So far in the Pilliga scrub I’ve seen...

[Thumper]

....lots of kangaroos and a couple of pigs.
Does anyone have any tips for how I can improve my odds of a sighting/encounter?
And precise locations perhaps?

I can also confirm it is dry af out here.

I’ve got about another 24 hours out here. Any suggestions welcome.

[moetunes]

Everything needs water to survive, so with it being so dry all wildlife has to go to the only available water sources. Dunno where that'd be in the pilligas though.
I was north west of brisbane this morning and it is that dry I am amazed anything can survive an Australian drought, but animals do.
From the little I've read about the pilliga yowies they seem to be the nasty type. Maybe they get by with ripping the head off a roo and upending it like a warm beer ...?

[JohnnyAnonymous]

....lots of kangaroos and a couple of pigs.
Does anyone have any tips for how I can improve my odds of a sighting/encounter?
And precise locations perhaps?

Probably too late to the party, but what is said above is true regardless of the geography.

We all need a water resource.

Best of success to you,
Johnny

[Thumper]

So far I’ve only seen one creek with water in it. Everything else is bone dry.
My studying of google maps isn’t helping to look for water.

If any locals have any tips that would be appreciated.
I got a more powerful spot light for tonight... wish me luck.

[Wolf]

You have to make them curious... play some recorded baby cries, that sort of thing.

Plus I think you would have to be willing to spend at least a month or two out there in the hope they might let down their guard... that's if you are even anywhere near them... the Pilliga is a big area with possibly a dozen or more water sources still with water, even in this drought.

[Wolf]

Maybe some didgerydoo?....

[aaq]

So far I’ve only seen one creek with water in it. Everything else is bone dry.
My studying of google maps isn’t helping to look for water.

If any locals have any tips that would be appreciated.
I got a more powerful spot light for tonight... wish me luck.

Good luck...

[Thumper]

So at about 9pm I parked up at a puddle I’d seen earlier in the day. Put all the windows down and sat in the darkness and after about 5 mins I heard a wood knock off to my right.
At least that’s what it sounded like to my subjective perception.
After that I drove on further for a couple of hours.
With my more powerful spot light I Saw, a rabbit, a fox, a feral cat, and of course kangaroos.
On the way back out I stopped at the puddle and took a look at the footprints. Lo and behold I see what looks to me like a 50 cm print with huge deep heel, mid tarsal break, and front edge of the toes in the shape of a hominid foot print. I took a video...but it was night so doubt it will show much.

Thus concludes another day of third rate evidence collecting. But now I can tick Pilliga scrub off my bucket list.

[Thumper]

Here’s a video of the maybe footprint.
If anyone is around the Pilliga. I can show you this in the morning if there interest.

https://youtu.be/kvy9eaQfOQ0

I forgot to mention, this print was fresh. I feel like it was made between my two visits to the puddle... but I could be very wrong on that.

[aaq]

Cool. Did you get a chance to see during daylight hours? Could you see any more than one print?

[Wolf]

So at about 9pm I parked up at a puddle I’d seen earlier in the day. Put all the windows down and sat in the darkness and after about 5 mins I heard a wood knock off to my right.
...

Why did you leave?
Should have hung about and cooked up some bacon over a fire?

[Thumper]

So at about 9pm I parked up at a puddle I’d seen earlier in the day. Put all the windows down and sat in the darkness and after about 5 mins I heard a wood knock off to my right.
...

Why did you leave?
Should have hung about and cooked up some bacon over a fire?

I left because it felt like we were at an impasse. I'd heard the tree knock... but my presence was blocking access to the water. If i didn't move, he wouldn't move - and he is a lot more patient than me. So i figured if i left and came back something might happen.