Sam Garro offers considerations for private estate hunting
The concept or idea that free-range hunting for big game and exotic species, and even the more common types for that matter, will continue and prevail for future generations is certainly something we all hope for.
However, in reality, it’s not assured and opportunities are gradually shrinking. This is particularly so in countries where greater parcels of game habitat are being encroached on for human habitat, primary production and resource mining.
Other factors include properties previously available to outfitters being taken over and the game, such as water buffaloes in our Top End, commercially harvested for export, outfitters finding it more difficult to obtain hunting concessions on private and Traditional Owners’ land, remaining allowances heavily hunted, departmental culling of certain species deemed vermin for the protection of flora and fauna, and associated restrictions and controls.
Taking these factors into consideration, it’s understandable passionate hunters wanting to chase trophy animals are looking at private estate hunting as an option. And while participating behind privately fenced land is received with mixed acceptance by hunters, it appears hunter involvement is gaining some favour for a range of founded reasons. This is a view also shared by outfitters and guides.
As a free-range hunter I still personally struggle with the idea but understand times change. Access to free-range hunting is becoming more and more restrictive. I respect that it’s an individual’s choice or preference and accept that it has its place in hunting, as do other modes. These include shooting over baits, client paid feral game aerial culls in the US, driven bird and boar hunts, duck shooting over decoys, hunting from tree stands, deer hound hunting and other examples – so long as the animals are harvested in an ethical manner and the most made of the game.
Considerations for private hunting estates
There are a number of founded and understandable reasons substantiating this type of hunting. It provides an opportunity to hunt a wider variety of game species in the one location, removing the need and additional cost to travel interstate or overseas to achieve the same result.
On occasions, even professional hunters and guides have availed of such facilities to acquire a certain trophy animal. There are also time constraints associated with family or business commitments.
A hunter’s physical limitations due to a low level of fitness, creeping age, carrying an injury or being disabled in some way can come into play. Exotic, rare or record-breaking trophy deer such as a 14-pointer or greater antlered red stag or elk, can normally be difficult to obtain in a free-range environment. A place that also lends itself to a family group with kids where the scenery, wildlife, accommodation and facilities combine for a memorable outdoors experience is appealing.
Not a new concept
Private estate guided hunts or organised driven hunts for game birds and animals have existed in Europe, America, Asia and other places for centuries. The drawcard is for enthusiastic hunters eager to experience the thrill of the hunt, keen to meet like-minded sports people and, at the end of the day, enjoy traditionally prepared dishes from the game harvested, with a little fanfare mixed in.
As a few examples, in the UK pheasants, grouse and partridges driven by a line of noisy beaters towards shooters ready with shotguns is popular, as are driven hunts on hares and pheasants in Spain, and pheasants and ducks in Hungary. In Austria, Spain, France, Bulgaria and Hungary, beaters with their dogs send wild boars and deer sprinting past shooters positioned on platforms or stationed on the perimeter of large fields, calling for quick reaction and accurate shooting. The examples are many and varied, with their own sets of challenges and adherences to strict guidelines.
Private hunting estates
In a number of European countries, private estate hunting allows for a combination of game from a variety of deer species such as red stag, fallow, roe, axis and sika deer, mouflon sheep and wild boar.
The properties themselves differ in size, landscape and level of accommodation. In Bulgaria for instance, a smaller property of 500ha can conduct wild boar driven hunts while other larger ones cater for a variety of different game species, as mentioned.
In Africa, 4000ha fenced hunting properties are not uncommon, holding various species of plains game. In New Zealand, a 2000ha property bordered by a 6ft boundary fence will support a number of record antlered red stags. Hunting lodge fees also vary and can tailor for the most fastidious hunter, albeit at greater cost.
Challenge and excitement not lost
While the game may be within confined boundaries, the challenge to locate your trophy animal will still require scouting, glassing and at times stalking long distances, particularly in the larger estates where in a sense the hunting can be likened to a fair chase free-range hunt. Only you know that particular animal pursued are thereabouts. Photo shoots, dressing the game, skinning or caping for a shoulder mount, and meat retrieval still remains part of the overall experience as in other forms of hunting.
Game management
For those private estate properties, game ranches or preserves where the confines of the enclosures or the land within the boundaries are properly maintained and managed to provide a sustainable environment, the animals roam freely. They graze and grow in number without fear of any natural predators, often coexisting with other exotic game species.
Selective bloodline breeding, particularly where deer are concerned, together with the culling of inferior animals, ensures top-to-record trophy animals. Apart from meat or cull animals, older trophy animals generally targeted.
Several of the established game properties here and overseas have been rehabilitated at considerable effort and cost – reforesting hills and gullies, restoring grazing areas and improving water holding reservoirs, creeks and streams to optimise conditions for the animals.
Sentosa Safari game resort, a 600ha private hunting park in Gippsland, was originally a sheep farm before being transformed into a popular game farm some 30 years ago.
Indirectly, particularly in the case of certain endangered exotic or big game species, or valuable bloodline deer sporting massive antler racks, it ensures their ongoing preservation while at the same time providing financial stability for the owners to continue operations.
Such examples are found in Africa for plains game like kudu, oryx or gemsbok, sable and smaller antelopes. In Europe and New Zealand, there are mouflon sheep originally native to the Mediterranean islands of Corsica and Sardinia. In various Texas game ranches, there are nilgai and blackbuck antelopes, both native to India and Pakistan. While in the South Australia, Queensland and Northern Territory you can find strictly private herds of blackbuck antelopes.
Game reserves in Australia
In Australia there are also assorted game estate hunting properties in the different states, with Water Valley Game Reserve in South Australia the standout for its vastness, diverse landscape, variety of huntable game and facilities on offer.
It’s one of the largest, if not the largest, privately-owned hunting estates likely to be found anywhere, with a total area of approximately 46,000ha and having a typical 6ft boundary deer fence. As a mixed farming enterprise, it incorporates livestock, wildlife and a variety of deer species such as red, chital, fallow, sambar and rusa.
The area is so vast that you don’t really manage to see the boundary fence. I’ve hunted on 25,000ha properties in NSW and thought they were big, but nothing like this. Situated close to the ocean, about 40km north of Kingston, SE South Australia, the estate has a sandy soil rich in minerals that promotes good feed to sustain the animals within.
Combined with undulating hilly terrain bushland, forested sections, gullies, open grasslands and kilometres of channels and waterways including a number of dams, it provides the idyllic habitat conditions.
More than the hunt
Bill, of Happy Hunting Adventures, who I’ve known for a number of years and featured in the May 2020 issue of Australian Shooter (‘A Lifestyle from a passion for hunting’), has his own hunting concession and fully-equipped hunting lodge at Water Valley. This runs more on a full-time basis compared to a handful of other operators, with the season normally lasting five months from January to May. By this time the rut for red and fallow deer is mostly over, with rusa also until May, and chital and sambar deer huntable all-year-round.
As he had guided in Africa, New Zealand and Australia in both a free-range and private estate hunting capacity, I sought his personal views and perspective on private estate hunting. In his experience, hunters favour the style or type of hunting for the varying reasons mentioned but mostly due to the availability of a variety game species in the one location, saving on travel and cost, along with the location and all its amenities.
For him, whether it’s free-range or private estate hunting, it’s more about delivering an enjoyable and memorable experience for hunters. He helps the individual to feel at ease early and involves him or her in the varying aspects of the hunt. This includes understanding the game species’ behaviour and mannerisms, when and where to look for them, remaining calm and positioning for a clean take-down, enjoying cooked meals in good company after a hard day’s slog and reminiscing on the day’s hunt and past experiences.
He commented how a recent overseas hunter had experienced nothing like it, stating that it was the largest game reserve he had the pleasure to hunt.
Affordability
For the more prestigious private estate hunts in Europe, US and other places where exclusivity or membership is a requirement and or subject to a ballot draw for the privilege to hunt certain species, the cost can be exorbitant. However, there are more reasonably priced and affordable options within the reach of mainstream hunters where guiding, game dressing and caping, accommodation, travel mode within the estate and meals can be all-inclusive.
Hunts, whether for a trophy or meat animal, can be adapted to the hunters’ requirements and expectations, depending on game species targeted, the number of hunters involved or family group with kids, and hunt days.
For an above average or highly endowed antlered red or fallow stag, the more hunt days allowed, anywhere from three-to-five days, the greater the chances of scoring. On the other hand, if a representative animal suffices then the opportunities are more achievable in lesser time, subject also to favourable weather conditions. It’s a matter of contacting the outfitter and enquiring without fear or obligation of commitment.
But whether you are contemplating a guided hunt within Australia or abroad, it’s important to determine the integrity of the operator beforehand. Where possible, obtain references or testimonials from satisfied hunters to avoid possible disappointment later.
Conclusion
We are in changing times and like other forms of hunting, private estate hunting has prevailed and continues to attract hunters. Game roams freely and apart from meat or cull animals, older trophy animals past their prime are generally targeted to ensure sustainable numbers and continuation of their kind.