Situated on the banks of the Tenterfield River, among the mountain ranges of northern New South Wales, Jackals Hide is a picturesque location for outdoor enthusiasts to get away. Known as ‘Australia’s premier bowhunting only property’, Jackals Hide is a 5000-acre working sheep station offering unguided bowhunting and fishing experiences. The property consists of a mixture of steep timbered country which joins partly cleared river flats along the creek. The banks of the creek are typical of the area; lined with large granite boulders which continue into the water, with fallen timber throughout.

This land holds a wide variety of wild game and freshwater fish, including two species of deer, feral goats, pigs, Murray cod, yellow bellies, carp and much more. The property is strictly bowhunting (no firearms) and except for carp, catch and release only.

Jackals Hide features several designated camp areas, all with varying degrees of comfort and location specific attractions (river access). Some are well established, featuring amenities blocks, running water and mobile phone service whereas others are as simple as a clearing in the forest requiring complete self-sufficiency. Alternatively, after seeking permission from the owner, you may camp anywhere on the property. Jackals Hide offers a variety of packages depending on what activities you wish to do and how many people will be present. They can cater for everything from a family camping weekend right up to a multi-day hunting and fishing adventure. 

Jackals Hide is located a four-hour drive southwest from Brisbane, making it a convenient weekend getaway location for those living in southern Queensland or northern NSW. Access to the start of the property is simple using Google or Apple maps by searching ‘Jackals Hide’. The route on these services is direct and consists of a mixture of sealed and dirt roads. 4WD vehicles are required once on the property as both the main access track and other routes can become washed out, forming ruts that may expose large rocks. To manage the amount and distribution of clients on the property, bookings are essential to gain access. Bookings are done online either through the online booking form or by contacting the owner directly by email. There is a small fee associated with accessing the property that is dependent on what activities you wish to do. For example, a camping only trip is cheaper than a full hunting and fishing package. All fees are transparent and available to view on the website prior to booking. 

Jackals Hide pops up when searching online for Murray cod fishing locations in northern New South Wales and will immediately appeal to avid hunters and fishers. It’s worth taking the time to click through and read the tabs on the website as well as view the impressive photo gallery. Rod, the owner, is quick to reply to emails and provide a spreadsheet of site availability.

Upon arrival, guests are greeted by Rod for check-in and provided with a map featuring the designated camp areas, tracks, boundaries and best fishing spots clearly marked. ‘Camp B’ was chosen as it’s located on the banks of the river and includes all the facilities you might expect to find at a caravan park; amenities block, running water, mobile phone coverage and open firepits. Additionally, Camp B is situated within walking distance of most of the fishing holes marked on the property map. Wasting no time, we grabbed a rod and day pack and set out to walk the creek for the day. Early on there were no bites but things really started to heat up around midday. On one cast, three Murray cods followed the lure in at once. Moving on from that spot to the next, there was six large carp swimming around. With a collapsible rod and some canned corn, attempts were made to catch them, but without success. Further along the river, still within the same waterhole, three cod were caught in under 30 minutes, which is rare. Although they were no record breakers, they were still good fun to catch.

During the afternoon, the rod was swapped out for the bow back at camp and we headed out again, climbing up one of the knolls near the middle of the property. Setting up in the tree line provided a great viewpoint across a large open area parallel to the creek. The idea here was to spot game leaving their bedding locations and enter the clearing to feed for the afternoon. Once spotted, a plan could be concocted for a stalk from the already concealed position. As the afternoon passed, about 50 kangaroos appeared from different points. However, no animals to hunt presented themselves. The next morning saw us back at one of the deeper waterholes with the aim of targeting big cod on surface lures. The dawn began to break and the steam rolled off the water but unfortunately, no luck.

Overall, Jackals Hide provides a rewarding experience. The process of booking and getting there is straightforward and transparent. Rod is welcoming and helpful in providing information about the best places to camp and fish. The facilities are fully functional and maintained to a high standard. Jackals Hide is a beautiful property with spectacular scenery and great fishing. For more information visit jackalshide.com