Innehållsförteckning för Edition 57 från Australian Hunter

Welcome to Australian Hunter 57. This edition’s cover shows contributor Don Caswell with a wild dog taken in Queensland. As many Australian landowners and hunters can attest, wild dogs have become a real environmental and economic scourge in recent years, with populations breeding up, scavenging, attacking livestock and becoming less fearful of humans. To get the edge over these wily creatures, Don shares some insights into what he calls the predictable ‘bad habits’ of wild dogs. In Practical Hunting, John Moore examines the benefits of using aperture or peep sights for hunting with rifles, while our knife writers discuss the grinds and designs of blades for a variety of applications and our reviewers test the Ruger Model 77/17 Stainless Varmint Walnut and Winchester Model 70 Extreme Weather rifles, Spika’s Pro…

Even if you were wearing nothing else at all, boots and a hat are essential for surviving in the bush. While that may be an alarming visual image, the point is that a little appropriate maintenance will ensure you enjoy many years of service from your boots and hat. Hats When we moved north some years back, I thought I had lost my favourite 20-plus-year-old Akubra hat. Luckily though, two years later, when we finally retrieved the remainder of our household effects from storage, it was one of the very last items discovered. It had been crushed flat under a pile of other stuff and two years in a Cairns shipping container had halfbaked it. Initially, I despaired of being able to salvage it. Over the years, as that hat…

I have been reading various articles about survival knives, where emphasis is placed on the worth of knives designed and made overseas. These knives are created for a worldwide market and not specifically designed for an Australian environment and some descriptors are misleading. As an example, a recent article reviewed the Aitor range of survival knives. The bladesteel was quoted as Cr Mo Va stainless, whereas the Spanish literature states the bladesteel is X42CR13, which translates to a steel with 0.42 per cent carbon and 13 per cent chromium. This specification is identical with the specification for 420 stainless steel, a steel that has zero molybdenum and zero vanadium. At 0.42 per cent carbon, the highest Rockwell hardness that can be achieved is 58. It may be correct to call…

The Sporting Shooters’ Association of Australia was established in 1948 in order to promote the shooting sports and protect firearm owners’ interests. Those roles remain the same today, and with more than 177,000 members, the SSAA is the premier shooting body representing licensed firearm owners in Australia. Industry Liaison and Lobbying The SSAA works closely with the Australian and international firearms industry and has an Australian federal parliamentary presence to communicate with Australia’s elected leaders and those departments that affect our chosen sport. The Association also has official Non-Government Organisation status within the United Nations and regularly participates in discussions with affiliated and like-minded international groups. Website The SSAA website keeps members and supporters informed of social, political and environmental developments, news about our Association and industry, and other matters…

I must admit that when I first started deer hunting about 10 years ago, my main goal was to search for the biggest trophy I could find. After achieving those results on a few paid hunts, I soon realised that I was enjoying the experience as a whole and trophy hunting was no longer the top priority. Hunting for venison became a big part of my pursuit of all free-range deer on private properties I am privileged to have gained access to. That’s not to say that if I had crossed paths with a lovely trophy red stag or fallow buck that I wouldn’t hunt it. Of course I would. I’d be mad if I didn’t. This brings me to a hunt back in April 2014 on a private property…

I am sure that there would be many new (and not-so-new) knife owners out there who may be confused by the fancy terms used by makers to identify their products. Phrases such as flat grind, hollow grind and chisel grinds, along with zero and flat bevels, or the different steels like stainless, carbon, 440, Damascus, AUS, G10 and more, plus the various handle materials used, are akin to being a first-time computer user in terms of bewilderment. But fear not; it’s all relatively simple once you become familiar with the jargon and along with a little trial and error, it soon becomes clear - sort of. Grind options Keeping an edge sharp is dependent on how it is formed. There are several types of grinds that reflect on how well…

Recently, I was in the market for a new daypack for hunting. There were a few criteria my new pack had to meet to suit my particular needs. These included its size, which had to be large enough to carry a few essentials such as spare ammo, snacks, camera, mini-tripod and a jacket. I also wanted it to have a secure and sturdy mounting system so that it would stay put on my back, even if I had to run or climb with it. It ought to be comfortable to carry for extended periods of time and I wanted it to contain a hydration system to save the hassle of retrieving a water bottle from the bag every time I wanted a drink. Finally, it had to have firearm-carrying ability…

Have you ever had a bungy strap snap or, worse still, ended up with a hook in your face? Or lost your swag that was secured with a couple of bungee straps onto the hood rack? This is why bungee cords are suspect and I use them sparingly. Also, I never rely on them for load-bearing use. I have picked up swags and other items that came loose when bungee straps broke from the Cape York Peninsula road and bush tracks. Yep, it’s time to toss the old-fashioned bungee strap away and move into the new age of tie-downs. The latest straps to challenge the domain of the bungee cord come from Lynx Hooks. Lynx provides an interwoven adjustable tie-down system that does away with the danger of a strap…

In Australian Hunter 56, we removed the intestines and organs from our downed game’s internal cavity. Then, in my wife Lynn’s accompanying cooking article, she prepared a trifecta of kidneys, liver and heart. These offal offerings can be, and often are, eaten for the evening meal on the same day that the game animal is shot. If you wish to eat game meat again the next night, meaning before the standard four-day or more hanging and ageing time which allows the meat to tenderise a little, then the ideal cuts to choose for eating the next day are the most tender portions. As its name suggests, the tenderloin (known as such in the United States and more commonly labelled as eye fillets in Australia) is one such tender cut of…

Hunter merchandise - store.ssaa.org.au These great SSAA Store products and lots more are available at our online store - store.ssaa.org.au NEW SSAA Essentials small canvas crib bag Originally designed for Australian on-land mining applications, whether slinging it over your head in the city or in the remote outback, this shoulder bag manages to be all things to all people! Made for everyday use, this 13-litre, multi-purpose bag is crafted from strong, hard-wearing canvas, which has a waterproof treatment applied to help protect your paperwork and digital devices during transit. The main entry point is made through an oversized storm flap, secured with a zip and two press studs. Constructed with heavy-duty, weather-proofed cotton canvas with shoulder strap. it measures 370x270x130mm - 13-litre. Code ECB001 $37.50 Twin light pack The P7.2…

SSAA Vic Conservation & Pest Management The SSAA Vic Conservation & Pest Management program is an initiative started in conjunction with Parks Victoria. Accredited SSAA members have been used to control pest species such as foxes, rabbits, wild cats, dogs, pigs and goats in national parks, state forests and on private holdings. Overpopulation problems caused by game animals and native species, including deer, kangaroos and birds, have also been managed under permit. The CPM program combines the challenges of hunting with the accuracy of target shooting and throws in bushcraft, travel and camaraderie. To participate, you must be a member of the SSAA, then participate in a training course with a written test and practical shoot. For further information, write to SSAA Vic CPM at Unit 2, 26 Ellingworth Pde,…

For your chance to win one of these competitions, write your name, address and daytime contact number on a piece of paper and place it inside an envelope, and write the name of the competition on the front of the envelope, and send it to: Australian Hunter 57 competition PO Box 2520, Unley SA 5061 Or enter online at ssaa.org.au/win Competitions close August 31, 2016 WIN Winchester HID 1755mm driving lights Valued at $299 Kindly donated by Winchester Australia winchesteraustralia.com.au WIN 1 of 2 Dewey Knives: No Bells or Whistles books Valued at $99.50 Kindly donated by Dewey Knives deweyknives.com.au WIN 1 of 2 Winchester hoodies (L and XL sizes available - please specify preference) Valued at $79.95 Kindly donated by Winchester Australia winchesteraustralia.com.au SSAA’s Cooks Companion This book features…

Wild dogs had been attacking the newborn calves and generally upsetting the breeding herd. It was prime wild dog country. The large cattle property rolled from rugged dividing ranges down to extensive river flats. The property was still heavily forested in most places as well. The access tracks were few and rough, even for ATVs, and most of the cattle work was done on horseback. It would seem that everything was loaded in the dogs’ favour and our chances of success were looking rather slim. However, we did have a few things to our advantage. The range country was steep and thickly timbered over a boulder-strewn terrain of long grass and scrub. After the wet season had passed, the creeks quickly dried up and the only permanent water was that…

The outcome of a 2011 online poll of 35,000 people conducted by CNN International saw rendang chosen as the number one dish from its ‘World’s 50 Most Delicious Foods (Readers’ Pick)’ list. Rendang is a spicy caramelised meat curry dish originating from Indonesia. Apparently, it can be traced historically as far back as the 16th century and now has varieties from at least Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei and the Southern Philippines. The spice mix used in rendang of garlic, golden shallots, ginger and galangal is said to have antimicrobial properties and serves as a natural organic preservative. Hence the recipe technique preserves red meat, even in a tropical climate. When cooked properly, dry rendang can last for as long as four weeks at room temperature; even up to six months with…