A couple of years ago I was introduced to Skywull on this site and I embarked on bagging my 1st Sika. I was sent out with a guide, Jason, top guy who worked his guts out to get me onto a very nice stag. On this occasion it wasn't to be. Last year I returned and sat out with Skywull where I managed to bag a Sika pricket . Well made up.
Last weekend saw me back up there and Jason was on hand as my guide for Friday evening. Well we arrived at the bottom of the hill nice and early. Plan was to take a slow easy hike up there and wait for the Sika to come out of the wood and across the hill. Almost immediately from getting out of the truck Jason spotted a nice stag lay on the edge of the wood in the heather. He was now our target. So as we set off to pick a spot to intercept him when he decided to move the game plan changed.
out popped a hind and the chase was on. Stag chasing hind across the hill and Jason, myself & dog rushing to head them off. Good job my level of fitness was up to it but I was blowing. Part way up there we observed him mounting the hind & he wouldn't let her go as they milled around in the heather. Next time we popped up from a gully there was no sign of them
. Then Jason spotted a pair of antlers sticking out of the heather, range finder said 550 yards. From here on we were on our belly with no cover and no idea where the hind was. We knew she would be close to him but didn't want to spook her. 250 yards of belly crawl through sheep poo, mud & soaking wet grass got us to a point where we could not really get any closer.
Range finder check 285 yards, ok happy with that as I set up on the bipod and dialled in for 300 yards giving compensation for the slight head wind as well.
Well we waited & waited but he wasn't for standing up. Jason started to use a Sika call but he wasn't interested. However a smaller stag must have thought his luck was in as he came charging over the hill towards us, hearing the call and probably smelling the hind.
Now big boy was not impressed as he jumped to his feet and set off to chase the smaller stag away. That done with only a few steps the younger stag legged it and my boy stood perfectly broad side on looking pleased with himself.
Slight squeeze of the T3's trigger & away went a 150 grain .308 home load. The wack of the bullet connecting was good & solid. He took half a step and hit the deck.
Not moving the dog was released to go and get a grip which she did when she eventually got there. The hind creeped away as the dog was on route.Once we got there it was a good clean chest shot. Gralloch done and back down to the truck.
The head will be mounted in due course but many thanks and much appreciation to 2 good friends from SD who got me on to this Stag.
Last weekend saw me back up there and Jason was on hand as my guide for Friday evening. Well we arrived at the bottom of the hill nice and early. Plan was to take a slow easy hike up there and wait for the Sika to come out of the wood and across the hill. Almost immediately from getting out of the truck Jason spotted a nice stag lay on the edge of the wood in the heather. He was now our target. So as we set off to pick a spot to intercept him when he decided to move the game plan changed.
out popped a hind and the chase was on. Stag chasing hind across the hill and Jason, myself & dog rushing to head them off. Good job my level of fitness was up to it but I was blowing. Part way up there we observed him mounting the hind & he wouldn't let her go as they milled around in the heather. Next time we popped up from a gully there was no sign of them
. Then Jason spotted a pair of antlers sticking out of the heather, range finder said 550 yards. From here on we were on our belly with no cover and no idea where the hind was. We knew she would be close to him but didn't want to spook her. 250 yards of belly crawl through sheep poo, mud & soaking wet grass got us to a point where we could not really get any closer. Range finder check 285 yards, ok happy with that as I set up on the bipod and dialled in for 300 yards giving compensation for the slight head wind as well.
Well we waited & waited but he wasn't for standing up. Jason started to use a Sika call but he wasn't interested. However a smaller stag must have thought his luck was in as he came charging over the hill towards us, hearing the call and probably smelling the hind.
Now big boy was not impressed as he jumped to his feet and set off to chase the smaller stag away. That done with only a few steps the younger stag legged it and my boy stood perfectly broad side on looking pleased with himself.
Slight squeeze of the T3's trigger & away went a 150 grain .308 home load. The wack of the bullet connecting was good & solid. He took half a step and hit the deck.
Not moving the dog was released to go and get a grip which she did when she eventually got there. The hind creeped away as the dog was on route.Once we got there it was a good clean chest shot. Gralloch done and back down to the truck.
The head will be mounted in due course but many thanks and much appreciation to 2 good friends from SD who got me on to this Stag.
