Rituals and offerings

[TomDeer]

Have you been stalking with Des Green? I'm sure he told me that ages ago, good advice.

Nope but maybe the friend who told me learnt it from him. I'll ask him.

If it's a good strike but a runner, I might have 2 cigs, a cup of coffee and possibly a couple of biscuits just to make sure it has laid up somewhere and bled out before I follow up

 

[User00025]

Interesting post.
This year for the first time, after each stalking in, I spent far more time than I should have just watching bucks through the telescopic sight, drinking in the moment and appreciating just how majestic our roe actually are. I shot 4 bucks this time on our regular trip to Perthshire and they were all splendid creatures, not trophies, just absolutely goddamned splendid. My ”ritual” was the usual stroking of the neck and enjoying the moment. However the last one I shot on our last day moved me more than I anticipated, indeed I was unable to speak for perhaps 15 minutes, probably because now in my seventieth year I wonder how much longer I can do this, not just the physical effort but actually squeezing the trigger on these glorious creatures. I was particularly pleased because Mrs FB sensed my reaction and a gentle squeeze saw me through. Some of you may not understand this or perhaps even scorn my perspective but trust me, in time, I hope that you too will experience what I just went through. You will be a better person for it. I consider myself totally blessed.

You got it in one Foxy.

 

[Namman]

Nope but maybe the friend who told me learnt it from him. I'll ask him.

If it's a good strike but a runner, I might have 2 cigs, a cup of coffee and possibly a couple of biscuits just to make sure it has laid up somewhere and bled out before I follow up

That advice is widespread around the world and is designed to stop hunters charging after shot animals when such actions make the beast travel further.

 

[Woodsmoke]

now in my seventieth year I wonder how much longer I can do this, not just the physical effort but actually squeezing the trigger on these glorious creatures

I think I know exactly how you feel. I'm in my fifties (and still not entirely sure how they seemed to come around so quickly) and already I find myself contemplating the day when I tell myself 'that's enough'. Not through anthropomorphic sentiment, or regret, or guilt, but just an inevitable sense that the natural order of things is for there to come a time when you feel you've had your share and it's time to step back and make way for the next man in line. I'm not there quite yet, but I know it's coming. And to be honest, when that time comes I don't think it'll come with any real regrets

 

[timbrayford]

This resonates.

I Beat on a smart shoot.

I do not like (and never have) the duck drives. The shoot is guests only. They 'double gun" and have a full day. At the end of a good days shooting, they still want to 'have a go at the Ducks'.

The dates for this season's days has been posted out. I will not be going on any days that include the ducks. I suspect that my days as a Beater on this shoot may be numbered.

All too often the duck drives are used when the team of guns are bad shots and "tame" ducks are used to make up the bag.

 

[JockStalk]

Not sure if it counts in this regard, but when removing pizzle/ testes I normally utter a ‘sorry mate, you’ll not be needing these again’

 

[Fair Hill]

Not sure if it counts in this regard, but when removing pizzle/ testes I normally utter a ‘sorry mate, you’ll not be needing these again’

See post 29.

 

[Cranhill]

I have adopted the time honoured tradition passed onto me by a gamekeeper friend…,with roe bucks, cut the nuts off, throw them over your shoulder while saying “you’ll no be needin’ these”…..

regards,
Gixer

I thought that was for Red Stags only?

 

[gixer1]

I thought that was for Red Stags only?

I want to say it was a James Douglas thing in roe deer…

 

[gixer1]

56m:17secs -

 

[Heym SR20]

I think I know exactly how you feel. I'm in my fifties (and still not entirely sure how they seemed to come around so quickly) and already I find myself contemplating the day when I tell myself 'that's enough'. Not through anthropomorphic sentiment, or regret, or guilt, but just an inevitable sense that the natural order of things is for there to come a time when you feel you've had your share and it's time to step back and make way for the next man in line. I'm not there quite yet, but I know it's coming. And to be honest, when that time comes I don't think it'll come with any real regrets

I think this only natural. Within any of us there are only so many beasts we can shoot. My Pa grew up in Africa and used to shoot ducks all the time. He shot a duicker once, and did go out on culling operations for elephants - he had no desire to shoot any big animals after that. He never took to English style phaesant shooting, but still loved his wildfowling and passed that onto me, but to be honest he pretty much stopped all shooting in his 50s, but has travelled the world ticking off all the Bird species. However he still has a 410 at his desk and wages all out war on the squirrels, magpies and rats in the garden. And even more so since the magpies raided the Kites nest that was nesting close to the garden.

I am in my early 50's and getting very picky in what I shoot. I think it partly comes with the sudden realisation that your school days feel but a moment ago, but we are now very much closer to our alloted three score years and ten.

 

[Klenchblaize]

56m:17secs -

the DPM and his off-hand shooting.

K

 

[Foxyboy43]

I think this only natural. Within any of us there are only so many beasts we can shoot. My Pa grew up in Africa and used to shoot ducks all the time. He shot a duicker once, and did go out on culling operations for elephants - he had no desire to shoot any big animals after that. He never took to English style phaesant shooting, but still loved his wildfowling and passed that onto me, but to be honest he pretty much stopped all shooting in his 50s, but has travelled the world ticking off all the Bird species. However he still has a 410 at his desk and wages all out war on the squirrels, magpies and rats in the garden. And even more so since the magpies raided the Kites nest that was nesting close to the garden.

I am in my early 50's and getting very picky in what I shoot. I think it partly comes with the sudden realisation that your school days feel but a moment ago, but we are now very much closer to our alloted three score years and ten.

Indeed and I do think a natural evolution in a shooting lifespan. It is no coincidence that so many great hunters became primary conservationists in their later years. Prince Phillip, Sir Peter Scott and all the old african hunters Bell, Selous etc. spring to mind and of course many of the more recent men like the great Lea McNally. One point I have to take issue with though is I believe hope that four score now applies!

 

[User00025]

Well as I said Foxy, spot on. As the four score (that's a ten bonus, undeserved) approaches I am getting less interested in stalking and killing deer. However I almost live on venison so I sure ain't going to buy any. I will always kill the nasties of the mammal and avian world but deer........Just for food. I must admit I get more fun out of watching my young chap stalk than I would myself now and that's one way to fill the freezer.

 

[Hayduke]

If it's a muntjac I will kick the verminous invasive critter

 

[User00025]

If it's a muntjac I will kick the verminous invasive critter

And that from a Moss Trooper.

 

[Cranhill]

I want to say it was a James Douglas thing in roe deer…

I was working on stand at CLA game fair in 85 / 86? And the JD video was being loaded back to back for 3days!

 

[griff]

Sounds like you did the right thing.

We name and shame the shooters who take close shots and ruin the bird.

Conversly we should do the same when a shot is taken when the bird is clearly out of range..

 

[bfltd0]

Conversly we should do the same when a shot is taken when the bird is clearly out of range..

Our birds never get over 25m high - fat lazy things...........

 

[Oldstalker]

It long (long way) pre-dated James Douglas.
Sorry double post follows.