Well, I arrived at my patch just as the sun was coming up. a beautiful sunrise warming my back as I headed into the wind to my favourite spot, a little hollow, surrounded by trees on 2 sides and warmed by the sun. As luck would have it, the farmer had also left some of his crop as cover for the pheasants and I'd guess a potential lure for the deer.
As I stood in the shadow of a large oak, my attention was drawn to the pigeons landing above my head and the subsequent shower of acorns their flapping dislodged.
Attention back on the deer, I scanned the field and the woodland edge I was standing in, and was eye to eye at no more than 15ft with a lovely fit looking doe. It retreated to a safe distance, watching the area it had sensed me for a minute before trotting off across the field. Looking back into the field, 2 more does had now appeared at about 50yds and were browsing the heads of corn left by the farmer. I watched them slowly creep further into the field before moving back into the wood, their tails helping me to track them through the undergrowth.
As the sun got up, I headed to another spot of woodland, but it was head on into the wind and no deer apparent. Entering the woodland was also a no no at the moment with the game shoot under way so I headed back around the perimeter scanning as I made my way back to the car. A couple of snipe and a covey of Grey Partridge making their presence known as I crunched along the still fozen ploughed field.
So I think that will be ther buck season for me but I'll be out on Sunday morning to try for one of the does, especially as they keep getting into the feeders and eating the grain. Got to keep Mr. and Mrs. Pheasant happy!!!
Good to hear of your success Willie and that of your Spaniel. Is it a deer dog or a jack of all trades, as I am in the process of getting a Cocker myself to use a a general shooting dog and would love to hear your experiences.
cheers
Stu