It's a long time since I last put a write up together, so please forgive me if I waffle on for a bit:
I finally managed to get out for a roebuck over the weekend, and it confirmed to me just how much I had missed getting out into the fields and woods. Walking the dog during lockdown has helped me keep it together but it's not the same as actually getting out hunting.
I set off into the Hampshire countryside mid-afternoon on Saturday and made my way to a large farm where I have permission to shoot.
Sadly without the dog as she's in heat and is a right handful just now. She's a great wee dog but when she's in season she can be loopy and I didn't want her attracting any dogs - the place I was headed does allow dog walkers, so better to avoid any hassle.
Normally I don't really enjoy Roebuck season, I'm definitely cold adapted, so any exercise in warm weather has me feeling uncomfortable and biting flies all seem to want a piece of me.
However, even though the weather on Saturday was warm, there was a gentle to moderate breeze up on the tops of the downland so I felt ok and there weren't too many flies about, and the itch to get out was stronger than any itch the flies might cause.
For about the first hour or more I just found myself a gap in a hedgeline where I could spy out over two large open areas and keep the binoculars on a few little spinnies and other hedgelines. I sat contentedly watching rabbits, there seem to be a lot more of them about this year - certainly more than I saw last year. The first deer I saw were a group of four Fallow does, typical, the first deer are out of season
but it was great to watch them go about their business totally oblivious to my presence. They seemed to be intent on picking off every wild rose flower that they could reach.
Shortly after they dropped back into cover I saw my first Roe deer, and of course it was a doe.
I didn't mind though, she had a fawn beside her, it was lovely to watch how attentive she was to the young'un - she stopped frequently to check on it and lick it, and always seemed to be checking on where it was and keeping it close - no pictures, sorry, I didn't want to scare her off. I watched out for a buck in case one was following her, but it was only her and the fawn out in the middle of the wheat. When they laid down the fawn disappeared from sight and all I could see was the doe's ears.
After a while the Fallow came back and started to head my way, so I moved off to stay downwind of them and as I moved away from my spot in the hedge I spotted two ears sticking up out of long dry grass maybe 200m or more away.
It was another Roe doe, so I slowly moved to get closer to her in case there was a buck anywhere near her. I had to change tack a couple of times to avoid spooking the fallow but trying to keep an eye out for the roe doe.
Eventually I made my way over closer to her, but as I got closer I encountered another problem. Everything was so dry that it was like trying to walk on cornflakes, how I didn't spook her I don't know, she must have been intentionally staying put - maybe she too had a fawn with her, I never saw it but it might explain her reluctance to move.
It took me maybe another 10-15 minutes, but seemed like longer, before I got myself into a good position to keep an eye on the doe, without getting too close - I wanted to leave her in peace - and watch over the little patch of open ground where she was lying
I settled in close to a large oak tree with a holly bush behind me for added cover and just watched the roe on the far side of the open ground, listened to the birds, waited and just enjoyed the whole thing about being out & about again.
A few times the doe looked over in my direction a few times but never seemed to be too bothered by me, so she never gave me that stare that they do when they think something is wrong.
I must have been quiet as a rabbit stopped on its way past to take a look at me, it was a young one and they're not always the wariest of things, but it made me think that I must have got close to blending in to the backgound - and that's a good feeling
About 9pm or so I saw the doe quickly look to her right/my left and I kinda knew what it was before I even looked - it was a buck, he was just slowly edging out into the open from a thicket about 75-80m to my left, and he was about to cross a small track where I could take a safe shot at him, if he stopped. I took a good look at him with the binos and could see he was a 4 pointer, excellent, he was definitely on the list.
I already had the rifle up on the sticks so I slowly adjusted my position in order to get a good bead on him
Just as I got the crosshairs just behind his right shoulder he looked in my direction - how do they know to do that? but at least he had stopped right where I had hoped he would - clear of cover, in the middle of the track and with a good backstop.
So, just in case he was about to bolt I took the shot
He lurched forward, did a head over heels (actually, it was more of an arse over tit right enough) roll, kicked his rear legs a couple of times and disappeared behind a clump of thistles
I looked round to check on the doe, yep, something had finally moved her
I waited a bit and then walked up to where the buck had been standing, found the strike mark exactly where I expected it. I knew I had hit him well but it's always good to see nice clean, fresh, bubbly blood and a big chunk of lung tissue on the ground right where you had hoped to see it. I knew I had a dead buck close by so I could relax. I don't usually get buck fever but I was shaking slightly after that shot, maybe it's because I haven't had a shot since the week before lockdown started, or maybe the excitement was kicking in.
Anyway, no worries, there he was lying still maybe no more than 3 metres from where I hit him, just how I like it, no drama. The thought had crossed my mind that the day I hadn't brought the dog would be the time I got a runner.......
After doing all the usual checks and getting my kit sorted, rifle made safe etc I got my new knife out to do the gralloch
During lockdown I had ordered a Mulgrave knife and zipper from Alan Johnson at Danum Blades after reading about them here and having seen Monarman giving his recommendation
The new knife was great and so easy to use that I didn't even bother using the zipper to open the body cavity - I'll give it a try out when I skin the buck later this week
Then it was just a matter of getting the buck into my roesack and heading back to the pickup
On the way back I'm glad to say that I saw the roe doe make her way back to where she was lying originally, maybe she did have a fawn there after all
I was also roundly scolded by a couple of Muntjac as I loaded my kit into the truck and then it was off up the partially closed M3 back to London (how come lockdown hasn't shut down roadworks?), get the deer into the fridge, beer & bed
Thanks to Jelen PWS, and especially Mike Allison, for giving me permission to shoot on their lands
Thanks to Monarman for (unwittingly) pointing me in the direction of Alan & Danum Blades
Thanks to Alan for making a great bit of kit - I'd unreservedly recommend you give his site a look if you're considering getting yourself a custom knife. Alan does a cracking bit of work and is a great guy to deal with, there was no BS from him and he kept me informed of progress, sending photos of the blanks etc as he worked on the knife. It was a pleasure doing business with him.
Thanks to the missus for putting up with me and for not moaning when I abandon her to go derstalking, but she's going to join me next time (I hope)
Thanks to whoever took the time to read this - I'll be amazed if anyone manages it in one sitting
A big thanks to Malc, CSl and the rest of the SD crew for easing my entry into the world of GB deer stalking many years ago- I've made a load of contacts and more than a few friends via this site over the years
I'll be back out later this week for another couple of hunts, but the pressure is off, I've got fresh venison - maybe this time I'll take a camera and spend a bit more time trying to photograph the does
ATB
Geoshot
I finally managed to get out for a roebuck over the weekend, and it confirmed to me just how much I had missed getting out into the fields and woods. Walking the dog during lockdown has helped me keep it together but it's not the same as actually getting out hunting.
I set off into the Hampshire countryside mid-afternoon on Saturday and made my way to a large farm where I have permission to shoot.
Sadly without the dog as she's in heat and is a right handful just now. She's a great wee dog but when she's in season she can be loopy and I didn't want her attracting any dogs - the place I was headed does allow dog walkers, so better to avoid any hassle.
Normally I don't really enjoy Roebuck season, I'm definitely cold adapted, so any exercise in warm weather has me feeling uncomfortable and biting flies all seem to want a piece of me.
However, even though the weather on Saturday was warm, there was a gentle to moderate breeze up on the tops of the downland so I felt ok and there weren't too many flies about, and the itch to get out was stronger than any itch the flies might cause.
For about the first hour or more I just found myself a gap in a hedgeline where I could spy out over two large open areas and keep the binoculars on a few little spinnies and other hedgelines. I sat contentedly watching rabbits, there seem to be a lot more of them about this year - certainly more than I saw last year. The first deer I saw were a group of four Fallow does, typical, the first deer are out of season
but it was great to watch them go about their business totally oblivious to my presence. They seemed to be intent on picking off every wild rose flower that they could reach.Shortly after they dropped back into cover I saw my first Roe deer, and of course it was a doe.
I didn't mind though, she had a fawn beside her, it was lovely to watch how attentive she was to the young'un - she stopped frequently to check on it and lick it, and always seemed to be checking on where it was and keeping it close - no pictures, sorry, I didn't want to scare her off. I watched out for a buck in case one was following her, but it was only her and the fawn out in the middle of the wheat. When they laid down the fawn disappeared from sight and all I could see was the doe's ears.
After a while the Fallow came back and started to head my way, so I moved off to stay downwind of them and as I moved away from my spot in the hedge I spotted two ears sticking up out of long dry grass maybe 200m or more away.
It was another Roe doe, so I slowly moved to get closer to her in case there was a buck anywhere near her. I had to change tack a couple of times to avoid spooking the fallow but trying to keep an eye out for the roe doe.
Eventually I made my way over closer to her, but as I got closer I encountered another problem. Everything was so dry that it was like trying to walk on cornflakes, how I didn't spook her I don't know, she must have been intentionally staying put - maybe she too had a fawn with her, I never saw it but it might explain her reluctance to move.
It took me maybe another 10-15 minutes, but seemed like longer, before I got myself into a good position to keep an eye on the doe, without getting too close - I wanted to leave her in peace - and watch over the little patch of open ground where she was lying
I settled in close to a large oak tree with a holly bush behind me for added cover and just watched the roe on the far side of the open ground, listened to the birds, waited and just enjoyed the whole thing about being out & about again.
A few times the doe looked over in my direction a few times but never seemed to be too bothered by me, so she never gave me that stare that they do when they think something is wrong.
I must have been quiet as a rabbit stopped on its way past to take a look at me, it was a young one and they're not always the wariest of things, but it made me think that I must have got close to blending in to the backgound - and that's a good feeling
About 9pm or so I saw the doe quickly look to her right/my left and I kinda knew what it was before I even looked - it was a buck, he was just slowly edging out into the open from a thicket about 75-80m to my left, and he was about to cross a small track where I could take a safe shot at him, if he stopped. I took a good look at him with the binos and could see he was a 4 pointer, excellent, he was definitely on the list.
I already had the rifle up on the sticks so I slowly adjusted my position in order to get a good bead on him
Just as I got the crosshairs just behind his right shoulder he looked in my direction - how do they know to do that? but at least he had stopped right where I had hoped he would - clear of cover, in the middle of the track and with a good backstop.
So, just in case he was about to bolt I took the shot
He lurched forward, did a head over heels (actually, it was more of an arse over tit right enough) roll, kicked his rear legs a couple of times and disappeared behind a clump of thistles
I looked round to check on the doe, yep, something had finally moved her
I waited a bit and then walked up to where the buck had been standing, found the strike mark exactly where I expected it. I knew I had hit him well but it's always good to see nice clean, fresh, bubbly blood and a big chunk of lung tissue on the ground right where you had hoped to see it. I knew I had a dead buck close by so I could relax. I don't usually get buck fever but I was shaking slightly after that shot, maybe it's because I haven't had a shot since the week before lockdown started, or maybe the excitement was kicking in.
Anyway, no worries, there he was lying still maybe no more than 3 metres from where I hit him, just how I like it, no drama. The thought had crossed my mind that the day I hadn't brought the dog would be the time I got a runner.......
After doing all the usual checks and getting my kit sorted, rifle made safe etc I got my new knife out to do the gralloch
During lockdown I had ordered a Mulgrave knife and zipper from Alan Johnson at Danum Blades after reading about them here and having seen Monarman giving his recommendation
The new knife was great and so easy to use that I didn't even bother using the zipper to open the body cavity - I'll give it a try out when I skin the buck later this week
Then it was just a matter of getting the buck into my roesack and heading back to the pickup
On the way back I'm glad to say that I saw the roe doe make her way back to where she was lying originally, maybe she did have a fawn there after all
I was also roundly scolded by a couple of Muntjac as I loaded my kit into the truck and then it was off up the partially closed M3 back to London (how come lockdown hasn't shut down roadworks?), get the deer into the fridge, beer & bed
Thanks to Jelen PWS, and especially Mike Allison, for giving me permission to shoot on their lands
Thanks to Monarman for (unwittingly) pointing me in the direction of Alan & Danum Blades
Thanks to Alan for making a great bit of kit - I'd unreservedly recommend you give his site a look if you're considering getting yourself a custom knife. Alan does a cracking bit of work and is a great guy to deal with, there was no BS from him and he kept me informed of progress, sending photos of the blanks etc as he worked on the knife. It was a pleasure doing business with him.
Thanks to the missus for putting up with me and for not moaning when I abandon her to go derstalking, but she's going to join me next time (I hope)
Thanks to whoever took the time to read this - I'll be amazed if anyone manages it in one sitting
A big thanks to Malc, CSl and the rest of the SD crew for easing my entry into the world of GB deer stalking many years ago- I've made a load of contacts and more than a few friends via this site over the years
I'll be back out later this week for another couple of hunts, but the pressure is off, I've got fresh venison - maybe this time I'll take a camera and spend a bit more time trying to photograph the does
ATB
Geoshot
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