Hunters Comments

Harakeke
Block should be a 2 shooter block. Very large block, I only covered half of it. After seeing a deer we tracked a very large animal from one side of the block to the other for 2.5 hours. Lost tracks in thick native near river.
(It is always a problem deciding how many hunters.)

Harakeke
If I were hunting motorcross riders I could have shot 8 of them as well as 4 people exercising 2 dogs. I had as much luck shooting a deer there as I would have shooting one in Queen Street (Auckland). A big waste of time and money Harakeke is more like a public park than a hunting block.
(Harakeke has this problem worse than other blocks BUT the Sambar are still there to be had.)

Harakeke
The country isn’t physically challenging, but there is no doubt that this is hard work. I reckon the deer were on their holidays. I would like to thank the SDMF and Ernslaw One for the opportunity and Dave Garner for his help and advice.
(Dave is a big help and well worth listening to.)

Harakeke
Had a wonderful time. Saw large stag mid-morning. Unfortunately the ridge line shot was on unsafe position. We elected not to shoot.
(Thank you. We like thinking hunters)

Harakeke
Started the day at 6 o’clock with a cold wind. Had a good look around saw no sign of animals and Sunday the same but had started to rain. To much activity motorbikes, mountain bikes, dogs and people, I know the blocks are public land but makes hunting much harder. Thanks again for the opportunity to hunt Sambar, will try again next year..

Moutoa
Absolutely over-awed at seeing the Sambar and although I never fired a shot the experience was fantastic.
(This block has to be seen to be appreciated)

Moutoa
What a block, One more day would have done the trick. Very fast animals a cross between a rabbit and a horse. I’ve learnt a lot in 1 day.
(They also have a bit of ground to air missile in them!)

Moutoa
Thanks for the opportunity to hunt Sambar in Moutoa. I saw 4 hinds, I could have shot any one of them I was hoping to take a yearling or a stag. There was a strong wind blowing and I found hunting good. I got very close to the deer, one only 4 metres away, good old mans country once again.
(Don’t know about “Old Mans” country. Plenty of young men cannot handle this block)

Round Bush
Thanks to the SDMF for the opportunity to hunt Sambar. Had no luck this time but that's hunting.

Santoft
Great block plenty of sign, but always seemed to be 1 step behind. Takes 2 days to get to know these ghosts. Any chance of a 3rd day or perhaps a 2nd weekend? Thanks to the foundations for making this possible!
(This would reduce the hunter opportunity by 50%. May not go down to well.)

Santoft
After waiting so long to win a ballot, I find someone else shooting my block - really pissed me off. Also dog prints everywhere. I thought they were banned.
(Know that feeling. Not much we can do about “Hunters” that cannot read a map or members of the public walking dogs. We do try to warn them.)

Santoft
Saw 2 deer while researching block. Nothing when armed. Poachers had killed a hind. Found a tube of vanishing cream (True). Thanks again.
(Sound normal. Maybe the deer had used the cream. Might explain quite a few things!)

Santoft
Total hunt time to shoot animal approx 15 mins. Both hunters shot animal together. Tough beasts as took 4 shots to put it down. No hunting Sunday due to illness.
(Your comment say’s it all)

Santoft
Walked to an area where we had seen two deer when researching area. When daylight came saw a deer in clear cut area at about 40 metres. One shot and my first Sambar was taken. Saw no more deer in the next 18 hours of hunting. Heard afterwards from locals the army had been in the area training only days before.

Santoft
Lots of sign - phone call to Fitchett very helpful. Be helpful if the phone number of people that have been previously on block was available - this could be asked when ballot applied for. ie. mind being contacted by next group. Need slightly clearer instructions re-checking out block on Friday. If a hunter was successful in a ballot it would be good if he had a choice of going back to the same block.
(This is being looked at but there is a limit to how much admin work can be done by a few)

Santoft
Our block seems to hold good numbers and both stags I saw were good 6 pointers but too quick for me I’m afraid. The deer seem to be all over the block and could be encountered anywhere, I think they move around a lot. By the end of the weekend you are just starting to get to grips with the steep learning curve, a good challenge and very enjoyable.
(It is a very steep curve and learned by only a few.)

Santoft
Complete handicap not being able to use appropriate type dog. Damage to trees a result not of numbers of deer but a time frame in which they are allowed to continue to damage trees unimpeded. Mature animals didn’t appear to cause bark stripping sign left by deer indicate mostly juvenile animals cause gross damage.

Santoft
Not many trees, most of block was barren. Did hear shot from our block, found footprints and dog marks - these people really disappoint the day. Still had fun. Had beautiful weather. Thanks.
(There may not have been many trees but the sign in these open areas indicated that there were deer present.)

Santoft
Top of the world. To get a ballot for the first time and to take a good stag within 6 hours of getting into our block. The weight on the hook was 310lb. Even used the winch on the landcruiser to drag it through the gully to the road. Thanks for the help from Craig Ferguson. Hope to be back next year.

Santoft
Bloody poachers!! Good walk - nice weather, great company - had fun.

Santoft
Very happy - conditions really good. Some road and boundary signs or colour marks could help although I think as long as there is time to significantly examine block before hunt there should not be problems.
(We do have better markers in some forests but they seem to get “appropriated”)

Santoft
You guys doing a great job and it is appreciated. Keep it up. Cattle in the block are a real hassle. One is lucky to be alive. I shall return - the bastards haven’t beaten me yet. They’ve really got my dander up. PS The cattle are bark stripping I watched them do it.
(This activity by cattle has also been observed by our monitors. However deer also partake in a bit of bark)

Santoft
Had excellent time saw and spooked plenty of deer. Many thanks to SDMF and Ernslaw One for making this all possible.

Santoft
Local husband and wife walking dogs on the block. When approached and questioned permit, went to take mine out of shirt pocket and he said no way was he going to give his name. I gathered someone previous weekend had queried them as he got quite offensive. Adamant no signs re access. Bit of a shame as scent flowing through our hunting area. Nice to bump into a mate that I hadn’t seen for about 10 years. It’s a small world.
(All main access points have warning signs up. However we cannot cover people walking in from private land off the beach. We can only warn members of the public not stop them.)

Santoft
Block 6 was particularly frustrating. The weekend of our shoot, deer were in our block at night and would cross back into block 5 in the early hours of the morning.
(They can be very mobile and regularly move to different areas)

Santoft
Great time. Hard to take a deer so close in thick pine. Recommend that forestry put in a mulcher to clean up the thinnings, will make it better for the deer, they won’t break a leg. Also another hunter was on the block Sunday 17, disappeared quickly. (poacher?)
(Interesting thought! Not sure that it is in their budget however. Having seen deer run through this country I don’t think that the thinnings worry them much)

Tangimoana
Not any recent sign anywhere on block. Good running boar practice though, I got two Kawasaki’s and a Suzuki.
(Watch those Suzuki’s they need long slow cooking!)

Tangimoana
This block needs traffic lights and pedestrian crossings as their were so many motorbikes, off roaders, 4x4 s, horses you had to look right and left before moving across any open area regardless of it being road, track or trees, traffic was everywhere bloody disappointing, waste of time and money.
(Always a problem here with the public. The deer still live her though and are generally about 100 meters from the roads)

Tangimoana
A good block, with a reasonable number of animals living there, if the fresh sign is any indication. At least one stag, as well as hinds and younger animals. Despite plenty of walking and stalking, no animals were seen.

Tangimoana
Better than Round Bush! Thanks for the opportunity. Talking to several other hunters in block 1 they said landowners we concerned about number of Sambar and even had a chopper in to hunt them - to little success. How about allowing 2 hunters on each block, also makes a more worthwhile for companion if traveling a big distance.
(Where deer are getting to high we are using two hunters.)

Tangimoana
The amount of deer sign on this block I wonder if it validates a hunting season at all. Maybe you should be liberating more animals here.
(To liberate them first you need to capture them!)

Tangimoana
Spooky cattle made hunting this particular block very difficult. Did see dead fawn on farm side of boundary fence. Possibly laying there about a month. Thanks for the chance to hunt Sambar.

Tangimoana
Saw fresh sign of one female and found guts of a deer shot from the previous weekend. Cattle everywhere and forest eaten out.

Waitarere
I’m sure that the animals are further towards the river mouth and their numbers light. Maybe combine Waitarere Blocks 1,2 and 3 together so the balloted hunters have a slightly larger area and won’t be so frustrated as we were in having such a barren block so close to the residential area. We are good accomplished hunters and limited from the coast to farm land and it would have been encouraging to see some fresh sign. I shall apply for a better block next year.
(We may look at combining 1 and 2 but that would be all. This will depend on the preseason survey work being done.)

Waitarere
I really enjoyed my first Sambar hunt. Was pleasantly surprised by the diverse habitats on my block. Just before dark on the second day smelling a Sambar stag was as close as I got. I’ll try again next year. Thanks SDMF and Rayonier.

Waitarere
I have had block 2 years ago and although I wasn’t successful seen a lot more sign (foot prints) in some areas. Thanks a lot to Ian and Warwick for their help.

Waitarere
Much thanks to the Foundation and monitors. Recent logging and physical size of the block resulted in while walking the animals up we very quickly came to our block boundaries. But that is the luck of the draw. Hopefully back next year.
(Can I suggest that you may be walking a bit fast. Another hunter on this block took all day to hunt just one compartment!)

Waitarere
Enjoyed weekend - logging pushed animals into one area of forest. Block 3 easily hunted in less than a day. Perhaps block too small. All animals in blocks 5/6/7 doesn’t seem to be many deer at all. Evidence of poaching throughout forest. Many thanks.
(You certainly saw a lot of the forest and other hunters blocks)

Waitarere
Thanks for the Sambar Deer Management team for work done organising blocks to hunt the ballot etc. I appreciated the chance to hunt these animals.
Waitarere Had a great weekend, great weather. Would like to see a bit more information on web site - information on blocks, habitat and what they eat/live on etc.
(This is being worked on and we hope to have more info up soon. Like everything else it just takes a bit of time)

Waitarere
The term “Grey Ghost” would be apt when talking Sambar. I would like to thank the foundation for the opportunity to hunt Sambar on a great block. A great learning experience.

Waitarere
Spent the whole time following fresh sign. Think they might be a bit smarter than me. Loved every minute.

Waitarere
First ballot in 8 years. Despite 2 research trips, collection of aerial photos, a map, plus reading all I could, getting onto a Sambar deer proved very difficult. Found it very hard to negotiate lots of pine prunings. Lots of sign and in the future might try spending time out of season shooting Sambar with camera.
(A good thought. No better way to learn about them than to try and photograph them. If you get some good shots how about one for this report)

Waitarere
Had a great weekend saw 2 deer, my hunting mate came within 4 feet of one whilst it was running from me. He had put his rifle down and was doing up his boot lace when he heard foot steps in front of him, the hind came running around a gorse bush came to a halt in front of him span around and fled into the trees. I am not sure who got more of a fright the deer or my mate. Thank you for the chance to hunt those elusive animals, will try again next season, if lucky enough to get a block.

Waitarere
I do a lot of hunting with my dog as an indicator. I would have had a far greater chance of obtaining an animal had I been allowed my dog. If you want the deer to be shot, possibly the rules could be looked at in the future regarding the use of a dog. Good amount of sign in our block, damage to pine wasn’t too excessive and why isn’t hunting permitted over the rut period? Well organised/set up hunting areas, thank you for the opportunity to have a go.

Waitarere
A dog would have been handy (pity about that). Public awareness of Sambar hunting was non existent signs need to be larger and more prominent. Deer were few and far between and even harder to see.
(There is an on going discussion on the use of dogs. The major problem is who decided what is a “good” dog. I certainly do not want to go down that road.)

Waitarere
Found hunting hard not for lack of deer but too many people e.g. firewood cutters and forestry workers, jet skies, 4 wheelers, fisherman and if that's not enough 50 bloody noisy horse trekkers. Hunted with a mate we split the block and someone else fired 2 shots. Between us in the middle of our block. And we didn’t want a stag only the first deer we saw as I already have a good stag & my mate hasn’t shot a Sambar. Keep up the good work.
(The horse trekkers were a problem. I tried to warn them the weekend before but they claimed to have booked it in months before and that they did not know about the hunt. Fortunately know one was injured.)

Waitarere
Spent 2 good days hunting through block seeing good sign. Saw a deer cross the road as we were driving out.
(Always the way)

Waitarere
We were allocated Block 7 at Waitarere. I consider we had a very good block as far as variety of areas to hunt e.g. we had a couple of areas from where we could get a good view of hunting area (Sugar loaf and other hills alongside Manawatu River). I normally hunt red deer over a weekend so it was very interesting to be hunting for deer that were probably ‘resting up’ rather than out for a feed. Spotlighting two hours either side of dawn and dusk would be nice.

Waitarere
Although I heard Sambar retreating through scrub and bracken the only 2 I saw were entering block 7 at 5:30 in the morning in our vehicles headlights. Very cunning, alert animals who deserve our respect except for their nibbling the tops off many young pines. Very enjoyable experience.

Waitarere
Great place to hunt, very interesting with the river handy and the river flat area where a stag had been walking when we researched the block.First deer squealed at me from about 15 metres no chance for shot, 2nd deer seen at about 40 metres but shot was a 50/50 so didn’t fire. Also spooked one after dark Thanks again.

Private
Time to start managing this herd - female to male ratio too high. Everyone wants to shoot a stag, so young animals are harvested too early - hinds not shot and can cause damage to commercial tree crops.Suggest a female only season or shoot one female prior to shooting a male.
(This is just one of the options that are considered at various times. Keep watching and offering support and suggestions and we may be able to do what we want.)

Private
First Sambar hunt for this intrepid hunter. Impressed with the professionalism and courtesy displayed by all of the Sambar Deer Management that I had dealings with. Instructions were/are clear and concise and I’m already looking forward to the next season.

Private
Another enjoyable lesson in character building. These crafty sods make me more determined to sort one out with every unsuccessful season. I’m sure it’ll happen NEXT year.

Private
Sign everywhere. Much more than last year. Spooked many more than I saw, plenty of small sign and sign with hind yearling and calf, some damage to tree bark stripping etc. I would like to become more involved in this problem.
(You are welcome to come along to meetings and see what can be done.)

Private
I first met this stag 3 years ago, since then our paths have crossed a few times, mainly a rear end view for me. I found him a very elusive fellow most of the time, then luck was with me for once. An awesome experience

Private
On every occasion I went hunting, there was fresh sign and encountered the same group of hinds with fawns aged around 4 months old. Encountered the stag twice, the 1st time on the move, then 2 weeks later undisturbed. A very large even heavy timbered 6 pointer but noticed he had a tine broken off close to the beam. Opted to leave him for next year.
(Good on you. He may be even bigger and better)

Private
Too friggin hard to shoot!!!

Private
There is a good population of deer in this block and even though I hunt with a bow, I had several opportunities to shoot but made the wrong decisions at the time. A very enjoyable weekend. I will Be back.

Private
Saw 7 deer on first day, all animals seemed in good condition, hinds and young, plenty of sign. Two deer on a wet 2nd day. Had a good time and came away knowing I could have shot at least 4 of the 9 deer I saw inside 40 metres had they been the right sex. Thank you very much for the opportunity to hunt them with my bow.

Private
Having shot 4 different deer species grabbed the chance to add to it. Lucky enough to bag hind in top condition will find out if Sambar is as good or bad to eat as different opinions suggest. Thanks to landowner and SDMF. Will be back looking for a stag should I be invited back next year. She was R3 and dressed out at 86kg.

Private
Licences should cover 2 animals i.e. one stag, one hind. To encourage hunters to take a hind.
(Many have trouble finding one deer let alone two)

Private
Spooked 4 deer as close as 10 feet and about 15 metres apart our block held 6 deer that weekend. 1 stag, 4 hinds and 1 juvenile. We know this as we had them run across our tyre tracks within 1 hour of us hunting the block. It was 400 x 200 metres took 2.5 hours to hunt and still too fast.