Hi all
Don't generally write much about my experiences but thought this one was worth a mention.
Went up to one of my pieces of ground despite there being thunderclouds showing on my weather app. Been out a few times lately to different ground and only either been seeing does or nothing at all, and was getting a bit disheartened with it all.
One of the problems is the crops are now just so long that even in the wheat your struggling to see the deer now, and maize is also now too long too. Cant wait till they start mowing the grass margins now and knocking some of the rape down !!
Anyway, went and an had a sit on one of the spots, have had quite a few deer from it in the past and figured I might just sit it out to dark rather than going walking around as it had dropped dead, and I mean dead still and I figured it would be nigh on impossible to try and stalk one.
Anyway, it gets to around 2130, not seen a thing, not even charlie has passed through so I started to get itchy feet. Figured I might check out the wheat field behind me 2 fields away as saw one in there a couple of weeks ago. Slinked over keeping low and got to the dyke and slowly looked over the field, just to see a deer ( looked like a doe ) bouncing in about 200 yds down the field. I was thinking like, how the hell has that one seen me !! The wind ( what there was ) was the right way, but anyway thought sod it off up the other end for a look.
Took a different approach this time walking up a track to the boundary rather than skirting round the wood sides to come in a different way. Light was starting to drop by this time and anyway got to the start of the last field and saw something in the field of beet next to the hedge. Binos up ( not v expensive browning ones I have had yonks ) and thought it was a buck but not sure as they aren't sparkling in poor light.
Dropped rifle on sticks and looked through scope instead ( Zeiss 6.5-24x50 Diavari ) and could see it like daylight. Nice little buck, smile on my face.
There was quite a bit of tall grass, etc between me and it so I was trying to find a gap as I have had it before where bullets have deflected off it and cleanly missed them. Also to make it worst as I was sneeking along the buck was walking away from me getting further away. So anyway,found a gap, got on sticks and got solid. Went for a shoulder shot as it looked a fair shot and let drive.....
Didn't hear the usual thump or see the deer kick out and it set off and jumped through the hedge into the next field out of sight. Got that bit gutted feeling as I figured I must have pulled the shot but figured I would go and take a look anyway. I knew exactly where he was as he was inline with a tree in the hedge which I noted so went over quickly as the light was dropping. Got to it and got the head down looking slowly at the beet tops, etc. Then I saw it, blood fresh on the leaves . Result. My heart lifted and now it was time to get it found quick !!
I knew where the deer had jumped through so literally followed it to the field behind which I had hope had been cut as it was grass. Also couldn't see any more blood anywhere though it was getting too dark.
So figured I would try walking up and down the field covering 5 metres ish at a time. I was hoping it hadnt made it to the wood at the bottom but it was a fair way off.
Anyway, on the third round I noticed the grass flattened in the field and went over and there it was, laid dead.
The bullet had hit it clean through the neck but not hit the spine, hence the lack of noise on connecting.
To say I was well chuffed is an understatement, I was 2 mins away from ringing my mate to come with the lamp and my dogs !!
So, just goes to show its always best to go for a look where the deer was, even if you think you missed it.
Cheers
T69
Don't generally write much about my experiences but thought this one was worth a mention.
Went up to one of my pieces of ground despite there being thunderclouds showing on my weather app. Been out a few times lately to different ground and only either been seeing does or nothing at all, and was getting a bit disheartened with it all.
One of the problems is the crops are now just so long that even in the wheat your struggling to see the deer now, and maize is also now too long too. Cant wait till they start mowing the grass margins now and knocking some of the rape down !!
Anyway, went and an had a sit on one of the spots, have had quite a few deer from it in the past and figured I might just sit it out to dark rather than going walking around as it had dropped dead, and I mean dead still and I figured it would be nigh on impossible to try and stalk one.
Anyway, it gets to around 2130, not seen a thing, not even charlie has passed through so I started to get itchy feet. Figured I might check out the wheat field behind me 2 fields away as saw one in there a couple of weeks ago. Slinked over keeping low and got to the dyke and slowly looked over the field, just to see a deer ( looked like a doe ) bouncing in about 200 yds down the field. I was thinking like, how the hell has that one seen me !! The wind ( what there was ) was the right way, but anyway thought sod it off up the other end for a look.
Took a different approach this time walking up a track to the boundary rather than skirting round the wood sides to come in a different way. Light was starting to drop by this time and anyway got to the start of the last field and saw something in the field of beet next to the hedge. Binos up ( not v expensive browning ones I have had yonks ) and thought it was a buck but not sure as they aren't sparkling in poor light.
Dropped rifle on sticks and looked through scope instead ( Zeiss 6.5-24x50 Diavari ) and could see it like daylight. Nice little buck, smile on my face.
There was quite a bit of tall grass, etc between me and it so I was trying to find a gap as I have had it before where bullets have deflected off it and cleanly missed them. Also to make it worst as I was sneeking along the buck was walking away from me getting further away. So anyway,found a gap, got on sticks and got solid. Went for a shoulder shot as it looked a fair shot and let drive.....
Didn't hear the usual thump or see the deer kick out and it set off and jumped through the hedge into the next field out of sight. Got that bit gutted feeling as I figured I must have pulled the shot but figured I would go and take a look anyway. I knew exactly where he was as he was inline with a tree in the hedge which I noted so went over quickly as the light was dropping. Got to it and got the head down looking slowly at the beet tops, etc. Then I saw it, blood fresh on the leaves . Result. My heart lifted and now it was time to get it found quick !!
I knew where the deer had jumped through so literally followed it to the field behind which I had hope had been cut as it was grass. Also couldn't see any more blood anywhere though it was getting too dark.
So figured I would try walking up and down the field covering 5 metres ish at a time. I was hoping it hadnt made it to the wood at the bottom but it was a fair way off.
Anyway, on the third round I noticed the grass flattened in the field and went over and there it was, laid dead.
The bullet had hit it clean through the neck but not hit the spine, hence the lack of noise on connecting.
To say I was well chuffed is an understatement, I was 2 mins away from ringing my mate to come with the lamp and my dogs !!
So, just goes to show its always best to go for a look where the deer was, even if you think you missed it.
Cheers
T69