Errol Mason's Hunt Smart ® Training Course Reviews


Review from Ante, Nick and Zeljko - ACT

Hi my name is Ante, my friend's Zeljko and Nick and I have been hunting Sambar deer for the last couple of years. As you may know, Sambar hunting is tuff. Finding them without spooking them is challenging to say the least. Sambar are the hardest deer species to hunt. After watching YouTube and reading books on how to hunt them we came across the books Secrets of the Sambar volume 1, 2 and 3 written by Errol Mason. This book was the Mecca, opening key taking us to the next level on how to hunt these illusive deer.

We found out Errol Mason, the Sambar Deer Specialist, runs a three day "hunt smart" Sambar Deer Hunter Training Course. Boy were we excited and you can bet we all signed up.

When we arrived at the campsite we met Errol and his wife Lynne. They were very friendly, professional, flexible and they kept us informed about what is outlined for the next 3 days. 

We met the other hunters on the course and then set up camp. The camping experience is summed up by "I love it"; it's the best being outdoors under the stars around a campfire with good company. We sat around the campfire with the other hunters and Errol talking and enjoying each others hunting experiences, especially Errol's stories about him guiding hunters and his teaching methods, which were unbelievable, a real eye opener. We knew straight away we were going to learn and gain so much knowledge out of this course. 

The first arvo we went out we ran into tracks and deer sign and the learning started straight away as Errol pointed out which print was a hind and which print was the stag. As we were tracking the deer to a feeding ground we tracked them to a gully. We were glassing for about an hour but nothing was sighted.

At this point Errol noticed that there was not anywhere near as much feed in this gully as there usually is and he said, "If the deer aren’t where you expect them to be there will be a logical explanation. You must work out what that reason is and adapt and overcome" and that's exactly what we did.

Errol said, “Due to not much feed they won't be here, they will be in the next gully system." The next morning we trekked into the next gully where Errol said they would be.

We glassed for 20 minutes and sure enough that's where they were. Along came three hinds and a fawn walking up to exactly where Errol said they would be.

It was truly awesome - we couldn't believe our eyes. Errol had put us on undisturbed Sambar and we were able to watch them for about one hour. Then Errol talked us all through taking a simulated shot. The wind was hunting everywhere and eventually they spooked and began to quickly move away, most likely because they had caught our scent. But with a secret move Errol made them come to a standstill broadside to us and we were able to simulate taking a well-aimed shot from 300 yards. This was amazing.

There were a lot of other parts to the course that were awesome. We also learnt about what deer love to eat in winter, calibres and scopes. Great tips to come home with in getting my gear sorted.  

I recommend this course for beginner or experience hunters who want to learn more about sambar. Errol Mason is really the Sambar King - Thanks for a great experience.

Ante, Nick and Zeljko - ACT

Holding his smart phone against the eyepiece of the Vixen Geoma 11 ED 67mm 20 power spotting scope, Zeljko captured these images of the unalarmed sambar.

Left to right: Nick, Zeljko Errol and Ante.



Review from Chris Pegg

Hi Errol/Lynne   I just got back from doing the course with Errol which was the first time the course had been run where participants camped on site. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and loved the camping aspect with many light hearted discussions around the campfire with like-minded people being a highlight. 

I am relatively new to sambar hunting and deer hunting in general having only taken it up in the past 4 years. During that time however I have learnt that “walking them up”, whilst there is no doubt this can be enjoyable and sometimes successful, it is a very low percentage game. I shudder to think how many animals I have spooked without even knowing it or how many days I have wasted in areas where the deer aren’t and are just not ever going to be.  

With Errol’s course a common sense approach is used to apply the overlays of the various needs of the deer in order to predict where they will most likely be. And by applying these overlays Errol pinpointed where the deer would be on Sunday morning and we were able to watch four unalarmed sambar for about an hour.

And it is not just about finding where they are – Errol gave us all insight into how best to hunt them without chasing them out of the area. I have already started to apply the thinking on these overlays to where I hunt and I am confident it will give me a sound basis to hunt effectively in future. I highly recommend the course.

Chris Pegg



Review from Andrew Coulton

Hi Errol,

After reading Secrets of the Sambar 1,2,3 and The Hunt Smart System, followed up by the Hunt Smart course, we would like to thank you Errol for the hands on education we needed to put the Hunt Smart System in place. Now we are both more confident in catching sambar undisturbed in their natural environment.

My son and I thoroughly enjoyed the course and would highly recommend it.

Many thanks.

Andrew and Joey Coulton - Tumut, NSW



Review from Daniel Curin

Thank you Errol for giving me the opportunity to attend your Secrets of the Sambar hunting course this weekend. It was no doubt an experience I shall never forget. The vast knowledge that poured from you was just mind blowing. Now reading my copy of your book will be much easier to understand. I cannot wait to get out there and put what you have taught into practice. I feel I have a greater understanding and am more confident in what to do.

Thanks again Errol. It was an honour meeting you. All the Best to you and Lynne.

Danny, Niddrie VIC



Review from Ash Williams

G'day Errol,

I would just like to say a big thank you to you for having me on the course last weekend. I learnt so much and walked away feeling more confident in myself, by being able to put together a good game plan. Hopefully soon I won't just be a bush walker with a rifle. It was good having people of all experience there as well, as they asked a lot of questions I wouldn't have thought of. Overall it was a great weekend and I had a ball learning from you. I can't wait to put the skills to use. 

Thanks again, 

Ash Williams , Mt Evelyn VIC



Review from Paul Evans

Errol,

Just wanting to touch base with you and let you know how much I enjoyed the course.  

Although I had read your books and understood (I thought) most of the information, I believe that attending your course is essential to maximising the understanding of the knowledge contained within the books.

I have already recommend attending the course to several people and hope that you will continue running them for many years to come.   Regards,

Paul Evans



Review from Danny Curin

Thank you Errol for giving me the opportunity to attend your Secrets of the Sambar hunting course this weekend. It was no doubt an experience I shall never forget. The vast knowledge that poured from you was just mind blowing. Now reading my copy of your book will be much easier to understand. I cannot wait to get out there and put what you have taught into practice. I feel I have a greater understanding and am more confident in what to do.

Thanks again Errol. It was an honour meeting you. All the Best to you and Lynne.

Danny Curin, Niddrie VIC







View all Hunt Smart® Success Stories