With sunrise due at 0612 hours, 9oC, 16% chance of rain and a modest SE wind, I sally forth this morning, once again, into the beautiful countryside.
On the run in, I see three Muntjac - one of whom was a good sized Buck. I wonder if they are becoming nocturnal?
I find myself in my seat at 0345 hours.
It is too early. It is always too early. And that is why I like it. Nothing to do but sit and relax.
I break out the refs. flask, rangefinder, binos., and thermal.
I notice the chocolate treat in the refs. box.
It is gone by 0348 hours...
The sandwiches do not survive must longer...
Using the thermal, I can see one deer 200 yards away. I know that it is 200 yards away, because my 'range card' for this location tells me - there are three trees in a line and they are (near as damn it) 100, 150 and 200 yards away. This deer is stood right on the junction of the shaw. I cannot at this stage sex the deer, but it later transpires it is a doe.
For the next 90 minutes I scan with the TI, and just listen to the day awaken. Couple of horses in a paddock off to my left. Pheasants, hares, squirrels, and the domestic lights (such as they are this early in the morning) of a village way off in the distance.
Eventually, 'legal light' forces the night into submission, and I can confirm that this deer (now definitely a doe) which has been stood absolutely steady for the best part of two hours, is now showing signs of life.
What signs of life does this doe show?
I'll tell you what signs of life this doe shows...
Just as the light becomes sufficiently bright for me to think about reaching for the rifle, she steps forward about ten yards, through a shaw and into land over which we do not have permission to shoot. How do they know?
The keen eyed amongst you may just be able to make out her rump in the middle of the 'off limit's' land.
She has outsmarted me (not difficult), and I pull stumps.
I make by way back to the farm Jimmy, and load her up with feed. About a third of the way around the circuit and that 16% chance of rain, turns into 100%.
Thankful for small mercies, I am delighted the spinner has finally been repaired and I can at least spin from the 'comfort' (everything is relative) of the jeep.
I count plenty of Pheasants (about 15% of what I put down) and then much treasured Partridges. Really pleased to see these birds about.
Some of you may well recall, that at the back end of last year, I adapted the jeep by increasing the ventilation...
What I actually did was reverse the damn thing into a low branch and smashed the rear windscreen.
I did have a half-chance at another doe but with the rain picking up, my heart was not really in it, and I left her for another day.
Any hoo.
I digress.
Back to the question.
I watched this doe (in the darkness) for nearly two hours. She did not move at all.
Was she asleep?
PS
Saw two fallow on the run home - (both road kill) - so saw more deer on the run in and out, that I did on the actual estate.
On the run in, I see three Muntjac - one of whom was a good sized Buck. I wonder if they are becoming nocturnal?
I find myself in my seat at 0345 hours.
It is too early. It is always too early. And that is why I like it. Nothing to do but sit and relax.
I break out the refs. flask, rangefinder, binos., and thermal.
I notice the chocolate treat in the refs. box.
It is gone by 0348 hours...
The sandwiches do not survive must longer...
Using the thermal, I can see one deer 200 yards away. I know that it is 200 yards away, because my 'range card' for this location tells me - there are three trees in a line and they are (near as damn it) 100, 150 and 200 yards away. This deer is stood right on the junction of the shaw. I cannot at this stage sex the deer, but it later transpires it is a doe.
For the next 90 minutes I scan with the TI, and just listen to the day awaken. Couple of horses in a paddock off to my left. Pheasants, hares, squirrels, and the domestic lights (such as they are this early in the morning) of a village way off in the distance.
Eventually, 'legal light' forces the night into submission, and I can confirm that this deer (now definitely a doe) which has been stood absolutely steady for the best part of two hours, is now showing signs of life.
What signs of life does this doe show?
I'll tell you what signs of life this doe shows...
Just as the light becomes sufficiently bright for me to think about reaching for the rifle, she steps forward about ten yards, through a shaw and into land over which we do not have permission to shoot. How do they know?
The keen eyed amongst you may just be able to make out her rump in the middle of the 'off limit's' land.
She has outsmarted me (not difficult), and I pull stumps.
I make by way back to the farm Jimmy, and load her up with feed. About a third of the way around the circuit and that 16% chance of rain, turns into 100%.
Thankful for small mercies, I am delighted the spinner has finally been repaired and I can at least spin from the 'comfort' (everything is relative) of the jeep.
I count plenty of Pheasants (about 15% of what I put down) and then much treasured Partridges. Really pleased to see these birds about.
Some of you may well recall, that at the back end of last year, I adapted the jeep by increasing the ventilation...
What I actually did was reverse the damn thing into a low branch and smashed the rear windscreen.
I did have a half-chance at another doe but with the rain picking up, my heart was not really in it, and I left her for another day.
Any hoo.
I digress.
Back to the question.
I watched this doe (in the darkness) for nearly two hours. She did not move at all.
Was she asleep?
PS
Saw two fallow on the run home - (both road kill) - so saw more deer on the run in and out, that I did on the actual estate.
but seen horses a sleep 
?
