Hunting Rain-forest Deer - Australia

What a fantastic experience that paid off in the harvesting of a majestic animal. Your respect for the animal and the gift of his life is evident. You sir are the definition of a true hunter. If you’re wondering if the excitement, joy and adrenaline you experienced when you harvested this buck ever goes away on future successful hunts - I can tell you with certainty.... it doesn’t. Hunting is truly one of God’s greatest gifts - do right by your children and share your love of the outdoors with them when they are old enough to appreciate the magical & serene peace that only outdoorsmen/women know!
 
Thank you so much!

I have had the same feeling with every animal that I take. They are all unique and represent their own challenge and reward. I can't wait to show my son the ropes, just as you have noted!! Thanks again.
 
Few things are as satisfying as scouting and sizing up new hunting territory all on your own and then successfully taking a trophy animal—a welcome bonus when the hunting grounds are so beautiful. Congratulations on your hunt and for so successfully conveying the experience on video—and especially thank you for sharing it with us here. Exceptionally well done, mate!:thumbsup::cool:
 
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Will York said:
Few things are as satisfying as scouting and sizing up new hunting territory all on your own and then successfully taking a trophy animal—a welcome bonus when the hunting grounds are so beautiful. Congratulations on your hunt and for so successfully conveying the experience on video—and especially thank you for sharing it with us here. Exceptionally well done, mate!:thumbsup::cool:
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Stump Buster said:
ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC JOB on the hunt and the video!!!

Well Done!!!:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:
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I appreciate it guys! I will be buzzing off the high on this one for a while!

Fallow deer hunting is fairly new to me, so to have such a great experience fills me with gratitude. I have been chasing Sambar stags for 6 years and yet to take a good representative so it's back into the Eastern dividing range for me :)
 
Are Australian Sambar antlers as dense as Indian Sambar, i.e. mostly solid in cross section with a minimal amount of honeycomb “pith” around a small-diameter hollow center?
 
Close stalks like that are so hard to do. Mad respect brother.

ETA: Regarding the video, I really enjoyed seeing the habits of the deer, like the scraping they made, and also getting to hear them.
 
Awesome pics and video mate. That little magnum bear cub punches well above its weight for sure.
 
Wow, beautiful documentation, great work! I love the enthusiasm you have too, it’s contagious! Thank you for sharing!
 
Will York said:
Are Australian Sambar antlers as dense as Indian Sambar, i.e. mostly solid in cross section with a minimal amount of honeycomb “pith” around a small-diameter hollow center?
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They are effectively the same species. Ours were released from Indian/Sri Lankan deer over 100 years ago. :D

Hard Knocks said:
Close stalks like that are so hard to do. Mad respect brother.

ETA: Regarding the video, I really enjoyed seeing the habits of the deer, like the scraping they made, and also getting to hear them.
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Thanks mate! The deer I shot was actually not vocal at all until I was within 5m. I think he thought I was a deer so he started to grunt. There were Bucks all around that were very vocal non-stop. Glad I didn't rush them and blow this chance.

RobStanley said:
Awesome pics and video mate. That little magnum bear cub punches well above its weight for sure.
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It is a great little knife mate.

Apocryphiliac said:
Wow, beautiful documentation, great work! I love the enthusiasm you have too, it’s contagious! Thank you for sharing!
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I really appreciate that mate! I thought I would allow myself to get raw and really let the emotions go.
 
I think....

That was really awesome to see those pictures come to life. I personally think you did a great job with the video and the commentary and the whole thing. The HD on whatever camera that is picked up the terrain/scenery beautifully. Again, love to see such beautiful places with such plentiful game and other natural resources.

Phenomenal hunt with all that going on around you, great stalk and you obviously know what the heck you are doing. And, impressive camera work while doing it all.

You can clearly chew bubble gum and walk at the same time.

Really strong stuff, and I was remarking to myself how regal his coat looked in the still pictures.
 
Beautiful animal. I'm glad you were able to take him, particularly when you did. Saved him from a lingering suffering death, most likely.
I see a lot of beautiful whitetail bucks where I live, in Maryland, USA. Whitetails seem to breed like rodents around here. Unfortunately, I live on a small parcel of land, and can't hunt on my own land (hunting laws won't allow it in my situation). Public land is well hunted, and the old bucks are wiley and stay deep. I've not taken a buck, except on small button buck so young I didn't see the buds until he was down. Felt bad about that. Not sure I could take even a trophy buck, though. For some reason, I just can't pull the trigger on one. Don't have any hesitation on does. I only hunt for meat, and while the bucks almost always have a lot more, between the rarity of seeing one where I can hunt, and hesitation, all my venison is from doe.
 
I remember the White Tails from up there when living in PA, Dogboye...they had gotten so overpopulated that deer were crossing highways and could be seen darn near in Center City...they were a major danger to themselves and cars/people - this was in and around 2009 for a couple years.

One thing I love about America is that you can drive in a straight line from just about any major city and get rural pretty fast (to at least get you the feeling like you are out of a metro area).

I am sure it is the same many places, I am no world traveler by any means...

C
 
Wilkes said:
They are effectively the same species. Ours were released from Indian/Sri Lankan deer over 100 years ago. :D
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Should make great knife handle material as a memento, if you take a rack that’s not impressive enough to preserve whole as a trophy. I realize you’ve not connected yet—just projecting a little, given your success on the fallow.:thumbsup::D:cool:
 
COPIUOS said:
I think....

That was really awesome to see those pictures come to life. I personally think you did a great job with the video and the commentary and the whole thing. The HD on whatever camera that is picked up the terrain/scenery beautifully. Again, love to see such beautiful places with such plentiful game and other natural resources.

Phenomenal hunt with all that going on around you, great stalk and you obviously know what the heck you are doing. And, impressive camera work while doing it all.

You can clearly chew bubble gum and walk at the same time.

Really strong stuff, and I was remarking to myself how regal his coat looked in the still pictures.
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I have a few other hunting videos on my Youtube channel you might enjoy. Hunting the Victorian high country for Sambar deer, shooting my first pig with a bow etc.

I have spent years making mistakes hunting and trying my best to learn from them. The majority of my hunts are really just an excuse to get away from the daily grind with friends - Typically these are meat hunts where we want to put down the first deer we see, rather than wait for a trophy animal. I was really excited to try this hunt solo and see if I could be selective until just the right animal was found. It's a great feeling to make your hunting plans and then achieve exactly what you set out to do. Hasn't happened for me very many times!
 
dogboye said:
Beautiful animal. I'm glad you were able to take him, particularly when you did. Saved him from a lingering suffering death, most likely.
I see a lot of beautiful whitetail bucks where I live, in Maryland, USA. Whitetails seem to breed like rodents around here. Unfortunately, I live on a small parcel of land, and can't hunt on my own land (hunting laws won't allow it in my situation). Public land is well hunted, and the old bucks are wiley and stay deep. I've not taken a buck, except on small button buck so young I didn't see the buds until he was down. Felt bad about that. Not sure I could take even a trophy buck, though. For some reason, I just can't pull the trigger on one. Don't have any hesitation on does. I only hunt for meat, and while the bucks almost always have a lot more, between the rarity of seeing one where I can hunt, and hesitation, all my venison is from doe.
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It can be hard to explain, I know... Hunting is a paradox. We truly love and appreciate these animals, yet we take their lives. It is a complicated game of instinct, survival, nourishment, conservation and enjoyment that is not easily understood by those who have not been involved. Let hunting be to you exactly as you feel it should be.
 
COPIUOS said:
I remember the White Tails from up there when living in PA, Dogboye...they had gotten so overpopulated that deer were crossing highways and could be seen darn near in Center City...they were a major danger to themselves and cars/people - this was in and around 2009 for a couple years.

One thing I love about America is that you can drive in a straight line from just about any major city and get rural pretty fast (to at least get you the feeling like you are out of a metro area).

I am sure it is the same many places, I am no world traveler by any means...

C
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Fallow deer are slowly becoming the 'Whitetail' of Australia. They have gone from being pests only worthy of eradication, to a respected and admired game animal and practically part of the native fauna. This is going to do great things for hunting here and should see the hunting culture really grow. This is good for everyone.
 
Will York said:
Should make great knife handle material as a memento, if you take a rack that’s not impressive enough to preserve whole as a trophy. I realize you’ve not connected yet—just projecting a little, given your success on the fallow.:thumbsup::D:cool:
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I actually have a really nice cast antler from a Sambar! Found in my favourite hunting spot, sitting in a wallow. My grandpa offered to make a nice stag antler handled knife for me, but he is slowly dying of cancer... I can't bring myself to send it to him knowing that he is putting all that work in for me when he is so sick...
 
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