Well after days and days of trying and what i think was about my 7th outing i finally managed to break my duck and grass a buck this morning. So far this season i have been out once if not twice most days and seen plenty of bucks but never managed to get in close enough or they were just over the boundary or were in velvet so i had been unsuccessful for one reason or another. But having seen 5 or 6 different bucks within a relatively small area of the farm i persisted to try try and try again knowing sooner or later i'd luck out and things would go my way.
Anyway I got up this morning after what had been at most have been only 2 1/2 hours sleep so it was hard to get out of bed but i had a feeling it'd be worth it so up and got, got dress and all my stuff together and off i went. I parked up and got out the car and judging the wind to be in my favour set off the way i intend to where the field dipped away and i had seen buck in the mini valley type area and waited and watched to see what was happening as it was only just turning 6 o'clock and getting light. i sat and waited for what must have been 10 mins and heard barking and spotted a buck coming my way but not looking at me ( i noticed they had been very vocal on previous stalks) but coming my way so i watched and slowly set out the sticks and set up the rifle he came closer and closer so i assumed he must haver some how winded me. He got so close and front on but didn't present a safe shot so i just waited and he dropped back down the bank and finally presented a safe shot so i took a broad side shot and in a last ditch act of defiance he decided to jump the ditch and fall stone dead on the other side.
I crossed the ditch that although the water was shallow but the sand/dirt at the bottom was not so shallow and i made it across to the buck and packed him in the roe sack and took him back to the other side of the ditch as i wanted to gralloch him away from the foot path and with his ungralloched weight on my back this time when i tried to ford the dyke i sank very deep indeed, far deeper than my wellys and just made it across without going a over t and did the gralloch which revealed a good chest shot then went home to get him ready to take to the farm shop.
I am very happy as it was only my second successful solo stalk and he is one hell of a buck, my best to date and i think he could scrape a medal. What are your views?
George
Anyway I got up this morning after what had been at most have been only 2 1/2 hours sleep so it was hard to get out of bed but i had a feeling it'd be worth it so up and got, got dress and all my stuff together and off i went. I parked up and got out the car and judging the wind to be in my favour set off the way i intend to where the field dipped away and i had seen buck in the mini valley type area and waited and watched to see what was happening as it was only just turning 6 o'clock and getting light. i sat and waited for what must have been 10 mins and heard barking and spotted a buck coming my way but not looking at me ( i noticed they had been very vocal on previous stalks) but coming my way so i watched and slowly set out the sticks and set up the rifle he came closer and closer so i assumed he must haver some how winded me. He got so close and front on but didn't present a safe shot so i just waited and he dropped back down the bank and finally presented a safe shot so i took a broad side shot and in a last ditch act of defiance he decided to jump the ditch and fall stone dead on the other side.
I crossed the ditch that although the water was shallow but the sand/dirt at the bottom was not so shallow and i made it across to the buck and packed him in the roe sack and took him back to the other side of the ditch as i wanted to gralloch him away from the foot path and with his ungralloched weight on my back this time when i tried to ford the dyke i sank very deep indeed, far deeper than my wellys and just made it across without going a over t and did the gralloch which revealed a good chest shot then went home to get him ready to take to the farm shop.
I am very happy as it was only my second successful solo stalk and he is one hell of a buck, my best to date and i think he could scrape a medal. What are your views?
George
you lucky b***** regards biker1
