Redgum Posted February 28, 2013 Report Share Posted February 28, 2013 (edited) The last few outings on a piece of woodland I manage for Natural England have been friutless. Its been very frustrating as I have seen fallow on private land skirting the reserve but not in it. There is plenty of evidence of browsing and well warn tracks but the deer have been coming in at night, its CROW land so there is alot of disturbance especially at weekends during the day by hikers. This morning I parked up at a small holding, just on the edge of the reserve, the occupants are in their 80's, they don't like the deer being shot but know that the numbers need to be kept on top of so are pretty helpful, there is always a cup of tea waiting later in the morning. As I scanned the edge of the woodland with the binos I saw the twitch of an ear, 8 does, a pricket and two of last years fawns laid up in the old couples orchard. It was tempting at six thirty but the house was only twenty yards away and it would be betraying their trust, so I observed. Though up wind they noticed me and slowly ambled into the woodland, The ground is very steep and dropping away so there was no way of seeing which way they went. I left it a little while and followed into the woodland, there were plenty of tracks heading up wind but I had no idea if these were left now or in the night. Steadily I stalked into the wind, after an hour of extremely careful progress I spotted a fallow doe looking straight at me around 80yds away, I sunk slowly to the ground and out of site. I crawled along to the nearest large beech and stood up behind it, on peering around the trunk I could see the doe still staring straight at me. Very carefully I shouldered my Tikka 308, the doe didnt move, the only option was a neck or head shot due to the deers straight on stance, I was happy with this as the tree made for a good firm leaning post plus I knew that the does next move would probably be a running one. I squeezed the trigger and the doe dropped on the spot, more deer suddenly appeared trying to figure where the danger was heading from, one stopped square on and in an instant I was on it for a heart/lung shot. She went four or five paces before dropping down to her knees and then over. After grallocking the animals it was a hard slog back to my truck, the old lady saw one of the deer over my shoulder and opened the door, ' you had some luck then, come and have a cuppa when your ready but don't tell the old ****** I married you shot one though'. Great morning. I will add a photo when I have downloaded it from my phone. Edited February 28, 2013 by Redgum Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scobydog Posted February 28, 2013 Report Share Posted February 28, 2013 Good shooting Redgum , nice pair of does those. S Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capm1 Posted February 28, 2013 Report Share Posted February 28, 2013 Good ol stalk, nice lookin fallow for the pan :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
activeviii Posted March 7, 2013 Report Share Posted March 7, 2013 what a nice pair you have.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
camokid Posted March 7, 2013 Report Share Posted March 7, 2013 nice read and grate pic i will be putting in a lot of effort this year to get some land with fallow on .. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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