...... My son Charlie is a very keen shooter, and after a day out pheasant shooting on Saturday, we had a day on reds lined up for yesterday......
He has shot a red hind previously, and - thanks to the generosity and hospitality of 243varmint and Bandit Country - last year he managed to shoot a very respectable roe buck which is now with the taxidermist (I did a brief write up on each at the time); he fancied another crack after deer and so I arranged a day......and, true to form for those that know me, my weather influencing skills held good and the forecast took a distinct downward turn, with plenty of rain and high winds predicted for yesterday.....
Anyway, with days booked off work (he's 17 but. Is an apprentice joiner), we set off early doors, stopping at the services to get him a bacon butty (what is it with teenage boys?? Hollow legs!!).....
After getting booted up, we set off uphill - and I very quickly remembered how unfit I've become . Charlie was off like a mountain goat.....
Before setting off walking we'd spied a group of stags on a hills face so the plan was to get up, around and above them to see if we could take one, or even two,out of the party. As we ascended, the rain got heavier and heavier, driven into our faces by the increasingly strong wind. On the upside, at least we didn't have any uncertainty over wind direction....
After around 50 minutes we found ourselves shimmying towards a crest to look down onto the group, who had moved upwards slightly since our original spotting, but were now at distances of between 140 and 220 yards.... We'd agreed that Charlie was to shoot first, and only if we were confident that he'd managed to safely take one that wasn't going anywhere would I try to line up on another; he got into position and it was agreed which one he would try for. 2 shots..... 2 misses! In the heat of the moment, he'd forgotten to aim a little low to allow for the steep slope as I'd told him to, and he'd misjudged the range slightly....however: between us we very quickly worked out what he'd done, he corrected himself and shot number 3 was bang on and dropped his first ever red stag . Result! (I managed to take a second out of the group, but this write up isn't about me ).
After the gralloch, the photos and the drag, we had a look to see if we could spot any suitable hinds to go towards the cull requirements; it was by this time lunchtime and the weather was deteriorating, so we agreed that we'd stick to the lower slopes and just have a look in a small wooded area in case we could see anything tucked up out of the weather. After all, what in its right mind would be out in those weather conditions? Oh. Hang on a mo......
After half an hour, a group of four hinds was spotted making their way away from us along the bank of the river; if we were going to try and get one,a rapid crawl into position was needed.....and Charlie was off like a greased weasel! He got into a suitable position, and by the time I'd got alongside him, he was up on the bipod and lining up on one of the two remaining hinds that were now visible....bang. Perfect. No second shot required this time. A very good shot indeed under difficult conditions.
Another very soggy gralloch and drag, and it was time to call it a day. But what a great day.
He has shot a red hind previously, and - thanks to the generosity and hospitality of 243varmint and Bandit Country - last year he managed to shoot a very respectable roe buck which is now with the taxidermist (I did a brief write up on each at the time); he fancied another crack after deer and so I arranged a day......and, true to form for those that know me, my weather influencing skills held good and the forecast took a distinct downward turn, with plenty of rain and high winds predicted for yesterday.....
Anyway, with days booked off work (he's 17 but. Is an apprentice joiner), we set off early doors, stopping at the services to get him a bacon butty (what is it with teenage boys?? Hollow legs!!).....
After getting booted up, we set off uphill - and I very quickly remembered how unfit I've become . Charlie was off like a mountain goat.....
Before setting off walking we'd spied a group of stags on a hills face so the plan was to get up, around and above them to see if we could take one, or even two,out of the party. As we ascended, the rain got heavier and heavier, driven into our faces by the increasingly strong wind. On the upside, at least we didn't have any uncertainty over wind direction....
After around 50 minutes we found ourselves shimmying towards a crest to look down onto the group, who had moved upwards slightly since our original spotting, but were now at distances of between 140 and 220 yards.... We'd agreed that Charlie was to shoot first, and only if we were confident that he'd managed to safely take one that wasn't going anywhere would I try to line up on another; he got into position and it was agreed which one he would try for. 2 shots..... 2 misses! In the heat of the moment, he'd forgotten to aim a little low to allow for the steep slope as I'd told him to, and he'd misjudged the range slightly....however: between us we very quickly worked out what he'd done, he corrected himself and shot number 3 was bang on and dropped his first ever red stag . Result! (I managed to take a second out of the group, but this write up isn't about me ).
After the gralloch, the photos and the drag, we had a look to see if we could spot any suitable hinds to go towards the cull requirements; it was by this time lunchtime and the weather was deteriorating, so we agreed that we'd stick to the lower slopes and just have a look in a small wooded area in case we could see anything tucked up out of the weather. After all, what in its right mind would be out in those weather conditions? Oh. Hang on a mo......
After half an hour, a group of four hinds was spotted making their way away from us along the bank of the river; if we were going to try and get one,a rapid crawl into position was needed.....and Charlie was off like a greased weasel! He got into a suitable position, and by the time I'd got alongside him, he was up on the bipod and lining up on one of the two remaining hinds that were now visible....bang. Perfect. No second shot required this time. A very good shot indeed under difficult conditions.
Another very soggy gralloch and drag, and it was time to call it a day. But what a great day.