Broken Ear

Over the sambar rut we had picked up a stag with a dropping right ear which we named "Broken Ear". We picked him up on a regular basis over quite a big area but never laid eyes on him until yesterday.
We had been out for our usual hunt, checking out some big clear cuts, not seeing an animal but truck loads of sign especially in one area.
After the early morning look around we checked a few more spots then one of the camera's which last weekend had shown a full card but nothing on it so we needed to make sure it was working ok.
Several deer were on there from the last week so all was good. We only had about half the day to hunt as Beeman was going to be busy in the afternoon so we started to make tracks back towards home.
We had a few more easy camera's to check so decided to do them then go home, time 10.30 am.
As we cruised back along the forestry road always looking for animals on the openish ridges I spotted a large dark shape on a spur about 60 odd meters away.
By the time I got Beeman stopped we had just gone past the animal so we had to back up a little, which usually turns to custard and the animals bolt.
As we backed up I could still see him ( I could see antler) and stopped Beeman, my aim was through a bit of foliage but figured the 200 gr ELD X would do the job and let strip at his neck.
He reared up and fell backwards never to move again , antlers imbedded in the ground.
A short walk had us next to a respectable Sambar Stag and we were grateful he hadn't tumbled of the ridge into the gullies either side as moving him through blackberry and fallen logs would be near impossible for a couple of old farts.
Photo's done I gutted him then we hooked over drag ropes around his antlers and carefully dragged him down to the road ( we didn't want him rolling off the spur he was on)
Beeman backed his truck deck into the bank then we heaved him on board, job done, time was marching on so the camera's would have to wait till next weekend, hopefully that will be another story.
We weighted the stag at 137 kg and I Douglas Scored him at 177 DS.

Attachment 150209Attachment 150210

Back at the truck and the stag where he fell.
Interestingly the 200 gr ELDX out of the 300 WM didn't exit the neck even though it was only 60 odd meters away, the sambar stags are tough critters alright.

right place right time...good on you.

Forgot to say that the stag was Broken Ear from off the camera lines as the cartilage on his right ear was badly damaged most likely from fighting other stags.

Awesome, still yet to lay eyes on, let alone shoot a sambar

Well done! Always nice when you can get the deer to the pickup easily.

We try to only shoot them in places that require a down hill drag only, 140 odd kgs is bloody heavy for us old fella's. If they end up in a shit hole gully the only thing to do is cut them up into carry size bits.

Very nice work!

Both of his ears are drooping now , Good work .

Awesome mate!

Awesome!

Mooseman forgot to tell the whole story. After he said back up he threw his canon out the window and Beeman stuck his fingers as hard as he could in his ears waiting for the reverberation and cloud of smoke . He glanced back at Mooseman and his lips were flapping so he took one finger out of his ear and Mooseman says 'back up a bit more' then he jammed his fingers back in his ears as tight as he could. Then the shock waves hit him �� It just makes a good day even better. And Beeman is going to start teaching Mooseman some new sign language.

yes you are right Mrs Beeman, Beeman is quite deaf so another blast from the 300 wouldn't hurt to much. Sign language would be good LOL

you know the electronic earmuffs are simply AWESOME for us hard of hearing folks...you can turn them up and hear conversation...including one at other end of house... and when loud noise happens,they click off....driving ute spotlighting they great ,guys above head shooting .12ga and muffs shut it all out yet could carry on conversation with other passenger.

I already thought the "broken ear" was about Beeman. :D

All jokes aside. The electronic earmuffs are worth trying. Will not cost an arm and a leg.

Good write up. Just out of curiosity @Mooseman when do the sambar cast their antlers?

We have had them on camera with hard antlers as late as Xmas day but they should mostly have dropped bt then. Usually they are coming out of velvet around April during the Red roar.
Stripped and ready to go in May.

interesting way to secure a trophy but none the less its secured.

FYI- the ELDX is not strong, esp at 60 yards, its a 600 yard bullet an the Sambar are not bullet proof tough but wil carry a hit an have exceptional will to live.

luckily you had alot of GR behind the projectile, as anything less, as fast could make for long time tracking an potentially lost animals!

Woodleighs are Sambar medicine.... though it is interesting to note the Animal is not looking excessively large there on the ground ? an you are not bigger than the vehicle, so not a giant :) 137kg gutted, average or a tad udner perhaps.

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Originally Posted by Mooseman

We have had them on camera with hard antlers as late as Xmas day but they should mostly have dropped bt then. Usually they are coming out of velvet around April during the Red roar.
Stripped and ready to go in May.

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we've got unique circumstances in aus prior to the fires an culls with abundand hinds the rut is ongoing, or the fact there s always a hot hind in a isolated gulley means the stags out of Sync to the norm, play a huge part in breeding the out of sync bitches... hence, calf all year. antler all year. lots of hinds, not many stags

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Rees

interesting way to secure a trophy but none the less its secured.

FYI- the ELDX is not strong, esp at 60 yards, its a 600 yard bullet an the Sambar are not bullet proof tough but wil carry a hit an have exceptional will to live.

luckily you had alot of GR behind the projectile, as anything less, as fast could make for long time tracking an potentially lost animals!

Woodleighs are Sambar medicine.... though it is interesting to note the Animal is not looking excessively large there on the ground ? an you are not bigger than the vehicle, so not a giant :) 137kg gutted, average or a tad udner perhaps.

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This stag has just come through the rut so he has lost a lot of condition, he was badly scarred up from numerous fights over the rut.
I agree there are better bullets for sambar but have shot a few sambar stags with the eldx in the 300 WM and my best to date with the 143 gr ELD X out of my 6.5x55 , heart shot at 40 odd yards he ran about 60- 70 yards and went over, bullet penetration about 20 inches and I recovered a perfectly mushroomed bullet on the off side.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mooseman

This stag has just come through the rut so he has lost a lot of condition, he was badly scarred up from numerous fights over the rut.
I agree there are better bullets for sambar but have shot a few sambar stags with the eldx in the 300 WM and my best to date with the 143 gr ELD X out of my 6.5x55 , heart shot at 40 odd yards he ran about 60- 70 yards and went over, bullet penetration about 20 inches and I recovered a perfectly mushroomed bullet on the off side.

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Thats some nice news to hear right there! most of what ive been lookin at regarding the edlx is its just another cup an core, with a nice shape... an with the Mags on any lefg or shoulder bone they go off an lack peentration sometimes, but thats a huntin.

whats the average distance for eldx sambar stags? i hear once they slow up a bit they are sweet as! im plannin on usin the 162 eldx at that 250+ on the ol sambar

Most of the sambar I have shot recently have been under 100 yds and most 50 or less. The 162gr eld x should be ok especially after 250 yds.Attachment 150804
Picture is of the 143 gr ELD X out of my best Sambar ( 6.5 x 55)
The 143 gr ELD X seems to perform very well at the speeds the 260, and various 6.5's start out at. I did recover a 178 gr ELD X out of another sambar stag I neck shot at 25 yards and it was still intact but a bit mangled and from memory weighted about 90 grains.Attachment 150805
The big stag taken with the above bullet.