WGD Posted October 9, 2011 Report Share Posted October 9, 2011 First outing of the year during the red deer rut, for me, yesterday morning. Desperate to be sure I was fresh and ready in the morning I made sure I had an early night on Friday - could I sleep? Could I hell. Anyway, up at 5am and on the ground by 6am my shooting mate and I headed to where he had shot a stag on Monday and we have previously seen rut activity. It was dark as we got to where we wanted to be but there was no noise, stags were starting to roar on the hill (still on our permission) 2 or 3 miles away but nothing doing near us. We got to a good vantage point as dark turned to grey light and we were able to glass the surrounding area thoroughly... nothing doing. It was, as we say, a bit dreich - that is to say visibility was ok but it was light rain. We took the decision to head for where the action seemed to be, a tough walk through boggy and very wet heather and rashes but it wasn't going to fall into our lap. We reached a small woodland roundel where an old quad track opens up onto the hill, there were fresh red deer tracks on the quad track, not many but what looked like a hind, a calf and a stag. We followed the track for about half a mile and decided we would get to where the track cuts between two embankments then cut left up onto the hill towards the roaring stags. Just as we walked between the two embankments an animal was evident off the right of the track up ahead. We stopped dead still, unseen, and the animal wandered further right out of site. Unsure whether it was a stag or a hind we moved slowly up the track and just at that it came back round to the left nearer the track and cleary into out view - also putting us clearly into its view. Although it was looking straight at us we had again stopped dead still and it did not spook, my mate was able to glass it and confirm it was a young stag. We edged right which took us into the cover of the embankment and out of site of the stag but obviously also out of position for a shot. I was rifleman so crawled to the top of the embankment, bipod down and set the rifle. Lying prone behind the rifle I could see the stag, still looking in our direction. Through the scope he was right in the cross hair, but not happy - not a lot of time for the shot and I was not certain of the range, I estimated about 150 yards but daren't reach for the rangefinder in my pocket. He moved a step or two and was ready for the off, now or never, the rifle was steady and the shot felt good. Aiming slightly high in the chest cavity I squeezed the trigger and saw him hunch as the bullet struck, the shot was good although he ran over the next crest and out of sight. Reload, just in case. As the shot went off another, slightly larger stag broke from an unsighted position on the right, he ran over the track and stopped on a small hump to my left. Still providing a backstop, the shot was safe and around the same range as the first. Safety off... line up the shot... no, safety back on. I have one stag down, there are not huge numbers of red deer on this permission so he will be left for another day. Off he trots, not overly worried and looking in good health. I unloaded the rifle and came down off the small embankment to see my mate who hadn't seen the shot but had heard the bullet strike and seen the shot stag as he ran. We walked on, over the crest the stag went and there he lay a few yards ahead, stone dead (the rifle was unchambered and the bolt opened at the time of the photo). Not a big stag and questionable whether he was rutting at all. He was certainly not run and the gralloch revealed a full stomach, so the venison will be good and will go to the farm managers. All in all a very enjoyable and satisfying morning, and worth the long walk in the wet and the dark. The unshot stag and the rutting stags will be there for another day. Well hopefully Tuesday to be precise! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sako751sg Posted October 9, 2011 Report Share Posted October 9, 2011 Nice write up and beast fella. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ollie Posted October 9, 2011 Report Share Posted October 9, 2011 Really good write up, enjoyable read. Do you keep the heads? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davy Holt Posted October 9, 2011 Report Share Posted October 9, 2011 Hiya, nice one I had a trip arranged for next week but have had to pass on it due to starting a new job :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WGD Posted October 10, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 10, 2011 Really good write up, enjoyable read. Do you keep the heads? Thanks for the various comments, I normally keep the first head of each season and after that it is down to whether or not they are worth keeping and mounting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
provider Posted October 10, 2011 Report Share Posted October 10, 2011 Well done that man Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frenchieboy Posted October 11, 2011 Report Share Posted October 11, 2011 What an interesting write up. Nice one mate, it was a real pleasure to read! It takes a good man to show the restraint that you did and not take a second stag down when it is not necessary, and like you said, it will always be there for another stalk! I raise my hat to you sir! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
camokid Posted October 11, 2011 Report Share Posted October 11, 2011 it will be my turn one day well done hes a stunner. :yes: you would get some meat of a deer that size Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billywoodsman Posted October 12, 2011 Report Share Posted October 12, 2011 Well done,i enjoyed reading that,and a good shot,one day i shall venture from sunny Norfolk to Scotland as i do have Scottish blood running through my body,one day,one day,i shall visit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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