Sorry I am a little late but only just found the thread.
Well I am the bloke in the picture who was lucky enough to get a shot at this cracking beast. My own rifle is a bit heavy yes but more importantly right on the bottom end power limit so Stu thought it prudent to just take his lovelly old Mannlicher 270 in case something appeared a fair way off. I am reluctant to extend the range of mine on deer as I dont want a wounded beast. As it happened the shot was not that far and quite fortunate really, we were stalking along a grassed ride at the edge of a large woodland block. To the right a tall thorn hedge with no bottom much and a wire netting fence with a strand of barbed wire on top, the field that side was thistles and nettles. The other side was a few rows of silver birch etc then a large expanse of clear fell.
The buck came up the thistle field and saw us at about 10 feet !!, he about turned and dissapeared back from where he came. He crossed the ride as expected about 70 yards away but at speed and failed to stop, went 50 yards into the clearfell and stopped for a quick better look. That was his undoing, I managed to thread the bullet between 4 trees into his neck, it was the only shot I had.
I am a relative novice at stalking and have never shot anything as magnificent as this boy, having carried him back through thigh high grass, rushes and deep ditches just before the pics I was pretty well knackered I can tell you. I think I was using the old Mannlicher as a prop to hold me up at that stage !!.
I am deeply indebted to Stu and his stalking partner Tony for giving up their own stalking time to get me this shot. Thanks guys.
The head is currently in my freezer while I get taxidermy costs, if anyone has any contacts in this area please pm me.
Thanks again,
A