Deer Stalking

[DoubleTap]

Due to the light dusting of snow and temperatures staying around 0 on Saturday we were starting to contemplate whether or not My Dad, Brother and I would get up early to go stalking with two old friends in the morning. We went to bed still not decided. Dad woke me at 05:40 and asked if I wanted to go. I said 'yes' not knowing how cold it was outside. I slowly climbed out of bed and let the dogs out for a wee as they weren't coming with us. As I stepped outside and walked down the garden bare footed I soon realised how much of a frost there was :o

 

Anyway I got back inside and went back upstairs for and extra layer. I then went to the loo and started reading the shooting times when I was rudely interrupted by dad shouting through the house "come on Mr S*****r, we're gonna' be late" so I rushed downstairs, grabbed wellies, drink, hat, ONE glove and hopped in the truck. at 06:30

 

We were meeting Dads friend in a motorway service at 07:30. In all the rush we had taken no notice of Diesel and nearly ran out. Fancfully the service station we were meeting in was only a few miles away. Got fuel, essentials (two bars of Dairy Milk) and Dad was offered a Toy Story free toy by the guy behing the counter

 

We got onto the estate about 10 minutes later and on the road into it we saw loads of Fallow all in small groups, not on the land we were aloud to shoot on otherwise it would be an off the wing mirror job. We went down a long country lane before stopping at a gate way and watching a Munt walk across the field followed by a Fox.

 

 

Dads other friend arrived 10 minutes later and he reported that he'd seen two Roe stood up the field. We quickly got into his truck, loaded the rifle and set off down the lane. We pulled into the field were they'd been seen however they had moved else where. We gave up looking and he gave us a lift up to were we would sit and wait for the deer. As we pulled in the Gateway we coould see the two Roe stood against the wood. Dad quickly pulled the wing mirror as a rest and fired. One went straight down with a puff of hair from its head were the bullet had struck, the other run off through the wood. We left the deer there as we were going to get picked up and taken to our next spot. We got sat down in position with the .243 on the bi-pod. 10 minutes past and nothing had showed, we were layed there on the cold, rock solid ground freezing our t**s off We just started talking when 8 fallow came out from down the hedge to our right. There were 2 bucks leading them followed by 6 does. Dad was just about to squeeze on the buck when he noticed the skyline behind it and as we did not know the area, had no clue what was over the hill so decided to leave them. They soon were spooked by something and ran into the wood across the field. We kept laid down for a while until another group of about 12 fallow came trotting along the far hedge. None of them stopped and they all went through the hedge and ran off. We then saw our pick up coming along the road so we stood up to let him know were we were.

 

We met with the other two stalkers and spoke to them for a bit before we were carted off to another field. We were told to watch two fields so Dad laid down in a hedge with the gun while I was told to stand the pther side and watch another field. If I saw any activity I had to whistle and Dad would come round and see what he could do. 10 minutes past and I was freezing, I felt ill. I was starting to get restless and my feet, for the first time ever in my new Lever lined Le Chameau's, were getting cold. A fox ran across the field and vanished in the maize strip. A few minutes went by and few pheasants off the shoot lifted so I was waiting for the fox to come out. All of a sudden I heard Dad whistle, turned round and saw 7 or 8 fallow does trotting across the front of dad about 200yds away. The whistle, apparently, was to get the fallow to stop however it had no effect. Instead dad shouted "Oi" which had the desired effect. 2 that had broke off from the group stopped instantly, dad picked a target and fired. I didnt know which one he'd shot at as nothing had gone down. I then saw the deer start to stumble about on the field. It soon rolled over and then another shot was fired, I first thought that the second shot was to finish it off however after walking over to dad and sitting down next to him he said that he's got another down that was about 260yds and it had got through the hedge. Shortly afterwards 3 roe came across the field scenting us and taking a detour around us. Our pick up then came up again and we made our way out to the deer. We put the gun and Rucksac down and we started to haul the deer back across the frosty field. I went through the hedge to retrieve the furthest deer. It hadnt got far, only about 50yds off the hedge. As I approached it seemed pretty skinny however as I grabbed its front legs and went to drag it I could barely move it, It took me about 5 minutes to get a good hold on its legs and start to drag it back towards the truck. Dad came through the hedge wondering what was taking me so long. He'd dragged his a good 50yds whilst I'd only dragged mine 10yds. He got it through the Hedge for me and we then leaped frogged Gun and Rucksac then then the two deer. Dads friend couldnt drive the field as it was winter barley coming through. We eventually got them back to the truck and lifted them on.

 

I then climbed on the back with all 3 deer and we headed off to our last location.

 

We were dropped off at the bottom of a field and we walked up to a position were we could see most of the field. I used the range finder on several parts of the field and got comfotable in the hedge. After a few minutes a fox bolted from the bottom of the wood and ran up the hillside. It stopped on the edge of the maize strip a few times so I ranged it at 416yds. Dad got in position, wound the scope up to 400yds and put the cross hairs on him. He was just about to squeeze when the fox hopped into the cover.

 

A Roe buck got out of the wood and came across the field towards us, crossed the field and went into the field beyond. We settled down again, noticing that it had got quite alot warmer. The fox came back down the hill and crossed our field down the bottom, not stopping until it got in the wood.

Another fox came wondering past behind us, Dad tried squeeking it which caught its attention however it soon got into the hedge and dissappeared. Our truck came once again and we walked down to get on. The deer had been gralloched on the back of the truck so my journey back to the meeting point was not very pleasant to say the least. Smell being the main thing.

 

We said goodbye to everyone and got back on the main road. Had a well earned Mcdonalds and a nice drink. We then got back to a nice warm curry

 

Sorry for no pictures but forgot the camera in the early morning rush!

 

Hopefully going to get my first deer soon

 

Cheers

[Mr_Logic]

good outing, sounds like you folks had a good time out!

[The Duncan]

A good read - many thanks!

 

I've been contemplating deer stalking and now feel I should do something about it