I live in Dumfriesshire and regularly stalk on an area which has a large population of roe. On Saturday we tried moving deer to standing guns. From dawn onwards we carried out three deer "drives" with three mates walking through large mixed forestry blocks with three rifles waiting at the far end in the field waiting for deer to cross grassland to another area of woodland.
It goes without saying that we were militant on the safety front, high vis worn by all, maps detailing manoeuvres, permitted arcs of fire in fields away from beaters with a safe backdrop, and a horn to signal the end of the "drive" to permit the beaters' safe exit.
These were all in areas where I have seen deer break cover before, however the deer were very uncooperative and generally doubled back through the wood. No shots fired.
The deer may have been winded somehow, but the wind would never be perfect for this kind of manoeuvre? Also the weather was a bit blustery which might have made the deer prefer the warmth of woodland. No deer were seen grazing in fields that morning.
Has anyone else done this? Any success? Thanks.
It goes without saying that we were militant on the safety front, high vis worn by all, maps detailing manoeuvres, permitted arcs of fire in fields away from beaters with a safe backdrop, and a horn to signal the end of the "drive" to permit the beaters' safe exit.
These were all in areas where I have seen deer break cover before, however the deer were very uncooperative and generally doubled back through the wood. No shots fired.
The deer may have been winded somehow, but the wind would never be perfect for this kind of manoeuvre? Also the weather was a bit blustery which might have made the deer prefer the warmth of woodland. No deer were seen grazing in fields that morning.
Has anyone else done this? Any success? Thanks.