Headed off to Devon on Wed last week for a bit of fallow shooting with a good friend.
Drew a blank on the Thur morning in a couple of spots but happy to be out on some cracking ground. Thur evening saw me lurking under a big oak and watching a grass field under some woodland. Most of this involved watching does and fawns but often the way at this time of year. There are a lot of walkers in the woods above and a very busy trail...my efforts werent helped by someone who couldnt control their dog which was chasing the deer about ...a good way from me and not on the ground we shoot on. About an hour after the owners got their dog a group pushed out from my RHS and there was a small buck in the group. He presented a broadside shot at about the 100 yard mark . Now Ive switched to copper so this was the first animal I have used it on. To be fair it dropped him on the spot with no issues so a good start.
It went downhill very shortly after when the neighbour who lives in the wood came to hurl abuse at me for killing innocent animals...I wont go into the details but I was very polite and tried to have a sensible chat with him until the "your sick" part started when his ignorance got the better of him...so suggested politely that he stop trespassing and go back onto his ground....
Gralloched the deer then off to M C Kelly to drop it off. What a brilliant set up they have.
Out first thing Friday ...saw a group of 30 with a couple of prickets but no safe shot and they headed off into the woods. Quick drive to get the right side of the wind and managed to pick up a pricket. On the sticks very quick as he cleared some cover. He was quartering so pinned him through the edge of his front shoulder at about 40 yards. He made it about 20 yards.
Saw a couple of nice bucks in the afternoon at about 250 yards but they were face on to me..they trotted to 170 yards perfectly face on and headed through the hedge with no safe shot ... nice to see them.
Headed back later and managed another pricket. I was sitting perfectly still and the group of 4 came within 40 yards of me and headed to my left out of site which allowed me to get behind the rifle without them seeing me. They came back out and I shouted to stop the group and shot the pricket through the head and top of his neck at 28 yards.
Last outing on Sat evening resulted in a 4th , another pricket. I could see something wasnt right with him and after I got behind the rifle I could see his one leg was smashed as it was hanging and he was only using the one leg. A quick shot through the other shoulder and chest dropped him at 170 yards. I didnt take a pic as he wasnt in a great state so I was chuffed that I ended his suffering. We left him for the foxes as he was in a poor state and not fit for the human food chain.
Brilliant few days though 5 hours sleep 4 nights in a row is catching up with me.
Dont want to ignite any row about copper...but 4 animals that expired with no drama...very limited but so far so good.
Drew a blank on the Thur morning in a couple of spots but happy to be out on some cracking ground. Thur evening saw me lurking under a big oak and watching a grass field under some woodland. Most of this involved watching does and fawns but often the way at this time of year. There are a lot of walkers in the woods above and a very busy trail...my efforts werent helped by someone who couldnt control their dog which was chasing the deer about ...a good way from me and not on the ground we shoot on. About an hour after the owners got their dog a group pushed out from my RHS and there was a small buck in the group. He presented a broadside shot at about the 100 yard mark . Now Ive switched to copper so this was the first animal I have used it on. To be fair it dropped him on the spot with no issues so a good start.
It went downhill very shortly after when the neighbour who lives in the wood came to hurl abuse at me for killing innocent animals...I wont go into the details but I was very polite and tried to have a sensible chat with him until the "your sick" part started when his ignorance got the better of him...so suggested politely that he stop trespassing and go back onto his ground....
Gralloched the deer then off to M C Kelly to drop it off. What a brilliant set up they have.
Out first thing Friday ...saw a group of 30 with a couple of prickets but no safe shot and they headed off into the woods. Quick drive to get the right side of the wind and managed to pick up a pricket. On the sticks very quick as he cleared some cover. He was quartering so pinned him through the edge of his front shoulder at about 40 yards. He made it about 20 yards.
Saw a couple of nice bucks in the afternoon at about 250 yards but they were face on to me..they trotted to 170 yards perfectly face on and headed through the hedge with no safe shot ... nice to see them.
Headed back later and managed another pricket. I was sitting perfectly still and the group of 4 came within 40 yards of me and headed to my left out of site which allowed me to get behind the rifle without them seeing me. They came back out and I shouted to stop the group and shot the pricket through the head and top of his neck at 28 yards.
Last outing on Sat evening resulted in a 4th , another pricket. I could see something wasnt right with him and after I got behind the rifle I could see his one leg was smashed as it was hanging and he was only using the one leg. A quick shot through the other shoulder and chest dropped him at 170 yards. I didnt take a pic as he wasnt in a great state so I was chuffed that I ended his suffering. We left him for the foxes as he was in a poor state and not fit for the human food chain.
Brilliant few days though 5 hours sleep 4 nights in a row is catching up with me.
Dont want to ignite any row about copper...but 4 animals that expired with no drama...very limited but so far so good.
