Aussie buffalo hunters

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william williams

Aussie buffalo hunters

Post by william williams » Thu Apr 21, 2011 9:47 am

I have on purpose kept this story condenced to give you a broad view of what it was like then

Aussie Buffalo Hunters


Thrown by his horse a crushed chest, along with a buffalo horn plunged through his chest.
Death, was instantaneous. That was the finding of the court coroner.

It was in the early nineteen sixties in the Northern Territory not very far south east of Darwin around what is now called Kakado; Where the buffalo hunters camps were.
Away out there where only flies, mosquitoes, and buffalo lived, was a group of men, buffalo hunters sitting round a smoky campfire, quietly drinking beer and remembering their mate, killed by a rogue buffalo just a week ago.

Now the men that worked those buffalo camps, the men I knew, were rough and rugged. They were a strange breed of men never caring about tomorrow, as they were maybe killed or worse, maimed.
Their horses were tough and wiry maybe a little scrawny, unruly, bad-tempered but every rider knew his horse and trusted him to do his work

Now, I have told a little about the men and their horses. Now, I will tell you about an average day for the Australian buffalo hunter

The morning started a little before daybreak.
Breakfast was black tea and cold damper, a serve of stew made of buffalo meat, spuds and veggies.
The pickup team, who collected the carcases would move on down to the plains to where the Buffalo wallowed in the mud.
These men stayed in the Tea Tree scrub where they were well hidden from the buffalo.
While the shooters rode, further on looking for a mob of buffalo.
When found, the shooters would sit in their saddles, hidden down-wind, looking at the wallows and the buffalo, quietly talking to each other how their attack would be.
Usually one would take the right flank and the other the left.
Now they would check their rifle, then quietly they would leave the cover of the Tea Tree that was full of mosquitoes only to be greeted by the flies.
They would spread apart as they rode quietly forward to the buffalo to gain the upper hand.
Quietly they would ride as they slowly closed the gap.

The buffalo wallowed in the mud, for protection from the flies never thinking at that moment that death was on its way.
The buffalo sensed the shooters and their bellowing shattered the morning calm.
The riders dropped their knotted reins upon their horse’s neck; the horses knew what was expected of them and accelerated. The men glued to their saddles with rifle in their hands and rode as only possessed men can after those lumbering beasts.
Up along-side the beast they rode, evading the buffalo’s great horns.
They would fire, the beast dropped in death sliding on the ground.
Their horse may jump a hidden ditch a drain a log or veer but nary a rider would move in his seat as they charged on to the next buffalo.
Without a second glance they’d wheeled the mob and repeated it or stopped if the buffalo gained the scrub.
When finished they would turn, look back, only to see the mounds of death.
Quickly they would ride back and bleed the gruesome mounds. Their work was now done.
The carcasses were taken back by the pickup team to where the meat and hides were packed by others at the plant.
Now you readers can appreciate why these riders have my respect. While the ground they cross is covered with dead grass, it’s full of hidden holes, logs, gutters, roots, cracks so wide that you would shake.
Still nary a rein they would hold. They’d kept riding fast across those rough and often boggy grounds trusting to their horse. With the rifle, they would with use both hands, they would ride watching their prey while moving as one with their horse.
These men are marvels, tough as teak. Their horses were well worth their weight in gold.
Up the in the Northern Territory, the work was tough, and not for the faint hearted.
But there was work then for men who can really ride, and shoot straight, whose daily work in my opinion. Might make the man from Snowy River shake in fear?

Written by Bill Williams June 03 ©

Neville Briggs
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Re: Aussie buffalo hunters

Post by Neville Briggs » Thu Apr 21, 2011 11:26 am

Good one Bill. We need a few more of those sort of blokes to get rid of the feral buffalo.
MacDonalds will soon make em into Big Macs ( the buffalo that is )
Neville
" Prose is description, poetry is presence " Les Murray.

william williams

Re: Aussie buffalo hunters

Post by william williams » Thu Apr 21, 2011 12:10 pm

only problem was in those days it was only for Pet food and a lot of it when't over seas not sure weather the cats and dogs got it though.
And I know the hides went to Italy for shoe leather

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Bob Pacey
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Re: Aussie buffalo hunters

Post by Bob Pacey » Thu Apr 21, 2011 8:22 pm

I was given a poem to record called Horses and Riders which was written by a bloke up marlborough way will see if i can send you an audio copy Bill. I think you will like it


Cheers Bob
The purpose in life is to have fun.
After you grasp that everything else seems insignificant !!!

william williams

Re: Aussie buffalo hunters

Post by william williams » Thu Apr 21, 2011 9:14 pm

that will be much apreciated BOB. And when are the others in the forum going to send their recording in. :twisted: :evil: To date there is only Frank Daniels, Maureen Clifford, Dave Smith with one that Zondrae wrote, Bob Pacey ,Glenny Palmer even our president has failed not to send one and Heather

I dunno what the members are comming to ABPA NEED OUR HELP SO HOW ABOUT WE GET OF OUR REAR ENDS AND HELP OR IS THAT TO MUCH TROUBLE

BILL THE OLD BATTLER

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Bob Pacey
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Re: Aussie buffalo hunters

Post by Bob Pacey » Thu Apr 21, 2011 9:23 pm

Look out folks Bills on the rampage. Capitals no less and like a chargeing buffalo.


Get out the way


OR JUST SEND IN AN AUDIO IT IS EASIER.


Bob
The purpose in life is to have fun.
After you grasp that everything else seems insignificant !!!

Jasper Brush

Re: Aussie buffalo hunters

Post by Jasper Brush » Sun Apr 24, 2011 9:43 pm

wHOOOEE.

Your a bit outspoken, mate.

I've read this story before. :D

A good insight into the rough and tough work carried out by the true hard working Aussies. :D

Regards,

John

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