After talking to a fellow forum member about a few things he had been making, and anything engineering in general it was obvious we were both very much alike. Things naturally turned to deer stalking and hunting in general.
His photos of Muntjac and Fallow stalking had me thinking of booking up some stalking down south.
I always wanted to try Muntjac stalking and they seem to get a great review in how they taste also which is always a bonus.
I mentioned that I quite fancied getting myself down for some Muntjac and Fallow stalking at some point, at which point I was invited down to join him and have a go. I was blown away by this to be honest and more than a little surprised. Obviously I did not hesitate to accept the offer.
A rough plan was made to get down near the end of September once the crops had been harvested and the cover down.
Come nearer the time and with the poor weather we have all had, the harvesting was late this year so a date in October was arranged. It just so happened that I had seen a pick-up down near Gatwick. It all fell into place and I flew down, collected the pickup and then drove to meet Tim.
I have to say Tim and his dogs were brilliant in accepting a fat Jock into their home. Early bed and be ready for the morning stalk was the brief.
Out the next morning I was bushy tailed and raring to go. Tim on the other hand admits he's not a morning person
.
We get to the ground which is brilliantly local and we are out the car and make our way across the first field. Checking along the way as we go in the still almost dark conditions.
First spot was of a Muntjac just the other side of the field in the cover between fields. We waited to see if we could get a shot or angle on it, but it wasn't to be. It just disappeared like they do. We also had another surprise which I'll leave between us.
Onto the next field and we could see a few deer out further along and into the next field again. Before we got to the next field I spot something on our side just inside the cover and then it pops out. A Muntjac at around 60-70 yards. Quickly up with the sticks and confirm it's a Muntjac Doe. The deer drops to the shot and I have my very first Muntjac. I feel like it's my first deer all over again. Tim was equally as happy for me and it's a joy to see someone who is just as keen to get someone else a deer as he is.
We bleed the deer and leave it to hang on a tree while we crack on and see what else we can get in the next field. Sure enough there is at least another 3 Muntjac down in the cover at the bottom of the field.
We make our way towards them and try to get onto the first 1, but it just wouldn't present a shot, so we quicky made our way over to another 2.
I could make out a youngster and occasionally could get a glimpse of the doe.
With numbers needing reduced the decision was to take the youngster while we could and see if we could get something else afterwards. It was dropped, and we grabbed that to then take back to the first Doe and Tim showed me the suspended gralloch. Something I hadn't done before as I'm usually dealing with Red deer on the deck. Called it a morning and made plans for the evening stalk ahead. I was already a very happy chap.
The evening stalk was planned for a new piece of ground that Tim had recently gained for Fallow and Muntjac.
We got onto the ground and had a quick reccy around and made our way down a field towards where we planned on sitting out for a bit to see if anything popped out for us. On the way we seen a few fallow on the fields across from us, unfortunately not part of his ground. Anyway we made our way towards the bottom of our field and waited out a bit.
After a while the decision was made to make our way to the other fields and get setup for the remaining light.
We made it along the field maybe 150 yards and turned round to see a Fallow spiker standing roughly where we had been stood and looking at us. Cheeky git must have known we couldn't shoot it from where we stood and we were made a fool of
We made our way over to the next waiting spot and it wasn't long before we could see deer moving in the cover, and hopefully out into a place where we could get a shot.
It wasn't to be this time and I now know why folks call fallow ghosts in the way they can just disappear.
Made our way back towards the truck and I spot a deer and obviously a Muntjac down at the bottom of the field. We make our way towards it and I manage to get my third Muntjac Buck. I was well made up. I drag the deer back to the pickup to be suspended on Tim's vehicle winch setup. Absolutely brilliant.
I'll tell you what though, I was really surprised at how heavy these Muntjac are for their size. Like little barrels. I had a sweat on heading up a wet clay field hill to the pickup
The next day arrives and I have the option of another morning stalk and an evening stalk ahead.
We make our way to a few local places again for more Muntjac. We put in a brilliant stalk onto a Muntjac buck that would have been the icing on the cake if I had shot it. Only for it to look up at exactly the same point I was mounting the rifle on the sticks. Busted big time and off it barked laughing as it bounded away no doubt.
We set off to another set of fields and we can see a few deer out. We make our way towards 1 and Tim spots 1 that just popped out to our left. Quickly up onto the sticks and I managed to bag my second Buck. I am delighted and decide that this is enough for me and let Tim know that I have had more than I ever expected to see let alone shoot. Added to that a 7 plus hour drive home in the dark didn't appeal to me.
We seen a whole lot more deer and I could go on for hours about the trip, but I won't bore you all too much for now.
All I will say is that you meet the most amazing people along your way in life, and I can honestly say that @Tim.243 is 1 of the good guys. I felt nothing but welcome by him and he let me into his world of which I am extremely appreciative of.
His photos of Muntjac and Fallow stalking had me thinking of booking up some stalking down south.
I always wanted to try Muntjac stalking and they seem to get a great review in how they taste also which is always a bonus.
I mentioned that I quite fancied getting myself down for some Muntjac and Fallow stalking at some point, at which point I was invited down to join him and have a go. I was blown away by this to be honest and more than a little surprised. Obviously I did not hesitate to accept the offer.
A rough plan was made to get down near the end of September once the crops had been harvested and the cover down.
Come nearer the time and with the poor weather we have all had, the harvesting was late this year so a date in October was arranged. It just so happened that I had seen a pick-up down near Gatwick. It all fell into place and I flew down, collected the pickup and then drove to meet Tim.
I have to say Tim and his dogs were brilliant in accepting a fat Jock into their home. Early bed and be ready for the morning stalk was the brief.
Out the next morning I was bushy tailed and raring to go. Tim on the other hand admits he's not a morning person
. We get to the ground which is brilliantly local and we are out the car and make our way across the first field. Checking along the way as we go in the still almost dark conditions.
First spot was of a Muntjac just the other side of the field in the cover between fields. We waited to see if we could get a shot or angle on it, but it wasn't to be. It just disappeared like they do. We also had another surprise which I'll leave between us.
Onto the next field and we could see a few deer out further along and into the next field again. Before we got to the next field I spot something on our side just inside the cover and then it pops out. A Muntjac at around 60-70 yards. Quickly up with the sticks and confirm it's a Muntjac Doe. The deer drops to the shot and I have my very first Muntjac. I feel like it's my first deer all over again. Tim was equally as happy for me and it's a joy to see someone who is just as keen to get someone else a deer as he is.
We bleed the deer and leave it to hang on a tree while we crack on and see what else we can get in the next field. Sure enough there is at least another 3 Muntjac down in the cover at the bottom of the field.
We make our way towards them and try to get onto the first 1, but it just wouldn't present a shot, so we quicky made our way over to another 2.
I could make out a youngster and occasionally could get a glimpse of the doe.
With numbers needing reduced the decision was to take the youngster while we could and see if we could get something else afterwards. It was dropped, and we grabbed that to then take back to the first Doe and Tim showed me the suspended gralloch. Something I hadn't done before as I'm usually dealing with Red deer on the deck. Called it a morning and made plans for the evening stalk ahead. I was already a very happy chap.
The evening stalk was planned for a new piece of ground that Tim had recently gained for Fallow and Muntjac.
We got onto the ground and had a quick reccy around and made our way down a field towards where we planned on sitting out for a bit to see if anything popped out for us. On the way we seen a few fallow on the fields across from us, unfortunately not part of his ground. Anyway we made our way towards the bottom of our field and waited out a bit.
After a while the decision was made to make our way to the other fields and get setup for the remaining light.
We made it along the field maybe 150 yards and turned round to see a Fallow spiker standing roughly where we had been stood and looking at us. Cheeky git must have known we couldn't shoot it from where we stood and we were made a fool of
We made our way over to the next waiting spot and it wasn't long before we could see deer moving in the cover, and hopefully out into a place where we could get a shot.
It wasn't to be this time and I now know why folks call fallow ghosts in the way they can just disappear.
Made our way back towards the truck and I spot a deer and obviously a Muntjac down at the bottom of the field. We make our way towards it and I manage to get my third Muntjac Buck. I was well made up. I drag the deer back to the pickup to be suspended on Tim's vehicle winch setup. Absolutely brilliant.
I'll tell you what though, I was really surprised at how heavy these Muntjac are for their size. Like little barrels. I had a sweat on heading up a wet clay field hill to the pickup
The next day arrives and I have the option of another morning stalk and an evening stalk ahead.
We make our way to a few local places again for more Muntjac. We put in a brilliant stalk onto a Muntjac buck that would have been the icing on the cake if I had shot it. Only for it to look up at exactly the same point I was mounting the rifle on the sticks. Busted big time and off it barked laughing as it bounded away no doubt.
We set off to another set of fields and we can see a few deer out. We make our way towards 1 and Tim spots 1 that just popped out to our left. Quickly up onto the sticks and I managed to bag my second Buck. I am delighted and decide that this is enough for me and let Tim know that I have had more than I ever expected to see let alone shoot. Added to that a 7 plus hour drive home in the dark didn't appeal to me.
We seen a whole lot more deer and I could go on for hours about the trip, but I won't bore you all too much for now.
All I will say is that you meet the most amazing people along your way in life, and I can honestly say that @Tim.243 is 1 of the good guys. I felt nothing but welcome by him and he let me into his world of which I am extremely appreciative of.
