Deer Doldrums

[Mike L]

It's been about a month since I last shot a deer however, in my defence, the last stalk/Trip I did, I was more focused on my wife getting her first deer (which she did, nice young roe buck).

I think you might have misunderstood your wife when she said she wanted to go out and get herself a young buck

 

[25 Sharps]

Still out most weeks, 3 deer in the last 3 weeks with 3 different rifles .

Not so much out on the rabbits now, which I used to be at least twice a week, but numbers are so low now I only shoot where they are on new crops.

 

[GBR66]

Was hoping to have hay down this week and have a go at Muntjac this weekend once the viewing was easier....biblical rain has foiled that plan, as has coming down with the worst bout of Covid I have had...don't feel like doing anything!

 

[Jon P]

Not been out since 1 June 24 for deer, did get a nice buck then, weather permitting will be back out next Wednesday/Thursday . ( have had a recent SA trip though ). Will be good to get back out though.

 

[8x57]

My wife and daughters claims that I get quite cranky if I don't get out shooting, so they encourage me to go.

 

[ColinBr]

I've been out most weeks, but to be frankly honest I've not had much luck.

The last deer I shot was back on the 10th of May.

All I am seeing just now are the Hinds and Doe's or a fleeting glance of a Buck or Stag on the way in or out of the ground.

One said knobber on the way out


We have some game cameras up and it looks like the Stags are starting to move in now, but still in velvet yet.

I'll need to grass something soon though as the freezer is about empty, so a buck or a spiker would come in handy just now to replenish.

 

[paulbshooting]

Down here in Hampshire, June and early July are quiet. High cover and crops plus roe bucks moving less ahead of the rut. Does feel like the doldrums as usually deer going through the larder every week. Looking forward to roe rut and then the fallow bucks. Plenty of prickets about.

 

[Pete6.5]

It's a great time of year to have a break from stalking and when August gets here I'm ready for the hard work to start. A break is important to sustain the input of needed to go out 4/5 outings a week on the does/hinds.

 

[deerstalker.308]

Just sat sitting in my study this morning, contemplating the brave new world the UK has just launched into, and I got to thinking.

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Always dangerous.

When did I last shoot a deer? It feels like a lifetime ago.

I dig out the Game Book, and flick back (too many pages actually), to find it was a Red Stag up on Harris, on the 11th October last year.

This may be the longest I have gone without shooting a deer. In my defence, it may also be the longest I have gone, without actually deploying after deer.

So what's happened?

Two operations, a Safari to Africa, and dipping my toe

View attachment 373193


into long-range target shooting, that is what's happened. No biggie in the scheme of things, but suddenly it is almost a year since I stalked a deer.


For those readers (and there are plenty) who do not know what a deer is, it's a horse-like thing that pulls Santa's sledge...

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I draw some comfort that the coming weeks, will mean I can once again, get out with a rifle.

There is an up-coming trip to the Highlands, and I am due on Islay early next year - so it is not as if I have 'given up'...not yet anyway.

Anyone else becalmed in the deer doldrums?


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Happens every year for me now, scarcely pick up the rifle between red seasons, I get quite enough killing during that time I quite happily take a backseat for the rest of the year (plus the freezer is full of the last 2 hinds shot so no need for more venison!)

 

[JH83]

Haven’t shot one since mid May. This is pretty usual, and to be honest I got enough bucks early, assuming I get a few in the rut. Pretty standard, bracken high, roe are quiet and reds out of season. The start of August is much busier.

My main deer doldrums is post red rut as I don’t see a lot of hinds until Jan/Feb so the start of winter can be quiet, and I generally try to get most roe after Xmas.

Thank gawd for the pheasant season.

 

[Klenchblaize]

Backstop is good:

K

 

[Heym SR20]

To the OP - don’t worry about having time out to do other things. Life is a journey with lots of little distractions and diversions on the way. Sadly we only get one life, there are only 24 hours in each day, 365 days in the year and we get each get a only few decades on this little planet.

I think the key is to savour the special moments as those will remain in the memory for a long time.

 

[opticron1]

Funnily enough, I'm also in a "quiet" period on the stalking front....Holiday in Europe and a busy time of the year for bike weekends and do's. Even quiet on the fishing front as well.....
However, on the plus side - the freezer in the garage is well stocked with venison and as we hopefully will be reaching less monsoon like and more clement weather, venison burger production may well be required for BBQ time!
Always nice to have a bit of a breather and then enjoy the stalking twice as much when it gets going again!