I'd have a grin a mile wide if I bagged that beauty. Sambar can hybridise with rusa and produce fertile offspring. In fact the climb to Horton Plains passed through mountain sides of introduced blue gum eucalyptus forest and man-ferns with damp gullies and one could easily be hoodwinked into thinking it was Sambar country in Australia. Comparing antler sizes of sambar stags is actually like comparing apples to watermelons. Deer- Fallow, Red, Sambar, Axis, Rusa, Hog. Its not unlike some of the low-veldt of Africa and with a selection of wildlife including Elephant, Buffalo, Sloth Bear, Leopard, Chital, Sambar, Sri Lanka Wild Hog, Crocodile, small animals and abundant birdlife. Hog deer are not considered to be a threat to humans and are not known to attack people. My recurve buddy shot his as it was walking past.too far back with 2/3rds on the arrow hanging out. During the evening, wild Elephant and S.L. Sambar deer were later released at Burrumbeet in Western Victoria (these eventually lead to establishing the Mount Cole herd), Mount Zero in the Grampians and Snake Island off Port Welshpool. To view deer its wise to be awaiting the gate opening. In 1862 five Sambar deer were being held in an enclosure in Royal Park and the following year these, the first Sambar, were released at Mount Sugarloaf, Kinglake (Bentley 1978). The fallow deer was introduced to Australia in the 19th century and now inhabits forested areas of the country. Sambar were obtained mainly from Sri Lanka with a smaller number coming from Sumatra. Stags predominantly prefer to live solitary except for periods in and around the rut (stags sometimes pair up during the velvet stage). Maybe its just the climate and high temperatures. Australia and New Zealands premiere dedicated Deer Hunting Magazine. During the early 80s one of Australias leading hound hunters told me there was only one true 30 Sambar being taken annually within Australia. Wild Deer & Hunting Adventures So your head would finally tally up 72 + 11 + 42 = 125 points. I was able to get a Sambar spot and stalk and saw plenty of neat country. Hinds are smaller and can grow to about 115cm and weigh in the vicinity of 230kg. [1] The fallow deer is also farmed for its hide and velvet. I can think of countless areas that are in the top handful of places any sambar hunter will reel off when asked about where to go hunting. CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne. Australia and New Zealands premiere 2,276. They have simply grown as large as they can and thats their peak. There are also white spots on the throat and chest. The antlers of mature males usually have three tines, however the number of tines is influenced by animal condition. The largest deer is the Alaskan moose (Alces alces gigas). Females (hinds) do not have antlers. "If we can't find them, we can't monitor them, and they're just really difficult to control.". Feral populations of sambar are established in South Australia, Victoria and NSW. Description of the Sambar. Its an amazing national park and Margaret and I, with our three guides, enjoyed several lengthy safari trips into its depths. They are large herbivores and can weigh 300 kilograms. (Some may say that the Red deer is the largest, but wh Continue Reading Sponsored by Sane Solution Throat phlegm? Deer from Sri Lanka were originally released in Victoria in 1863; later releases came from India. The New Zealand Sambar originated from Ceylon also with 11 separate shipments made between 1875 and 1921. JavaScript is disabled. Later that night we learnt how disappointed our guides were. by TempesT February 11th, 2021, 9:18 am, Post Sambars are quite large, and can stand up to 63 in. I recently put trail cameras on a plateau where I used to get lots of big mature stags with great antler formation following the big fires. by HDS July 11th, 2021, 6:54 pm, Powered by phpBB Forum Software phpBB Limited. Farmers and environmentalists want them declared a pest and professionally culled. It'd probably be a case of being out hunting other game such as goats/pigs/deer and then seeing a cat and trying to get it. They were first released in the early 1860s at Mount Sugarloaf in what is now the Kinglake National Park, and at Harewood, near Tooradin, on the edge of the then Koo Wee Rup swamp. These deer are shy and elusive creatures, but they are also very curious. Sambar deer are known to be extremely good at moving through thick scrub not making a single sound and can disappear right in front of your eyes. And what about the hunter who has never shot a sambar stag, yet has put in many days learning about the deer and habits. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Some stags, although wild, had progressed to being semi-domesticated and they disregarded caution for the prospect of treats from tourists. The old second degree of separation, so a few of the lads at work have had the head round at their place, I might have a push to try and get eyes on the head at some point to. A sambar antler is typically three tined and the outer top tine is usually the continuation of the main beam while the inner top tine is somewhat shorter. Victoria has some of the best game hunting opportunities in Australia. The red deer is a herbivore and feeds on grasses, herbs, shrubs and trees. There are probably hundreds of thousands of Sambar Deer (in Victoria), but possibly more, because there's no reliable count," he said. The Australian Sambar was born! A bow of at least 50 pound draw weight (longbow, recurve, or compound) with an arrow having a total weight of 400gns, with the broadhead having minimum of two cutting blades. The New Zealand record for length is 40 long and 40 wide and the biggest Australian ones are around 35 and increasing in size; 30 inches has always been regarded as a very big Sambar. From careful study there appeared to be no obvious differences to our Australian Sambar. Yet to be officially scored, Yeah I saw that bloody stonker he has obviously got to much bloody time on his hands coz he looks like he decks a couple. Large populations Sambar deer are established in the Eastern parts of Australia, mainly in South Australia, Victoria and NSW where there are many hotpots with large numbers, making them suitable game for all avid hunters. We don't really have much in the way of hunters or sportsmen being able to target them. You must log in or register to reply here. Sure some areas consistently produce good heads, but in general the deer population changes, pressure from hunters will swing, fires will burn in certain areas, deer will shift catchments and rainfall and snow levels vary annually. Rusa deer can be found in woodlands and forests across Australia, and they typically eat grasses, leaves, and twigs. Males typically weigh around 150 kg (330 lb), but have been known to reach weights of up to 300 kg (660 lb). Bow hunting on these guys will get your heart pumping with average shots at approximately 40 yards where we can use cover, calling, and blinds to get in close. Populations have declined substantially due to severe hunting, local insurgency, and industrial exploitation of habitat. Larry and Steph Sweeper 2015. The red deer is the largest of the six deer species found in Australia. They currently exist in two major regions where the herds are fragmented, the coastal Manawatu and the central Lake Rotorua herds, on the North Island. Local Land Services have urged any landholders throughout the New England North West to report deer sightings, even if they aren't sure ofthe species. Any Australian hunter that can say that they have seen and/or shot a Sambar deer should be extremely proud, given the reputation this species has of being one of the worlds hardest game animals. In this article we hope to get hunters minds ticking over a little bit deeper than actual scores and inches and bring back a focus on the more grounding aspects of the hunt such as the challenges provided by the deer themselves and the adventures experienced along the way. One minute the wind is up our arses; the next minute, it is in our faces. The largest males weigh up to 1,200 lbs., but their weight is usually between 220 - 770 lbs. While other continents have a wide array of deer, Africa only has one, the Barbary red deer, according to ADW. The sambar live in forests, alone or in small groups. Videos . OVER 500 Photos & 40 VIDEOS. Females typically weigh 100-120 kg (220-260 lb). The Australian Sambar population appears to be predominantly from Sri Lankan origin (Strahan 1995). A suitable range between 80-250 yards and take time to make the shot. From the coast to the highest ranges in the divide they have colonized and conquered with ease. Sure another deer might step up the next day, but the point is there is no factory of older age class stags in the forest waiting for their opportunity to hold control in a certain area, in fact its likely the opposite. Geezus, how big is that? 4,939. Hunters need to put everything into perspective as this certainly doesnt mean that your stylish ten year old 27 inch sambar stag is any less a trophy than you hunting buddies nine year old 34 incher taken on the other side of the range in completely different habitat and conditions. A large antlered stag certainly does not mean it was a great hunt and often the really big stags are taken purely by luck or an accumulation of factors. Identification. "They seem to be moving up the north coast at a fairly rapid rate, and we also seem to find them in river systems. Sambar deer are the third largest species of deer, only surpassed in size by moose and elk. Sambar deer (Cervus unicolour) The sambar deer are Australia's most popular game animal. We advertise your guns and shooting accessories at affordable, competitive prices. I would imagine most keen hunters would sit up and take notice and ask about the hunt and the deer. Required fields are marked *. "Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity". Length certainly isnt everything when discussion turns to sambar stags and hunters need to remember this. Prior to applying for a Game Licence to hunt with hounds, you need to pass the hound-hunting-test. Females generally do not have antlers, but some may grow very small stubs. The males have antlers that are simple and forked. Males (stags) have antlers which they shed each year and grow back again. "We have to put our resources where they are best needed, so we need to know where the pests are," he said. It measures about 2.4 m (or more than 7 ft) long and weighs about 300 Kg. Magazine Website. What better species to commence a new series on than this challenging, handsome and remarkable deer. [Related Article: 3 Types Of Deer In Maine]. They can breed throughout the year, with a peak in September and October. Hunting Red Deer in Australia The Kings Deer. Mark Eland's 48" Tip to Tip 2014. Sambar antlers are unique to the species which makes Sambar stags easily identifiable. 710. Due to the remain in vehicle policy, the deer were unconcerned about vehicles approaching nearby however at sunrise were making their natural progression back to dense forest. Feral sambar are a growing pest threat. Affiliate Disclosure Although they are plainer than most other deer species there is nothing to match the magnificent presence of a sambar stag or the beauty of a sambar hind. The sambar is abundantly hunted in Victoria. Universal Used Guns is a firearms trading site for private sellers and firearms dealers. It is possible that perhaps we are starting to now see this with our sambar herds, population trends and antler growth for the males. Males reach a shoulder height of about 1.2 m (4 ft), while females reach a height of around 0.9 m (3 ft). The sambar was introduced around 1850 and were released at various checkpoints around Victoria and the northern territory. It will also be next to impossible to line up a buffalo hunt without paying an outfitter - unless someone on here has some private access and they'd be willing to do a swap hunt. Tenterfield-based professional pest managerMark Lamb has beentold of sightings nearTamworth. Its probably the closest thing to Africa Ive witnessed, outside of Africa. at the shoulder. They are semi-nocturnal preferring to remain hidden during the day. Welcome to the official Wilder, isnt there a proposal floating around in your area to stop bowhunting. A walk in the wilderness by Paul Richardson, North American Caribou (Rangifer Tarandus) By Josh Rafin, Zebras Sambar Hunting Adventures Guided Hunt Glenda and her Stag. Hopefully a few hunters will read through this article and give a little more thought to the pursuit of sambar stags. Sambar are also known for their impressive antlers, which can be up to 1 meter in length. They have been very successfully introduced into the wild in Australia, New Zealand, and Florida and to a lesser extent California (USA), and enclosures in both Texas and South Africa. It is, but hunting anything 'feral' is a big deal. We arrived at primetime in late afternoon to be faced with numerous S.L. Male Sambar deer have antlers that can grow up to 1 m (3 ft) in length. The Sambar deer has a wide range across Asia, and is considered to be common in most parts of its range. Add a new record, such as a sighting, photograph, evidence, pest impact or control activity. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. You are new here? The fallow deer is a timid creature and is usually found in small herds. Home. The axis or chital deer is a beautiful and elegant creature that is native to the Indian subcontinent. They will also eat some fruit and insects if they are available. This deer is easily recognizable by its distinctive white spots which are set against its reddish-brown coat. The belly, rump and inside of the legs are generally lighter in color than the rest of the body. This was a site of several significant water storages and where our guides were familiar with approximately 12-14 Sambar that regularly visited. 13,682 views Apr 18, 2021 478 Dislike Zebra's Sambar hunting adventures. If you see a hog deer, it is best to give it plenty of space and not try to approach it. With an unofficial green net score of 196 inches the buck should smash the state's crossbow typical record (currently 179") and rank among Wisconsin's best typicals ever. Yala is a low-lying expanse with many coastal and inland flood plains, grassland, semi-open scrubland and rocky knolls. Only use previous trophies taken as a yardstick to what that area was capable of producing in the past, and certain not a guideline to what is expected in the present or to compare what you might have taken out of a certain area. The axis deer is a herbivore and feeds mainly on grasses, leaves, and fruits. During 1861 one of the first shipments of Sambar (Ceylon Elk) were introduced to Australia when the Victorian Acclimatisation Society purchased 2 stags and 2 hinds that were shipped from Galle, Ceylon (Sri Lanka) by Mr. Edward Wilson in the ship Jeddo. They also damage native vegetation and sensitive habitats. It is impossible but it would be amazing to gain an insight into the age class of stags that are actually doing the mating with hinds. But I love to bow hunt if possible when I travel and just wondering whats great to bow hunt there? Prominent large rounded ears. Some of the early liberations included additional Sambar from India and to a lesser extent Malaysian Sambar from Sumatra, Indonesia. 2022). The tail is black with the under-tail and inner sides of the legs paler in colour. [more than 661 pounds] (males). Magazine Website. Removing a big stag in any area only gives the lesser males greater opportunity to serve the hinds. Slow motion nature landscape shot of a small gaggle of geese on the shore of the tranquil Heron Pond on a hike in the Grand Tetons National Park on a warm summer day near Jackson Hole Wyoming USA . Just because your mate has taken half a dozen monster stags over a certain size doesnt make him any better a hunter then a guy who spends a lot of time in his local patch where big antlered deer are few and far between. Sri Lankas Sambar and other wildlife (with the exception of Hog Deer) are well protected within its numerous National Parks and Reserves (approximately 23) that are liberally scattered around the entire country. There are approximately 30 different species and over 60 different sub-species with many being rare. This deer species was first described by German naturalist Georg Wilhelm Steller in 1746. Your email address will not be published. Males typically weigh around 150 kg (330 lb), but have been known to reach weights of up to 300 kg (660 lb). BOB COLEMAN - USA 2015 106SCI. All of our New Zealand Safaris rifles are equipped with suppressors. by HDS February 11th, 2021, 10:16 am, Post Walking up to the stag they will have just as much satisfaction from their experience whether the animal is 22 inches or 32 inches. The Sambar deer is a herbivore and feeds on a variety of plants and leaves. Likes. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. It needs to be written that genetics alone dont produce big trophy stags, but it is an important factor that is added to the mix of age, habitat, soil and feed availability to produce animals with antler growth that little better then average. What better species to commence a new series on than this challenging, handsome and remarkable deer. on the south east coast lying alongside watercourses with the Indian Ocean in the background. The following days are spent looking for an older stag. Sambar deer are the third largest species of deer, only surpassed in size by moose and elk. IMG_20201217_182107.jpg. "We need people to tell us what's going on, particularly with deer at the moment because they are slowly working their way across the landscape. After travelling to the commencement of the circular walking track that leads to Worlds End we walked for some time and sighted additional young Sambar feeding hard alongside dense forest verges. The minimum legal cartridge size for hunting Sambar is .270. Sambar were also held at Gembrook and later released. We had enjoyed viewing and photographing large herds of Chital (next issue), had close encounters with elephant and consoled our guides by explaining our understanding of the sometimes-unpredictable ways of wildlife. Its cartridge delivers quite a punch at 100 yards, shooting a 200gn bullet at 2565fps such a performance will surely bring the game to a quick kill. 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