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A week in the Australian high country chasing Sambar deer

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5.5K views 21 replies 14 participants last post by  Krazeroner  
#1 ·
I posted this on an Australian Bowhunting forum and though it would be worth posting here too. Something different to whitetail and elk.

Before I start the story of last weeks adventure in the Victorian high country, I want to take a step back in time and tell the untold tale of the one who got away during a similar trip last year.

It was a sunny day in the middle of November 2015, I woke up early to hike to my favourite spot for a Sambar hunt. The location I had chosen carefully. I had visited the same place several times before but even though it is quite easy to find this particular spot, the hike is more effort than most hunters are willing to put in. Not to mention that you will need to be of a certain degree of fitness to even reach as far.



Once I set camp and got some preparation underway I packed my day pack and headed towards the gully I had in mind. This particular gully is set quite steep, close to a seasonal water source. I had seen a number of deer before and in 2014 I had had a stand off with a big stag at 10-12 m on the ridge line above this steep gully. That time, he was smart enough to elude my bow and arrow even tough I was eye-to-eye with him for a good 10 minutes and probably at full draw for 2. No ethical shot presented itself so I walked back with my head low. Already then planning my return. Tenacity wins the race.



The sun was setting and I had made it about halfway up the gully when I caught some movement further up. I snuck in to some skinny wattle trees when I spotted a hind feeding about 50 m above me. I had very sparse cover so I opted for a still hunt. Within minutes the whole family unit arrived. I had 2 hinds, a young stag/spiker and a young one feeding away. I decided to see if I could get a 40 m shot when I saw the tree whipping further up the hill. A large stag stepped out at 60-70 m, checked on the rest of the deer before getting back into bashing the young saplings.



I sat still for probably 10 minutes carefully watching the deer. Every now and them they would flick their head up and stare in my direction but soon resume feeding. I had dropped my boots and made an attempt to close the gap but was almost busted. I now had one one small piece of cover behind me and very little opportunity to move. I watched the larger stag wonder up to a certain tree and watch the hinds multiple times. The tree was at 50 m straight across the gully, level with me. After a further 5-10 minutes I realised that the deer was moving slightly away from me and if I wanted a chance for the stag I would need to take the 50 m shot. It is hard to estimate the size but I would assume he would be around 28". I made the choice to set my Spott Hogg dual pin sight to 50 m and wait for the stag to make his move towards the tree as normal. If everything planned out I would get a perfect broadside shot.

I saw him walk towards the spot and I drew my bow when he side stepped and stood on the wrong side of the tree. I had no clear shot. From here everything happened very quickly. As I let down he suddenly moved quickly straight across the clearing on a diagonal towards me. When he passed the only cover between us, a small tree 10-15 cm wide I quickly came to full draw. He walked up on my side of the gully and stared in my direction. During these few seconds I remembered I had my pin at 50 m. He was far closer than that now. He continued to walk up towards me. I estimated the range to be around 25-30 m. I put my pin under his brisket and let the arrow fly.

I can tell you that after this instance I spent a fair amount of time practising shooting different distances with the wrong pin to learn the drop. I heard the solid sound of the arrow hitting a black wattle smack on. Arrow sailed well over his back. I have just missed my first large stag. The deer got alarmed but did not spook to badly. I could watch them quickly but fairly calm trotting across the hillside out of view. Last light disappeared and I was left with a cold feeling running down my spine. I tucked the tail between my legs and went back to camp. I did not want to disturb the gully anymore and decided to collect my arrow during day light.

The next day during lunch I went back to get my arrow. The irony when I found my arrow as part of nature with a butterfly resting on my fletches.



After this week I reviewed my gear, practised more and started to plan another trip back to this spot. Being a Sydney sider I only get the opportunity to hunt the ANP once or twice a year. It actually took me a year to get back to this particular spot.

I was Monday morning and I was in my car, on my way down towards the Victorian high country. In a stroke of luck my work place needed to do some renovations and my work was very limited so I got a whole week off. In the week leading up I had had some concerns for the weather forecast. If you remember parts of Victoria had huge floods and the Owens basin had seen more water than ever. My hunting spot was a bit further away but after speaking to Parks Victoria I got the bad news that entering the ANP the way I normally do would be impossible. On top of that the annual track closures where still in place.

In the days leading up to my departure I spent hours trying interpret google earth to find an alternate route to my treasured gully system. I had found a way which both Victoria parks and friends who knew the area thought was a bit radical. It would be a hard walk, wet, steep and long. On top of that they expected snow at higher altitude, very different to my trip previous year.

As I had a whole week I decided to look around a bit on the way, visit some new state forests and do a bit of four wheel driving. I stopped in Whitfield to get the latest weather forecast from Parks Victoria and ask a few questions. I got the information I needed and I was on my way. First stop was lunch and an armed bush walk on the way. I basically only got out of the car when a feral cat moved across the road. It was a quick stalk and an arrow found its way through its chest. It wasn't the mighty Sambar I was after but my first cat was on the ground. I knew I just saved the lives of a few native birds, lizards and smaller critters so I was a happy hunter.



Quickly after, I jumped in the car as I wanted to get to Lake Cobbler before dark. As many tracks are closed I would drive as far as I could then proceed by foot. I had never been to Lake Cobblar so I decided I might as well see what tis all about. Park Victoria had warned me that it was going to be rather wet and cold so I might want to use the hut there for the night. I arrived just before dark and set up camp. That night was beautiful and I had a nice meal cooked over the camp fire.




The next morning I woke up with a shiver. As soon as first light arrived I understood why.



A good breakfast, hot coffee and some Peak Chocolate I did some scouting around the Cobbler plateau just so I could tick the "hunting in the snow" off the list. The morning was cold, foggy and misty. I spooked a couple of deer already bedded in very thick bush. I can tell you that stalking in snow is seriously hard.




After the sight-seeing it was time to jump in the car to see how close to my planned gully system I could get. My first attempt that evening was disappointment. I spent two hours on hands and knees trying to get through some serious thick bush. I made it about 200-300 before I gave up. What looked like a possible solution on google earth turned out to be too steep and too dense to consider. I was now wet, tired and hungry. I called it quits for the night and got some well deserved sleep.

To be continued...
 
#2 ·
The following day I was back in the Patrol driving around trying to find a spot where there was a possibility to reach my planned hunting area. I came across a track which may put me in the right direction but only after a few minutes I came across an area that looked a bit suspicious. I have done a fair bit of 4wd and I had done a few training courses. All my instincts told me to check the road before proceeding. At first the track seemed good but only a meter further on my boots sank through the thin crust of hard sand. It was a mud pit.



Even though I consider myself a good four wheel driver and my Nissan Patrol is a beast of a truck I have no winch and I was alone. Stupid to take the risk.



Needless to say my second attempt to reach my destination failed. Back on the road. After much contemplating I finally found a optional way. I would require several hours of walking, crossing a decent creek and about 1000 m in elevation drop but I would be able to make it work. After some further driving a parked up, got my day pack and decided to do a recon mission. I came back to the car with a bit of hope. I hadn't seen any sign but I had found a possible way to my destination. When I say the rainbow leading the way I thought it might be a sign towards the treasure in the end of the rainbow.



The following morning was the first time I loaded up my Kifaru pack, double checked my back pack foods and headed off. I spent the next hours walking through rough country. It was a hard walk but doable.




A few hours later I was getting close to my destination. I entered a bit of an opening in the scrub. I could hear a creek to my left when suddenly I spooked a huge stag. He would have been a 28"+ boy having a snooze on the creek flat in the middle of the afternoon. Once I got over my excitement I marked the spot on my GPS for future hunts and continued my walk. A couple of hours later I finally reached the place I intended to use as base campo. I pitched my hammock and got myself a cup of well needed coffee.



It was now Wednesday afternoon. I was too far away from my mentioned gully but as i spent a fair amount of time in this area I made a plan. The winds was rather firm and in perfect direction. I set off that afternoon probably a bit too early as I was so keen to finally get a proper hunt in. I travelled along a hillside, slowly making my way up towards the pinnacle. Just as I got into the "good" light I had reached as far as I wanted to go. Any higher I had to bush bash which would make too much noise to get within bow range. I was kicking myself a bit but decided to slowly traverse down the other side of the hill. After a short while I reached a quite well marked trail next to a swampy area. I walked along for a while before my eye caught some movement ahead. 60-70 m ahead three hinds had crossed the trail and was was feeding in the swamp to my left. I realised I was caught out in the open and froze... hoping for the best. Two of them fed out of sight but one of the younger calf stared my way. I could see the tail raise and I knew that she was onto me. At this stage a fourth hind came moving along. She also spotted the alerted calf and after a bit of a staring session they quickly but quietly moved along.

Once again I kicked myself for being so stupid as to move along without cover. I waited for 5-10 minutes in hope that a stag would follow with no luck. It was getting darker by the minute so I made sure I moved slow and within cover. I made it another 50-100 m before my eye caught movement on my right. At first I could not see what it was but I soon realised it was a stag head poking up above a log on the ground. He had bedded similar to the one I saw earlier in the day. He was on the flat in pretty much in open shrub. He looked my way. I could see him licking his nose trying to get a sniff of what he just heard. I could see those huge ears moving like satellite discs trying to pick up any slight sound.

This time I was in luck. The wind was in my favour and I had good cover behind and some in front. I kept my bow arm still but as he shifted to get up I quickly knocked and arrow and as his head bobbed down I came to full draw.

I had a decent stag at full draw around 20 m in front of me but he was looking my way and he had a nasty steep quartering to angle. (The worst angle if you ask me). This is where a bit of luck helps. As he took a step he spooked a rabbit. The rabbit bolted past him and turned around him. The stag did a small skip and ended up perfectly head on to me. He flicked his head around and followed the rabbit.

I put my pin in the middle of his chest and released the arrow. The stag didn't realise what happened until my 540 grain arrow tipped with a VPA three blade went through his chest and dissapeared. He did a short dash and I could hear a crash, a few grunts and then quiet. The last light was almost over.

Once too dark too see and I could not hear any sounds I switched on my head torch and walked in the direction he ran. He had expired only 30-40 m further up the hill. The arrow had hit its mark perfectly and gone through the centre of the lungs just above the heart and the arrow exited just 5 cm from the tail. My fourth Sambar and my largest Sambar to date. (Yet to shoot a hind though)




Time was around 8 pm when I tried to get some decent photo before caping and taking as much meat as I could carry. I am at this stage about 3 km from camp and I know the area got a fair few wild dogs. This is my first anima since I did my caping demonstration with NEDSA (North Eastern Deer Stalking Association) and Reg Gordon.

It was slow and tedious but I learnt pretty quick that slow and steady saves time later on. I did an ok job. I also took and deboned both shoulders, one hind quarter, back straps and tender loins then my Kifaru meat baggie was full. The exit through the other hind quarter had pushed stomach juices through the exit hole after flipping the stag many times around so I decided to leave that behind as the meat bag was full.



I loaded up meat, cape and head and started the walk back. My system for carry this much was quite poor and only after a couple hundred meters I decided to face cape and take a scull cap. Once again I found myself slowly face cape in the light of my head torch. I slipped up and got a small nick in the chin and another one inside the nose. I did not get back to camp until 1.30 AM. I proceeded to hang the cape in a tree to cool down over night as well as hanging the meat in a different tree. I had a quick bite to eat before catch up on sleep.

The next morning I had a sleep in both woke up just after sun rise. I started to flesh the hide as well as I could and turn ears and lips. As this was my first go it took ages. A split ear from fighting didn't make things easier.


 
#3 ·
Once I was happy, I ate a decent meal, packed up meat, hide and antler on my Kifaru frame and started the long walk back to the car. I knew it would be the hardest walk I had done so far. I left anything I did not need behind as the bag already weighed around 40-50 kg.



I am fit guy but the next 4.5 hours where hard. At some stages I had to take aim at a tree up the hill. Walk 10-20 m then sit down to catch my breath. I had constant lactic acid but was determined to get everything back to the car. After all this is half the fun for me. I love pushing the boundaries of what my body can do. Half way through my delirious walk I stomped through the densest part of the route. I suddenly saw something yellow flick up just in front of me. I froze and quickly took a step backwards once I found a pissed off tiger snake only a couple of steps infant of me. With the extra weight on my back I almost lost it. I got behind a log and kept an eye on him. He was perfectly camouflaged with the brown stripes other than the yellow under his head. He had flattened his head in a coiled position and wasn't planning to move out of the way anytime soon. Unfortunately in an attempt to lower my weight I had left my camera behind and only had my iPhone so the image was crap. You can see him in the middle of the photo between the tussock. Needless to say, he got the respect he deserved and I took a different path, this time a bit more alert.



4.5 hour later I finally reached my car and the 3 kg salt. I salted the cape as well as I could and tried to find a spot to leave the meat. I had broken the handle which I normally use to hang the meat so I opted for hiding it in the front wheel guard of the car to keep it out of the sun. The temperatures would be cold enough to keep the meat safe.




I quickly grabbed some food from my stash in the car and started the trip back to camp. I had 3 hours to get there before dark which was doable with an empty pack walking downhill. I walked down to the last gully in about 2 hours before deciding to slow down and do a bit of stalking. Nothing showed until I was almost back at camp. I heard a stag rub a tree in the thicker stuff. I got a 5-10 minute stalk until he spooked at around 30 m, probably from my scent. Still it had been an amazing day and the last stalk made it even a bit sweeter. Dinner that night was Ramen with beef jerky. One of the best meals in the bush. I had some lollies for desert and a hot cup of tea before quickly falling asleep.

I woke up content but also with the urge to do a proper spot and stalk as I spent most of Thursday processing and looking after the version. After a quick breakfast I packed my bag with a few extra snacks so I could stay out longer without getting too hungry. Another brilliant piece of equipment in my pack is my Sawers mini. A small water filter which meant I could drink from any of the small mountain streams and still not have the risk of getting sick.

It was a foggy morning and the cold kept creeping inside my jacket. A few minutes later traversing the hills made me more comfortable. I stalked up the feeder gully that I had hunted the previous night with no luck. It's amazing how Sambar change their habits and movements with seasonal change. This particular gully used to be my sure bet for an encounter but this time i lucked out. I decided to move further and one by one I slowly crept though the feeder gullies. A couple of hours had past since I left camp the sun was shining in the early morning. I came to halt just as I finished a slow and tedious stalk through dog wood and rubble. I started to get short tempered, I know this is happening when I snap a few more twigs than normal. I have learnt over the years that this is the time to take a break as you won't get within shooting distance of a Sambar if you stomping through the bush.

I sat down and enjoyed a muesli bar and some cold water out of a nearby spring. I sat down for a few minutes to admire the beauty of the untouched bush. Spring had arrived and it was flowers covering most every clear space.




Soon I felt better and I started a slow and deliberate stalk up towards a spur which looked like to could hold some Sambar. I had only stalked for 15-20 minutes when I got HONKED. I saw a brown and tan rear end bolting over the crest. Even though I enjoy the honking it is a reminder that they won and I lost. I remembered reading somewhere that Sambar nearby most often do not alert from the alarm barks. I sat still for 5-10 minutes and then slowly continued up the spur line. I walked a bit higher on the hill than I planned as the previous bedded deer had been a fair bit higher up the hill and due to the now raging thermal winds I though it was better to stay high.

I had not covered more than 50-75 m when I saw bushes thrash only 20-25 m below me. I had basically snuck up on a stag and he had heard my approach. He bounced up and ran a short distance. As he stopped I nocked and arrow just in case. He then stepped out in front of me alerted and looking all around to find the source to what or whom had ruined his morning. I ranged him at 45 m and clipped my release aid in place. He slowly took a few steps and stopped broadside. I automatically came to full draw but hesitated. The shot was now far, around 50 m on an alerted deer. Add to the situation I was kilometres from camp. The stag was quite a bit smaller than the stag I shot the night before. I let down and watched him walk across the gully and disappear over the ridge. What a buzz.

I soon realised that all the deer would have moved to higher ground and the possibility to stalk, spot and shoot a deer in thick cover is more or less impossible so I walked back for lunch. During lunch I figured that I probably should not leave my venison without ice for too long so I planned to break camp and try to reach the gully I originally intended to hunt. Said and done I was on my way.

The walk wasn't as bad as I envisioned and I reached a beautiful camp spot not far from where I wanted to hunt. The creek was higher here and I decided to set my hammock as close to the stream as I could. Nothing beats falling asleep with the sound of running water.



I love a good cup of coffee so having instant coffee for a week isn't the best experience but when you can sit on the creek edge with a coffee and piece of Peak chocolate... instant coffee is alright.



It got later in the afternoon and i was now on my way to the same gully I had missed my big stag the year before. I got to within 200 m when I realised it was too early in the afternoon and the thermal winds where still flowing up hill. Knowing that the deer could smell me several hundred meters away, especially after a few days in the bush I quickly turned around and went back to camp. I recharged and decided to hunt the shadow side of a gully until the sun went down then quickly make my way up to the main gully. I came across a swampier piece of land and slushed around in the water for a while. As it was so wet every step was slow, not to make to much noise.

After my third of fourth coffee that day I found natured called so I looked for a better spot further away from any water source. I made my way up the hill and in this weak moment I may have walked a bit faster and clumsier. I put my bow and bag down, turned around and stared straight at a lop-sided stag. He looked as surprised as I did. He was young with a shaggy mane and made a clumsy escape away from a bowhunter without a bow in hand. I had to laugh at the whole situation. On the way back the camp I came across the wallow he was most likely stalking. I would suggest that a smaller stag like himself would probably need to be careful not to encroach on the big boys territory.

I got half way up the gully where I missed a big stag previous year. I got a glimpse of a brown shiny coat between the trees. A medium sized stag came calmly walking down the gully just like the larger stag had done last year. The gully is steep and at night absolute whisper quiet. I decided not to even try stalking as the ground was covered in dry leaves and debris. Slowly sat down on my knees, knocked and arrow and waited for him to come closer.

5 minutes later he was in the bottom of the feeder gully, level with me at 35 m. I was surprisingly calm when I came to full draw. I split the 30 and 40 pin across his heart and squeezed off a shot. Until this moment I had been overly confident. This animal was mine and even though not the largest stag he would be tasty and was close enough to camp for a full recover.

Unfortunately for me the deer must be related to Chuck Norris. He did the most agile duck I have seen and my arrow cleared his back with easily 10 cm. As the arrow stuck in the ground only meters from him he slung his head around. He didn't run but rather started to scan the surroundings as if he was looking for the noise. He started to stomp his hoof and the tail flicked up and down. I nocked another arrow and waited for a clear shot which never arrived. He slowly stomped his way up the hill. I watched him for the next 10 minutes as he honked, stomped and made his way further and further away. I could not believe it! I had missed another stag in the same gully. I was so certain of this shot the only thing I can come up with is that the steep gully in the afternoon makes any sound travel. I should say that my bow is very quiet. The only source of noise I can think of is my drop away which has a slight slapping noise. I have never had an issue with this before but then again I don't shoot that many Sambar. Needless to say I am now researching the most quietest rest. My arrow is also an arrow put together with noise in mind sporting Flex fletch SK300 vanes and VPA broad heads.

Being the last night of hunting this spot I once again lowered my head and walked back to camp. I ate and feel asleep listening the the fast flowing water. I had a slightly broken sleep as I was a bit cold. The last few days brilliant wether started to turn and the cool wind made the hammock colder than normal. In the early hours I woke up to stretch out. I freaked out when I heard a loud thumping sound just next to my camp. By the sound of things a decent Sambar had made it down to the creek and almost walked in to my rain fly. The deer probably freaked out even more than me as I heard it flee through the creek and up the other side. I was now wide awake. Adrenalin.



The next morning was cold and misty. I stalked up towards the wallow I had found the previous day. Nothing was there so I walked up the hill a bit. Suddenly I heard a very faint stick snap. Knowing that it could be one of many animals in the ANP but also a Sambar I stood still and waited. It wasn't long until I got another stick snap, this time a bit louder and closer. It was a larger critter that was for sure. I made my way towards the sound until I had a large gum as backdrop, nocked and arrow and waited. I could now see the dogwood wriggle and I was sure I had a sambar come closer. I had a clear shot about 20 m in front of me. The supposed deer got closer and closer but only meters away from the clearing it turned on a dime and bolted up the hill. I was busted... Strangely I felt ok with it. I called it for the morning and started to pack up. Only when I undid my hammock from the trees I realised I by mistake had hung my hammock in a rub tree which could explain the nightly encounter.

 
#5 ·
Sun was pretty high when once again shouldered my Kifaru pack and started to walk back towards my truck. As I walked along I made mental and gps notes for next time. I passed the wallow and did a dog leg to check it out. I reached a part where the trail was a lot wider, almost the size of a road and short grasses made it easy to see. At this stage I am stomping my way along so to my surprise I spot a deer in some thicket only 50-60 m away. Mr Lop-sided was there again. He had spotted me but tried to sneak away. I watched this big brown cow like creature do something that looked like a mix between a crawl and a erratic walk. He would take 2-3 steps then freeze then another 2-3 steps. His head was lowered towards the ground and his neck almost inline from nose to tail. He did this across the open laneway and I almost laughed at his pathetic attempt to hide. He soon disappeared into the thick stuff but he will need to hone his sneaking skills if he want to survive much longer.

The walk back to the car was easier than before as I had a fairly light pack and tummy full of food. I stopped and took photos on some more flowers and the scenery which I would most likely not see again for 6-12 month.




I reached the car in good time, only to find that some critters had tried to steal my version. Of the 30-40 kg I carried up I lost 5-10. The had also ripped a few holes in the sil-nylon so parts was fly blown. I cut of any contaminated meat and repacked it. I got left with probably 20-25 kg. I assume it was wild dogs or cats but either way if I caught them in the act... they would have been less of them. The cape got left alone as it was covered in salt.

It was still pretty early so I decided to take the car for a spin and look at the Dandongadale falls on the way home. The where far away and it was misty. A photo does not capture how powerful the feeling is standing and looking out over the gully with water pouring all over the face. Apparently a 255 meter fall.



Soon I was back in 2 wheel drive and the sun was getting lower. I think most of you can relate to the fact that sitting in a car during prime hunting hours is frustrating so I quickly grabbed some take away in Wangaratta and scoffed it on the road. I had found a piece of state forest which was hunt-able. I did not know anything about the place but that was ok. I reached the edge of the forest just in time. I was a bit stressed so when I navigated through the trees for a place to park I accidentally reversed too close to a tree leaning out so a snapped my passenger side mirror off.



Stuff it, I hunt first fix later was the though as I got ready. In hind sight I should have stayed on the road. I found a few trails and two rub trees which I sat off until dark. The only critters I saw was these flying devils. I learnt that if you smell like a Sambar stag mosquitoes love your pants.



I continued driving towards the border to make my drive back to Sydney on Sunday a bit easier. I have a spot I normally hunt on the way home and this trip wasn't different. I arrived late at night, jumped to bed ready for my last morning hunt for this trip. The plan was a small walk traversing a hillside.

It was surprisingly easy to get out of bed considering a thumper of a week. As planned I traversed across the hillside. I saw very little other than beautiful scenery and the odd native critter.



However I am a creature of curiosity so I continued gully after gully after gully. The terrain got steeper and harder to traverse. I glassed and walked more and more.I was surprised I did not see any deer. I got to particular steep part which had a flatter spur line running along the side. I was about call it a day when my eye caught something odd. I grabbed my binoculars... Sambar. I was 72 m away from a bedded hind. She was laying up against a tree. From experience I assumed that there would be more, even if I could not see them. I took my boots off and on with my neoprene sox. I slowly made my way towards the hind, glassing in between each few steps. Suddenly I see a larger stag step out and walk out of view. I decided to try to sneak up as close to the stag as I could. I took a few more steps and glassed. This time I found a few tines. Another smaller stag had been laying only meters away from the hind and I had not noticed. Over the next 10-15 minutes I closed the distance to 50 m when suddenly the hind stood up rapidly. The thermal was shifting and I assume they got a whiff. I don't blame them. They stayed around nervously for another couple minutes before moving on.

Iphone photo 72 m


Iphone photo through 10x42 Binoculars 72 m
 
#6 ·
I walked another few gullies over and bumped one more family unit of Sambar deer before calling it quits. I got to my car just before lunch and was on my way towards Sydney.

Normally this is where the story end but as we live in the beautiful country we do, I had to do some quick stops along the way. My first impulsive stop was the Paddy River falls in Tumbarumba Shire. I have driven past it many times before but never made the time to stop. Amazing...



The second stop I did was the Adelong gold mine site and falls. I forgot to take photos but I have some from another time I passed through. Worth the little walk along the river.







The last stop I did was as the sun was getting a bit lower. I spotted some fallow feeding across a gully. My camera only have a 50 mm lens but a optional x4 digital zoom hence the fuzzy image. Still loved finish the trip watching some deer.

50 mm lens


50 mm lens with x4 digital zoom


There's so much more to the hunt, than the kill!
 
#7 ·
Wow. Absolutely amazing! Still reading it. One of the better stories on AT I have ever seen done. I swear, the Aussies and Kiwi's can tell a tale with photo's and truly make you think your there.
 
#8 ·
Well told story...thx.

You might want to comment on how the feral cat population has become out of control in spots...........many of us Americans own cats as pets.
 
#9 ·
Yes, good point. You obviously know but other may not. People have cats as pets in Australia too but the feral population is one of the worst invasive spieces we have with very little resemblance to the cuddly cat at home. They multiply faster then we can get rid of them and they treathen several native spieces to extinction. It is a very difficult situation which we still do not have a solution to. Hunters do their share to get rid of them when we can but the elusive nature and nocturnal habits makes it a hard quest.

The have been talks about introducing Tasmanian Devils back to the mainland to compete with the cats as they used to be around but only tests has been done. The devils also fight their own fight with a facial tumour which is wiping out large portion of the population. As for now we it's estimated to be around 15 million feral cats around killing up to 5 native animals or insects every day each. Do they maths and you realise why Australians are so determined to get the feral cat population under control.
 
#12 ·
Awesome story and pics Andreas. Thanks, I felt like I was right there with you. Congrats on the successful hunt. I always enjoy a good story, but even more intriguing of an adventure that I will probably never get to experience in my life. Feel free to share many more of your adventures.
 
#13 ·
Great story and hunt brother and congrats on the Sambar. I plan on hunting them here in Florida in a year or two. We have a wild breeding population on St Vincent's Island off the Northwest Coast of Florida.
 
#15 ·
I have read that you have a population over there. They are by far my favourite animal to hunt. I have hunted fallow, red, rusa but no me of them compares to the elusive nature of sambar. Their senses are something else. Good luck on your hunt.
 
#16 ·
Congrats on a great hunt! Great story also.