I'm not very experienced with shooting deer, in fact, I think this is my 5th one ever (roe doe). Was in their high seat from quite early on - annoyingly disturbed a roe as I was approaching it but they waited until I was freezing cold before showing again (I even broke open my emergency HotHands handwarmers, which didn't work as they're too old and had gone solid. Was wearing 4 layers with gloves but legs and hands were getting chilly). There was a group of 3, possibly 4, just the other side of a wire stock fence on the woodland boundary. The one I shot (.308) wasn't perfectly presented - she was 3/4 on - but was from only about 40 yards away. Shot through the right hand side shoulder. She ran off but fortunately died with her white tuft facing my direction so I saw her almost the moment I went into the woodland. There was a lot of blood and a fairly large exit wound. I think I pierced the heart and lungs. Fortunately still quite light (16.30) but was almost dark by the time I got back to the house.
I'm wary of your reaction to my gralloch, having read some of the comments on the fast gralloch video. I had trouble removing the head but eventually got it off. From what I could see, the liver was in perfect condition and the guts weren't pierced. Made a real mess trying to remove everything else - need more practice. Got blood on my jacket (combat smock, so designed for it!) as well as my rucksack. Nice to have warm hands, though, Star Wars didn't lie to me! Used a combination of my bushcraft Spyderco and my Mora Roe knife, which is much easier to clean afterwards. I removed the front forelegs but left the rear ones on so I'd have something to carry/drag her by.
Landowners were really pleased and helped me carry the carcass some of the way back and get her into the car. He's coming over tomorrow to help me skin and butcher it (blind leading the blind!). Carcass is in an old fridge at the moment but it's cold enough outside that probably doesn't need to be.
As well as looking at some tutorials, I need to pack more plastic bags in my rucksack as I only had one. Might look at getting a folding gambrel so I can do a suspended gralloch next time. Should also have taken my petrol handwarmers and thermal underwear (wearing Decathlon hunting trousers). Maybe a small blanket to put over my legs as I do suffer from cold. I have too much stuff in my jacket pockets but I've emptied it out so I can wash it.
I'm wary of your reaction to my gralloch, having read some of the comments on the fast gralloch video. I had trouble removing the head but eventually got it off. From what I could see, the liver was in perfect condition and the guts weren't pierced. Made a real mess trying to remove everything else - need more practice. Got blood on my jacket (combat smock, so designed for it!) as well as my rucksack. Nice to have warm hands, though, Star Wars didn't lie to me! Used a combination of my bushcraft Spyderco and my Mora Roe knife, which is much easier to clean afterwards. I removed the front forelegs but left the rear ones on so I'd have something to carry/drag her by.
Landowners were really pleased and helped me carry the carcass some of the way back and get her into the car. He's coming over tomorrow to help me skin and butcher it (blind leading the blind!). Carcass is in an old fridge at the moment but it's cold enough outside that probably doesn't need to be.
As well as looking at some tutorials, I need to pack more plastic bags in my rucksack as I only had one. Might look at getting a folding gambrel so I can do a suspended gralloch next time. Should also have taken my petrol handwarmers and thermal underwear (wearing Decathlon hunting trousers). Maybe a small blanket to put over my legs as I do suffer from cold. I have too much stuff in my jacket pockets but I've emptied it out so I can wash it.
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