Moluccan Rusa Deer hunting
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Where to hunt Moluccan Rusa Deer
Moluccan Rusa Deer is a subspecies of Rusa deer. “Rusa” is Malay for “deer”, and in fact the species originated in the South-East Asia. They belong to the Red Deer family and are well adapted to the tropics. From the Moluccan Islands the Moluccan Rusa Deer were successfully introduced to various islands near the coast of Australia, and then to the Australian mainland as well. They adapted well to Australian climate and can be hunted here.
Price distribution
Moluccan Rusa Deer hunting is often offered in a package which includes trophies of other animals, such as Sambar Deer, Axis Deer, and Blackbuck. The price of such packages may run into $20,000 and up. The daily rate is typically about $500, and the shooting fee for a Moluccan Rusa Deer is $4,000 or so.
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Learn more from our blog story
Have you ever felt torn between going for a family vacation and going hunting? Moluccan Rusa Deer hunting offers you a chance to have both during one trip. Check out this blog post for other options to vary a spell at the beach with an interesting and challenging hunt, and other ways to arrange a holiday that would thrill both the hunting and non-hunting members of the family.
29 Jun 2017 Come together: How to combine hunting and a family vacation.When to hunt Moluccan Rusa Deer?
Hunting for Moluccan Rusa Deer can be open all year round as the species is considered invasive in some areas. However, Australian outfitters prefer to schedule their hunts for June to August. Rusa Deer don’t have a set breeding period, but mating activity seems to peak at these months. The period also happens to offer some of the most pleasant weather in Australia.
Hunting methods
Moluccan Rusa Deer tend to stay under dense cover in the daytime, and come out to feed in the dark. The spot-and-stalk hunt for this deer is something else. The hunter and the guide will move very quietly through the undercover, trying to make up a stag as it takes a sunbath in a clearing, as they sometimes do. With a strike of luck, the hunters will run into two stags fighting over a doe. But in any scenario, the ultimate encounter with the quarry will likely be at a very close range, and might end with a quick shot at a running animal.
Why hunt Moluccan Rusa Deer?
Rusa Deer stags carry sturdy antlers, with fewer points than in other members of the red deer family, but unusually thick and powerful points and beams. They are well-known for the habit of decorating them with tree branches, lianas, and other vegetation during the rut. If you see a picture of a deer whose antlers look like a bird’s nest or camouflage suit, chances are it’s the Rusa. Think about a challenge for a taxidermist to preserve not just the antlers, but the decoration too! In any case, the trophy will be a lasting memory of the hunt and the unusual environment where it took place.
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