Got the afternoon free so gathered stalking gear together and drove over.
Rifle with moderator bolt in 4 rounds under the bolt, stalking bag binoculars, sticks and I am off.
I stand just over the fallen wall at the edge of woodland sloping down to the north and slightly up to the west. Its wet, boggy lots of desideous trees and big green evergreen bushes Laurel or Rodidendron I'll have to look them up.
I take stock I am stood on well worn scuffed deer track covered in slots. An exit and entrance for the Reds, behind me is the same up a bank across the lane where they go to fields.
Wind , where is from ,Northerly ok that's good
Noise , boggy , low branches and twigs, can't see the ground for sticks ,twigs and bramble so it's not going to be good for keeping quite and choosing a quiet route but I'll do my best.
Back stop ok down hill and up hill , in places but can't see more than 40 yards at the moment.
Bullet into chamber safety on.
I follow tracks north down hill, squelching every step. Then turn west and find some open spaces amongst the trees these are better. The tracks are in twos here, and there are droppings some still a bit shiny.
I have not seen any obvious browsing.
Ting ,I had caught the mod on some twigs.
I frequently stop listen for any birds being disturbed, use the binoculars.
I look at my land map road ahead but can't hear traffic.
I come to another open space on the edge of the wood better extraction point here.
My concerns for this wood is its obviously a well used transit route, shooting sites are present but limited , tracking once shot in this dense wood with my limited experience and keeping carcase clean during extraction if everything else comes together.
Food for thought. I work my way South uphill and back to the farm.
Have a sandwich and cup of tea, shoot a rat and wait for the sun to start getting lower.
Fields this time where I think from the tracks they are coming too. I settle in close to the hedge sticks up 80 yards to gap in the wall ,wind ok and wait. Back stop well I will need to let them come out into the field but mainly I am here to get a feel for the ground and practice what so many have imparted to me and think clearly alone.
The light goes and at the point I can't track anything now I bring my first solo day to an end. Its very different relying on yourself but a good experience to be built on.
Rifle with moderator bolt in 4 rounds under the bolt, stalking bag binoculars, sticks and I am off.
I stand just over the fallen wall at the edge of woodland sloping down to the north and slightly up to the west. Its wet, boggy lots of desideous trees and big green evergreen bushes Laurel or Rodidendron I'll have to look them up.
I take stock I am stood on well worn scuffed deer track covered in slots. An exit and entrance for the Reds, behind me is the same up a bank across the lane where they go to fields.
Wind , where is from ,Northerly ok that's good
Noise , boggy , low branches and twigs, can't see the ground for sticks ,twigs and bramble so it's not going to be good for keeping quite and choosing a quiet route but I'll do my best.
Back stop ok down hill and up hill , in places but can't see more than 40 yards at the moment.
Bullet into chamber safety on.
I follow tracks north down hill, squelching every step. Then turn west and find some open spaces amongst the trees these are better. The tracks are in twos here, and there are droppings some still a bit shiny.
I have not seen any obvious browsing.
Ting ,I had caught the mod on some twigs.
I frequently stop listen for any birds being disturbed, use the binoculars.
I look at my land map road ahead but can't hear traffic.
I come to another open space on the edge of the wood better extraction point here.
My concerns for this wood is its obviously a well used transit route, shooting sites are present but limited , tracking once shot in this dense wood with my limited experience and keeping carcase clean during extraction if everything else comes together.
Food for thought. I work my way South uphill and back to the farm.
Have a sandwich and cup of tea, shoot a rat and wait for the sun to start getting lower.
Fields this time where I think from the tracks they are coming too. I settle in close to the hedge sticks up 80 yards to gap in the wall ,wind ok and wait. Back stop well I will need to let them come out into the field but mainly I am here to get a feel for the ground and practice what so many have imparted to me and think clearly alone.
The light goes and at the point I can't track anything now I bring my first solo day to an end. Its very different relying on yourself but a good experience to be built on.
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