Sambar Deer problem

[KiotiJason]

Hey Dave, check this out, I guess I need some crocodiles and tigers for the pesty deer!
Sambar primarily live in woodland and feed on a wide variety of vegetation, including grasses, foliage, browse, fruit, and water plants, depending on the local habitat.[7] They also consume a great variety of shrubs and trees.[5] They are a favourite prey item for tigers and Asiatic lions. In India, the sambar can comprise up to nearly 60% of the prey selected by the Bengal tiger.[8] Anecdotally, the tiger is said to even mimic the call of the sambar to deceive it while hunting.[8][9] They also can be taken by crocodiles, mostly the sympatric mugger crocodiles and estuarine crocodiles. Leopards and dholes largely predate only young or sickly deer, though can attack healthy adults as well.[1]

 

[OldMcDonald]

I understand. My back paddock in northern NSW was 1200 acres of eucalypt with some big areas that had not been touched since being ringbarked during the depression. It is impossible to move through that sort of Aussie scrub unless you can get down to the level of the animal trails and jump like they do when necessary.

Hunting them is not possible except on your 3 acres, which brings me back to your need to take up a position and wait for them (or preferably you go to bed and somebody else does it). Is there a high point, apart from the house roof, where somebody can cover at least the driveway? It seems like they enjoy the openness for a little while along its length.

I meant to mention yesterday that Sambar on private land are an unprotected species in Victoria if they are causing damage. Go to the Game Management Authority site for details. You, or someone with permission from you need a rifle of minimum .270 (6.85mm). No doubt there are other conditions.

 

[KiotiJason]

I understand. My back paddock in northern NSW was 1200 acres of eucalypt with some big areas that had not been touched since being ringbarked during the depression. It is impossible to move through that sort of Aussie scrub unless you can get down to the level of the animal trails and jump like they do when necessary.

Hunting them is not possible except on your 3 acres, which brings me back to your need to take up a position and wait for them (or preferably you go to bed and somebody else does it). Is there a high point, apart from the house roof, where somebody can cover at least the driveway? It seems like they enjoy the openness for a little while along its length.

I meant to mention yesterday that Sambar on private land are an unprotected species in Victoria if they are causing damage. Go to the Game Management Authority site for details. You, or someone with permission from you need a rifle of minimum .270 (6.85mm). No doubt there are other conditions.

I'm ok with the rifle I've got a 303 with a variable scope. There are some game trails along a couple of the creeks but as you know the Aussie bush isn't easy to get around without making too much noise. Here is a couple of antlers that we found on our property. sorry it's upside down!

 

[lockhaven]

is it upside down down under also?

 

[KiotiJason]

is it upside down down under also?

We'll we are down under

 

[cqaigy2]

The picture looked ok to me.

 

[OldMcDonald]

I think you would just be wasting your time walking around in the bush. No point in going in there in daylight - and I certainly would not be going in after dark. Other countries maybe, but Oz, definitely not, even if I could see in the dark.

 

[teejk]

Many year ago - at least 50 - after a very contentious legal battle - orchardist v WA state Dept of Game - the Game Dept agreed, as part of the legal settlement, to assist the orchardist in reducing orchard damage caused by the deer. My father was a biologist working for the Dept. I can remember, as a lad, going out at night with my dad, into the orchards and firing off all sorts of military munitions. Rocket grenades, parachute flares, large fire crackers woven into burning hemp rope hung in trees, high power carbon arc lighting etc. For the time all were there, shooting off all this stuff & having a world of fun, the deer did retreat. As soon as everybody left, the deer returned. So then they went to installation of eight foot high deer fencing which did not work at all. Either the orchardist or his help would accidentally leave a gate open somewhere or if the fence went over a small hill - the deer could jump the fence. One night I actually saw two mule deer jump an eight foot high fence as it went over a small hill. The fencing worked if the orchard was on flat ground. After about 5-6 years the Dept discontinued all such activities. As I drive over to my home town in Omak, I still see deer fencing - its either ten feet high or has electrified outriggers - around orchards. Installation and maintenance of this type fencing is excessively expensive but it must be providing protection.

Back in the early 90's a friend had a neighbor that decided to raise buffalo. Two bulls escaped and were terrorizing the county so we were called in to shoot one (theory was the other one would go back and have all the cows to himself). 5 hours of driving around I spotted them...no problem at all for either of them (800+ lbs) to clear a 7' fence at probably 40 mph.

 

[KiotiJason]

I think you would just be wasting your time walking around in the bush. No point in going in there in daylight - and I certainly would not be going in after dark. Other countries maybe, but Oz, definitely not, even if I could see in the dark.

Not in HHS dark, I was going to head out very early in the morning and very late in the afternoon?
I think they are taunting me, I woke up this morning with them honking.

 

[OldMcDonald]

I still think you would be better off waiting for them to come to you. Deer stalking even in fairly open country with cover for the stalker (eg Scotland) is a very skilled art to learn. You cannot avoid making noise if you go looking for them. You can settle yourself down to a comforable position if you are just waiting. Pick yourself three or four spots where you can cover most of your 3 acres.... and I would go through the channels with the GMA paperwork. You might well have do-gooders about that will shop you if you do not have the paperwork.