Well in a previous thread I started at the beginning of the year about getting more species under my belt I took the plunge and booked a weekend with malcom (sikamalc). Made the booking in June for November and couldn't wait. Then the time came. I left glasgow at 4am on Friday to travel to berkshire furthest south I've ever been made a couple of p..s stops on the way and arrived at 10:45am to the old piggery B&B were we would be staying. On arrival malc was there to greet me and his second in command TOM. Got booked in and briefed on what time we were heading out. Malc decided that he would take me to his 2000 acre lease on a estate to get my first CWD. On arrival we glassed some crop fields but nothing so malc parked up and said we would go on foot along some fields and hedgerows. When we got out the cab the wind would have blown the hair off a baldy man but we carried on regardless. Plenty of slots and runs but nothing showing so it was back to the cab. A slow drive around the estate glassing fields and dodging pheasants still nothing. Then I seen one next to a flight pond malc confirmed it was a muntie buck so reversed back and we stalked up on foot. To our suprise it disappeared so back to the cab and glass again by this time the light was fading. After a short drive we spied to cwd in the park opposite to the gamekeepers house so we decided to drive down and park up at a hedgerow and sneak up onto them. We got 2 hedgerows down with a gap in it and got within 120yrds . I couldn't see them lying down on the bipod so used malcs shouler the 2 still standing I let the 30-06 go on the one on the right. A clean miss so swung round and let it go on the one on the left . Thudd I knew it was down reloaded and walked up to it. Malc confirmed it was dead and it was a doe. Brilliant my first cwd by the time we had gralloched and inspected it the light had gone so back to the cab and b&b then off to the flying horse for some pub grub and bed ready for Saturday morn.
In the morning malc decided to take me round another field opposite the b&b to were he had a high seat so we left 30mins before sunrise still windy. We got there and in the seat for no less than 10mins when a munt came out 50yrds in front of me. Malc whispered it's a buck shoot it. Thudd and the buck run into the undergrowth I knew I had placed the shot well. Malc got down and into the hedges after it. After 5mins he reappeared with the buck. I must admit I am suppriesed at how hardy they are. The shot was spot on and it still managed to run 30yrds before collapsing. A very happy man and my first muntjac. We sat about for another hour and decided to move to another area along woodlands plenty of tracks and runs on the way to it but nothing showing. We glassed down more fields and spotted a munt buck down a hedgerow and a cwd belting along the park next to it . Malc said it was a buck so made our way down. Glassing them on the way they disappeared so made our way back up and for breakfast. After brekkie the rain came down and the wind picked up strongly so got the head down for a few hours. In the afternoon the weather hadn't changed in fact got worse so decided not to go back out and wait till the morn so away to the flying horse again for grub . In the morning malc put me out with tom a great wee guide and a wealth of knowledge. We drove down to another farm and had a walk round some fields glassing constantly as the wind seemed to be picking up again. After 30mins tom spied a mature buck at the top of the park dukeing in and out the hedges so made our way up to be ready for it coming towards us but it had other ideas coming out the hedge 20yrds in front of us and belting back down the park. On the way back there was even one in the walled garden of the farmhouse. Oh well back for brekkie and head down ready for the evening stalk. Later that evening tom put me at the corner of the woods were the buck in the morning had run into as he sat in a high seat with another client. As the light was fading I spotted something bouncing in the long grass in front of the woods. Sticks ready I glassed it and it was a monster cwd buck so got my rifle up and for the life of me it had gone. By that time the light had gone game over and back to the cab. I've had a brilliant weekend, meet really down to earth guys,shared some banter and most of all meet what I call good friends now. I am looking forward to going back down again next year and would recommend MALC to anyone as they will be well looked after.
Again thank malc for a memorable weekend
Scott
P's. .....tell Tom not to order the chicken legs in the flying horse lol
In the morning malc decided to take me round another field opposite the b&b to were he had a high seat so we left 30mins before sunrise still windy. We got there and in the seat for no less than 10mins when a munt came out 50yrds in front of me. Malc whispered it's a buck shoot it. Thudd and the buck run into the undergrowth I knew I had placed the shot well. Malc got down and into the hedges after it. After 5mins he reappeared with the buck. I must admit I am suppriesed at how hardy they are. The shot was spot on and it still managed to run 30yrds before collapsing. A very happy man and my first muntjac. We sat about for another hour and decided to move to another area along woodlands plenty of tracks and runs on the way to it but nothing showing. We glassed down more fields and spotted a munt buck down a hedgerow and a cwd belting along the park next to it . Malc said it was a buck so made our way down. Glassing them on the way they disappeared so made our way back up and for breakfast. After brekkie the rain came down and the wind picked up strongly so got the head down for a few hours. In the afternoon the weather hadn't changed in fact got worse so decided not to go back out and wait till the morn so away to the flying horse again for grub . In the morning malc put me out with tom a great wee guide and a wealth of knowledge. We drove down to another farm and had a walk round some fields glassing constantly as the wind seemed to be picking up again. After 30mins tom spied a mature buck at the top of the park dukeing in and out the hedges so made our way up to be ready for it coming towards us but it had other ideas coming out the hedge 20yrds in front of us and belting back down the park. On the way back there was even one in the walled garden of the farmhouse. Oh well back for brekkie and head down ready for the evening stalk. Later that evening tom put me at the corner of the woods were the buck in the morning had run into as he sat in a high seat with another client. As the light was fading I spotted something bouncing in the long grass in front of the woods. Sticks ready I glassed it and it was a monster cwd buck so got my rifle up and for the life of me it had gone. By that time the light had gone game over and back to the cab. I've had a brilliant weekend, meet really down to earth guys,shared some banter and most of all meet what I call good friends now. I am looking forward to going back down again next year and would recommend MALC to anyone as they will be well looked after.
Again thank malc for a memorable weekend
Scott
P's. .....tell Tom not to order the chicken legs in the flying horse lol