The challenge of banteng
After studying the banteng in his binoculars, the guide turned and whispered to me: “He’s a very good head.” It was my fourth day of hunting in Arnhem Land for bantengs and boars. The banteng was lying down in front of us with his head facing away. Through my Swarovski 8x30 binoculars I could see his right horn sticking up in the air but his left horn was obscured by the grass and a paperbark tree. If the left horn was as good as the right, then I would take the shot.
The wild Timor Ponies had not ruined this stalk. Unlike on the previous trails where they would run right across our path, turn around and then run straight towards the banteng, alerting the banteng that something was up. So then that animal too would take off and we would not see it again.
The bantengs are very much switched on. More so than the water-buffaloes, Cape buffaloes and even scrub bulls. Their sense of smell, eyesight and hearing appear to be excellent. It’s a bit like hunting deer, except that bantengs are heavy, dangerous game and on occasion they will charge. That’s why I brought my CZ chambered in .450 Rigby Rimless Magnum with me. I’ve had the CZ internal magazine deepened to hold four rounds, yet
