FILLING THE TIME IN BETWEEN
WELCOME TO CAMERON SAMBAR DEER HUNTING VIRTUAL HUNTING ADVICE
Virtual Hunting Advice can design & kick start your sambar hunting
adventure, giving you a head start with fly camp ,pack hunting. Planing of gear, food, travel, where to hunt, new hunting areas & map tracking. With over 30 years hunting experience & 10 years of high country guiding, Virtual Hunting Advice will help you achieve success
with the time you have to spend in the bush.
Virtual Hunting Advice has three programs to choose from.Catering for hunters at any level wanting to pack hunt the high country.
VHA can help the hunter plan and experience Hunting trips from
beginning to end. Whether your a first time hunter, travelling from another state or you have been at it a while, Virtual Hunting Advice will help put you on the deer.
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Click through the options below to choose what programme is right for you
SAMBAR DEER AND FLY CAMPING
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TIPS FOR SUCCESS
THE WEATHER, SEASON OR MONTH OF THE YEAR ALL PLAY A HUGE PART IN SUCCESS WHEN HUNTING SAMBAR DEER.
EACH YEAR CAN BE QUIT DIFFERENT TO THE LAST.
MOODS OF DEER AND FEEDING MOVEMENT DIFFER FROM MONTH TO MONTH. HOT AND COLD, WET AND DRY SPELLS ALL MATTER.
WITH SHORT TERM HUNTING STINTS THE DIFFERENCE IN SUCCESS CAN BE A DAY OF RAIN OR WARMTH.
BELOW IS A YEAR FROM MY GUIDE DIARY SHOWING A TREND IN THE MOODS OF SAMBAR DEER.
SAMBAR DEER COME IN AT THIRD ON THE LARGEST DEER SPECIES LIST.
THIS LARGE SIZE MAKES A SAMBAR DEER VERY LAZY.
THE NEEDS TO SUSTAIN THE ENERGY OF A GROWN SAMBAR DEER ARE 1. RESTING AND 2.GRAZING.
BOTH SHOULD BE CONSIDERED WHEN HUNTING SAMBAR DEER.
ALSO FOCUS ON THE TYPE OF HUNTING AREA , HUNTING PRESSURE AND THE BEST TIMES FOR FEEDING MOVEMENT, ALSO TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE WEATHER AND TIME OF THE YEAR.
JAN
YEAR: 2017
DURATION :THREE DAYS HUNTING
AREA: AREA A BUSH STALKING
WALKED : 12KM PARTY OF TWO
WEATHER: HOT CONDITIONS 32-34*C
DEER SEEN: 1 HIND
COMMENTS: DRY FEED CONDITIONS MOSTLY , MORNINGS WERE WARM.ONE DEER SEEN AT 40 METRES INTHE EVENING AROUND 8PM (HOUR BEFORE DARK) .DEER SEEN AND WATCHED JUST UP FROM CREEK ON GREEN FEED IN TIGHT SHELTERED GULLY.
HARD HUNTING CONDITIONS DUE TO HEAT.
COMPARE HUNTING MONTHS FROM DIARY
FEB
YEAR: 2024
DURATION:THREE DAYS HUNTING
AREA: AREA A BUSH STALKING
WALKED:15KM PARTY OF TWO
WEATHER:VERY HOT 35*C
DEER SEEN:1 STAG 28+ INCHES
COMMENTS: DUE TO INCHES OF RAIN THERE WAS ABUNDANT GREEN FEED OVER OUR ANKLES OF CLOVER AND RYE.WARM MORNING AND NIGHTS SHOWED NO ACTIVITY. LARGE STAG WOUNDED AT 50 YRDS 8AM. THE ONLY DEER SEEN OR HERD.8 SNAKES SEEN.HUNTED FROM 6:30PM DUE TO HEAT & MORNINGS UNTIL 11AM.
HARD HUNTING CONDITIONS EVEN THOUGH PLENTY FEED.
MARCH
YEAR :2021
DURATION : 9 DAYS
AREA: AREA A BUSH STALKING
WALKED: 35KM PARTY OF TWO
WEATHER: NORMAL WARM/MILD LOUD UNDER FOOT
DEER SEEN: 11 SHOT 1 HIND MISSED 1 SPIKER
COMMENTS: DEER SPOOKY DUE TO CHOPPER PRESSURE. HAD THREE DAYS RAIN . SHOT DEER LATE EVENING.
MARCH
COMPARE
YEAR: 2019
DURATION : 3 DAYS
AREA: AREA A BUSH STALKING
WALKED: 16KM PARTY OF TWO
WEATHER: VERY DRY HOT CONDITIONS 31-35* C
DEER SEEN: SPOOKED 5 DEER
COMMENTS: VERY HOT AND DRY , LOUD UNDER FOOT. HUNTING CONDITIONS NOT FAVOURABLE ALTHOUGH FIVE DEER WERE SPOOKED MAINLY IN LATE EVENING.
APRIL
YEAR:2017
DURATION :3 DAYS
AREA: AREA A BUSH STALKING
WALKED:20KM PARTY OF TWO
WEATHER: MAINLY FINE CONDITIONS COOLER MORNINGS
DEER SEEN:10 DEER SEEN 1 HIND SHOT
COMMENTS: GOOD FEED COOLER CONDITIONS ,GOOD HUNTING. LITTLE BIT OF RAIN. DEER SHOT AT 50 METRES HIGH IN FEEDER GULLY ON LATE EVENING
MAY
YEAR: 2017
DURATION: 5 DAYS
AREA: AREA A BUSH STALKING
WALKED:28KM PARTY OF TWO
WEATHER: MAINLY FINE CONDITIONS.COOLER.
DEER SEEN: 5 DEER SEEN TWO STAGS SHOT 24 , 24 INCH
COMMENTS: GOOD FEED COOLER CONDITIONS ,GOOD HUNTING. LITTLE BIT OF RAIN. STAGS SHOT ON SADDLE ON SPUR LATE EVENING TWO DAYS APART SAME SPUR.
JUNE
YEAR: 2017
DURATION: 3 DAYS
AREA : AREA A BUSH STALKING
WALKED: 25KM PARTY OF THREE
WEATHER: MAINLY FINE CONDITIONS.COOLER ,FROSTY.
DEER SEEN: SPOOKED ALL TEN STAGS, VERY LOUD WALKERS. FRUSTRATING HUNTING.
COMMENTS: VERY LOUD STALKING COULD'NT GET A SHOT. DEER THERE THOUGH. GOOD STALKING CONDITIONS ON EVENING.
COVERING A GOOD AMOUNT OF GROUND WHEN BUSH STALKING OVER A FEW GOOD FEEDER AREAS HELPS.
EVENINGS SEEM TO BE BEST FOR STAGS ESPECIALLY AS THEY PREFER EITHER THE COOLER TIME OF THE DAY TO FEED ESPECIALLY IN SUMMER TIME. IN THE WINTER AROUND 7 - 10 AM CAN SUIT AS DEER WAIT FOR THE MORNING SUN FOR WARMTH.
ANTICIPATION IS KEY. CATTLE WILL ALWAYS HIT THE BEST FEED AREAS FIRST AND ON HOT DAYS TEND TO REST RATHER THAN FEED AND SOMETIMES THEY GET LAZY AND DON'T START FEEDING UNTIL AFTER DARK WHICH IS THE SAME FOR DEER.
DEER CAN BE EASYER TO FIND IN LATE EVENING AS YOU ANTICIPATE THEM HITTING THE BEST FEEDER AREAS FIRST. DEER FEED THROUGH THE NIGHT FROM THESE AREAS AND BECOME MORE UNPREDICTABLE TO WHERE THEY MAY BE COME MORNING.
A GOOD WET/COLD DAY IS GREAT NOW AND THEN ESPECIALLY IN THE HOT MONTHS. THIS WET WEATHER WILL ENCOURAGE DEER TO FEED, TO KEEP WARM, MAKING FOR BETTER HUNTING.IT GETS THEM OUTA BED.
A DAY OF SUN CAN BE A GREAT CHANGE IN THE WINTER AND A DAY OF RAIN IN THE SUMMER, TO PREVENT LAZINESS AND BEDDING DOWN IN EITHER SCENARIO.
MORNING HUNTING SEEMS BETTER IN HOTTER MONTHS AS DOES EVENING HUNTING IN COOLER MONTHS.
ENERGY CAN BE PRESERVED BY HOT LAZY DAYS SLEEPING AND IN TURN "DRAINED" IN COLD WET WEATHER. SAMBAR DEER WILL EITHER FEED OR REST ACCORDINGLY TO SUSTAIN ENERGY LEVELS WHICH EFFECTS MOVEMENT AND ULTIMATELY HUNTING. IN DRYER CONDITIONS STAGS TEND TO BROWZ OFF SPURS AND SADDLES ON NATIVE AND NON NATIVE FLORA, BUT WHEN THERES BETTER FEED SUCH AS CLOVER, BROADLEAF OR NATIVE RYE GRASS THEY WILL TAKE TO THAT IN MORE OPEN AREAS SUCH AS OPEN GULLY HEADS.
JUNE
YEAR: 2017 ONE WEEK LATTER
DURATION: 3 DAYS
AREA : AREA A BUSH STALKING
WALKED: 28KM PARTY OF TWO
WEATHER: MAINLY FINE CONDITIONS.COOLER ,FROSTY ,RAIN SUN.
DEER SEEN: 15 SEEN SHOT 25+ STAG AND HIND BOW
COMMENTS: VERY LOUD STALKING . DEER FEEDING INTO AREA. GOOD STALKING CONDITIONS ON EVENING.
ONE WEEK LATTER I HUNTED THE SAME AREA WITH A DIFFERENT CLIENT (ALLOT QUITER).
ONE STALKER IS EASYER, TWO IS TWICE AS LOUD AND THREE IS THREE TIMES LOUDER, WHICH MAKES A DIFFERENCE WHEN BUSH STALKING.
DEER TEND TO MIGRATE IN AND OUT OF AN AREA A BIT, ESPECIALLY AFTER THE VICTORIAN WEATHER BREAK.
THE WEATHER BREAK IN VICTORIA IS USUALLY (ALTHOUGH IT CYCLES OVER THE DECADES) IN MAY.
THIS IS WHERE THE RAIN FRONTS AND COOLER WINTER KICKS IN FROM THE SOUTH/SOUTH WEST AND THAT PATTERN CONTINUES THROUGH TO SOMETIMES THE END OF SPRING.
LATELY WE HAVE HAD BREAKS IN MARCH WITH FAIRLY GOOD GREEN FEED LEADING OUT OF SUMMER.
THE NORTHERN RAIN OR MONSOON WILL EVENTUALLY KICK IN AGAIN IN THE SPRING SOMETIME AND THE PATTERNS ARE EFFECTED IN VICTORIA ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.
USUALLY WARMER THUNDERSTORM TYPE WEATHER CAN COME DOWN AND THE SOUTHERN FRONTS PUSH LOWER UNDER TASSY DURING VICTORIAS SUMMER. OR IT WILL DRY UP COMPLETELY.
HUNTING AND DEER MOVEMENT IS EFFECTED BY THE WEATHER AND SEASONS, AS YOU WILL SEE IN THE MAY/ JUNE HUNTING DIARY AND THERES EVEN A CHANGE AS THE YEAR PROGRESSES.
YOU WILL ALSO NOTICE DEER CAN BECOME SPOILT FOR CHOICE ( WHEN THERES ANKLE HIGH CLOVER EVERYWHERE AFTER A GOOD THUNDERSTORM FEB 2024). DEER WONT BOTHER TRAVELLING TO FAR INTO AREAS OF OTHER FEED WHEN THEY ALREADY HAVE IT AT THERE FEET. GENERALLY HINDS AND YEARLINGS WILL ALWAYS SEEK THE BEST FEED.IN THE RUT STAGS WILL TRAVEL WITHOUT FEED ON THEIR MIND
JULY
YEAR: 2019
DURATION: 4 DAYS
AREA : AREA A BUSH STALKING
WALKED: 23KM PARTY OF TWO
WEATHER: VERY WET CONDITIONS NON STOP 4 DAY RAIN,COOL.
DEER SEEN: 10 SEEN SHOT 24 STAG AND HIND
COMMENTS: VERY WET STALKING DID NOT STOP. DEER FEEDING IN RAIN TO KEEP WARM. NOT IDEAL STALKING CONDITIONS BUT PRODUCTIVE AFTER DAY 2 RAIN AND COLD.
AUGUST
YEAR: 2021
DURATION: 5 DAYS
AREA : AREA B LARGE OPEN COUNTRY
WALKED: 20KM PARTY OF TWO
WEATHER: GREAT CONDITIONS, SHOWER OR TWO BIT OF WIND
DEER SEEN: 20 SEEN SHOT @ VERY LARGE STAG 32+ MISS OR WOUND
COMMENTS: DEER ABOUT BUT SPREAD OUT, MORNING HUNTING GOOD. GROUND A BIT COOLER FOR FEED GROWTH. STAGS ON THE PROW
SEPTEMBER
YEAR: 2016
DURATION: 4 DAYS
AREA : AREA B LARGER OPEN COUNTRY
WALKED: 40KM PARTY OF TWO
WEATHER: MIXED CONDITIONS.COOLER ,FROSTY ,RAIN SUN.
DEER SEEN: 40 SEEN 12 STAGS , SHOT SMALLER STAG
COMMENTS: GOOD STALKING CONDITIONS ON EVENING. HIGH UP GLASSING COVERING LARGER AREA. GOOD FEED.
SEPTEMBER
YEAR: 2021
DURATION: 3 DAYS
AREA : AREA A BUSH HUNTING
WALKED: 12KM PARTY OF TWO
WEATHER: NICE DAYS
DEER SEEN: 15 SEEN MISSED 2 STAGS ONE AT 20 YARDS ONE AT 50 & A HIND BAD SHOOTING
COMMENTS: GOOD STALKING CONDITIONS ON EVENING. GOOD WEATHER& FEED.
MIXING UP A HUNTING GROUND OR TWO IS GREAT, BUT ONCE A GOOD SPOT IS FOUND ITS BEST TO LEARN AND CONCENTRATE AROUND THAT RATHER THAN SPENDING TO MUCH TIME AND MONEY PROSPECTING INTO UNKNOWN TERRITORY TO MUCH.
HAVING A GOOD BUSH STALKING AREA IS AS GOOD AS HAVING LARGE OPEN COUNTRY, GLASSING AREA, AS BOTH ARE QUIT DIFFERENT AND CHALLENGING IN THERE OWN WAY TO HUNT.
IN GENERAL MORE NUMBERS OF DEER ARE SEEN IN GLASSING COUNTRY (AS YOU WILL SEE IN SEPTEMBER DIARY) THAN IN THICKER BUSH STALKING AREAS BUT HAVING EXPERIENCE IN BOTH IS SATISFACTORY AS BOTH CAN BE AS EXCITING AS EACH AREA TO HUNT USING DIFFERENT SKILLS SUCH AS SNAP SHOOTING.
THE WETTER MONTHS ARE MORE SUITABLE UNDER FOOT FOOR BUSH STALKING BUT CAN BE MORE UNCOMFORTABLE IN HIGH GLASSING AREAS DUE TO COLD WEATHER.
HIGH GLASSING AREAS PROVE VERY GOOD LEADING INTO THE SPRING WHEN STAGS ARE ON THE PROW. THE HUNTER CAN COVER A LARGE AREA OF COUNTRY ON THERE ARSE BY GLASSING AND FINDING TROPHY STAGS FROM POSITIONING THEMSELVES IN THE BEST POSSIBLE SPOT TO VIEW.
OCTOBER
YEAR: 2015
DURATION: 7 DAYS
AREA : AREA B LARGER OPEN COUNTRY
WALKED: 15KM PARTY OF TWO
WEATHER: MIXED WET WEATHER CONDITIONS.COOLER ,FROSTY ,RAIN
DEER SEEN: 30 SEEN 11 STAGS , SHOT SPIKER, MISSED LARGER STAG
COMMENTS: GOOD STALKING CONDITIONS ON EVENING AND MORNING. HIGH UP GLASSING COVERING LARGER AREA. GOOD FEED.
SEEN MOST DEER IN ONE GULLY. CHANGED TO PLAN B AS CLIENT UN-FIT TO HUNT HIGHER. THIS WORKED OUT BETTER.
OCTOBER
YEAR: 2020
DURATION: 5 DAYS
AREA : AREA B OPEN COUNTRY
WALKED: 28KM PARTY OF TWO
WEATHER: HOT HUMID ,FOGGY/RAIN 30*C +
DEER SEEN: 25 SEEN MOSTLY STAGS, MISSED 28-30INCH STAG, SHOT 2 HINDS
COMMENTS: GOOD STALKING CONDITIONS ON EVENING. DEER FAT CONDITION. TYPICAL SHOOTING SKILLS POOR.
NOVEMBER
YEAR: 2021
DURATION: 5 DAYS
AREA : AREA B OPEN COUNTRY HIGH UP
WALKED: 25KM PARTY OF TWO
WEATHER: NICE HUMID AND WET
DEER SEEN: 20 SPOOKED 7 EASY SHOTS.
COMMENTS: GOOD STALKING CONDITIONS ON EVENING. HUNTER GREEN.
DECEMBER
YEAR: 2019
DURATION: 4 DAYS
AREA : AREA B OPEN COUNTRY HIGH UP
WALKED: 30KM PARTY OF THREE
WEATHER: MIX, RAIN SUN , GOOD FEED
DEER SEEN: 25 DEER SEEN, STAGS SHOT 22 INCH, 22INCH
34 INCH.
COMMENTS: GOOD STALKING CONDITIONS . GOOD WEATHER WITH PLENTY FEED , DEER ABOUT. COMPETENT SHOOTERS.
PRACTICE SHOOTING NOT ONLY ON THE BENCH BUT IN AS MANY POSITIONS AS POSSIBLE.SNAP SHOOTING IS KEY TO BUSH STALKING AND THIS CAN INVOLVE RESTING ON A TREE OR STANDING USUALLY ,WHICH IS EASY SAID THAN DONE WHEN 3-4 SECONDS IS ALL YOU HAVE TO LOAD AND SHOOT ONCE A DEER IS IDENTIFIED. LEARNING TO OPEN & CLOSE THE BOLT ON A BULLET QUIETLY IS VERY IMPORTANT AND THERE IS A KNACK TO THIS. ALLOT OF DEER ARE SPOOKED BY RIFLE BOLTS WHILE BUSH STALKING. LEARN SHOT PLACEMENT ON DIFFERENT ANGLES ON A FEEDING DEER BY ALWAYS TAKING A KNECK OR SHOULDER SHOT AND IF YOU KNOW YOUR RIFLE WELL EVEN HEAD SHOTS ARE GREAT AT SHORTER DISTANCES.