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My first Stag and gralloch. Thank you Elk hunter


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I would like to say a massive thank you to Elk hunter for a great day yesterday :good:

 

The biggest thing I had ever shot before was a large cock pheasant and the last time I shot a centerfire, I was in the Air Training Corps and shot a L98A1 with iorn sights on the Bisley 200 &300 yard ranges in 1995

 

The day consisted of a very early morning for myself, up @ 04.30 for a meet and greet at the farm gate at 08.00

Andrew is a great chap and explained what the day was going to involve.

 

Soon we were in Andrew's van and after a very short drive, we were on his range. We walked over to the first target (100 yards) where Andrew explained in depth about bullet placement, where to shoot the animal and the effect of hydraulic shock. He also stapled a couple of small targets onto one of the posts for me to get my eye in on his rifle and scope, then back over to the van and set up for some shooting.

 

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(This is Andrews picture of the range)

 

Andrew set up his 308 on the shooting seat and sand bag. He took the first shot at one of the small targets to make sure the rifle was zeroed, perfect on the bull. Now it was my turn, close the bolt, line up the cross hairs on the dot in the middle of the 4" target, safety off, control the breathing and squeeze the trigger. Now for such a large calibre I was shocked by the lack of recoil, anyway the bullet was at 4 o clock just over 1" off the dot, the second was in the same place, a slight adjustment and I was in the bull. :)

 

"Next go for where you think the kill zone is on the main target," Andrew said. Now this isn't as easy as I thought, there is nothing to aim at on a painted target of a deer, anyway 2 rounds stent and we go and have a look, A fantastic group, both touching, the only problem being they were 4" too far back but on the right line height wise, back for another try, and they were right on the money. Try the same on he 150 yard target and then the same on the 200 yard. The last 2 shots on the range were at the 200 in the prone posision off the bipod. A quick cuppa pack everything up and back to the farm.

 

On the farm we transfer to the shoot truck. A well used 4x4 which hasn't had an mot for a few years, but that being said it meant we didn't have to walk.

 

Either side of the farm track, on the drive up to where the stags were, you could of been on the American grass lands as the fields either side all had small hurds of bison. Andrew stopped and showed me the BIG Bull, I never knew that they would be that big

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This is a small one as I didn't have the camara to hand when we were looking at him

 

We arrived at where the deer were and grabbed the kit, then we set off on a short walk up the hill, so we would be shooting down towards the selected stag. They were a bit skittish to say the least, Andrew said that this was because there was a hind in with them and that the stags were like any hot blooded male and followed her wherever she led them. After about 15 minutes and 5 position changes I had the cross hairs on the selected stag, at this point the hind started running about again, but the selected animal stood still. Safety off, take the first stage on the trigger, hold the breathing and the final squeeze sent the round towards the stag, Thwack, he ran about 10 yards stopped and fell over backwards. Andrew congratulated me on my first stag and said that from the way the animal reacted it was a heart shot.

 

I had shot my first stag.

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Sadly there were a couple of tips knocked on the rack otherwise it would of made a good 13 pointer. Andrew ranged the shot at 192 yards. Also Ruban the collie in the back ground (Andrew's dog)

 

This concluded the shooting part of the day and it was time to get hands on. Andrew was very good in explaining the correct procedure for approaching and what to look out for in the intestine. We then brought it back to the Game Room for the gralloch. Again Andrew was very good and patient, explaining everything that needed to be done. He showed that the bullet had passed through the top off the heart and the lungs, and said that the stag would of been dead before he knew.

 

I thoroughly enjoyed my day and learnt a great deal from Andrew's experience.

http://forums.pigeonwatch.co.uk/forums/topic/259511-beginners-day-in-deer-management-inc-cull-stag/.

 

:thanks: Thank you Elk hunter :thanks:

 

Mark.

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You'll have to bring the goose call with you to the crown shoot Phillys, that way Mark can bring his damn good head, lets you admire and rub his horn whilst He blows my polished ring, think it's been a fantastic weekend for the crown shoot boys!

Oh forgot, insert smiley of your choice here!

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Great day. I hope to do it myself one day.

I can highly recommend the day Elk hunter puts together. He explains everything really well as to what you need to do and he goes at your pace, nothing is rushed. Have a look at the link at the bottom of my op.

 

The day is set up for the beginner, and it doesn't matter if you have shot a deer before or not.

 

 

Thank you again for your kind comments

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