Join Us On The Hunt

Fully guided, all-inclusive chital deer hunts in the heart of north Queensland, Australia.

A black desk with a computer monitor, keyboard, mouse, and a smartphone on it, with a person's hand typing on the keyboard.

An Unforgettable Adventure

Scenes from safari, join us as two magical thirty inch chital stags hit the deck!

History:

Introduced to Australia in the early 1800s, chital deer found an unlikely home in the rugged landscape that is north Queensland.

By the 1860s, stockman William Hann had successfully established a population in the region, with just four deer believed to have formed the foundation of what would become thousands.

Native to India and Sri Lanka, chital evolved alongside predators such as tigers.

In Australia, they face little natural predation.

On the ground, dingoes may take the occasional deer.

Whilst from the sky above, wedge-tailed eagles can impact fawns and young deer, particularly when cover is sparse.

With few natural predators and an environment well suited to their survival, chital populations have continued to expand.

Today, hunting plays an important role in managing these populations, with aerial culling also becoming an increasingly common management tool.

The Location:

Your adventure begins the moment you arrive in Townsville.

Your guide will meet you at the airport, with the vehicle packed and ready to go — minimising time on the road and maximising time in the field.

Just three hours from Townsville (depending on road conditions), lies the rugged Basalt Wall region of northern Queensland.

Here, we offer access to more than 70,000 acres of remote wilderness, where open country, rugged terrain and thick timber create the perfect setting for a true Australian hunting adventure.

The private property has a rich history, having been worked by cattle graziers for five generations.

Today, it holds strong populations of chital deer, alongside the ever-present possibility of encountering feral pigs, and dingoes.

It is wild, remote and unpredictable — and that's exactly what makes every hunt here an adventure.

View of a deer with antlers standing on the grass, captured through a small opening in a wooden structure, with greenery and rocks in the background.
A deer with white spots on its back and large antlers standing in a forest with tall trees and fallen branches.

Meet Your Guide

| Bowhunter | Outdoorsman | Veterinarian | Co-Founder of Twin Elements |

A man wearing camouflage outdoor clothes and a camouflage cap, seen holding binoculars up to his eyes in an autumn outdoor setting.
A man in camouflage clothing is sitting on the grass in a forest, holding antlers from a deer he has hunted. There is a compound bow with a sight and arrow rest beside him, and a dead deer, a young spotted fawn, lying on the ground in front of him.
A man sitting on a cooler by a campfire at night, holding a mug and looking down, with a star-filled sky and trees in the background.

Ayden Doumtsis is the owner and guide at Spotted Safaris.

Growing up in Australia, Ayden was introduced to bowhunting by his father, Nick, alongside his twin brother, James.

Those early experiences sparked a passion that has grown into a lifelong obsession with hunting and the outdoors.

Together with James, Ayden went on to create Twin Elements, an Australian outdoor media brand documenting hunting adventures across Australia and around the world.

Over the years Ayden’s passion for the pursuit has taken him from his home in Australia, overseas to places such as Montana, USA and the Southern Alps of New Zealand.

Targeting a wide range of game, such as red, chital, sambar and fallow deer, feral pigs , scrub bulls, banteng and water buffalo to elk, mule deer and pronghorn.

These experiences have taught him that no two hunts are the same, and that some of the most rewarding moments come from the challenges along the way.

A passion for the pursuit

Everyone hunts for their own reasons. For Ayden, nothing beats close range encounters with completely relaxed, unaware animals.

There is something about getting well within the flight zone of an animal that makes every part of the experience more intense.

From reading the wind and understanding animal behaviour to planning a stalk and making the final approach.

Ayden appreciates hunting in all its forms and enjoys sharing the knowledge, techniques and experiences that come with spending time in the field.

For Ayden, a successful hunt is about the process, more than the animal at the end of it.

It's about learning the country, understanding the animals, enjoying good company and coming home with meat and a story worth telling.

Why hunt with Ayden?

Having bow hunted for most of his life, his experience hunting a wide range of animals in countless different scenarios paired with his expert knowledge of chital deer behaviour allows him to educate clients on all aspects of hunting.

He brings an energetic and hands on approach to guiding, with a strong emphasis on making clients feel involved in the hunt rather than simply being along for the ride creating a memorable adventure.

Whether you're an experienced hunter looking for your next challenge or someone wanting to experience an Australian safari for the first time, Ayden's goal is to give you an authentic hunting experience and help you make the most of every opportunity.

A Hunt with Ayden means early mornings, long days, plenty of glassing , and lots of learning along the way.

And that's exactly what makes hunting worth doing!

Get To Know Your Guide

(Click on the image to watch)

Some Of The Locals

Close-up of three baby cows, with a white cow on the left, a brown cow in the middle, and a black cow on the right, standing on a grassy field.
A colorful parakeet perched on a barbed wire fence with a blurred green background.
A male wallaroo with large ears and brown fur, standing outdoors with a blurred green and white background.
A squatter pigeon (bird) perched on a rock in a grassy area with blurred green foliage in the background.
Three colourful rainbow lorikeets (birds) perched on a water trough, with a blurred background of natural outdoors.
Close-up of a hawk's head with brown feathers and a sharp black beak.
Close-up of a green gecko's eye and face against a black background.
A dog standing on a dirt path with greenery and trees in the background.
A snake on the ground with grass and plants around it, night scene illuminated by two bright headlights in the background.
A wild boar standing on grass and plants in a natural setting.
Three white cockatoos with yellow crests perched on a wooden railing outdoors, with trees and sunlight in the background.
A large black and white bird, possibly a stork or heron, standing on grassland with blurred background.
A calf walking through a grassy field with trees in the background.
A bird of prey, likely a hawk or an eagle, sitting on a tree branch amidst green leaves with a blurred background.
A brown dog with large ears and bright eyes, standing outdoors in a natural setting with blurred green and yellow foliage in the background.
A hawk standing on the ground next to a small rodent, with blurred green trees in the background.

Seasonality & When To Visit

Close-up view of a deer’s fur with brown hair and white spots.

Wet Season Hunts

Think extremely hot and humid! (Although there is a perk)

Summer hunts coincide with a peak period in chital deer rutting activity.

Expect fighting, calling, preaching, rubbing of trees, the works!

Finding deer is easier due to their tendency to form larger rutting mobs.

However, identifying a mature stag with an intact set of antlers can therefore become the hardest part of the challenge.

The wet season can bring unpredictable tropical weather. With heavy rain and flooding may restrict access or require a hunt to be postponed.

*Travel insurance is strongly recommended when booking during this period.

A deer with antlers standing among trees and greenery in a forest, seen through blurred branches in the foreground.

Dry Season Hunts

Think crisp, sunny, winter mornings!

Lows in the single digits (5 degrees) highs in the mid twenties (25 degrees)

The surrounding countryside has dried up considerable allowing more 4×4 access to new sections of the property.

The deer are spread out searching for green feed and water sources.

Mobs are smaller in size due to resource sharing, which can make stalking far easier with less eyes to manage.

Feral pigs are easier to find as well which can add a new dynamic to your hunt.

The dry season brings much more mild, temperate weather for those looking to enjoy a less strenuous, physically demanding hunt.

A deer with spotted fur and large antlers standing in a grassy field with a blurred forest background.

From The Field

View fullsize A few fresh pig wallows on an isolated water source. These hotspots become great ambush location as the countryside dries up.
View fullsize One from the archives! This keen hunter, made it work on limited time and managed his first chital stag. The meat, antlers and cape were all utilised making for plenty of great memories to return home with
View fullsize You might not have a stag in the glass, but there will be signs that they're around 👀
View fullsize One of many birds on safari whom loves to let the surrounding bush know that we're on the hunt! The butcherbirds alarm call is distinctive and loud, readily alerting nearby chital deer
View fullsize Believe it or not, this chital stag is standing up here! Just goes to show how difficult it can be hunting these critters in thick, tall vegetation.
View fullsize Why hello 😍 Moments before this young chital stag flees the scene and pust some ground between himself and the odd shapes in camo!
View fullsize Where he came to rest!
View fullsize Sharing sunrise with a few of the locals
View fullsize Having a solid snooze, this neat chital stag relies on his nearby hinds for safety
View fullsize A common sight in chital country! A decent mob of hinds, with a number of satellite stags amidst. The last thing to do is locate the mature stag and assess his potential 👀
View fullsize It might not look like much to some, but string a few decent rubs together such as this (one pictured) and you have a chital highway. Stags will frequent these areas, spreading their scent and looking for other deer as they move along and rub each t
View fullsize Standing tall nearby a bedded rival. These two stags come close together as they rutted over a hind just out of frame. The bigger model proved to be a stunning 31 inch stag with great brows and impressive mass to boot
View fullsize Smoko break! ☕ Coffee, cows and chital stags (hopefully)

What Our Clients Have To Say

“A Genuinely Passionate Guide ”

A man in camouflage clothing and a cap, holding a large set of antlers, sitting on grass next to a fallen deer with white spots, in a wooded area.
Man in camouflage hunting gear kneeling next to a large, dead deer with antlers in a grassy forested area.
A man dressed in camouflage clothing smiling while sitting on the ground in a forest, holding a large buck with antlers that is lying on the forest floor.

Highly recommended experience with Spotted Safaris!
From the very first inquiry right through to the return trip home, the entire process was incredibly easy and stress free.
Ayden was an exceptional guide. He is highly skilled, extremely patient and incredibly knowledgeable.
Just as importantly, he is an easy going, genuine bloke who is great to spend time with.
I learnt a lot from him throughout the hunt.
His willingness to share his knowledge made the experience even more rewarding.
Ayden was excellent at tailoring the experience to my skill level.
He took the time to make sure I was confident and getting the most out of the experience.
The quality of the wild, free ranging, chital deer is second to none.
They’re absolutely beautiful creatures.
I was lucky enough to take two trophy chital stags, a wild dog and a pig on my trip.
I honestly couldn't fault the experience.
If you're looking for a professional, knowledgeable and genuinely passionate guide who will go the extra mile to give you an unforgettable hunting experience, I couldn't recommend Spotted Safaris highly enough.
I'll definitely be back! 

“A Fantastic Hunting Experience”

“A True Adventure”

I have hunted twice with Ayden at Spotted Safaris.
Once with my dad and another time with a mate.
Both experiences were absolutely fantastic.
We saw and shot some great deer.
The catering was excellent, and the overall experience was top notch.
We will definitely be back! 10/10

A man in outdoor camouflage clothing holds a deer with large antlers lying on the ground in a forested area.

“Cant wait to return!”

A smiling man in camouflage clothing and a cap kneels behind and holds a large deer with antlers lying on sandy ground in a wooded area.

“From start to finish the hunt was great.

I visited Spotted Safaris with a mate and neither of us having ever hunted chital deer.

We saw multiple mature chital stags and plenty of deer overall.

I’ve taken my first chital with Ayden and also upgraded later to a true giant stag exceeding 30 inches in length with awesome overall shape.

Regardless of experience, the hunt will cater to your needs.

I can’t wait to return in the future!

A woman dressed in camouflage sitting on the ground in a wooded area, smiling, with a large deer with antlers lying on the ground beside her.
A smiling man with a beard, wearing camouflage clothing and a wide-brimmed hat, kneels next to a recently hunted deer with large antlers in a forested area under a bright blue sky.

My dad and I had an unforgettable hunting trip with Ayden.

We saw plenty of mature stags throughout the trip, dad and I were both lucky enough to each take our first stag at the magic 30 inch mark, it was an experience I'II never forget.

Ayden was incredibly knowledgeable and professional, I learnt so much from him throughout the hunt. His knowledge of the deer, the country, and hunting in general made the whole experience even more enjoyable.

It was an awesome trip to share with my dad, and having Ayden as our guide made it even more special. I couldn't recommend spotted safaris highly enough and look forward to our next trip with Ayden.

A man in camouflage clothing kneels on the ground next to a spotted deer with large antlers, in a forest with green trees.

“Exceeded My Expectations”

A man dressed in camouflage clothing with a cap and backpack, sitting in a wooded area with dense trees and green foliage, holding antlers of a large deer with white spots, as the deer grazes on the grass.

An awesome hunting experience.

A mate and I visited FNQ for an adventure.
What we experienced was incredible.

We saw multiple mature stags and headed home with two crackers of our own!
Both over that magical 30 inch mark.

I would highly recommend this hunt to anyone keen on chasing chital.

A man in camouflage clothing and a hat sits on a grassy field, smiling, next to a large deer with antlers and spotted coat.