Warwick's Corner

There must be another Sambar season coming up. Yes I’ve been asked to put pen to paper, the thing I hate most. Also the phone has started ringing with most conversations starting with “Is this Warwick? Just ringing to ask a few questions about Sambar”. I’m not complaining as I enjoy talking to hunters and helping them if possible. I would like to apologise to some guy that rang about the date of the start of this years season. Could have given him the wrong date, if I did I am sorry. I would like also to apologise to all those people who have tried to ring me and can’t get through because the phone is engaged, its a good bet there’s a Sambar hunter on the other end.

Every year we get complaints about the number of people on hunting blocks while the Sambar season is on and there are hunters in the blocks. You must remember that all of our blocks are on public land, either conservation reserves or managed under crown licence. This means that there is no way the public can be excluded. The forest managers do their best to keep vehicles out but the easy of beach access for most blocks make this very difficult. All we can do is put up warning signs and hope Joe public can read. Mind you most of these people keep to the roads and tracks so generally are not a problem. Sambar, being very adaptable have learnt to tolerate the human presence and just get on with life. Maybe hunters should do the same. Provided hunters are aware of their presence and are careful there should not be a problem. Sometimes a group of kids can be a distraction or an attraction to the cunning Sambar. I have observed Sambar sneaking away from human activity as well as creeping forward on their knees to have a closer look. When you are hunting try using these distractions to your advantage. Another trick along these line I have found to work well is when you’re right among Sambar and you think that you’ve been sust just rattle a branch or two, hide and wait. You’ll be surprised how often that they will come and see what your doing - try it.

I would like to take this opportunity to remind hunters there are several conditions of the Sambar licence that are not being complied with. First are licence returns. These are of great importance to us as the information we gather from these is very important for future management. Second we would like to receive ALL jaw bones, stag and hinds alike. We are getting to the stage now where the information gained from these can be put to use in a research project. Also photos of all stags PLEASE. It is obvious that some hunters consider their stag not good enough but we require these three photos of every stag as a record. I can tell you now that the number of large heads taken is on the increase as is evident by the photos in this news letter. All were taken during last season.

To all you good hunters and photographers if you have any good photos, new or old, of Sambar dead or alive and would like to have them printed in our news letter we would love to see them. Anything related to Sambar hunting past and present, that could be of interest to hunters and you would like to share it with others please send it to the Secretary, Sambar Foundation, P O Box 174, Dannevirke. I’m sure that there is some interesting stuff out there.

Right I’ve had a bitch, mown and beg session. On a happier note I’d like to relate back to last year to one of the better moments of a Foundation member. One night after the ballot the phone had been ringing hot for several hours when a call came from a young chap that had drawn a block. He went on to explain that he had never shot a deer before. He didn’t even have transport of his own but several members of his local NZDA branch had offered to provide transport and be his hunting companion. This part he was sure could be sorted out and the $20.00 for a licence was on its way. Good so far. Next he wanted to know everything about Sambar deer, how to hunt them, all about the block he had drawn. For the next hour or so he had a crash course in Sambar hunting. He was a good student and asked many questions. I then told him all about the block and how he should hunt it. This is not easy over the phone but I think he got the gist of what I was trying to get across. At that I left him to digest all he had learned, also told him to call again if there was anything else he needed to know. A few nights later I got a call from a chap who had been asked to take the young chap Sambar hunting. So went over all the same stuff again, where, how and when right down to the last detail. I told him what a great chap he was and wished him luck and safe hunting. A few weeks later another call from the young guy just to clear up a few points before the big day. By this time I’m starting to feel a big part of this hunt. Almost found myself wishing I was going too and hoping that one of them would get back to me after the hunt. Didn’t have to wait long as both rang a couple of nights later. It was great to get both side of the story. Made me feel that I was there. The companion said that the young chap had followed my instructions to a “T”. First two deer seen were departing rather fast so he resisted and didn’t shoot. The third was lying down and was taken with one clean shot. It was only a hind but a Sambar hind and his first deer. Where he comes from not many hunters can say they have taken a Sambar, so good on him. A few months later I was fortunate to meet both these guys when I was guest speaker at their branch of NZDA. Both fine chaps and enjoyed having a yarn with them. I hope the young chap will have many years of successful and happy hunting ahead.

Keep your nose into the wind and maybe you’ll smell the big ugly rutter before you see him or he you. All the best for the coming season and maybe I’ll hear from you.