Peterwho wrote:Dear members
Does anyone have any experience with the various deer courses available in Australia? Most appear to run in Victoria with a Sambar focus. Prices vary quite a bit and not cheap so I would like some feedback if possible.
Many thanks
Peter
The cheapest course is the ADA Victorian course. When I used to help out it mainly covered sambar but other species as well including fallow, red, hog, rusa. Not so much on chital. Its more focused on sambar these days in terms of hunting techniques, habitats, signs, tracking etc. plus there is butchering, game caping as well.
The more expensive courses like Errol Mason is specifically hunting sambar and more one on one in the field as opposed to class room setup with a short walk outside looking for sign in forest.
You can hunt many ways, stalking, with hounds, long range shooting, sit and wait. Some techniques depend on the legality, terrain and species. After you do the course you have to work out what suits you.
Or you can get a mentor which is also a good way.
I recommend you buy this book "Mapping Trophy Bucks by Brad Herndon. My copy was given to me by the President of the ADA. I've learnt a lot from it for hunting animals. When you read this book, you should be able to look at any google map of the place you wish to hunt and work out where is the best place to hunt with the greatest chance of success if there are deer there.