, but what he was aiming at was obviously getting closer and closer until he was just about pointing straight down at his feet, at which point he backed off his draw. He then turned 45 degrees and came back to full draw again aiming at a ridiculously acute angle but this time the shaft was released and a young boar copped the full power from about 2 meters. Turns out this pig didn’t even see Mozza and in fact ran into his legs!! The boar then stood back 2 meters looking at this strange object he had collided with, just long enough to wear a well placed shaft. Mozza knowing the young boar was down then tore off after the other pigs in the mob. I spent another few minutes looking for my arrow but with no luck I pressed on. Turning on my radio to get a fix on the boys I was instantly hit by radio chatter. First Mozza "I've hit 2 and I’m blood trailing" to which Grunter returned "I've hit 1 as well". I managed to catch up with the boys but the tracking was tough and we unfortunately failed to find Grunters and Mozzas second hog. The long grass just swallows them up in no time. We returned to the suicidal swine Mozza dispatched 20 minutes earlier for the photo session and a quick bite to eat then we were off again.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y32/bowmancam/mozza2.jpg
(mozza and the suicide swine)
Covering many more "k's" and looking over many swamps we finally came to the swamps we'd been planning to reach and approached with caution. Mozza took a wider line as we entered the swamp and I stupidly was watching him move towards the swamp instead of looking where I was walking and put up a big tusky boar only 15 feet in front .... he crested a bank and was off like a rocket. As I crested the same bank it seems another boar had been disturbed by the vacating hog moments before and was cresting the bank from the opposite side. So there I was, about 5 feet, face to face with a tusky hog not sure quite what I was. I fumbled to get an arrow onto the string but at such close quarters the boar was off while I tried to come to full draw. I couldn't believe it. 2 great hogs in 2 seconds and not a shaft despatched. I looked into the ditch the boar had just came from to see the fresh wallow he vacated only to see another big pig stick its head out from cover. With an arrow nocked already from the boar moments earlier I came to full draw and waited for the hog to reveal its vitals. One step and the arrow was gone, punching straight through both lungs and burying itself into the soft mud behind. The huge sow, as it turned out, only travelled 10 meters and was down. A quick 'insurance' shot was put in and her show was over. Trying to lift the sow I reckon she would have been well over 80kilos and she even had a set of hooks bigger than some boars I’ve shot. After the photos we were off again.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y32/bowmancam/sow1.jpg
(1 fat sow taken by the author)
The swamp had turned into quite a long, narrow, steep sided and deep billabong. Not overly productive for hogs yet while we managed to spook another solid boar, the rest was a bit disappointing considering this was the 'blue dot' on the map that had grabbed our attention. We had planned a big circle route that would take us passed other likely creeks and swamps on our way back to the car. Not long after the 'blue dot' swamp we found a likely looking creek. Just the perfect Cape York creek really. Plenty of cover and small pools of water. Everything a tropical hog needs. In a flash Mozza was off, muttering something about a hog further up the creek. Crouching down, with bino's in hand, I looked up the creek to see a great looking boar, head down, bum up eating mussels from his particular pool. Knowing Mozza had his headset on a few words of encouragement where issued from mine and Grunters radio "Don't blow this one mate, he's a cracker" and "mate, we can see the hooks from here" , just the thing a bloke who hasn't shot a boar with tusks wants to hear, but what are mates for aye? Peering back into my glasses I wondered when the hit would come, when "smack" the hog leapt fully from the water in an impressive spray of mud and water. The big boar only managed about 8 meters and was down for good. Now what has to be questioned next was who had the bigger pearly whites. The grin on Mozzas face rivalled the 28point hooks on the boar that now lay before him.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y32/bowmancam/mozzatusk.jpg
(mozza's awesome 28point boar)
It was an absolute highlight of my trip to see the look on Mozza's face. Well worth the long, hot walk. Well as you'd expect the cameras came out and the obligatory photos were taken but with the afternoon also becoming 'long in the tooth' we decided to follow the creek for a little while before we'd have to make a direct b-line for the car, still over 12k's away. After half an hour or so we came to another creek and while we decided where to cross grunter pointed no more than 10meters directly in front of us at a boar sound asleep right under our noses. They can be tricky buggers to spot. Quickly nocking and coming to full draw a tricky shot was taken past some fallen timber concealing the boar. A quality shot was issued from Grunters Matthews and the hog struggled to his feet, up the bank and that was that. A quick final shot was put in and the hog never made another meter, but as they do, managed to snap both arrows.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y32/bowmancam/jboar.jpg
(Grunters well spotted hog)
Again the 'paparazzi' came out and flashed away at Grunter and his hog and i slipped out while the tusk removal was happening to see if we could get the trifecta. I only walked 30 meters and put up a pig in some thick cover and figured I’d blown my chance at a boar for the day. Regrouping we checked the gps. 8.75 k's to the car as the sun slipped quietly towards the horizon. It was time for a 'military march' and that’s what we did. Sitting on about 5km/h we managed to get back to the car right on dusk, and what a sight it was. The hum of the engal fridge and the cold beer it held were a true delight after such a gruelling walk. With the leg-weary bowhunters aboard we headed back to camp. With the fading light we wondered whether a lumpy boar previously seen on a carcass would be there. As if on cue as we rounded the bend there he was, about 150meters away and coming in for a festered feed. With shooting light almost gone I was off at speed into a full on gale of a head wind. Almost perfect. Almost. The hog had no chance of smelling me yet I was copping the full brunt of the stench of death that only a rotting carcass can produce. By the time I arrived the hog was half buried inside the old bull finding some unimaginable joy out of his putrid feast. Coming to full draw at around 18 yards I realised I couldn’t get a clear sight picture. I strained my eyes searching for a faint fibre optic hint. Then I got it. I could clearly define my 20 yard pin, held it low and the shaft was gone. With a roar the boar spun and started coming at me. Another arrow was immediately on its way hitting him solidly. Slowly backing away through the mud I kept an eye on him but it was obvious he was going no further, a final finishing shot was despatched and he was down. Un-bloody-real, we each had now grassed great boars on our epic days hunt. Gloves were donned while I removed the jaw, and what a stench!!!
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y32/bowmancam/nightboar2.jpg
(The author trying to pretend there's no smell ...)
Back in the landcruiser we all shook hands recapping what an incredible day we had all had. Now it was well and truly dark so we figured we'd better get back before the search party started looking for us. Sure enough the boys at camp were starting to get a little concerned but the looks on our faces when we returned, still full of adrenalin, set their minds at ease, and the 3 jaws in the back where proof of a prosperous day out. Stories were told of the days events as the jaws were boiling away. Meanwhile Jindy had asked for our gps to plug in to his laptop (yes a laptop in the cape!) to see our days trip. When asked how far we thought we'd gone, estimates varied between 20 and 27 k's, to which Jindy replied "Try 35, almost 36!!!" It almost seems impossible, even now, to imagine not only walking such a distance but hunting along the way and in the cape as well, just again goes to show how crazy us bowhunters are.
"Where we goin tomorrow?" one of the boys asked ...a quick look at Mozza and Grunter, "back out to blue dot swamp" came the reply, but that’s a whole other story.....
Cheers, Cam