WATERVALLEY GAME RANCH

Australia's Serengeti for Deer Hunters

Hunting style | Trophy quality | Duck hunting | Accommodation | Location
Firearms and Optics | Weather and clothing
Advantages of hunting at Watervalley Game Ranch | Species available and Price list 2006

Click Here to read the Watervalley Game Ranch article about Ralf Kober & Willy Daum's Shikar at Watervalley

VIRTUAL FREE-RANGE HUNTING

Watervalley or Ninga Ninga (as this area was known to the aborigines) is a privately owned Game Ranch comprising more than 300,000 acres. The size of this ranch is continually increasing as adjoining properties are acquired and the perimeter fence extended. In fact it is so vast that at times a GPS must be used to ensure that one does not become temporarily misplaced when darkness falls. To gain some indication of the vastness of Watervalley, consider that it is 65 kilometres around the Rusa enclosure.

Twenty years ago chital, elk, fallow, red, rusa and sambar deer were released onto the property and today several thousand deer can be seen in the course of a days hunting. In fact the number and variety of deer seen is so amazing that Watervalley has become known as "Australia's Serengeti for deer hunters".

The deer and asiatic water buffalo roam freely with the kangaroos, wallabies and emus and are virtually free-ranging for they are not at all contained or restricted by internal cattle and sheep fencing. Just as importantly the popularity of Watervalley as an international hunting destination has conditioned the deer to be wild and elusive and bringing them to bag requires hunting in the true sense of the word.

The ranch encompasses a variety of topography. Some areas consist of rolling undulating hills and valleys covered with a mosaic of eucalypt scrub and grasslands. Other parts are vast swamplands covered by heath and surrounded by eucalypt scrub interspersed with grasslands.

HUNTING STYLE

The hunting style is similar to that used for African plains game. Hunting commences at first light and continues throughout the day. Bush tracks are driven in a 4WD hunting vehicle and game is spotted using binoculars and trophy quality assessed with a spotting scope before stalking on foot. The easy going, undulating country ensures that stalking is not too demanding for physically challenged hunters.

TROPHY QUALITY

The region where Watervalley is located is known as the Limestone Coast due to its limestone rich soil which no doubt contributes to the outstanding trophies taken. Many Gold Medal stags have been taken at Watervalley. Usually these older animals are very cagey and a sit and wait ambush at dusk or dawn is required to bring them to bag.

Red Stags with more than 31 long points and some scoring in excess of 400 Douglas Score have been taken.

Fallow Bucks scoring in excess of 220 Douglas points are regularly taken.

Chital Stags measuring more than 32 inches are seen but are difficult to bag.

Rusa Stags up to 36 inches have been taken.

Asiatic Water Buffalo scoring over 65SCI points.

DUCK HUNTING

As its name suggests, Watervalley has expansive wetlands which provide excellent duck shooting from February to June inclusive and organised shoots are conducted throughout the season.

ACCOMMODATION

Accommodation is in a three bedroom cottage located on the property and is included in the guiding fee. Guiding fees, food, wine, beer, transfers etc and all other arrangements are the same as for free-ranging hunts.

LOCATION

Located in the south-east of South Australia , Watervalley is 2.5 hrs drive from Mt Gambier airport and 8 hours drive from Melbourne airport. I can collect you from the airport of your choice and return you to that airport after your hunt. However, you will save hunting time by flying to Mt. Gambieer airport, where I will collect you.

FIREARMS & OPTICS

Good quality binoculars of 7 to 10 magnification are essential.

Long shots are common so a flat-shooting rifle with a 3 to 9 or 2.5 to 10 or similar scope is best.

High Quality firearms are available for hire. Click here for Firearms Available.

WEATHER AND CLOTHING

In February (our summer) the daily temperatures will be very warm and may range between 80 degrees F (27 degrees C) to 90degrees F (32 degrees C). March heralds the beginning of autumn and temperatures begin to slowly decrease but the occasional temperature of 86 degrees F may still occur. April is much milder with daily temperatures reaching 75 degrees F (25 degrees C).

Light cotton clothing is ideal for summer and autumn hunting but should include a light jacket for early morning and evening.

May to August is our winter with temperatures ranging from 35 degrees F (3 degrees C) at first light to 65 degrees F (18 degrees C) during the afternoon. Conditions are usually cool and can be cold and wet so warm clothing comprising a hat, gloves and a warm jacket is required. Polarfleece is the most suitable for these but a change of cotton clothing is advisable for the warmer winter days. Bush walking boots and slip-ons for inside cottage wear complete the outfit. A fully equipped daypack is essential.

ADVANTAGES OF HUNTING AT WATERVALLEY

• It is feasible to take a high quality trophy every day.
• SCI Gold Medal trophies have been taken at Watervalley and Silver Medal trophies are regularly taken.
• The large number of deer observed will amaze and fascinate.
• The mosaic of scrub, swamps, pasture and rolling hills combine to provide perfect vantage points for observing unalarmed deer.
• The large number of deer and vantage points enable glimpses into deer behaviour rarely seen.
• The easy country permits stalking by physically challenged hunters.

WATERVALLEY GAME RANCH

RETAIL PRICE LIST 2006

(All prices are in Australian Dollars AUD$)

To convert to your currency, CLICK HERE

All prices include GST