Hi guys, all the regular places i hunt sambar seem to be burnt of on fire, what can i expect for next season as i was not living in Victoria during the 2003 fires.

IT'S A BIT OF A BLOODY WORRY DUGGABOY AND I'M IN EXACTLY THE SAME SITUATION AS YOURSELF.BURNT OUT BUSH IS BAD FOR ALL CRITTERS BIG AND SMALL AND JUST WHEN NUMBERS OF DEER WERE FAVOURING THE HUNTER.THIS SEASON i IMAGINE A LOT OF DISPLACED HUNTERS ROAMING THE UNBURNT AREAS OF STATE FOREST.IT'S STILL EARLY AS WELL.LETS JUST KEEP A GOOD LOOK OUT FOR EACH OTHER.I IMAGINE THE BIG RIVER WOODS POINT AREA WILL RECOVER WHEN THE FEED COMES BACK THROUGH RECRUITMENT FROM THE WATER CATCHMENT AREAS BUT HOW LONG THIS TAKES IS ANYONES GUESS.EARLY PRE HUNT RECON IS THE ONLY REAL WAY TO FIND OUT AND THEN GET IN AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE.AVOID WEEKENDS AND HOLIDAY PERIODS AT ALL COSTS.IF YOU FIND A REAL TOP SPOT THEN GIVE US A CALL.

i think two big fires in five years will take its toll, especially the vast amount of country which has been burnt
daniel

I am not sure the effect on the herd will be that great . It is interesting that 2 of the alltime top 4 heads were taken within 3 years of the 2003 fires which burned a much larger area tan has currently beeb burned . I wonder if the herd is so large in numbers and now so widely spread that even big fires will not badly affect the numbers . In 1939 the herd was much smaller and in a small area so it was a long time before they recovered .
Mark