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Rebuttal from Graham Williams of Australian Buffalo Hunter with Rerebuttal from Jeff Kimbell:
Species - Asiatic Water Buffalo, Availability - _Scarce_/. I would call this _Average_ for this species and the station hunt we did. A 5-day hunt was recommended, and Jeff's busy schedule made him limit hunting to 3 days and he was finished after 2 days. If we had hunted 5-days Jeff would have seen more buffalo. His trophy was a very nice old buffalo.
JJK Comment: He did zero advance scouting of area. There were fence lines he hadn't seen before and unknown roads (to him). I believe we saw a total of 3 or 4 bulls in 3 days of hunting. I shot the only mature bull we saw. We allocated three days for this hunt well in advance with him so I assumed he would have made certain he knew the area before we went there. Next time, I'll ask more thorough questions.
Accommodation was supplied by the Adelaide River Inn and the cabins I would rate as excellent.
JJK Comment: You're in the middle of nowhere for hunting all around the globe, but if that's "excellent", I'd sure hate to see poor.
Food was supplied by the Adelaide River Inn for evening meals, and by myself with fresh supplies purchased before the hunt. I thought all food was good. Lunch on this station hunt was out in the field during the hunt.
JJK Comment: Bring your Pepto folks.
Costs Total $6500 - Hunt price $6200. Jeff gave me a tip of $300.
JJK Comment: Correct.
Problems of Hunt - I believe I am very capable of managing and handling outfitting. I have been running hunts for 13 years, and had 30 hunters in Arnhemland and 2 Station area hunters this season. I enjoy my work and love seeing every hunter happy.
JJK Comment: I just don't think having health issues and hunting dangerous game in the Australian outback is a good combination when you're a solo operator.
Not in great physical shape, sat in AC truck during caping - I believe I am in very good physical shape for conducting safaris. However at the time of Jeff getting his bull, it was midday, probably 36-38'C, and I succumbed to what felt like heat stroke. I was not lying, I was not pretending, it felt like I had heat stroke, very light headed, very hot and very weak, and I was also dissapointed. I suggested doing caping in 2 or 3 hours when afternoon would have cooled down, however Jeff was willing to do the caping which was very much appreciated. At the time Jeff and Jessica were very sympathetic. I felt extremely hot and weak and had to try and cool down. The next degree of severity for heat stroke is failure of some organs, especially the kidneys. I must explain that I get renal colic in both kidneys, in the form of very tiny stones (colic), and if these cause problems in both sides at the same time (rare), then both kidneys do not flow correctly, temperature rises, and this is very dangerous in hot conditions. Very rarely if required I take Buscopan tablets which are a stomach area muscle relaxant, and with correct flushing of the colic everything is ok. I have only had to do this once this year, which was after Jeff's buffalo. I have continued a busy and enjoyable 7 month season with 32 hunters, with most hunts covering approx 8-12 kilometers each day in hot conditions. September and October maximum sometimes 38-42'C days. In fact I very much love walking, being fit and putting in the long efforts required for Buffalo hunting.
JJK Comment: I've been in health care my entire professional career. I think hunters should simply know in advance that their PH has health ailments PRIOR to being on the ground in the country, especially when you're hunting dangerous game. We helped cape the buffalo out because we were afraid the fellow was going to pass out for good! As he was in the truck with the AC cranked up due to exhaustion or whatever the issue was, we were furiously trying to finish it before it got dark and we were stuck in the middle of 100,000 acres.
Gun Import Problem - Jeff completed one application form which resulted in a NT Firearms Licence and B709a Import permit before the hunt being posted directly to him in USA from the NT Police. On arrival in Sydney the Australian Customs found the Police had incompleted the rifle serial numbers on the B709a form. This caused a delay which was rectified by a senior Customs supervisor. At that time Jeff was also calling me, and I had contacted off duty NT Police ready to get another permit faxed from Darwin to Sydney if required. He then continued travelling with his rifles.
JJK Comment: I don't even know where to begin here. We FedEx'd all of the documents to Graham at SCI in Reno 3 months before our trip to make 100% SURE everything was correct on the various forms given the nightmares we've heard about Australia and guns. I'm not sure if he didn't read them or what happened, but clearly they weren't in order. I want to reiterate - Do Not Take Guns to Australia - or get a different outfitter.
Gun Export Problem - I am not aware of any problem. But I advised Jeff to get to Sydney Airport 3 hours before departure, to complete a Form and Customs must locate the B709a import form in their system.
JJK Comment: I don't even know where to begin here. We FedEx'd all of the documents to Graham at SCI in Reno 3 months before our trip to make 100% SURE everything was correct on the various forms given the nightmares we've heard about Australia and guns. I'm not sure if he didn't read them or what happened, but clearly they weren't in order. I want to reiterate - Do Not Take Guns to Australia - or get a different outfitter. Comment, Dont Bring Guns To Australia - We had 7 hunters import / export rifles successfully this year. Yes Australian customs are strict and want to see correct paperwork. I think in many countries nowadays some airline/ police /customs people are anti gun and anti hunt and may like to make delays, and to panic gun owners. USA also has a similar "Application for Temporary Importation of Firearms and Ammunition by Non-Immigrant Aliens" and we are treated the same way going to USA. Anyway we have quality rifles and new Zeiss optics if hunters wish to leave their rifles at home.
JJK Comment: I don't even know where to begin here. We FedEx'd all of the documents to Graham at SCI in Reno 3 months before our trip to make 100% SURE everything was correct on the various forms given the nightmares we've heard about Australia and guns. I'm not sure if he didn't read them or what happened, but clearly they weren't in order. I want to reiterate - Do Not Take Guns to Australia - or get a different outfitter.
Delivery of Trophies to NZ Taxidermist - It was explained to Jeff, that we were very busy and I would not be able to send his trophies until end of July. I needed 1 week to be able to finish work on the cape then salt and dry it correctly for export, this time was only available after 26 July. The packaged trophies were delivered to freight company in Darwin on 31 July. The freight company were then responsible for all communications with the NZ company it was sent to. The fact that Jeff's NZ trophies were to be delayed is obviously a concern for Jeff, however we could not make it go faster.
JJK Comment: I suggest you guys contact our NZ taxidermist and ask them what kind of shape the buff was in when they received it. They are cc'd on this email. The buff was crusted and hard as a rock upon receipt. I'm just hopeful they will be able to salvage it. Our Taxidermist: Tyron Southward tahrmaster@xtra.co.nz. I rest my case and suggest your readers be the jury.
JJK Comment: I will grant him one valid point - he did tell us in advance that the hunting at that time of year was tough - but everything else in my story is accurate. I really thought he was going to have a heart attack out there.
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