A couple of firsts.

mudman

Well-Known Member
A couple of weeks ago my brother and I gained permission on a nice piece of land relatively local to us. My brother had two roe bucks on his first outing and two bucks and two foxes on his second stalk. In between I managed four blanks in a row, saw alot of deer but the only animals willing to present themselves for a shot were does! It did serve as good practise for my Wire Haired Viszla though as he had done no real training for deer work. But after a bit of gentle 'coaching' he soon got into the swing of things, i.e walking calmly at heel and not chargeing around the woods looking for a phessie to point to death.

Anyway I was out again this morning, sat at the base of a tree looking up a very nice grass ride that ran along a valley bottom and hoping that my luck would change. As often happens one moment there was nothing to be seen, then a glance back and there is a buck, he was giving a bush a bit of grief on the track side at about 140 yards. The buck moved towards me a little before standing broadside at around 120 yards.

At the shot the buck reared up and kicked out with his front legs before running up into the woodland on the valley side. I gave him ten minutes then took the dog to the point of impact, he seemed keen on the area but cast around a little on the hillside with no immediate indication of picking up a line. I sent him where I thought the deer had run, on a tangent uphill and back towards my shooting poistion, and the dog was quickly running up a trail on a hot scent, after 50 yards he turned on semi point, went straight downhill for about 20 yards and I saw him circle something in the brash. When he looked back for me I knew he had it and must say I was really very pleased with the dog. So a couple of firsts, a first buck of some new ground for me and the first deer tracked by Raff the Viszla.
 
That's excellent Mudman,
A nice little story and a good little dog. Makes my life harder now though as I'm after a dog and hadn't thought of Vizlas in my final selection! :confused:
 
Hi Mr B,
Vizslas come in two varieties smooth and wirehaired coated. Quite expensive
£ 600/700 . Go for working parents. They also work very well with hawking. Not too keen to be left alone depending on dog. Good guard dogs. Add to your list.
 
Its always a great feeling when the dog you have trained finds his first deer. Well done, its a great feeling I know, it still warms me when my Bavarian finds a deer, especially if its a clients.
 
Thanks Morena,
So far I've looked at Bavarians, Labs and Wire Haired Pointers. I'll put Vizslas on my list too and see what comes up when I have the funds and the time. :confused:
 
well done mudman
i am looking forward to the day my young lab bitch, i am training finds her first deer on a stalk, as that will be a first for her and me
 
Mr. B.

I would definately consider a WHV, along with falconery work stalking is one area where they are supposed to excel. Mine is seven now and I have had him for 3 years, I use him for beating, roughshooting, gameshooting and alot of wildfowling. Oh and he has recently taken to ratting!

From what I gather smooth haired and wirehaired Viszla's should be considered as completely different breeds. Raff is very soft and will sulk if I raise my voice to him, not at all like the pig headed labrador he used to share my house with.

The only previous exposure he had to deer was a couple of years ago when I visited a couple of friends who were stalking in Scotland for a weekend. A Roe had been shot and gathered the previous evening, but had run for about 100 yards through woodland before collapsing and then subsequently tracked and found. We were walking past the area of the shot when I decided to try the dog, he sraight away went nose down and ran along the exact path the deer had followed. By the time we caught up he was cheerfully tucking into the gralloch. Now I am not saying he followed the blood trail, he could have just as easily followed the foot scent of the stalker or winded the gralloch from that distance. What he did do though was throw up the gralloch an hour later in the back of my car!!!
 
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