It's been a while since I did a write up as quite frankly my stalking has been a bit anonymous lately but that all changed with a bang last night!!
I hatched a plan to try and call a Roe Buck in an area where I've seen activity as up to yesterday I still hadn't shot a buck. On this particular permission we have divided the land into zones as we have to txt about 10 people who live on the farm stating where we will be and at what time. Last night it was zone 2 which has a small spinney on the boundary and some rolling hills and large hedges where muntjac and roe have started browsing quite heavily.
I got parked up and started a plan of calling in certain spots around the field margins in the hope that a buck I've seen a few times would be interested. I've also seen a Doe with twins that I thought may be about with the chance that he wouldn't be far away.
I tried a few locations keeping the wind in my face with no luck until I got to a point where I needed to double back and drive to the other side of the field and approach the spinney where I believe they reside.
This was the starting point with the spinney in the distance.
Then a right turn at the end but still no joy!
On the way to the next calling spot I found what I believe to be a Roe ring so that looked promising and lifted my spirits! There were tracks in and out of the dyke where it looked like they had been going back and forth too.
I tried calling another couple of times until settling down about 150 yds short of the spinney on the left until last light.
I had only been stood maybe 15-20 mins when a Doe came out from the hedge into the field about 120yds away followed by the buck! That's when the heart started pounding and luckily for me the wheat has been laid flat, probably where they have been mooching around before. I adjusted the quad sticks and had to make a snap decision to take the shot with him quartering away just a smidge before he followed the doe into the longer wheat. The .308 delivered the 165gr round and he dropped on the spot. It's a good job a follow up wasn't needed as I was trembling like a leaf!! I think if I ever lose that feeling then that'll be the day to hang up the rifle!
Just as I thought the evening couldn't get any better the Doe's twins popped out of the hedge along the grass while she was still in the wheat field. I had decided to take my camera as well so instead of just waiting after the shot, I thought I'd see how close I could get to them to try and get a pic or two while also keeping an eye on the shot site but I was confident the buck was going nowhere. Unfortunately my camera is not great in the failing light but as you can see I managed to get to within about 30 yards before the flash scared them off!!
After they and the Doe had had enough of my shenanigans I located the buck and I think you'll agree what a cracking chap he is too! Lovely summer coat in top condition, no ticks and a fine 6 pointer as a first buck!! It's the first mature Roe I've shot and after only shooting Munties I didn't realise how heavy they are to lift to gralloch!!
All I need now is to find someone reasonably priced to mount the head as I had always said I was going to mount my first buck and have it up on the wall. I have no idea what constitutes a medal Roe but regardless of that the memory of last night will remain with me for a lifetime!!
Cheers
Stratts
I hatched a plan to try and call a Roe Buck in an area where I've seen activity as up to yesterday I still hadn't shot a buck. On this particular permission we have divided the land into zones as we have to txt about 10 people who live on the farm stating where we will be and at what time. Last night it was zone 2 which has a small spinney on the boundary and some rolling hills and large hedges where muntjac and roe have started browsing quite heavily.
I got parked up and started a plan of calling in certain spots around the field margins in the hope that a buck I've seen a few times would be interested. I've also seen a Doe with twins that I thought may be about with the chance that he wouldn't be far away.
I tried a few locations keeping the wind in my face with no luck until I got to a point where I needed to double back and drive to the other side of the field and approach the spinney where I believe they reside.
This was the starting point with the spinney in the distance.
Then a right turn at the end but still no joy!
On the way to the next calling spot I found what I believe to be a Roe ring so that looked promising and lifted my spirits! There were tracks in and out of the dyke where it looked like they had been going back and forth too.
I tried calling another couple of times until settling down about 150 yds short of the spinney on the left until last light.
I had only been stood maybe 15-20 mins when a Doe came out from the hedge into the field about 120yds away followed by the buck! That's when the heart started pounding and luckily for me the wheat has been laid flat, probably where they have been mooching around before. I adjusted the quad sticks and had to make a snap decision to take the shot with him quartering away just a smidge before he followed the doe into the longer wheat. The .308 delivered the 165gr round and he dropped on the spot. It's a good job a follow up wasn't needed as I was trembling like a leaf!! I think if I ever lose that feeling then that'll be the day to hang up the rifle!
Just as I thought the evening couldn't get any better the Doe's twins popped out of the hedge along the grass while she was still in the wheat field. I had decided to take my camera as well so instead of just waiting after the shot, I thought I'd see how close I could get to them to try and get a pic or two while also keeping an eye on the shot site but I was confident the buck was going nowhere. Unfortunately my camera is not great in the failing light but as you can see I managed to get to within about 30 yards before the flash scared them off!!
After they and the Doe had had enough of my shenanigans I located the buck and I think you'll agree what a cracking chap he is too! Lovely summer coat in top condition, no ticks and a fine 6 pointer as a first buck!! It's the first mature Roe I've shot and after only shooting Munties I didn't realise how heavy they are to lift to gralloch!!
All I need now is to find someone reasonably priced to mount the head as I had always said I was going to mount my first buck and have it up on the wall. I have no idea what constitutes a medal Roe but regardless of that the memory of last night will remain with me for a lifetime!!
Cheers
Stratts