Advice on hunting stags in thick bush

phil mcwilliam · April 21, 2008, 03:59 AM

I was hunting sambar deer(between red deer & elk in size) in a thick scrub gully in alpine country. I heard a noise down gully & had stalked within 15 yards of the noise.It was then that the branches of a tree in front of me started to move, as a stag thrashed its antlers on the far side of the tree. Because of the dense scrub around the tree I could not see the stag. The wind was in my favour but the last 10 yards to the tree was lightly covered. A faint game trail led from the thick scrub where the stag was thrashing its antlers, right past me. I decided to stay put & wait & see if the stag would proceed along the trail towards me so I could take a shot. After a minute the thrashing stopped . I purposely broke a stick ,hoping the rutting stag would come to investigate. I then slowly stalked ahead through the thick scrub to the far side of the tree, but the stag had gone. Judging from the height of the rubs, the size of its tracks & the size of its droppings ,I had missed out on a big one. What should I have done differently?

elkman06 · April 21, 2008, 07:50 AM

Probably very few here have experience w/ that type of stag. A few questions came to mind.
Was it during the rut? If so, then your idea of simulating another stag with the branches might work. More aggressively perhaps?
At 10 yds, my experience w/ elk is that once you've gotten that close, if the shot does not present itself by his movements then you are probably screwed. Any movement by you will most likely be detected causing him to leave.
Is there a female noise you can duplicate to bring them in? Works for elk.
Lastly, the idea of setting up on a game trail is a decent one. It would require a lot of time in the field scouting for the right spot though. If in an Alpine gully as suggested then you would have open country around it to set up an ambush also. Might have to have a helper drive them out though.
elkman06

Gbro · April 21, 2008, 10:01 AM

Another think that will work for Elk, But not as well for white tail is to move right in on them, Be ready for the shot, and remember anything a bullet hits will affect its flight path. A shot that you might think couldn't have missed, could happen in just a few feet because of interference with brush.
The 12ga. slug is the most forgiving load for brush hunting "IMHO".
Shooting through twigs (pencil size) was tested in the video "Fire Power"
even the .50BMG would tumble after hitting twigs. I do not remember if the 12 gauge was tested.

Lawyer Daggit · April 21, 2008, 10:32 AM

It is hard to say- as soon as the Stag became aware of you were done for, as you are aware, they have a seeming ability to melt into thin air.

I agree with the idea of waiting by the game trail and trying to ambush him.

Without giving anything away in respect to this big Sambar's domain, are you nunting in N Victoria?

Jack O'Conner · April 21, 2008, 02:32 PM

I snuck up on this elk bull last September. He was more interested in thrashing the tree than anything else. But I had no license for this zone and was unarmed.

If the animal is not observed, there is nothing to do except wait for a shot. I'm not sure if red stag calls are available commecially which replicate their roaring and challenging sounds.

Jack

hunter33 · April 21, 2008, 05:10 PM

Wow thats a great picture!

phil mcwilliam · April 22, 2008, 05:07 AM

Yes, elkman06 it was during the rut. Although unlike most species of deer I hunt, Sambar will rut at different times of the year, but in my experience the first cold snap brings them on. The only female sambar sound I know is similar to an airhorn, and as an alarm call I think that would scare a stag away at short quarters. I've heard of hunters hitting old antlers together or even grunting, but I don't know how these tactics would have worked. Gbro, I would have moved in, but the final yards would have been impossible to move through silently. I guess I'm just frustrated at being close enough to hear a stag thrashing & snorting & then have him vanish on me. Yes Lawer Dagget, I am hunting in the Victorian National Park,(licenced) about 10 miles in a straight line from a ski resort- forgive me if I don't provide a map.
I keep telling my mate we are wasting our time hunting in such thick bush, but occassionaly we get lucky. The attachment shows a Sambar stag I took a few years ago in the same area, & gives some idea of the thick bush I'm refering to.

elkman06 · April 22, 2008, 03:10 PM

Nice pics Phil and Jack,
I would say patience will be your best friend here. Raking antlers and or sticks can sometimes bring elk right in. I wish I had harvested every bull that I have been that close to. Sometimes the shot just doesn't present itself. We tend to hunt elk about 20-30 yds apart so that the caller(behind) can bring the elk in closer to the shooter(up front).
elkman06

ojibweindian · April 25, 2008, 06:58 AM

Phil

That's pretty heavy brush; a lot like many areas in Alabama.

April 21, 2008, 03:59 AM	#1
phil mcwilliam Senior Member Join Date: July 18, 2007 Posts: 573	Advice on hunting stags in thick bush I was hunting sambar deer(between red deer & elk in size) in a thick scrub gully in alpine country. I heard a noise down gully & had stalked within 15 yards of the noise.It was then that the branches of a tree in front of me started to move, as a stag thrashed its antlers on the far side of the tree. Because of the dense scrub around the tree I could not see the stag. The wind was in my favour but the last 10 yards to the tree was lightly covered. A faint game trail led from the thick scrub where the stag was thrashing its antlers, right past me. I decided to stay put & wait & see if the stag would proceed along the trail towards me so I could take a shot. After a minute the thrashing stopped . I purposely broke a stick ,hoping the rutting stag would come to investigate. I then slowly stalked ahead through the thick scrub to the far side of the tree, but the stag had gone. Judging from the height of the rubs, the size of its tracks & the size of its droppings ,I had missed out on a big one. What should I have done differently?

April 21, 2008, 07:50 AM	#2
elkman06 Senior Member Join Date: March 14, 2006 Location: Wyoming Posts: 885	Probably very few here have experience w/ that type of stag. A few questions came to mind. Was it during the rut? If so, then your idea of simulating another stag with the branches might work. More aggressively perhaps? At 10 yds, my experience w/ elk is that once you've gotten that close, if the shot does not present itself by his movements then you are probably screwed. Any movement by you will most likely be detected causing him to leave. Is there a female noise you can duplicate to bring them in? Works for elk. Lastly, the idea of setting up on a game trail is a decent one. It would require a lot of time in the field scouting for the right spot though. If in an Alpine gully as suggested then you would have open country around it to set up an ambush also. Might have to have a helper drive them out though. elkman06 __________________ "The right of the citizens to bear arms in the defense of themselves and of the state shall not be denied." Wyoming Constitution Article 1, Sec24 "Better to be tried by 12 than carried by 6"

April 21, 2008, 10:01 AM	#3
Gbro Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,084	Another think that will work for Elk, But not as well for white tail is to move right in on them, Be ready for the shot, and remember anything a bullet hits will affect its flight path. A shot that you might think couldn't have missed, could happen in just a few feet because of interference with brush. The 12ga. slug is the most forgiving load for brush hunting "IMHO". Shooting through twigs (pencil size) was tested in the video "Fire Power" even the .50BMG would tumble after hitting twigs. I do not remember if the 12 gauge was tested. __________________ Gbro CGVS For the message of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, But to us who are being saved, It Is The Power Of God. 1Corinthians 1-18

April 21, 2008, 02:32 PM	#5
Jack O'Conner Senior Member Join Date: July 11, 2005 Location: Manatee County, Florida Posts: 1,976	I snuck up on this elk bull last September. He was more interested in thrashing the tree than anything else. But I had no license for this zone and was unarmed. If the animal is not observed, there is nothing to do except wait for a shot. I'm not sure if red stag calls are available commecially which replicate their roaring and challenging sounds. Jack __________________ Fire up the grill! Deer hunting IS NOT catch and release.

April 21, 2008, 05:10 PM	#6
hunter33 Senior Member Join Date: September 19, 2007 Location: oregon Posts: 289	Wow thats a great picture! __________________ My information might not be helpful but just think of it as a bump

April 21, 2008, 10:32 AM	#4
Lawyer Daggit Senior Member Join Date: December 5, 2004 Posts: 1,181	It is hard to say- as soon as the Stag became aware of you were done for, as you are aware, they have a seeming ability to melt into thin air. I agree with the idea of waiting by the game trail and trying to ambush him. Without giving anything away in respect to this big Sambar's domain, are you nunting in N Victoria?

April 22, 2008, 05:07 AM	#7
phil mcwilliam Senior Member Join Date: July 18, 2007 Posts: 573	Thanks for the feedback Yes, elkman06 it was during the rut. Although unlike most species of deer I hunt, Sambar will rut at different times of the year, but in my experience the first cold snap brings them on. The only female sambar sound I know is similar to an airhorn, and as an alarm call I think that would scare a stag away at short quarters. I've heard of hunters hitting old antlers together or even grunting, but I don't know how these tactics would have worked. Gbro, I would have moved in, but the final yards would have been impossible to move through silently. I guess I'm just frustrated at being close enough to hear a stag thrashing & snorting & then have him vanish on me. Yes Lawer Dagget, I am hunting in the Victorian National Park,(licenced) about 10 miles in a straight line from a ski resort- forgive me if I don't provide a map. I keep telling my mate we are wasting our time hunting in such thick bush, but occassionaly we get lucky. The attachment shows a Sambar stag I took a few years ago in the same area, & gives some idea of the thick bush I'm refering to. Last edited by phil mcwilliam; July 3, 2008 at 06:44 AM.

April 22, 2008, 03:10 PM	#8
elkman06 Senior Member Join Date: March 14, 2006 Location: Wyoming Posts: 885	Nice pics Phil and Jack, I would say patience will be your best friend here. Raking antlers and or sticks can sometimes bring elk right in. I wish I had harvested every bull that I have been that close to. Sometimes the shot just doesn't present itself. We tend to hunt elk about 20-30 yds apart so that the caller(behind) can bring the elk in closer to the shooter(up front). elkman06 __________________ "The right of the citizens to bear arms in the defense of themselves and of the state shall not be denied." Wyoming Constitution Article 1, Sec24 "Better to be tried by 12 than carried by 6"

April 25, 2008, 06:58 AM	#9
ojibweindian Senior Member Join Date: April 20, 2000 Location: Huntsville, Alabama Posts: 1,198	Phil That's pretty heavy brush; a lot like many areas in Alabama.