I headed off to Devon last week to go out stalking with/on a friends ground. Lots of different patches with some being better at first light and some later in the day. The .243 and Alpex came with me to give me that extra bit of shootable light first and last thing with a lot of attention being paid to the exact time to keep within legal shooting hours. Here we go 
Thursday evening - saw a few does and a buck but lost legal light. On the walk back a fox popped out so rude not to shoot something.
The alarm went off at 3.30 on Friday which was a nasty shock. There is an old buck on this ground and he was the target. There is also a decent younger buck and the plan is for the younger buck to be left. Typically I saw the younger buck first but no sign of the old lad. A small buck popped out on the walk back to the truck so he was a perfect one to take. He dropped on the spot.
Annoyingly despite a well placed shot on the front shoulder the bullet caught bone and turned 90 degrees and destroyed his insides...so he was destined for dog food rather then human consumption.
Out in the afternoon on another piece of ground. Spotted a buck right on the top of the ground but the only shot would have been quick and at 260 yards...bit far for this setup. I decided a brisk walk was in order. 1/2 mile walk including a nice hill climb and I saw the buck pop into the cover. Stalked into the wood and managed a quick shot off the sticks at 60 yards.
Nice buck with a bit of velvet left on his antlers.
3.30 alarm on Sat and headed back to see if I could catch the old buck. Virtual repeat of Friday morning. Saw a fallow doe, lots of roe does, the decent buck and then out pops a younger buck. He was about 70 yards away having a nibble on some foliage so opted for a low neck shot
Had a mid afternoon stalk and saw a big fallow buck.
Out for an evening stalk. Had fish and chips and a fox popped out...not enough temptation to interrupt supper. Spotted a buck getting towards last light so a brisk stalk in and managed a chest shot at around 100 yards. He made it 10 yards and dropped.
It took me about 5 minutes to walk around to him and drag him over to the gate. By this point I had blood all down his one side so the pic looks like its a bad shot but its want across his chest through heart and lungs.
Final stalk on Sunday morning ...another 3.30 get up.....drew a blank so packed up and headed home.
Knackered but what a fantastic trip
Thursday evening - saw a few does and a buck but lost legal light. On the walk back a fox popped out so rude not to shoot something.
The alarm went off at 3.30 on Friday which was a nasty shock. There is an old buck on this ground and he was the target. There is also a decent younger buck and the plan is for the younger buck to be left. Typically I saw the younger buck first but no sign of the old lad. A small buck popped out on the walk back to the truck so he was a perfect one to take. He dropped on the spot.
Annoyingly despite a well placed shot on the front shoulder the bullet caught bone and turned 90 degrees and destroyed his insides...so he was destined for dog food rather then human consumption.
Out in the afternoon on another piece of ground. Spotted a buck right on the top of the ground but the only shot would have been quick and at 260 yards...bit far for this setup. I decided a brisk walk was in order. 1/2 mile walk including a nice hill climb and I saw the buck pop into the cover. Stalked into the wood and managed a quick shot off the sticks at 60 yards.
Nice buck with a bit of velvet left on his antlers.
3.30 alarm on Sat and headed back to see if I could catch the old buck. Virtual repeat of Friday morning. Saw a fallow doe, lots of roe does, the decent buck and then out pops a younger buck. He was about 70 yards away having a nibble on some foliage so opted for a low neck shot
Had a mid afternoon stalk and saw a big fallow buck.
Out for an evening stalk. Had fish and chips and a fox popped out...not enough temptation to interrupt supper
. Spotted a buck getting towards last light so a brisk stalk in and managed a chest shot at around 100 yards. He made it 10 yards and dropped.It took me about 5 minutes to walk around to him and drag him over to the gate. By this point I had blood all down his one side so the pic looks like its a bad shot but its want across his chest through heart and lungs.
Final stalk on Sunday morning ...another 3.30 get up.....drew a blank so packed up and headed home.
Knackered but what a fantastic trip
how did the NV scope perform, I've just got same one to slap on the 22 hornet for short range foxing
