What’s Sussex Steve doing!

I don’t normally write these even though this year I have been with some great guides this season. However I just wanted to give one a special mention as he has gone above and beyond. I found Steve as wanted to get on some fallow and kept seeing the over zealous write ups. After he got my stalking buddy his first kill on his new gun after a 2 mile stalk. I had one blank stalk and me being too slow, a missed opportunity second stalk. Steve told me to let him know when I was free and he’d take me out again. That day was today. We met up around first light and drove to the farm, a quick safety talk and brief and we were out to find the fallow. Second field we crossed, right there on the wood line we could see three with the thermal around 300 yards we stalked in closer but I still just couldn’t get comfortable for the shot and they sensed something was wrong and walked into the wood. Beating myself up for being too slow and thinking I lost my opportunity (little did I know what was round the corner). We walked around to another wood two fields away and there was the heard, with over 30 heads grazing and the thermal showed more in the woods also. We made sure the wind was right and stalked our way closer with Max by our side. I set up on sticks and had time to ensure we picked the right cull doe in a safe position. Chest shot was on target and the doe was straight down. The others ran off as I’m sure this late in the season they have been overly shot at. A quick Gralloch and checking the time I asked Steve if he wanted to stay out a bit longer, a quick sandwich and short drive (with fallow in nearly every field on the side of the road) and we were in the highseat on another permission for an hour. Nothing else but just great to be out for a few hours on some permissions over run by deer. Thanks @SussexSteve
 

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I don’t normally write these even though this year I have been with some great guides this season. However I just wanted to give one a special mention as he has gone above and beyond. I found Steve as wanted to get on some fallow and kept seeing the over zealous write ups. After he got my stalking buddy his first kill on his new gun after a 2 mile stalk. I had one blank stalk and me being too slow, a missed opportunity second stalk. Steve told me to let him know when I was free and he’d take me out again. That day was today. We met up around first light and drove to the farm, a quick safety talk and brief and we were out to find the fallow. Second field we crossed, right there on the wood line we could see three with the thermal around 300 yards we stalked in closer but I still just couldn’t get comfortable for the shot and they sensed something was wrong and walked into the wood. Beating myself up for being too slow and thinking I lost my opportunity (little did I know what was round the corner). We walked around to another wood two fields away and there was the heard, with over 30 heads grazing and the thermal showed more in the woods also. We made sure the wind was right and stalked our way closer with Max by our side. I set up on sticks and had time to ensure we picked the right cull doe in a safe position. Chest shot was on target and the doe was straight down. The others ran off as I’m sure this late in the season they have been overly shot at. A quick Gralloch and checking the time I asked Steve if he wanted to stay out a bit longer, a quick sandwich and short drive (with fallow in nearly every field on the side of the road) and we were in the highseat on another permission for an hour. Nothing else but just great to be out for a few hours on some permissions over run by deer. Thanks @SussexSteve
well done get the sticks take the bolt out and keep setting the sticks out and mounting the rifle....people don't practise, shot gun users are just as guilty as gun mount and sight picture is key.
The best tip I can offer is open the sticks wider then you don't have to lift the rifle higher and be off balance.
once the rifle is on the sticks lift the rifle and close the sticks to your height in one movement while looking over the scope to gain a sight picture....
 
Yes being well over 6ft I need to look at some new sticks. As I was kindly donated some on the site. However, using them to be comfortable I need to be crouched down which isn’t comfortable.
Especially when you’re with Steve and have over 30 fallow in front of you, you want to be in the best place possible in case you get a chance at a second.
We’ll take you out next time on me, you can show me some tips and tricks.
 
Yes being well over 6ft I need to look at some new sticks. As I was kindly donated some on the site. However, using them to be comfortable I need to be crouched down which isn’t comfortable.
Especially when you’re with Steve and have over 30 fallow in front of you, you want to be in the best place possible in case you get a chance at a second.
We’ll take you out next time on me, you can show me some tips and tricks.
Then make some to suit your height... get to B&Q as i and many other never had tips offered just worked it out over years of making stuff...What is your job as mine is listed below...
Much like the BBQ picture I posted...didn't need a guide just worked it out my self :tiphat:
 
Well done on the fallow
100% getting in some practice with the bolt out at home is the way forward. I've always been slow on the sticks and have now started these drills at home and can see myself getting quicker with keys wobble etc
 
Hospitality manager and stalker when I have free time, for meat for the freezer. Just thought it’d be good to meet some other Essex stalkers. Maybe an organised meet up or clay day etc if any one was up for it? Get some of the old boys teach some of us young guns.
 
Then make some to suit your height... get to B&Q as i and many other never had tips offered just worked it out over years of making stuff...What is your job as mine is listed below...
Much like the BBQ picture I posted...didn't need a guide just worked it out my self :tiphat:
I just spent ages reading through your post history trying to find pictures of the B&Q sticks before a re read your post and saw BBQ. 🤦
 
I just spent ages reading through your post history trying to find pictures of the B&Q sticks before a re read your post and saw BBQ. 🤦
Roe does are in season not Roe bucks lol....

BBQ....but I doubt the OP will attempt B&Q sticks unless we have a workshop meet up at the clay ground... :rofl:

Get the metal poles and 5mm bolts not 6 mm as when the hole wears the next size is 8

So 5>6mm

 

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Roe does are in season not Roe bucks lol....

BBQ....but I doubt the OP will attempt B&Q sticks unless we have a workshop meet up at the clay ground... :rofl:

Get the metal poles and 5mm bolts not 6 mm as when the hole wears the next size is 8

So 5>6mm


Haha, I'll have a look at the video after work!
 
At home practice would depend on floor type .If slipping about on laminate is your thing then please post a video .
The only place to practice is in the field ,on earth where sticks are at their best .
The b+q sticks might be cheap and I know a lad that uses them to a very good standard but what lacks is any form of tracking on the front end .Sticks have to be picked up of a fashion if no tracking allowed with fixed v .
Just a bit of advice from someone out there doing it not stood in living room ,slipping about ,wishing 🤭🤓😄😎
 
At home practice would depend on floor type .If slipping about on laminate is your thing then please post a video .
The only place to practice is in the field ,on earth where sticks are at their best .
The b+q sticks might be cheap and I know a lad that uses them to a very good standard but what lacks is any form of tracking on the front end .Sticks have to be picked up of a fashion if no tracking allowed with fixed v .
Just a bit of advice from someone out there doing it not stood in living room ,slipping about ,wishing 🤭🤓😄😎
I agree no substitute for field experience, but some practice is better than none (mine is on carpet) and I for one feel lore comfortable that when I'm next out, I've a better muscle memory for mounting sticks and getting set up
 
At home practice would depend on floor type .If slipping about on laminate is your thing then please post a video .
The only place to practice is in the field ,on earth where sticks are at their best .
The b+q sticks might be cheap and I know a lad that uses them to a very good standard but what lacks is any form of tracking on the front end .Sticks have to be picked up of a fashion if no tracking allowed with fixed v .
Just a bit of advice from someone out there doing it not stood in living room ,slipping about ,wishing 🤭🤓😄😎
He has been out with me in the field stalking (only saw roe bucks) on the steel plate in strong cross wind off sticks as that is a thing to contend with and learn. No slippery floors were harmed in that stalk.... :tiphat:


@T.eddie
 
Back in 2010 I was playing around with B&Q canes and posted on this group a couple of photos of what I called my contraption and it was met with comments like by the time you get the rifle on the sticks the deer will be gone, ideal for growing sweet peas but nothing else, not to be put off I continued to use my contraption and it accounted for many deer over the next few years and I passed it on to my son who is still using it, I now use viper flex but they work no better than my contraption.
 

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