Thread: Deer in Strange Places.

Originally Posted by XR500

Sambar can be very elusive for a horse sized animal. Over the decades they have worked their way up the Rangatikei river valley, to now well past Taihape. One was shot close to the Gentle Annie some years ago.

Still a fair handful of Sambar down foxton in the dunes and spotted about in the flax up past the whirikino bridge SH1

Mate nailed one a fortnight ago that strayed into the maize stubble, big bastard wouldn’t fit in the bucket on the 6040!

From what I know they were barged over to foxton, farm erected, but someone forgot how pissed up they get and no buyers for stank meat, so the fences were cut and they were let free. Allegedly.

No idea when that allegedly was, he’s dropped about 12 in the last 4 years or so so there is enough around to maintain a population.

Originally Posted by XR500

Sambar can be very elusive for a horse sized animal. Over the decades they have worked their way up the Rangatikei river valley, to now well past Taihape. One was shot close to the Gentle Annie some years ago.

Stayed on a farm as a kid in the back of Rangawahia ( Apiti area)1960s and there were Sambar on the farm then. Also well known to others in the area.

Originally Posted by Barry the hunter

one really strange one that still stands out for me was one of our DOC staff a very experienced hunter shot a thar on the side of the road south of Taumaranui now where the hell did that come from - he saw it in a paddock and went back and tipped it over - another one I bet a lot of hunters dont know was that whitetail were released at a Port Waikato property - they were shot out by DOC or where they ?? I dont know myself - but yes they were there I have seen the photos

Maybe not so strange, I have on occasion in the past been in the company of game park owners, guides etc.
Some of the plans regarding sika, tahr and whitetail had to be heard to be believed. All had one common denominator which was the Cook straight. If 5% of those plans came to fruition it would explain a lot.

ohhh yes the money the means some time

Originally Posted by Barry the hunter

ohhh yes the money the means some time

You got it in one

Originally Posted by Barry the hunter

one really strange one that still stands out for me was one of our DOC staff a very experienced hunter shot a thar on the side of the road south of Taumaranui now where the hell did that come from - he saw it in a paddock and went back and tipped it over - another one I bet a lot of hunters dont know was that whitetail were released at a Port Waikato property - they were shot out by DOC or where they ?? I dont know myself - but yes they were there I have seen the photos

That tahr or similar was shot at Taihape which came from a safari park in the district.

just seen 8 deer on the way home tonight 50m next to the state highway 20 minutes out of town

from a certain safari operator perhaps

Not so much of a strange place but still was hard case to see.
I was in a block of the Clarance this roar and watched some hunters drive up to the Neighbours hut and transfer their kit into a side by side to set off for a hunt.
A Fallow spiker walked out of a patch of scrub 50 meters from them, watched them for a while and ducked down the riverbank. The spiker wandered along the riverbank, which was open grass, but out of view from the hut. When he got to a patch of scrub he would move up and watch the guys. He did this for about 20 minutes before wandering off into the scrub on the edge of the river.
Went south of Kaikoura at night and saw 3 fallow on the front lawn of a house down a side road 100 meters from the state highway, as I drove past, they just looked up and it was only when I stopped, they walked off.

Originally Posted by gmm

Not so much of a strange place but still was hard case to see.
I was in a block of the Clarance this roar and watched some hunters drive up to the Neighbours hut and transfer their kit into a side by side to set off for a hunt.
A Fallow spiker walked out of a patch of scrub 50 meters from them, watched them for a while and ducked down the riverbank. The spiker wandered along the riverbank, which was open grass, but out of view from the hut. When he got to a patch of scrub he would move up and watch the guys. He did this for about 20 minutes before wandering off into the scrub on the edge of the river.
Went south of Kaikoura at night and saw 3 fallow on the front lawn of a house down a side road 100 meters from the state highway, as I drove past, they just looked up and it was only when I stopped, they walked off.

I am convinced that Sika hinds follow you as you hunt through their territory. If you do anything unexpected like take your jacket of to shed some layers they will squeal. Had this happen two days in a row. They will also sneak past you in full view if you are looking the other way, keeping their eye on you all the time. Turn your head and they are gone.
GPM.

Originally Posted by grandpamac

I am convinced that Sika hinds follow you as you hunt through their territory. If you do anything unexpected like take your jacket of to shed some layers they will squeal. Had this happen two days in a row. They will also sneak past you in full view if you are looking the other way, keeping their eye on you all the time. Turn your head and they are gone.
GPM.

Saw something similar one time.
Somewhere in the Clements Rd location a mate and I stalked together trying to get onto roaring Sika stags. We got into a stag's patch but couldn't see him although he was close. My mate decided to carry on alone a bit further while I stayed put and watched. I could see my mate the whole time and he had gone about 60 or 70 yds when a young stag silently stepped out of thick growth and watched before folowing my mate for a short time. My mate was intensely looking ahead and had no idea. The stag never saw me. It was sactually quite comical and a pleasure to watch. Then the stag dissolved buck into the scrub and disappeared. We both had a good laugh when I recounted with my mate. We were both young then and still learning about Sika.

Originally Posted by grandpamac

I am convinced that Sika hinds follow you as you hunt through their territory. If you do anything unexpected like take your jacket of to shed some layers they will squeal. Had this happen two days in a row. They will also sneak past you in full view if you are looking the other way, keeping their eye on you all the time. Turn your head and they are gone.
GPM.

Yep, your right. I had a young sika stag I could not locate and twice I went through a small patch of thick scrub and both times when I got out into the open, he squealed at me. The third time I got almost to the edge, made a heap of noise walking out and backtracked sitting off to the side of where I had walked. The stag knew something was up but couldn't work it out, he was almost crawling keeping low as possible when he appeared 5 meters away. He saw me and froze, soon as I moved he was gone. That bloody cunning bugger was following me and I stalked that area thinking I was on to it, but goes to show he had the better of me.

Outside a mates driveway recently



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Greetings O Wise Ones,
I was doing a little testing this morning and walking back from setting up my target I spotted these.

There was a track of these prints leading along an old sheep track towards my water trough. There has been no stock in the paddock for around two months and we had over 100 mm of rain less than a week ago so these prints were fresh so together with my sighting reported in the OP and comments in the replies I believe that we have deer. What do you think?
I reported these findings to my dearly beloved and was informed in no uncertain terms that these animals, whatever they are, have honorary cow status. My thoughts exactly.
Regards Grandpamac.