The Buffalo from Down Under

The Northern Territories of Australia, mostly between Darwin and Alice Springs, is vast and remote. The enormous ranches there are called stations. This area would be on some folks’ bucket list, because of the many national parks and most especially Ayers Rock. But water buffalo was our reason for going there. These animals were brought in from Asia, as domesticated livestock, in the late 1800s. Today they are all feral, much like wild hogs in many states in the U.S.

Two vivid memories of this hunt were the rough roads and many dangerous gates. The rainy season runs October through April, and as the water dries up, buffalo and cattle tracks harden, making your teeth rattle...