The Sambar deer is originally from
South East Asia. The South Pacific is the only region in the world
this species can be hunted. After Wapiti, sambar are the second
largest deer in New Zealand with a mature stag weighing 700+ lbs
The Sambar is an outstanding game animal and one of the hardest
deer to hunt. They are extremely cunning and can live very close
to human habitation. It is common for a stag to lie in thick brush,
and let a hunter walk right by; moving off once the danger lessens.
The typical Sambar antlers feature six strong tines and are usually
heavily pearled. The antlers on Sambar are very dense, and for
this reason they are often sought after by both trophy hunters
and knife makers all over the world. The New Zealand trophies
are the largest in the South Pacific.
In New Zealand these deer can only be found on the North Island.
Sambar can be hunted from April to November. A limited amount
of trophies can be taken each year. |