I was looking through my stalking album the other day and came across a picture of me with my first deer. I think we would be all interested to hear about others first beast/or your most significant memory, and a few details.
My first deer was taken on a cold dark January morning on the edge of a large reed bed. We saw some dark shapes through the gloom at long range and stalked to a high seat to try and intercept. Over the course of about 20 minuites they edged closer and closer, materialising from non-descipt blobs into a parcel of 8-10 hinds and calfs, the stalker whispered the one he wanted. From that moment on she did not give me a chance for what seemed like ages, the tension getting worse and the hands trembling. When she did turn sideways I had to wait for her to clear the herd, then fired. To my horror she was off like a scalded cat, but after 20 yards tripped, went down and stayed down, heart shot. This was the longest shot I have taken to date at around 175 yards!
A few years now ago but still vivid, as was my first roebuck just a couple of months later, also the first deer I shot off my own land. Both shot with my trusty old ruger 308(now gone I am afraid). I have no piccies of the hind but below is the buck.
Great memories.
JH
My first deer was taken on a cold dark January morning on the edge of a large reed bed. We saw some dark shapes through the gloom at long range and stalked to a high seat to try and intercept. Over the course of about 20 minuites they edged closer and closer, materialising from non-descipt blobs into a parcel of 8-10 hinds and calfs, the stalker whispered the one he wanted. From that moment on she did not give me a chance for what seemed like ages, the tension getting worse and the hands trembling. When she did turn sideways I had to wait for her to clear the herd, then fired. To my horror she was off like a scalded cat, but after 20 yards tripped, went down and stayed down, heart shot. This was the longest shot I have taken to date at around 175 yards!
A few years now ago but still vivid, as was my first roebuck just a couple of months later, also the first deer I shot off my own land. Both shot with my trusty old ruger 308(now gone I am afraid). I have no piccies of the hind but below is the buck.
Great memories.
JH