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CONTENTS
INSIDE THIS ISSUE OF WILD BOAR AUSTRALIA WILD BOAR AUSTRALIA Editor/Publisher:Vic Attard Art Room:Jacque Attard Contributing Writers: Ian Collie, Gary Hall, Greg Harrold, Robert Van der Veen, Brad Smith. Advertising Enquiries: Contact Vic Attard Mobile: 0401 014 592 Email: wildboar@easynet.net.au Mailing Address: PO Box 10126, Mt Pleasant, Mackay, QLD 4740. ACN:091403851 ABN:15091403851
No picture or any part of the contents of this publication may be scanned or reproduced in any way without prior written consent from the publisher. Pig hunting is a dangerous sport, Wild Boar Australia accepts no responsibility for any damage and/or injury suffered by readers. Further, the editor/publisher accepts no responsibility for the accuracy of statements or opinions expressed by freelance writers. Printed by Graphic Impressions.
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EDITORIAL WIN! Ultimate Pig Hunters Pack LONE CRUISER PITSTOP HUNTERS TROPHIES GULF BOUND PIG DOGS BLOODLINES MUTCH & SHREK ALL GRUNT DOG CARE IN THE WILD QUICK RUN STEVE & TYRON’S DAY PIGS IN THE CANE, LET’S GO! ACCESSORIES BACKYARD & BAREFOOT BOAR BOAR FROM NOWHERE CROC ATTACK F@#KIN’ BOGGED A BLAST FROM THE PAST GREAT CRATES ARCHERS CORNER NT FLOODPLAIN HUNT BOARS OF THE BLACKSOIL PLANES
Advertising enquiries contact Wild Boar Australia on 0401 014 592
EDITORIAL Here’s issue four, and I have to say, this one is a ripper. The quality of photos coming in is nothing short of excellent. Also, judging by the boars in the photos, there is some big stuff getting nailed out there, from all different parts of Australia, which is good to see. We have received tonnes of feedback about the last issue, and one comment in particular referred to the excellent stories. Each story is different and has its own character. The readers love reading hunting stories from all areas of the country. So give it ago, if you got a couple of good photos and a 'hunt to tell', put pen to paper and write how you saw it. That's what Wild Boar Australia is all about, a down- to- earth, tell-you-how-you-see-it magazine. Conditions around Australia From the start of 2004 to May, some parts of Australia have had heaps of rain, particularly in Darwin and the Gulf. Places where I hunt, from the coast to out west, have had some good rain compared to last year. The rivers have flowed, the dams are full and the grass has been up to eight foot high in some areas. It makes it harder to hunt pigs, but it's all good, as there is plenty of feed and good cover for pigs to hide. As I said last time, pigs adapt quickly to the changing conditions. As in late January of this year, while out hunting, we bagged four sows early in the night and their weights ranged from 40 to 65 kg. All were of prime condition and all of them were in pig and close to dropping, so of course all were released for future research!!! If the weather keeps up, all the breeding now will show 15 months down the track, where we'll definitely see the difference in pig numbers and size. But sadly, there are still parts that have had little rain, and talking to hunters from those parts they said you would be lucky to see one pig. It's going to take a long time to get these areas back to decent hunting grounds. Competitions This is your last chance to get your entries into all the competitions on offer. So don't delay any longer, get your entries in before it's too
late. You have to be in it, to win it! We have received so many entries for our competitions that it is impossible to show them all in just one issue, so don't be disappointed, they will be in up and coming issues. Once again, thanks for all your letters and comments, keep it all coming, as it's good to hear from you all. A big thanks goes out to all the sponsors for donating these top prizes on offer, they are prizes I just couldn't afford without their help. Until next time, hunt the ''Wild Boar''.
Vic Attard.
P.S This is me and my old mate Grover, he is around the 10 year old mark but still loves to get out and mix it with a good old boar. The boar in this photo led us on a good hunt starting around 3.30am, we had light rain and the dogs found it hard to pick up a good sent to find him. Two hours later, when we were just about to give up, we tried one last spot. Bingo! He was there and he turned it on for the dogs. The dogs had him right on the edge of this lagoon, and you all know how it is, I'm pulling one way to stop them going in the drink, and they were pulling the other way. Sadly, that's where we all ended up, in the water, but in the end, wet and slippery we finally got him. But there's no other way I'd rather spend my weekend. Not the best of photos to show his size ,but he dressed out at 92kg.
WILD BOAR AUSTRALIA DEDICATED TO THE AUSTRALIAN PIG HUNTER
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PRIZE 1: $4300 WORTH OF HUNTING GEAR SPONSORED BY TITLEY ELECTRONICS
Animal Tracking System from Titley Electronics which includes receiver, antennae and 2 collars.
PRIZE 2: $685 DOG TRAINING EQUIPMENT PRIZE 3: $320 BARKING CONTROL COLLAR HOW TO ENTER:
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Fill in your details on the entry form below and send in,with your PIG HUNTING PHOTOS to: Wild Boar Australia PO Box 10126,Mt Pleasant,Mackay Qld 4740. ENTER AS MANY TIMES AS YOU LIKE
Winners announced in the November Issue . Entry form must be included with Photos.All photos entered in the competition will be returned. ENTRY FORM ENTRY FORM ENTRY FORM ENTRY FORM ENTRY FORM ENTRY FORM
I WANT TO WIN THE ULTIMATE PIG HUNTERS PACK WORTH $4300
NAME:_______________________________________________________________________ ADDRESS:____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ P/CODE:_________PHONE:_________________________MOB:__________________________ Send this entry form, along with your pig hunting photo/s to Wild Boar Australia PO BOX 10126 Mt Pleasant Mackay 4740, before the 30 September 2004, for your chance to win the Ultimate Pig Hunters Pack.
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LONE CRUISER Finally Saturday rolled by again, and my mate, Dustin, and I were going hunting at my favourite spot. In the wee hours of the morning we loaded up the dogs and esky and hit the road. Being so hot, we knew the pigs would be thick around the steadily disappearing water holes. So on arrival, we headed straight to the creek with our four keen-asmustard dogs. Sure enough, less than an hour later, we had four very reasonable boars and a sow in the bag. Since the dogs hadn't picked up on anything trophy size, we decided to cross over and head back to the cruiser. Unlike the scrub on the other side, the way back was partially burnt, allowing us to see quite a way. Next thing I know, Dustin goes 'Hey, look down there, a big boar!' The whopping big brute was casually walking across the flat, totally unaware of our scrutiny. The dogs hadn't picked up on his scent yet, so we kept quiet and filmed him as the dogs came around. This was one of the few times I have seen the dogs get a pig that wasn't in full flight. I whispered to Dustin “Look at the tusks on him!� His worthy ivory could clearly be seen hanging out of his chomping jaws when the cocky bastard stopped in his tracks and looked straight at us. By this time my faithful 6 WILD BOAR AUSTRALIA
Wolfhound X, Misty, was leading the boys in for the kill. The hog's eyes swung to the dogs. We hoped he would stand his ground and fight in full view, but the now not-so-cocky boar made a dash for a lone green patch. The dogs followed and caught up to him just as they went out of sight. We heard the great thud as the dogs slammed into him. The battle erupted into a frenzy of barks, grunts and crashing bush. He came spinning furiously back into our view. The dogs were flying off here and there, landing with ferocious barks and taking off again after the pig. They weren't going to let him make a run for it. I picked my time and waited until he tired a little before going in and grabbing a back leg. Briefly, I savoured the sights and sounds of the moment before driving my knife deep into his chest and sending another one down. The dogs came out of it well, with only a few minor injuries. After a few photos we grabbed his ivory and hunted on. Although we caught another three pigs before returning to the cruiser, none matched the size, strength or spirit of this boar. This is why I love living in the Top End, with some of Australia's best hunting barely a stones throw from home. -MANUEL CABRALL, COOKTOWN, QLD.
PIT STOP This was my first hunting trip around the Daly River, Northern Territory. It was just before the wet season and everything was dry, including us. About three hours into the drive we saw a creek on the side of the road, so we decided to have a ‘pit stop’ to have a swim, and let the dogs out for a break. On letting the dogs out, Scalpel, a Wolfhound x Staghound x Great Dane, had a sniff and within two minutes was gone. We then saw the scratches on a nearby tree where a boar had left his sign, and a short time later heard the loud call for back-up. My adrenalin was soaring when I got to the spot where the dogs were and I could see they were in a waterhole fighting the pig. At first I thought it was only an average-sized sow, imagine my surprise when I jumped in the water and a 90kg boar smashed his way through the dogs and ran straight past me into another waterhole. Following right behind the boar, I grabbed his back legs, pulled him over and stuck him. To top it all off, another five
minutes later we landed a 70 kg boar running along a dry area above the creek. All up, our little 'Pit Stop’ landed us ten pigs; seven boars and three sows.BEN REINKE, NORTHERN TERRITORY.
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HUNTERS TROPHIES Rosco-Emerald,QLD.
Mick Slattery-ACT.
WIN CD SHIRT &
S. Bandes - NT. 8 WILD BOAR AUSTRALIA
Buddy & Wayne - Pine Forests ACT
Scott Mc Coll - Fernvale,Qld
D.Piper - WA. Dave King - ACT 9