Hunters Comments

Harakeke Great to get a ballot and hunt Sambar for the first time. Sightings of people to deer was 9/0. All the same it was an enjoyable weekend so thank you to the Foundation for the opportunity, to Ernslaw One for the access and to Dave Garner for his advice and help.
(Good old Dave, He's the man to ring for info. on this block.)

Harakeke Saw 4 fallow deer. Managed to photograph a fallow spiker grazing with a group of black steers in the south eastern area. Very amusing to see him sparring with one of them. It would appear that the Sambar deer numbers are low in this block. Many thanks for the opportunity to hunt these animals.
(Sambar numbers are low to moderate in most blocks. If numbers increase they tend to disperse. It's difficult to be secretive in large numbers.)

Harakeke Thanking you for your time and excellent organising. No deer seen but plenty of sign. Stags and hinds and what looked to be a fawn with a hind. Covered a lot of pine trees but am sure that Sambar are like trap door spiders and live under ground during hunting season. Very wet on Sunday gave up 3pm very wet but happy to have tried.
(The hunter in this block last season reckoned that they perch in trees. Both theories are wrong. They are there, the challenge is to get one in two days.)

Moutoa I was lucky to have 1st day. Cold wet windy, which I think helps with noise in flax. Though I was going really slow until I put up 2 hinds feeding peacefully by waterway. Very close in flax, 1 hind I could have patted on the rump while feeding but couldn’t lift rifle up! Found stag bedded down about noon, he watched my spot for 5-10 minutes through flax while in slow motion I had to get my sights on him. I shot in base of neck and he dropped on the spot. A large animal and hard work to get meat out. Thanks for opportunity.
(What do you mean hard work? All the hills have been removed, this block is dead flat, just a bit of wet ground.)

Moutoa Saw 7 animals on research. Probably spoilt me for hunting other deer.
(Don't mention the fact he shot a stag. Doubt if there will be an easier one.)

Moutoa Moutoa is an amazing place. Ten foot high flax. Saw 12 deer researching the block afternoon before hunt. Checked with cockie to see where cows would be on morning of hunt (did not want to hunt near cows) Thank you Foundation for the opportunity to hunt Sambar Deer PS the meat tastes great.
(If you still don't believe me about Sambar meat then ask this guy.)

Moutoa First deer I have ever seen and shot. Thanks a lot.
(The first deer is always special. A Sambar must be more so.)

Private Land I think the time has come to have two deer on each licence - one stag and one hind. Would be worth trying for one season. Land owners could do with less damage.
(Could happen one day soon. Not until other changes occur. If it happens would only be specified areas where damage is occurring.)

Private Land More animals around this year. Not sure why. Seasonal or pressure from other areas? Maybe I’m getting better at finding them.
(Could be the later as I'm sure the population in that area hasn't increased.

Private Land Shot one twice and was close enough to see first shot just behind the shoulder. Spent two days looking for it but with no luck.
(I'll bet he's still alive as every year we hear of deer shot that have old bullets or bullet wounds.)

Private Land Finally got the bugger!
(Photo included in this issue. Just pick the guy with the big grin.)

Private Land I hate gorse almost as much as I hate blackberry.
(That's where the big boy is after the rut. Get in there, no pain, no gain.)

Private Land I think you fellows have done a marvelous job at conserving what is a great deer to hunt and I take my hat off to you and your committee. I know how thankless doing something like this is so keep up the good work and I'll see you next year. (Aust Hunter)
(Thanks for the kind words. You're welcome back.)

Private Land Fantastic to get a ripper after 2 hard seasons of hunting and letting a couple go. Keep up the good work.
(You'll pick the photo in this issue. A ripper all right.)

Private Land Captivated by secretive nature and ability to exist in close proximity to humans. Had a bigger “buzz” out of seeing my first animal than shooting several red stags last roar.
(Could be a case of "Sambar Fever" beginning here.)

Private Land Really enjoyed my hunt. The size of these animals are very impressive. So is their ability to hide. Many thanks to Dave Garner for measuring the head and advise on how to process the meat.
(Hope you enjoyed the venison. You should have asked Dave to cook it. He's good like that. If you had asked he would probably have eaten it for you too.)

Round Bush Most impressed with the number of deer in the block.
(Man of few words, He also shot a Sambar.)

Round Bush Thank you for the chance to have a look. A great little block with heaps of sign before the season. Even found three wallows. The weekend of the hunt not a foot print to be found.
(They saw you carrying a rifle on the second trip. Bet they were watching from the gorse next door.)

Santoft Thank you for the opportunity to hunt the mighty Sambar the cunning bastards
(Guess who won this round.)

Santoft Great time hunting these bloody ghosts but rather frustrating being but a mortal in thick pine tree cover and corn flakes to walk on. Keep up the good work at the foundation.
(Patience required in this block. I've been known to crawl on hands and knees to locate Sambar in small pines.)

Santoft I found out that a lot of planning is needed to hunt these animals as they are very cunning. Thanks to the Foundation for doing a great job and to the forest managers for giving the access.
(You'll believe me now how important a bit of research is for a Sambar hunt.)

Santoft Shot large stag. Trailed for hours with help of hunters from other blocks but could not find him.
(You'll be relieved to know that weeks later there was still no trace of it, not even the tell tale stench. Sambar are well known for their ability to carry lead and survive.)

Santoft “Bugger”
(A new word that means "To Slow To Get The Shot" )

Tangimoana A lot more sign in this block than previous held ballot. Wouldn’t shoot unless head was worth it. Still a few “Roamers” wandering through the block.
(Most hunters would like to take a trophy. Even so some other animals must be taken to keep numbers low enough to minimize damage to pine trees.)

Tangimoana These guys have a sixth sense ....... and a clever little disappearing routine!? Thanks for a well managed resource and the opportunity to match up against these clever and magnificent creatures.
(Enough said.)

Tangimoana Weekend before opening saw a beautiful 6 pt Sambar with 2 hinds also put up a stag in heavy cover. Hoped he was there in my weekend. Three hours into hunt on 1st day I missed a shot at a 6 pt stag bigger than the one I saw pre season (pine tree wounded but should recover). Then I saw the one I sighted pre season. Absolutely gutted. The size of them is amazing. Rest of the time never saw a thing. Sunday was stuffed up by bad weather and 6 motor bikes who tore up the whole block.
(It was only after not being able to find the stag he shot at that the "wounded tree" was found. At least he did not have to carry the tree out.)

Tangimoana Spent time hunting pheasant in end of season to research block. Well worth the effort and planning. Lucky to get a block, lucky to even see a Sambar, unbelievable to actually get one.
(Lucks one thing - You obviously put in the miles.)

Waitarere Fresh sign seen on research trip. None found near water holes or on boundary roads during my hunt. I used a mountain bike to cover the ground on the Saturday morning in preparation for a full Sunday.
(What did you hunters do before Mountain Bikes. More being used all the time, ideal for the forest blocks and very quiet.)

Waitarere Compliments to the foundation for organisation. I enjoyed my hunt. Keep it up guys.
(Shot a young stag and carried it out whole - 117kg - well done)