FEATURE Pasquale Caruso
In January 2026, I had the privilege of taking my first chital stag in the beautiful Queensland countryside, an experience that will stay with me for the rest of my life. Scoring an impressive 175 5/8 on the Douglas scoring system, this stag was far beyond anything I had ever imagined encountering in the field.
It was the final morning of a solid week-long hunt. With plans to return home to South Australia the following day, we headed out before sunrise for one last opportunity. The air was thick, hot and humid but spirits were high. We had seen plenty of stags and hinds throughout the week, and even that morning there was no shortage of deer activity. I told myself I could handle the heat and sweat for one last hunt.
A couple of hours in, we had already spotted numerous stags and hinds. Then, right at the very end of the morning hunt, we saw him.
I had never laid eyes on a chital stag of this calibre before. To call his size impressive would be an understatement. He stood calmly among a group of feeding hinds, completely unbothered by our presence. It was a rare and surreal moment.
Carefully, I closed the distance to approximately 70 metres. Easing up to a tree, using the trunk for support, I steadied myself, resting my rifle across my forearm. I took a couple of deep breaths and settled in behind my Sako 90 Hunter chambered in .300 Win Mag, paired with a Zeiss Conquest 4 6–24x50. With just one round left in the magazine, I knew it had to count. A clean, ethical shot was the only option.
The Norma Whitetail 150 grain .300 Win Mag round performed flawlessly. One well-placed shot through the shoulder and heart dropped the magnificent stag on the spot.
As we approached the animal, we were momentarily speechless. The guide who had spent many years guiding and hunting laughed and said, “Never in all my years of guiding have I experienced a morning like this.” He admired the stag’s head just as much as I did, congratulating me and shaking my hand three times within ten minutes.
It was a fitting end to an unforgettable week in Queensland. Taking my first chital stag under those circumstances on the final morning, with a single round, on an animal of that quality made the experience all the more special.
Needless to say, I’ll be back. The Queensland countryside has left its mark on me, and I look forward to returning in the coming years in pursuit of another chital stag.
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