But you see I am not worried about impressing anyone. I do it for myself.

I would have no problem shooting a leopard over bait using a light.

Leopard and deer are not the same thing. There is no way I would hunt a deer by spotlighting. I have been spotlighting with deer around and the stupid buggers just stand there.

Five scenarios for you hunting sambar:

you hunt sambar at Watervalley in a 100,000 + acre fenced paddock on foot;

you hunt a big beautiful sambar stag from elephant back in India (assume it still can be done);

you hunt sambar stag on the North Island, NZ;

you hunt sambar using hounds in the Vic Alps;

&

you stalk sambar without dogs in the Vic Alps.

I would do at least four and maybe even the fifth, and regard them all as trophies if the game was wild bred. The issue there is the country, the deer are the same (my experience there is limited). Also the videos you mention - were they filmed from inside a vehicle or was the cameraman on foot? When I was at WV (camera only) the deer stood around a lot for vehicles and were away very quick as soon as you got out of the vehicle.

A lot of Aussie hunters go to NZ for sambar as they are 'said' to be easier to hunt there.

I think you would give an arm to hunt in the old way in India AND take a sambar from the back of an elephant.

A very large percentage of Aussie deerhunters have HUGE problems with the fourth scenario ie hunting sambar with hounds. But I tend to think they are just ignorant. But Ihaven't done that either.

Aren't you confusing difficulty with sporting ethics?

Just some thoughts.