Most Underrated?

[Rick McGowan]

My vote for the most underrated dangerous game in the world goes to the wild scrub bull. The ranch I hunt in OZ has hundreds of these animals, but only two have ever been taken by bowhunters. We had a very big one taken this year, my guess was 1900#'s and an over 30" horn spread, but he didn't go down easy. They are extremely wary, fast, tough and can be very aggressive. When pushed or wounded they often run into the thickest bit of scrub around and wait for you. We had one kill himself this year by a flat out charge into the bull bar of a Land Cruiser! Last year they got one into the stockyards during a muster and before they could do anything about it, he killed five other head of cattle just out of pure orneriness. Don't pass one of these up if you get the chance, it ain't shooting a dairy cow! Rick

[tonto]

Rick
Seems like i remember a story about one of the old timers maybe Ben Pearson?? Hunting out west and have some hairy encounters with some american Scrub Bulls. Said they were very tough and dangerous to hunt.
Dean
Seems that many animals that spend some time around man then go wild or are offspring of such animals loose some fear of us and know a good many of our habits. Making for a worthy and dangerous hunt.

[Rick McGowan]

Dean, somewhere I read a story once about someone hunting the wild bulls out west somewhere or maybe in Mexico and they had a lot of respect for them also. The scrub cattle where I have been hunting are so far in the outback that many have never encountered a human being, but they seem to have an instinctive dislike for us, so maybe you are right. Some of them I suspect are direct decendants of the original cattle brought into the N.T. several hundred years ago. Rick

[Jackrat]

Rick,I could,nt agree with you more.I have hunted wild cattle here in NewZealand with,No luck yet but I,m working on it.While I lived in Australia I went after scrub bulls.I went out with a mate an had no trouble finding them as the property owner put us in thr right place.Well we spoted this big red fella from around four hundred yards,We got into about one hundred when he picked up on us,He went straight up on his toes, pumped up his neck an shoulders,an then started this sideways trot thru, the scrub.My mate an I waited until he dropped out of sight down a small gully an then we got the heck out of there    .It took half an hour to get back to the 4x4 and it was one of the longest walks I,ve ever taken.We did,nt know where he had gone an as there where very few good climbing trees around it was a most uncomfortable feeling.I can only describe that bull as being Evil on legs,we could just about feel the bad coming out of him.Now if I go looking for wild cattle here it is only if I can get a mate to bring a gun.I,ve been chased around
the scrub by pigs a few times an baled up by dogs
once but that bull is the only time I,ve really feared for my life,an he never got closer than eighty yards.With out a gun back up,NEVER AGAIN.

[DiamondD]

I saw a story once about people hunting wild bulls on one of the Hawaian islands and I thought it would be a great hunt!  Anyone know if this is still possible in Hawaii?

Wild cattle are a lot like bucking bulls in that they are unbelievibly quick and athletic for as big as they are!

[Rick McGowan]

Jackrat, I have to agree with you, the scrub bulls are very unpredictable. Some of them want to have a go at you, when you are in the car! Others you only get a glimpse of once and then they seem to leave the country. I would not hunt them myself, without a cool hand on a big backup rifle. Rick

[paradocs]

Agreed.  Heck, I've been nearly laid out by some of the "tame" ones.  How do the cows with calves behave?

[Jackrat]

Paradocs,I have worked with cattle most of my life.I have been chased all over the place by tame cows with calves,mostly just after having helped them give birth.Rather un greatfull if you ask me.Something I have seen a number of times is when cattle smell the blood of a herd mate,they can go totaly nuts,That aplies to all of them,not just wild ones.As Rick says,take a BIG gun and a good man.
Jack.

[Legolas]

Most underrated animal: possum
tryed to get one to move out from under my deck and could not get him to move by pressing a broadheaded arrow through the slits in my deck into his side. No penetration. Need to review the African Study. Finally got him out and took a red brick to his head a few times (heard his skull crack). Walked away to get my arrow and he took off into the woods. Dang  :confused:  
Dangerous -Yeah, it haunts me every night.  :D  
Paul
be safe this season!

[bayoulongbowman]

leg , Thats sick....poor little possum..I have a few around here.....all they do is hang around....mark   LOL

[Legolas]

Mark, I swear I could smell that possum and I would check by lookin thru the slits in the deck and sure enough old stinky was there!
PAUL