KATHERINE ROD & RIFLE TACKLEWORD

SUPPORTING THE TERRITORY’S HUNTERS

Hunting remains one of the Northern Territory’s great outdoor traditions—a blend of recreation, bush skills and practical land management. In the Top End, it’s woven into the lifestyle, and nowhere is that more evident than at Katherine Rod & Rifle Tackle World, the long-standing outdoor hub on Katherine’s main street.

Owned and managed by Trent de With, the store is widely known for fishing and camping but its dedicated hunting and shooting section—the Den for Men & Women—has been a mainstay since the family took over in 2003. Behind its secure doors sits one of the Territory’s most diverse firearm selections.

“More people are heading into the bush, and they need the right gear,” Trent said. “Everything for hunting is in the Den: firearms, optics, ammunition, the lot.”

And business is only growing.

“We’ve doubled the number of firearms we keep on the floor—now around 150,” Trent said. Local hunters chasing pigs, buffalo and donkeys lean heavily on proven Territory favourites such as the Rossi R95  30.30 lever action, the Australian-made Southern Cross Small Arms Taipan .223 pump-action with a 10-shot magazine, and amongst shotgun shooters, the popular Templeton T2000 12-gauge straight-pull with button release.

“Anything you need for hunting or target shooting is here”.

While shotguns are more in demand further north where magpie geese are plentiful, the Katherine region is dominated by feral pigs, buffalo and donkeys, making the .308 calibre a go-to choice across surrounding stations. Tikka and Howa remain the most popular brands, prized for reliability and value. Alongside firearms, the Den stocks ammunition, scopes, trail cameras, clay targets and throwers, safes, and a wide selection of hunting apparel.

“Anything you need for hunting or target shooting is here,” Trent said. “And we’ve still got the huge range of camping and fishing gear that Territory life depends on.”

Most firearm sales peak during the Dry, when Jackaroos and Jillaroos arrive for station work and feral animal control becomes part of their day-to-day responsibilities. “The Wet is always quieter,” Trent added.

According to Trent, Katherine offers some of the Territory’s best hunting access—provided you follow the rules.

According to Trent, Katherine offers some of the Territory’s best hunting access—provided you follow the rules.

“From May to October the weather’s perfect. The tracks open up and you can reach the remote country again,” he said. “There are mobs of pigs out toward the Daly and through the savannah, and hunters head east toward the Gulf or out onto the big stations where buffalo and donkeys are more common.”

But he stresses that hunting here is about more than adventure.

“Feral animals do real damage—destroying water points, ripping up fences, spreading weeds. Ethical shooters help reduce those impacts. You need the right licences and you need to do right by the landholders. That’s what keeps access open.”

Permission is non-negotiable.

“You’ve got cattle, staff, and insurance considerations. You must have the station manager’s approval before stepping foot on a property,” Trent said. For most visiting hunters, Crown Land is the simplest option, though paperwork still applies.

“Locals who’ve built trust over the years might have private-land access—but that’s earned, not expected,” Trent said.