Bow hunting feral pigs on the Cape York Peninsula

by Bob Hart
Hunter 4

Hunting is all about stalking close enough to your prey so that a good clean shot can be delivered. Quite obviously the better shot you are and the more knowledge you have about stalking will mean greater success - and this equals training and experience.

First we have got to master shooting the bow and that is not such an easy matter. I started bow shooting at an archery range, where I learned the principles of archery. A little later I joined a field archery club, which had competitions that more or less represented hunting conditions. Most of the members in my club are experienced hunters and were very willing to impart their expertise to the inexperienced.

Like any new sport, there is a lot to learn and you have to begin somewhere. If you are not sure of the equipment you want and you know little about the bow, I strongly suggest that when you do finally decide to buy equipment, that you go to a reputable, archery shop that is run by experienced hunters.

There are many types of bows, but the one you will probably be purchasing will most likely be the compound. The compound bow has cables and cams, which decrease the holding weight of the bowstring by as much as 65 to 80 per cent at full draw. This means that when an archer draws a 70-pound bow, the cams will decrease this poundage at full draw to a mere 22 pounds or so, depending on the let-off. This allows the archer to hold at full draw longer than he could if he were shooting a conventional recurve or longbow.

Probably the biggest mistake an inexperienced bow hunter will make is to buy a bow that is too heavy. Buy a bow that you can comfortably pull back, since you will have to spend many hours of practice to master archery. Another bad mistake beginners make is to buy a super-fast, high-performance bow. Look for a bow that is very silent on release and is stable as well. Before you buy, speak to as many experienced bow hunters as you can. Ask many questions and do not be in a rush.

Okay, you finally have the equipment and you have done your practice. Now what? Hunting is a lot different than field archery. For one thing you are shooting at flesh and blood. That distant 40-metre shot maybe okay on the range, but a practical shooting range for hunting will be a more realistic 20 metres or less. If you have a friend who will take you hunting and teach you how to stalk, you are in luck. However, for those of us who do not have such good fortune, the best and easiest option is to go on a guided hunt. The Cape York Peninsula in Northern Queensland is one of the best places to hunt feral pigs, as are certain areas of the Northern Territory. In these regions there are competent guides and vast properties that cater to hunters regardless of experience.

As pigs have bad eyesight, hunting them does not demand that the hunter wear camouflage clothing. However, stay away from bright clothing and stick to the more subdued colours. Most important is footwear. Make sure that your shoes or boots are comfortable, because if you cannot walk far, you will have little success. If your footwear has soft, thin soles like a slipper or moccasin, it will aid you while stalking on leafy ground. Some hunters even hunt in bare feet.

In the tropics bow hunting for feral pigs demands a little patience and walking during the heat of the day. It is done from mid September through to mid November. During this period the temperature is commonly in the low to mid 30s in the shade. This is when pigs travel to dried up creeks to hide in the mud. It is here, in the dried up creeks, where the bow hunter can confidently stalk close to a sleeping hog.

You will find that bow hunting is a very rewarding way to hunt and furthermore, enjoy the great outdoors.

Captions
Image 1: Jake Goodwin, on the right, congratulates Bob on taking his first feral pig with a bow.
Image 2: A fresh pig wallow is a sure sign that pigs are not far off.
Image 3: Jake Goodwin hunts a dried creek bed in search of feral pigs.
Image 4: Jake Goodwin takes a pig at 20 metres with his powerful crossbow.
Image 5: The four-wheel vehicle transports the hunters to the general location of the hunt. On the left, Jake Goodwin plans the day’s hunt with guide Phil Bray.