Piggy
07-05-05, 04:35 PM
I arrived at the property which I regularly hunt for Sambar and after gearing up I went straight to the paddock which has a section blanketed in clover to see if there was any recent activity. After a quick look I had found that at least 4 deer had fed there last night by the different scats. I stalked my way into the nearest wallow which had been used but not in the last few hours so I continued on to the second wallow. As I approached I could see the water was very very muddy and about 5m from the wallow I noticed the leaf litter was wet and the water was running down the hill obviously a deer had only just vacated this wallow, further investigation revealed which way it was heading although I knew it would be heading up to bed so my objective now was to see before being seen and to move as silently and slowly as possible.
Slowly following the spoor winding its way up to the edge of the bush line I knew it must be near as there was only 60m between myself and the open grazing land, all my senses were on full alert when I noticed a pile of fresh droppings another indicator of the deer about to bed, I bent down and picked up a handful for a closer look and it was fresh real fresh.
While looking at the droppings I heard that familiar sound of a deer getting up from its bed and as I turned in the direction of the noise I stood there looking at a magnificent Sambar stag with antlers of at least 29 inches in length, obviously he knew I was there but because I stopped to look at the droppings he got nervous, he had his bum to me ready for his getaway with his head turned looking straight at me.
There was no point trying to have a shot as I knew the moment I moved he would be gone so we both just stood there about 25m apart in the thick bush just looking at each other for what seemed like 10 minutes but was properly only two before he jumped over a small bush and walked off.
I get just as big a rush form events like this happening as I do from actually taking game but then thereÌs always next time
Another Happy Hunter
Piggy
Slowly following the spoor winding its way up to the edge of the bush line I knew it must be near as there was only 60m between myself and the open grazing land, all my senses were on full alert when I noticed a pile of fresh droppings another indicator of the deer about to bed, I bent down and picked up a handful for a closer look and it was fresh real fresh.
While looking at the droppings I heard that familiar sound of a deer getting up from its bed and as I turned in the direction of the noise I stood there looking at a magnificent Sambar stag with antlers of at least 29 inches in length, obviously he knew I was there but because I stopped to look at the droppings he got nervous, he had his bum to me ready for his getaway with his head turned looking straight at me.
There was no point trying to have a shot as I knew the moment I moved he would be gone so we both just stood there about 25m apart in the thick bush just looking at each other for what seemed like 10 minutes but was properly only two before he jumped over a small bush and walked off.
I get just as big a rush form events like this happening as I do from actually taking game but then thereÌs always next time
Another Happy Hunter
Piggy