Fallow Reaction

rogue trader

Well-Known Member
Over the weekend I was stalking with a friend. We were on high seats at other ends of a large farm. Unfortunately my friend found his high seat to be in a poor state and so he decided to stalk his block of woodland on foot. He hadn't walked far when he came across a young Fallow Buck walking down the path towards. He quickly raised his rifle and pulled the trigger. Although he didn't see the strike due to the flash he expected to see the buck drop to the ground. To his surprise the follow turned slowly and started to walk slowly away hunched over. He assumed it was a gut or liver shot although unsure of how that could have happened as he had been head onto the fallow. He followed the buck expecting him to fall over any minute but instead the buck continued to walk slowly along the path. He made the decision to take a second shot before the fallow could reach difficult cover ahead. He clear saw the strike hit the back leg but the fallow continued into the cover. Not wanting to enter the cover and push the fallow further in he gave me a call to help him as it was getting dark.

We located the buck where he had last been seen but unfortunately the buck was still alive so we dispatched him quickly. On our approach we were unable to find the strike made by the first shot taken front on. The shot in the leg was clearly visible. The Buck's coat was very wet so we assumed the strike hole was in the front was hard to find due to the matted coat (not matted with blood). We carried out the galloch but were unable to find any entry hole or any damage to the organs. I expected to see damage to the liver but it was in good condition and the guts were intact.

We have both been left stumped by the react of the buck and I'm wondering what you guys think.

Could the buck have be come disorientated by the bang and flash as the shot was head on at under 20m? But I can't understand why he would then hunch over.
 
I'd be looking very carefully at the overall condition of that animal internally and externally. It is abnormal behaviour and therefore something to be very wary of before putting any of the carcase in the food chain.

Without inspection, it is hard to say, but you should assume that if you cannot find any entry wound or damage, the first shot missed. This is, to me, a sick animal and definitely one to be culled, but my instincts say destroy the carcase.
 
This is, to me, a sick animal and definitely one to be culled, but my instincts say destroy the carcase.

I was also concerned that the animal could have been sick due to its reaction but on inspection it appeared to be in good condition. Although the coat was matted this was due to the rain and mud on the ground where he was laid up. The reach of his coat along its body was very clean.
 
Just a thought, but has the zero of the rifle used been checked since the incident? A clean miss at 20m is a bit of a concern. Also was the follow up shot aimed at the rear leg? This might not have been my favoured poa to finish the beast.
 
Firstly, your friend should be chastised for taking a frontal chest shot if the carcass was intended for human consumption, this should not be taken unless absolutely necessary (I.e A second shot on a wounded animal). It is highly unlikely you would not rupture the stomach and gut with this shot.

Also more info is needed regarding calibre as to the where abouts of the first shot.
 
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Firstly, your friend should be chastised for taking a frontal shot if the carcass was intended for human consumption, this should not be taken unless absolutely necessary (I.e A second shot on a wounded animal). It is highly unlikely you would not rupture the stomach and gut with this shot.

Also more info is needed regarding calibre as to the where abouts of the first shot.

Might have been aiming for a high neck shot or head shot, which would not have contaminated the carcass of carried out correctly.
 
Did you inspect the contents of the gut? They will often gorge on wheat from pheasant feeders this time of year that expands in the gut and can if in excess can kill them, but I have even seen them laid up and unable to move, tied up in pain. Some may recover and some not. Sheep will do the same if over fed with wheat.

I alway inspect the contents of the stomach every gralloch as it tells me where I'll find them.

Paul
 
I alway inspect the contents of the stomach every gralloch as it tells me where I'll find them.

Paul

When I started fly fishing, I read about anglers using a sort of spoon to find out what trout had been feeding on. At the time, I remember thinking that if I had already caught a trout, I would probably already have found out what they were feeding on!
 
fallow walks down the path towards him, after shot, turns and walks away hunched over...ok, might have been ill, but what are the chances of it moving about down a patch actively in the first place if it's so ill that it walks slowly away hunched over after being shot at...no way.

sub 20m, I bet you that bullet failed to expand, and you will actually (if you skin it), find an entry hole, pencil thin or less, as the skin can contract. a pencil-holing shot does not always show the internal organs destroyed upon gralloch...and you say it was dispatched, how/where? if you shot it in the chest to dispatch it, how do you know the first shot did not pencil hole into the stomach area? did you dissect the rumen? a pencil hole into the rumen, again, can contract slightly and may not leak green.

a snapshot (assume offhand) in the front of chest, followed by one in the back leg is appalling stalking practice. Your friend should really think about this before his next deer lands in his sights.
 
Did you inspect the contents of the gut? They will often gorge on wheat from pheasant feeders this time of year that expands in the gut and can if in excess can kill them, but I have even seen them laid up and unable to move, tied up in pain. Some may recover and some not. Sheep will do the same if over fed with wheat.

I didn't inspect the contents of the guts which perhaps in hindsight I should have. The rack that the buck was waling leads directly to a number of pheasant feeders and there was plenty of activity around the feeders.

It was a 308 using Federal 150. I have used rounds from the same box without any problems.
 
He quickly raised his rifle and pulled the trigger.

Which bit of the deer was he aiming at?
How close was it when he 'pulled' the trigger - nearer to 10m, or at 20m?
At what distance was the rifled zeroed?

Depending on the answers to the above, it's quite possible your mate's first shot went clear over the deer.
 
Which bit of the deer was he aiming at?
How close was it when he 'pulled' the trigger - nearer to 10m, or at 20m?
At what distance was the rifled zeroed?

Depending on the answers to the above, it's quite possible your mate's first shot went clear over the deer.


eehhhhhh....not unless he was aiming at its forehead and the rifle was zeroed at 300+ yards!
 
I'd be looking very carefully at the overall condition of that animal internally and externally. It is abnormal behaviour and therefore something to be very wary of before putting any of the carcase in the food chain.

Without inspection, it is hard to say, but you should assume that if you cannot find any entry wound or damage, the first shot missed. This is, to me, a sick animal and definitely one to be culled, but my instincts say destroy the carcase.



+1
 
At the time, I remember thinking that if I had already caught a trout, I would probably already have found out what they were feeding on!

My point is that is the stomach is full of chestnuts then I know roughly where they have been feeding. If there is wheat then I know where the feeders are and then they'll probably be not to far from there etc, etc.
After all with a trout you are trying to tempt the fish to you. With deer we have to go and find them, I use all the clues that I can find then I know roughly where to find them at certain times of year.
The fact that the deer is described as being huntched over would indicate to me that it was in some discomfort, then the fact that it headed down hill would confirm this to me. Deer will usually take to the higher ground when fleeing.

Paul
 
When I started fly fishing, I read about anglers using a sort of spoon to find out what trout had been feeding on. At the time, I remember thinking that if I had already caught a trout, I would probably already have found out what they were feeding on!
How many "CATS WHISKERS" do you see flying about :D
 
My first thought was what a T*** your mate was for taking he first shot at that angle, Then after the second shot my suspicion was confirmed !
Hope he don't tell people he's a stalker,
If the Deer was ill why did he not spot this before the shot
He should be able to control himself and watch a beast walk away if a safe and killing shot is not presented
Sounds like the shot was too close to dusk and risked an unsafe recovery
I would not want to stalk in his company



All of us have a bad shot if we shoot enough but you RIFLE should NEVER be the problem.
I also shot a fallow Doe on Sunday , she was side on and I hit her too far back in the liver ( Bad rest my fault ) she did a strange wobbly leg dance, then seemed to recover, my second shot was heart lungs and she never left the ride.

I stalk on average once a month and also Check zero every month or straight away if I knock the rifle.
 
it sounds to me as if somebody needs a bit of range practise in various positions, and shooting the deer in the back leg!!! well need i say more!The Number 1 concern with deer stalking is that when any beast is culled is that it is a swift and humane as possible, not for it to take one over its head and put a second into its back leg!IF IN DOUBT, DO NOT SHOOT! SIMPLES!!!!!Enough said
 
If I thought I had a genuine wounded deer on my hands, then I would be perfectly happy to put another bullet into it wherever I could. And by wounded I do not mean a chest shot deer running off before the inevitable collapse and expiry.
 
Imagine missing a shot sooo close! Imagine not hitting the beast exactly where he aimed!!!! The distance of the shot is irrelevant, it happened so give the guy a break....

Why did he expect to see it drop on the spot? By that statement I would assume he had aimed at the neck but guess he didnt when his reaction was to think he had hit the gut?

I have read through your original description and can't see mention of skinning the animal? You need to skin it to confirm the bullet has in fact missed completely. Its surprising how sometimes an entrance hole can be missed, especially in winter coat.

Reaction before and after the shot???? It's walking down an open ride straight at your friend?? I'm not saying that doesn't happen, but he needs to consider the animals behaviour whilst its doing that, or was it all over and done so quickly he can't remember? Did the beast in fact react by jumping, arching its back, anything at all? Or as you describe didn't do anything except walk off? That in itself is strange. Deer struck by a bullet don't generally just simply walk off, and if missed the minimum of reaction is to suddenly lift their heads and look for where the sudden bang came from. And a bullet zinging past a deer in itself normally produces some kind of reaction????
 
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