I put in for this hunt when I lived in P/Cola. Never drew it but I knew some guys that did. Their advice was to expect to get wet if you want a chance at a sambar. They are basically a swamp deer from India and Southwest Asia. So find the swamps and marshes and go into them. Like most swamps, there will be areas of dry ground and that's where to find them. The people I knew that hunted the place also said to bring mountain bikes with big fat tires to get around on to save walking. A canoe might not be a bad idea either.

As to blackpowder loads, I grew up hunting elk in Colorado. I used a .54 Renegade for elk during muzzleloader season and my favorite load was a 425 grain pre-lubed Buffalo Bullet over 110 grs of FFG. That big slow chunk of lead would plow through just about anything and it would expand to over an inch in diameter on the way through. If I was hunting sambar in the swamps I'd be trying to break at least one shoulder. I'd hate to chase a wounded one through the swamp if I could avoid it.