The conditions have also affected game, he said, causing buffalo to change their patterns. "We've gone from plan B to C and D," Gleason says, noting he has doubled up on guides for each hunter in order to improve scouting coverage and clients' chances. He says most outfitters based in the Northern Territory have back-up plans and alternate hunting areas, and they should come through the ordeal fine. The prospects for clients using operators from outside the territory are not as bright.
He advised all hunters on their way to Australia for a buffalo hunt to check in with their safari operator and inquire about conditions in their hunt areas. "Ask what they are doing to overcome any problems, and what conditions you should expect in the field," he said.
Fortunately, banteng hunting was not affected by the rain. Gleason says the soil in the banteng area is sandier than on the flood plains, and hunters should have no problems pursuing this species.
Gleason, incidentally, is president of the Northern Territory Professional Hunters Association, the only such organization in Australia, and he expects to have a web site for the group up and running in the coming months. "We believe this is a positive move for prospective clients, as it will allow them to learn about all the legitimate operators in the Northwest Territory," Gleason says. Seems one of the problems the association is trying to address is........(continued)
