Laurens West with his S 202 Take Down Hatari and his buffalo.

It all happened in September 2007, which is still the dry season in the top end of Australia. Living in Perth, Western Australia, my flight to Darwin took only 4 hours. The next day we started at 6 a.m. and picked up another hunter that had flew in from Sydney over night. My 7-day-hunt on the big bull started with a 12 hour drive out to southern Arnhemland. Arriving just on sun-set at the fly camp right on a small fresh water system, the PH showed us our tents and lay out plan on how we would start the hunt very early next morning.

These types of hunts are all walking hunts due to the type of country. It was a mix of high and low ground and quite difficult as the wind is famous for changing all the time. First day out, I got a lot of impressions and glassed some good old bulls.

On the third day, we came very close to an old bull, which stands in a middle of a herd of 4 females and young mixed with wild horses, who are negatively famous for their nervous behaviour. The old bull was on top of a small hill at the rear of the herd, and near by was a dry stoney creek which followed around the base of the hill. We took the chance and made our track. The wind was in our favour and we made our way quietly up the hill and yes, the bull was still there. But there was no cover for the hunters, except one single tree. So I left the PH and made my way up carrying my SAUER

S 202 Take Down Hatari in .375 Holland & Holland Magnum loaded with handloads using Woodleigh bullets with two soft points followed by two solids. I made it to the tree. Suddenly the wind dropped. Quickly I rised my rifle, took a look back at the PH – and he gave me the sign. My first shot hit high on the left shoulder. The bull took the bullet and ran straight away, giving me another good position for a second shot. The bullet hit him quite hard, but he was still on his legs while the thick brush swallowed him. We heard him breaking away, then everything was silent. 15 minutes later we followed and found him dead – 60 metres down the hill he layed on the side with two perfect heart/lung-shots. An excellent hunt with my SAUER S 202 Take Down Hatari and also a great performance of the Australian Woodleigh bullets.

The old buff measured 101 points. Not an SCI Record Book-trophy, but hunting is better than only reading stories about it.

Laurens West, Perth (Australia)