NOTES FOR SAMBAR HUNTERS

Hunting Methods:

We use a number of strategies to locate a Sambar stag. These may include:

Option A

Walking them up: (Usual approach): Quietly walking through an area where the sign shows that Sambar are likely to be present using our knowledge of their habits to narrow the search area. Sometimes glassing appropriate areas is possible. (Most of the country is quite heavily forested so high powered spotting scopes are generally impractical.) We carry a set of compact 8x32 binoculars for glassing. However there are occasions when a spotting scope can be used and if you have a reasonably compact one feel free to bring it.
 

Option B

Still hunting, sitting in an elevated position over an area where Sambar are likely to be traveling and hope to spot one. Sambar are not herd deer, mature stags live a solitary existence spending little time with hinds and calves except when a hind is in season. The stag may meet up with a hind for a few hours then drift off or maybe not come near her for days on end if she is not in season.  Stags do mark the boundaries of their home territory using rub trees and preaching trees so to some extent there is the opportunity to wait them out. However the route is generally very long and the country rough. As such still hunting is most productive around a stags wallow when he is activly breeding.

Option C

Flush Hunting: Positioning the hunter in a suitable spot whilst the guide walks through an area where he feels Sambar are bedded down and hopefully stirring them up to leave via a route past the hunter.

Weather Conditions & Hunting Season:

The alpine area of Victoria ranges in altitude from 1000ft to 6000ft. The practical hunting season for Sambar is from May to November although Sambar can be legally hunted all year round. Stags generally commence rubbing their antlers from mid April to early May although it is possible that some might still be in velvet in May. Antlers are cast late December early January.

From May to November hunters can encounter weather conditions ranging from clear sunny days with a maximum temperature of 20 Celsius / 75 Fahrenheit and perhaps a frosty night down to -5C / 28F.  Wet, rainy days are also common when the temperature doesn't vary much beyond 5 -10C / 35 - 45F At the higher altitudes there is a permanent snow cover from July to September, Snow showers can also occur at any time in wet conditions at any altitude. However the minimum temperatures likely to be encountered whilst out hunting are around 0C / 32F, wind chill is the major concern rather than absolute cold.  Given this and the physical nature of Sambar hunting heavyweight, insulated, clothing is not appropriate as the hunter will quickly develop a heavy sweat.

We recommend lightweight, wool, cotton or breathable camouflage hunting clothing, our recommended camo pattern is any dark green /grey combination. If the hunter is concerned about safety they night like to consider a blaze orange cap or back to their pack. Whilst Sambar several hunters have been accidentally shot in the field over the years, hunting pressure is light and hunter densities low. (It should also be noted that all hunters or forest users who have been accidentally shot in Victoria were actually wearing quite conspicuous clothing.)

It is our opinion that camouflage clothing, washed without brighteners, provides a significant advantage to the hunter. Although  blaze orange may or may not be obvious to Sambar deer it still represents an unnatural expanse of colour / shade unless treated in camo pattern.

 Your hunting outfit should include the following:

One high quality insulated / woolen jacket, preferably camo pattern (For use when commencing the morning hunt and when taking a break / stationary in the field.)  Lightweight cotton or wool gloves, preferably camo. (To hide the hunters hands.) Camo hunting suit or shirt and long trousers and possibly lightweight vest. Sensible hunting / walking boots, well worn in, to provide support when traversing steep gradients. A woolen camo pattern beanie for cold days/early morning and sloppy camo pattern cotton hat /baseball cap.  Sambar have extremely sensitive ears and nose and clothing that is noisy and produces sound when rubbed by twigs will almost certainly preclude any chance of finding an unalarmed Sambar. A woolen day pack preferably camo pattern for your camera, water and lunch completes the outfit.

 Firearms & Cartridges for Sambar

The minimum legal calibre for Sambar is .270 with a minimum cartridge length of 2 inches and a projectile of 130 grains. In our opinion hunting Sambar with this combination is on a par with hunting buffalo with a 30.06 and 220 grain solidly constructed projectiles, it will do the job without a fuss in the hands of a skilled hunter but it leaves no margin for error.

Our recommendation would commence at 30.06 with 200gr round nose projectiles. Shots at Sambar over 100 yards are very rare. The norm is between 30 yards and 70 yards with plenty of brush and trees in the field of sight. A .338 with 225 or 250 gr projectiles or bigger is a better choice with perhaps the the perfect choice a lightweight U/O double rifle, such as a Beretta 689, chambered in 9.3 x 74R with 286 to 293 gr projectiles and topped with a 1 x 5 compact variable scope or red dot sighting system.  Scopes should be low powered fixed, no more than 4x, or variables in the range 1x to 5x. Scopes should always be set on the lowest possible magnification when moving through the bush as visibility can be no more than 30 yards for much of the time.

We have used the following cartridges to take sambar over the years, 7mm Rem mag, 30.06, 300WSM, 338 Win Mag, 9.3 74R, 9.3 x 62, 375Win, 375H&H, 416 Rem, 404 Jeffery, 425 Westley Richards, 45/70, 458Win, 470NE, 500 Jeffery, 577BPNE.  As one might expect, "the bigger the brick the harder it hits". The 375H&H and 400 calibre rifles work very well and are also suitable for buffalo.