First Fallow

Great outing with Watermeadow Deer Stalking (Watermeadow Deer Stalking) on Saturday. The guide spotted a group of Fallow couched up digesting breakfast and put my buddy onto a yearling doe for his first deer without alerting the rest of the group to their presence. Just 30m away the guide encouraged my buddy to only take if he was confident and ready. Infantry trained, snap shooting bread and butter of the trade, he needed no second bidding, releasing the shot instantly with spot-on accuracy, right in the centre of the upper neck. Nerves continuing to fire for some time after, the guide put a second shot straight through the doe’s head just to make absolutely sure of expiry, the efficacy of the 150gr Virtus Merlin 30-06 Copper round from Paul at Corinium, beyond any shadow of doubt.

All of my culls to date having been Roe and Muntjac, it finally gave me a Fallow to practice handling and gralloching in advance of my level 2 stalk next weekend. The Watermeadow guide also helped with some great and much appreciated added coaching and experience sharing.

Thankfully a smaller Fallow, the ~30kg Yearling Doe was just light enough to hang from the shelving of the chiller without breaking the shelf. Must now quickly proceed with finding someone to make the metal bar setup planned to cope with the weight of Fallow in place of hanging animals from the racking. The added height of the triangular setup will also enable larger Fallow to fit.

Thanks Watermeadow, really appreciating your ground and expert guiding

 

[25 Sharps]

Cheers Tim and I have noted Tim's hanger's and will very likely reach out for one once I have the triangular setup with bar between to span across the shelf mounting rails on each side of the chiller, raising the height of the bar between to the maximum height of the chiller. If I understand correctly, Tim only provides the hangers. My buddy is learning welding too so has kindly offered to give putting something together a go if I can provide a design, which I'll do once the coming weekend is out of the way.

As your local, you’re welcome to a couple of my home made 90 (ish ) degree long S Hooks. 8 mm stainless, allow you to hang from the aitch bone so the deer hang higher than the hocks.

 

[tjm160]

As your local, you’re welcome to a couple of my home made 90 (ish ) degree long S Hooks. 8 mm stainless, allow you to hang from the aitch bone so the deer hang higher than the hocks.

That would be amazing Sharps and hugely appreciate. 75 has amazingly kindly helped me out with one, but another pair would be massively helpful. We're in the process of moving where I'll have a little space for a proper deer processing area and I've just joined a local syndicate that will justify a second or slightly larger chiller.

I picked up the bits for the bar arrangement but didn't have time to put together before DSC2 stalk (and second decompression stalk the following day) at the weekend. Two beasts to chill in the meantime I quickly cut a section of bar and popped in, but the weight has seen it compress itself most of the way through the top shelf bar. No great shakes though once I've got the bracket made that will spread the weight over the entire length of the shelf bars.

 

[25 Sharps]

That would be amazing Sharps and hugely appreciate. 75 has amazingly kindly helped me out with one, but another pair would be massively helpful. We're in the process of moving where I'll have a little space for a proper deer processing area and I've just joined a local syndicate that will justify a second or slightly larger chiller.

I picked up the bits for the bar arrangement but didn't have time to put together before DSC2 stalk (and second decompression stalk the following day) at the weekend. Two beasts to chill in the meantime I quickly cut a section of bar and popped in, but the weight has seen it compress itself most of the way through the top shelf bar. No great shakes though once I've got the bracket made that will spread the weight over the entire length of the shelf bars.

View attachment 466717

No worries buddy, drop me a PM and we can sort it