mereside
Well-Known Member
As some of you know i had a trip booked with mark from Stalking in England on a one day boar trip well the trip has come and gone and would just like to post my experience.
a drive down to norfolk to meet the guys who were off on the trip and a few familiar names off sd it was nice to put a name to faces we all got loaded up and set off to pick the other chaps along the way. We got to the tunnel terminal in plenty of time and a painless first pass at customs ,I can honestly say it was an absolute doddle going with a bus and tunnel as we had no delays and everything was straight forward. we set off on french soil and we hadnt gone far and the groups of roe dotted about the countryside was a pleasant sight. closer to our destination we saw a small group of red hinds and the antisipation of what was instore set in.
We finally made it to our destination and we were met by our host with a few bottles of champers and hourderves and we all settled in to get to know one and another. as the champagne started to flow so did our stories of stalking back home and I can say that everyone on the trip were great to get on with and a pleasure to spend time away hunting.
the next morning we had a safety talk and a demo of the hunting horn and the different sounds we would here for each one of our quarry . after breakfast the nerves set in and we finally drew pegs and headed off to our posts.
I drew peg 14 and the sign of boar on the snow was a welcome sight. i got my self set up in readyness to the first horn to start the drive.
As the dogs got closer the air was electric the noise from the beaters and dogs and the sounds from animals running really got the heart pounding and my first glimps of things to come a small group of 5 mouflon stood 20 yrds from me staring straight at me wondering which way to run i stayed very still , these were on our list but only the females they started their charge and the rifle came up to gain the bead onto one and it was right on the boarder of my safe shooting so i let them pass as they moved over to david who shouldered his shotgun and fired but no horn so i assumed it was a miss.
the next thing the dogs ran through and two lovely fallow bucks charged passed to skid to a halt in front but as the bucks were not to be shot i stood in awe with my heart in my mouth.
A few guns down the line i saw magnus shoulder his shotgun and fired i couldnt see what he was aiming for but a second shot rang out and the sound of three blasts and a few pips a boar was down.
The first of the day a few more shots rang out and a few missed chances with people the drive ended we all walked up talking of what was seen and what people tried to shoot ,anybody reading this and thinking that it is a sure thing then you are very mistaked i was so impressed with the way the deer and boar were so switched on and the boar are so clever they run stop to listen and look and you can see them working out a plan of escape and they come so close it is unreal.
Onto our second drive and no sooner had i sat down a boar ran by with kids in tow off limits so had a chuckle to myself and then a mouflon slinked slowley by but keeping to the line were the beaters were i couldnt take the shot .
At this point a bigger group with a massive ram slowley made there way to me i kept my nerve and the last second the lead one got my scent she bolted as did the others unfortunately a little to my left and into the next gun who was i think asleep i shouted and as he swung round the ram at the back was the only one on for him and it was left to go by.
a red cautiousley moved closer to me but i couldnt see the head i stayed still it watched me for about ten minutes without moving and by this time my hand had gone numb.
It moved and i could tell it was a young switch he took a step forward tasting the air he knew i was close by but not sure where he came closer till around 5 feet away he spooked and jumped over the ride. boy i was very exited but need to see more boar as the beaters past by i thaught it was game over and then a large bore trotted up to me between the next gun i moved my hand to grab the rifle and he just stopped instantly shuffled round and trotted back towards the beaters .
I had been too eager and didnt wait for it to get past me and i fluffed my moment, this i think i will never forget as it was an absolute pleasure and if i had only waited a few steps more he would have been in a safe area to shoot.
soon after the horn sounded for th end of the drive and we headed off for lunch. Chablis and steaks with sausages on the barbi in the woods ,it doesnt get much better than that.
I will add to this as i get some more pictures done and i am sure others off here will add to it also, atb wayne
a drive down to norfolk to meet the guys who were off on the trip and a few familiar names off sd it was nice to put a name to faces we all got loaded up and set off to pick the other chaps along the way. We got to the tunnel terminal in plenty of time and a painless first pass at customs ,I can honestly say it was an absolute doddle going with a bus and tunnel as we had no delays and everything was straight forward. we set off on french soil and we hadnt gone far and the groups of roe dotted about the countryside was a pleasant sight. closer to our destination we saw a small group of red hinds and the antisipation of what was instore set in.
We finally made it to our destination and we were met by our host with a few bottles of champers and hourderves and we all settled in to get to know one and another. as the champagne started to flow so did our stories of stalking back home and I can say that everyone on the trip were great to get on with and a pleasure to spend time away hunting.
the next morning we had a safety talk and a demo of the hunting horn and the different sounds we would here for each one of our quarry . after breakfast the nerves set in and we finally drew pegs and headed off to our posts.
I drew peg 14 and the sign of boar on the snow was a welcome sight. i got my self set up in readyness to the first horn to start the drive.
As the dogs got closer the air was electric the noise from the beaters and dogs and the sounds from animals running really got the heart pounding and my first glimps of things to come a small group of 5 mouflon stood 20 yrds from me staring straight at me wondering which way to run i stayed very still , these were on our list but only the females they started their charge and the rifle came up to gain the bead onto one and it was right on the boarder of my safe shooting so i let them pass as they moved over to david who shouldered his shotgun and fired but no horn so i assumed it was a miss.
the next thing the dogs ran through and two lovely fallow bucks charged passed to skid to a halt in front but as the bucks were not to be shot i stood in awe with my heart in my mouth.
A few guns down the line i saw magnus shoulder his shotgun and fired i couldnt see what he was aiming for but a second shot rang out and the sound of three blasts and a few pips a boar was down.
The first of the day a few more shots rang out and a few missed chances with people the drive ended we all walked up talking of what was seen and what people tried to shoot ,anybody reading this and thinking that it is a sure thing then you are very mistaked i was so impressed with the way the deer and boar were so switched on and the boar are so clever they run stop to listen and look and you can see them working out a plan of escape and they come so close it is unreal.
Onto our second drive and no sooner had i sat down a boar ran by with kids in tow off limits so had a chuckle to myself and then a mouflon slinked slowley by but keeping to the line were the beaters were i couldnt take the shot .
At this point a bigger group with a massive ram slowley made there way to me i kept my nerve and the last second the lead one got my scent she bolted as did the others unfortunately a little to my left and into the next gun who was i think asleep i shouted and as he swung round the ram at the back was the only one on for him and it was left to go by.
a red cautiousley moved closer to me but i couldnt see the head i stayed still it watched me for about ten minutes without moving and by this time my hand had gone numb.
It moved and i could tell it was a young switch he took a step forward tasting the air he knew i was close by but not sure where he came closer till around 5 feet away he spooked and jumped over the ride. boy i was very exited but need to see more boar as the beaters past by i thaught it was game over and then a large bore trotted up to me between the next gun i moved my hand to grab the rifle and he just stopped instantly shuffled round and trotted back towards the beaters .
I had been too eager and didnt wait for it to get past me and i fluffed my moment, this i think i will never forget as it was an absolute pleasure and if i had only waited a few steps more he would have been in a safe area to shoot.
soon after the horn sounded for th end of the drive and we headed off for lunch. Chablis and steaks with sausages on the barbi in the woods ,it doesnt get much better than that.
I will add to this as i get some more pictures done and i am sure others off here will add to it also, atb wayne
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