Sambar in summer

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Sambar in summer

Post by North East » 06 Jan 2015, 7:51 pm

Well I'm not working at the moment so figure I might as well go out and see if I can clobber a Sambar deer. Not the best time of the year due to the heat but they should have finished breeding by now....mind you they can do that any time of the year. The main issue will be heat, they are basically nocturnal at this time year. I have to be out in the bush before dawn...or on dusk.

The plan is to re-zero my .30-06 on Thursday and get it shooting dead on at about 50M...or there a bouts. Pack the 4WD, chainsaw, food, EPIRB and hit the bush. Don't have far to go the tracks start 10 minutes from home.

Must be close to the rivers at this time of year and with any luck I can come across one bedding down. Just have to find signs, tracks or get honked by one. Probably head up the West Kiewa River, N/E Vic into the alpine areas where it will be cooler and just out of the Alpine National Park.

Normally don't bother chasing deer at this time of the year but I'm bored....take the fly fishing gear as well.
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Re: Sambar in summer

Post by Oldbloke » 06 Jan 2015, 8:40 pm

lucky bugger.
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Re: Sambar in summer

Post by North East » 06 Jan 2015, 8:55 pm

Oldbloke wrote:lucky bugger.


The joys of unemployment. No point sitting around drowning my sorrows...get out hunting. But I will have to start very early in this hot weather and stay close to the river where the deer will be...with any luck. Fly fishing for trout during the day

There are plenty of tourists up here at the moment but they don't go up there, it's 4WD and very little hunting pressure.

It's a little local secret.
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Re: Sambar in summer

Post by RealNick » 07 Jan 2015, 3:02 pm

North East wrote:Not the best time of the year due to the heat but they should have finished breeding by now.


Well, hopefully that's broken for the rest of the week.

Was supposed to be 38c here today and raining for the next 4 days but its raining now and the temps dropped 10 degrees.

Squeeze in an extra day of cooler weather for the week to do some hunting :)
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Re: Sambar in summer

Post by veep » 07 Jan 2015, 3:03 pm

North East wrote:Don't have far to go the tracks start 10 minutes from home.


That would be awesome.

No such luck living nearer the city.

Property in the country one day hopefully :D
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Re: Sambar in summer

Post by melanie » 07 Jan 2015, 3:16 pm

North East wrote:The joys of unemployment. No point sitting around drowning my sorrows...get out hunting.


Is there any money to be made in recreational hunting of deer?

Pelts? Meat? Trophies?

Won't be a fortune but anything to keep a few bills in the pocket?
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Re: Sambar in summer

Post by North East » 07 Jan 2015, 3:52 pm

melanie wrote:
North East wrote:The joys of unemployment. No point sitting around drowning my sorrows...get out hunting.


Is there any money to be made in recreational hunting of deer?

Pelts? Meat? Trophies?

Won't be a fortune but anything to keep a few bills in the pocket?


Maybe if you were a guide, but I only hunt by myself...less chance of getting shot by a mate. I don't get into trophy heads and am only hunting for meat.

Lot's of thunderstorms in the Alps this afternoon so I'll head out at dawn, get the rifle sighted in out in the bush somewhere and see what happens. Might stay out for a week. At least it will be cooler up here and plenty of rivers for a swim if it gets to hot.
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Re: Sambar in summer

Post by whert » 07 Jan 2015, 7:46 pm

North East wrote:Lot's of thunderstorms in the Alps this afternoon so I'll head out at dawn


Down south too.

Out of the blue, crazy heavy rain for 20 minutes in St Kilda today.

Something in our work aircon blew over up top and let in a plenty. Never seen a roof leak so much.
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Re: Sambar in summer

Post by Bourt » 07 Jan 2015, 7:49 pm

Is that Mt Beauty which you often mention, North East?
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Re: Sambar in summer

Post by North East » 07 Jan 2015, 7:57 pm

Bourt wrote:Is that Mt Beauty which you often mention, North East?


Yep, a lot of people get into deer hunting around here, just about everyone has a ..30cal rifle. Most use a .30-06 to .338 and usually wait for the weather to cool down.
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Re: Sambar in summer

Post by inspector » 08 Jan 2015, 8:32 am

North East wrote:Yep, a lot of people get into deer hunting around here


You actually bump into anyone often in all that?

Or just hear them in the area, gunshots etc.?
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Re: Sambar in summer

Post by jeebo » 08 Jan 2015, 8:33 am

Beaut spot.

One more on the long list of places I'll eventually get to.

Eventually :evil:
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Re: Sambar in summer

Post by VICHunter » 08 Jan 2015, 2:34 pm

jeebo wrote:Beaut spot.

One more on the long list of places I'll eventually get to.

Eventually :evil:


It's supposed to be cool this weekend ;)
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Re: Sambar in summer

Post by gefengel » 08 Jan 2015, 3:07 pm

Went up to the Mansfield/Merrijig area on the Boxing Day weekend with a couple of mates. Had a few properties to shoot that border on State Forest so did a bit of rabbiting and foxing. As twilight just started on the Saturday I've never seen so many Sambar in one evening. Of course both my mates managed to bag one, I was not so fortunate. So they're absolutely out there at this time of year.

We've been up there during or just after Winter school holidays and it's been shot out, not a deer in sight. But we've had plenty of luck in the Summer months. Also a benefit is that they've stacked on all their weight during Winter and Spring; both of the does were bordering on obese haha

Good luck out there mate.
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Re: Sambar in summer

Post by North East » 08 Jan 2015, 7:47 pm

Prick of a night in the high country. Variable internet, pissing down rain. Sighted my rifle in and see what happens tomorrow.
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Re: Sambar in summer

Post by RealNick » 09 Jan 2015, 8:43 am

gefengel wrote:Went up to the Mansfield/Merrijig area on the Boxing Day weekend with a couple of mates.


I know Mansfield, but never been on the Merrijig side there.

I wouldn't have access to a property, but it's worth trying the state forests in Merrijig you reckon?
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Re: Sambar in summer

Post by kritch » 09 Jan 2015, 8:44 am

North East wrote:Prick of a night in the high country. Variable internet, pissing down rain. Sighted my rifle in and see what happens tomorrow.


Fingers crossed.

Don't forget the camera ;)
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Re: Sambar in summer

Post by gefengel » 09 Jan 2015, 10:40 am

RealNick wrote:
gefengel wrote:Went up to the Mansfield/Merrijig area on the Boxing Day weekend with a couple of mates.


I know Mansfield, but never been on the Merrijig side there.

I wouldn't have access to a property, but it's worth trying the state forests in Merrijig you reckon?


Yeah mate the State Forest north of Merrijig is enormous, we've had plenty of luck with deer, dogs, and foxes up there. Always worth a try, we figure it's close enough to Melbourne to justify a weekend trip, plus it's beautiful country.
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Re: Sambar in summer

Post by RealNick » 09 Jan 2015, 1:39 pm

Thanks for the tip :)
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Re: Sambar in summer

Post by North East » 09 Jan 2015, 3:40 pm

Came back home. Sick of the rain and sick of getting rid of trees off the tracks. Tomorrows forecast is worse. There are good signs around though.

Active wallow with game trails leading to it.
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Typical thick bush around here. That's why I use an Aimpoint 1X red dot scope.
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Glad I took my chainsaw.
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Head out again on Sunday.
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Re: Sambar in summer

Post by tom604 » 09 Jan 2015, 3:46 pm

bad luck, sure is overgrown ,it would be hard to get a shot off before they spooked, i hate to say it but if you don't mind sitting and waiting would a tree stand be of use?
not my cup of tea but in that thick stuff it maybe the go. good luck for sunday :thumbsup:
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Re: Sambar in summer

Post by North East » 09 Jan 2015, 3:56 pm

tom604 wrote:bad luck, sure is overgrown ,it would be hard to get a shot off before they spooked, i hate to say it but if you don't mind sitting and waiting would a tree stand be of use?
not my cup of tea but in that thick stuff it maybe the go. good luck for sunday :thumbsup:


Look a lot, walk quietly and listen.
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Re: Sambar in summer

Post by North East » 09 Jan 2015, 4:08 pm

inspector wrote:
North East wrote:Yep, a lot of people get into deer hunting around here


You actually bump into anyone often in all that?

Or just hear them in the area, gunshots etc.?


I've never seen anyone while hunting. Occasionally hear a gunshot in the distance. The legal hunting areas are enormous.
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Re: Sambar in summer

Post by gefengel » 10 Jan 2015, 8:24 pm

Sorry it didn't work out for you North, the weather can be pretty unforgiving up there. Nice wallow though, definitely mark that down on the map (or GPS)! The forecast is looking pretty bad for rain the rest of the week too - though it'll be a relief, it's so dry up there at the moment
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Re: Sambar in summer

Post by North East » 10 Jan 2015, 9:38 pm

gefengel wrote:Sorry it didn't work out for you North, the weather can be pretty unforgiving up there. Nice wallow though, definitely mark that down on the map (or GPS)! The forecast is looking pretty bad for rain the rest of the week too - though it'll be a relief, it's so dry up there at the moment


The forecast is looking pretty bad for the next few days. Might hold off for a bit and go higher to Dinner Plain at Mt Hotham. There is a small area around there that is legal for deer hunting. It will be cooler and more active during the day...we shall see.
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Re: Sambar in summer

Post by VICHunter » 12 Jan 2015, 11:06 am

North East wrote:Glad I took my chainsaw.


Hate when that happens *grumble*
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Re: Sambar in summer

Post by Rippah » 12 Jan 2015, 11:09 am

How'd you go on Sunday NE?
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Re: Sambar in summer

Post by North East » 12 Jan 2015, 11:30 am

Rippah wrote:How'd you go on Sunday NE?


Going out for a few days on Wednesday up at Mt Hotham just out of Dinner Plain. There a small area there legal for deer hunting. It's a lot higher and will be cooler. Possibly more activity during the day and there are also good numbers of wild dogs.
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Re: Sambar in summer

Post by Rippah » 13 Jan 2015, 7:37 am

:thumbsup:
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Re: Sambar in summer

Post by North East » 16 Jan 2015, 2:57 pm

Just got back from a little jaunt up to the high country around Mt Hotham north east Victoria. I'd like to say I saw Sambar deer but i didn't. I know why I don't hunt for them in summer, you only have a few hours from sunrise to have any hope of finding them. I called at quits at about 9.00 AM on each day. The deer were probably bedded down even before that. You only have to look at cattle grazing and realise most of them are looking for shade fairly early.


There are plenty of deer up there and above the snow line in winter. I used to work up at Mt Hotham and we would regularly spot light them from the Great Alpine Rd in winter. It was part of my job to carry a spot light and we were not armed. For an Asiatic species Sambar are not to worried about the cold.

So I'll put the .30-06 away for a while and wait for the weather to cool. Time to the get the .204 out.

TYPICAL BUSH IN THE HIGH COUNTRY, SNOW GUMS AND TUSSOCK GRASSES....THIS IS COVERED IN SNOW DURING WINTER

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