l e w i s r e i d

Sambar deer rightfully hold the title of being Australia’s premier game animal. They are highly elusive, and possess an almost legendry cunning. Any occasion a hunter crosses paths with a mature sambar stag in the wild it is a moment he or she will never forget. They have a large and powerful body and carry an impressive set of antlers.

The habitat in which, they are found in south-eastern Australia is a vast network of rugged, heavily forested mountain ranges. Whilst the scenery in this alpine environment is breathtaking, the ruggedness of the terrain ensures this is the most challenging area of anywhere in Australia to hunt. The North Island of New Zealand is also home to a several small herds of sambar. Whilst trophy potential is exceptional, unlike Australia, numbers are low and hunting opportunities somewhat limited.

Whilst visually very different from one another, I have found the habits of both the sambar stag and the New Zealand whitetail buck similar. Both species are extremely secretive with males preferring to live tucked away on their own for much of the year. In addition, unlike the males amongst other species of deer, which are quite boisterous during the rut, both sambar and whitetail are rarely heard.

Hunting prospects for sambar in the alpine region of Australia is excellent as their forested habitat is vast and remote; their only real threat comes from wild fires that occasionally ravage large areas of their habitat. Whilst the infernos do kill and maim many sambar, just as it does many other species of our native wildlife, numbers soon bounce back as the hardy Australian eucalypt forests quickly regenerates with succulent regrowth.