Our usual, annual holiday to the Isle of Rona started with ensuring we had all the provisions and equipment we needed for the week. Rona is a small island which was inhabited until 1943. It was left to ruin until bought by a Danish woman in 1992. It is only accessible by boat. There are no roads or shops on Rona so everything you need for your stay you have to take with you!!!
The island is now managed by a couple, Bill and Lorraine, and has two holiday cottages available to rent.
The island manager /gamekeeper, Bill has also introduced red deer to the island over the past years and now has a population of approximately 150 to 200.
On arrival to Rona on Saturday 11th September, after the previous days car journey to Skye and hour and a half boat journey (which I must say was rough) we physically lifted all provisions and equipment off the boat and up the pontoon. Everything was then transferred into the trailer attached to the quad bike to be transported by Bill to our cottage for the week.
We arrived at our cottage about 12.30 lunchtime after a half hour walk. Rona is a rugged place it's geology being Lewisian gneiss, it can be hard going underfoot but is beautiful.
After unpacking it was time to go to the target range (Bill has set up) to ensure my rifle was sighted correctly.
Rifle was fine so all was ready for tomorrow's stalk.
Sunday 12th I was due to be picked up by Bill at 7am. Whilst waiting for my pick up I was glassing from the cottage with my binoculars and spotted four stags and two hinds on the hill behind the cottage. I informed Bill when he arrived and decision was made to stalk these deer.
Up the track we went, left quad bike on the track and continued on foot amongst rocks, grass, ferns and heather. After about half an hour we managed to come up behind the four stags, looking down on them!
Bill told me to get ready so I loaded a round in the chamber of my Browning 243, 100 grain wyn. I ranged one of the Stags with my Zeiss Range Finder binoculars at 75yards. I steadied my nerves and took aim. When the stag presented with a clear, safe shot I let go with the 243. The stag dropped on the spot! I was shaking and emotional with the surge of adrenalin!! Now the hard work started with a walk to the stag and performed field gralloch.
We then had to use a drag rope to get the stag down off the hill. This was hard work!! Bill left me to continue dragging the stag while he went to get the quad bike and trailer. The stag was loaded into the trailer and taken back to the larder where it was processed and put in the chiller.
We then toasted the stag with a small dram of whiskey
.
The decision was made to go out again after lunch to try and get another stag. Back to the cottage for lunch and out again at 1pm.
After getting picked up we decided to go to the south of the island. We spied two stags a long way off. Quad bike left on the track and we continued along the shore line on foot as the wind was coming from the north. It took an hour to reach the stags in rough terrain of gulleys, bracken, heather and bogs all the time climbing up hill. Once we located the stags we had to crawl in.
Ranged stag chosen, 130yards. Again I steadied my nerves but was a lot calmer and relaxed with my second stalk. I took aim and again took shot when safe. This stag also dropped on the spot. Another field gralloch completed. This stag was also dragged back to quad and trailer.
This stag was also taken to the larder, prepared and chilled. Another dram to toast the stag. Each stag weighed in at 165lbs.
Following this amazing experience I felt extremely lucky to have had this opportunity.
Next day work continued with preparing the heads to take home plus the butchering of all the venison which was for the food chain. Steaks, mince, joints, burgers, sausages and stew were all prepared and even the off cuts were minced for dog , nothing from these magnificent beasts was wasted!!
On returning home the heads now have pride of place in my house. What a lucky man I am!!
The island is now managed by a couple, Bill and Lorraine, and has two holiday cottages available to rent.
The island manager /gamekeeper, Bill has also introduced red deer to the island over the past years and now has a population of approximately 150 to 200.
On arrival to Rona on Saturday 11th September, after the previous days car journey to Skye and hour and a half boat journey (which I must say was rough) we physically lifted all provisions and equipment off the boat and up the pontoon. Everything was then transferred into the trailer attached to the quad bike to be transported by Bill to our cottage for the week.
We arrived at our cottage about 12.30 lunchtime after a half hour walk. Rona is a rugged place it's geology being Lewisian gneiss, it can be hard going underfoot but is beautiful.
After unpacking it was time to go to the target range (Bill has set up) to ensure my rifle was sighted correctly.
Rifle was fine so all was ready for tomorrow's stalk.
Sunday 12th I was due to be picked up by Bill at 7am. Whilst waiting for my pick up I was glassing from the cottage with my binoculars and spotted four stags and two hinds on the hill behind the cottage. I informed Bill when he arrived and decision was made to stalk these deer.
Up the track we went, left quad bike on the track and continued on foot amongst rocks, grass, ferns and heather. After about half an hour we managed to come up behind the four stags, looking down on them!
Bill told me to get ready so I loaded a round in the chamber of my Browning 243, 100 grain wyn. I ranged one of the Stags with my Zeiss Range Finder binoculars at 75yards. I steadied my nerves and took aim. When the stag presented with a clear, safe shot I let go with the 243. The stag dropped on the spot! I was shaking and emotional with the surge of adrenalin!! Now the hard work started with a walk to the stag and performed field gralloch.
We then had to use a drag rope to get the stag down off the hill. This was hard work!! Bill left me to continue dragging the stag while he went to get the quad bike and trailer. The stag was loaded into the trailer and taken back to the larder where it was processed and put in the chiller.
We then toasted the stag with a small dram of whiskey
.The decision was made to go out again after lunch to try and get another stag. Back to the cottage for lunch and out again at 1pm.
After getting picked up we decided to go to the south of the island. We spied two stags a long way off. Quad bike left on the track and we continued along the shore line on foot as the wind was coming from the north. It took an hour to reach the stags in rough terrain of gulleys, bracken, heather and bogs all the time climbing up hill. Once we located the stags we had to crawl in.
Ranged stag chosen, 130yards. Again I steadied my nerves but was a lot calmer and relaxed with my second stalk. I took aim and again took shot when safe. This stag also dropped on the spot. Another field gralloch completed. This stag was also dragged back to quad and trailer.
This stag was also taken to the larder, prepared and chilled. Another dram to toast the stag
. Each stag weighed in at 165lbs.Following this amazing experience I felt extremely lucky to have had this opportunity.
Next day work continued with preparing the heads to take home plus the butchering of all the venison which was for the food chain. Steaks, mince, joints, burgers, sausages and stew were all prepared and even the off cuts were minced for dog , nothing from these magnificent beasts was wasted!!
On returning home the heads now have pride of place in my house. What a lucky man I am!!
