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I had a better than expected hunt for Sambar and Sika. I must be luckest person in the world. I was hunting in the Rangatiki (s) River area. Boy was it rough,lots of bush and straight up and down in places. I killed a beautiful Sambar. The first morning out my friend and I spotted a Small Stag with a hind. We estimated he had about 20 inch antlers. We waited and kept glassing the far ridge when we saw two Sambar stags fighting. He said this is the only the second time he has ever seen Sambar fight. We then proceed on a short stalk,to get in better positon to shoot, the wind was in our favor. We got as close as we could. He said it was only about 200 yards, I figured it was a lot futher. I was using my 35 whelen with Trophy bonded bullets. Since, I could not get any closer, I got a good steady rest. I put the crosshair's, hair on atabout the 1/3 the way down the shoulder. I let go and it seemed like for every for the sound of the bullet hitting. The stag jumped when no more then six feet he down and proceeded to roll down the steep hill. I was so elated the first day out and I got a Sambar free range. My friend said you are the luckest man alive. Most people go years before taking there first sambar much less than the first day of the first hour of hunting. The next day we were back scouting for sika deer nothing to be found but my friend had his bushnell range finder. He decided to see how far the shot from the previous day was. It was 325 yards, I would never of taken that shot if I had known. I just do not like taking long shots. Well for the next two days we were hunting in a new location when we saw several sika deer. There was a couple of stags with these hinds. One stag was was huge compared to the other other one and they both looked like mature animals. Well I got into postion to make my shot, I was shooting down hill so I aimed under the stag. I missed, shooting I am guessing maybe an inch under. Well all hell broke loose. The stag took off like a bat out of hell heading over this ridge a couple hundred yards away. I went at dead run to get to the other side from where I was so I could get another shot. I made it in time, the stag stopped, when he did the smaller stag stuck him in the side. The larger stag turned to do battle with the smaller stag. This gave me a chance to catch my breath and I made the shot and took him right through the heart. I tried to find a fallow deer but to no avail. But, what more could I asked for. I got the Sambar I wanted and got the frosting on the cake with the Sika.

I will post the pictures when I get them developed.

The Sambar was 26 inches and the Sika was 29 1/2 inches. I do not know how good they are but I am sure proud of them.

The friend that I went hunting with guides and outfits for Sambar. Because we are friends all I had to pay for is our meals, fuel for the vehicle and a place to stay.

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Brooks

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