Forth coming SD week 2014
- Thread starter sikamalc
- Start date
Ok, I'm now back in the swing of leaving the house every day without a rifle on my back and swing blade on my belt. Felt a little under dressed walking into the office on Monday in just a suit.
As for last week, well it was a week made up of many firsts and maybe some lasts as well, but I hasten to add enjoyable from start to finish.
For me personally Tuesday was a special day, the weather was the worst we experienced all week. We all set off in the morning to our chosen area probably wondering if we would see anything at all let alone get a chance at anything, two of the lads probably endured the worst of it exposed on the hill but both got a result, one however not quite what he thought, but that's his story to tell.
As for my day, well I set off with Andy (senior guide) along Blackwater, wind and rain in our faces not holding up much hope, but it was not long before we put up our first Sika of the day on the incline to our right. Encouraged that there were deer moving around we pressed on. From then on in its difficult to recall the exact series of events other than to say during the next hour or so the number of deer that showed themselves was quite unexpected and possibly something I won't see again in one place in such a short space of time, unless I visit a deer park. A lot of the sightings were brief but everyone worth the wait. I remember saying to Andy while we were sat waiting that they were bloody surrounding us. A stalkers dream possibly, however for me I did not quite know what to do, as although I have DSC 1 and have done a couple or larder days and a handful of paid stalks I had at this point never shot a deer. I had it in my minds eye that when I got the chance to grass my first deer it would present itself nicely broadside on in a clearing 70 yards in front of me and give me half an hour to compose myself for the shot before bowling it over. Well these hinds were just not playing fair, some did not hang around, some only showed me a head for a few seconds, others paraded around tempting me with every shot imaginable other than the one I was expecting. In the end I declined each one, a mix of nerves, inexperience and fear of not making a clean shot stopped me pulling the trigger. Andy and I walked back to the cottage, still quite staggered by the numbers we had seen, it was a slightly bitter sweet moment for me as all the way back I was wondering could I have taken the shot, should I have taken the shot. For sure anyone with more experience would have notched up a kill that morning and some may say what a wasted chance, but for me the missed chance meant we got to see so many deer, going about their business blissfully unaware they were being watched, it's the blissfully unaware bit that made me think that when the right oppotunity presents itself I will have the chance to grass my first deer without her having the slightest idea that there was ever anything a miss.
My patience was quickly rewarded, Andy and I set off again that evening along the same stretch of ground, it was not long before Andy clocked to hinds up on the incline where we sprung the first deer earlier that morning. In order to stay down wind we tracked back a little distance climbed through the fence and started our stalk into the two hinds. Senior Guide led the way, keeping me updated all the way with our progress and positive encouragement along the way. We came to a stop, Andy set up the sticks and told me to get in position. I mounted my rifle and looked through the scope, with a little direction I picked out one of the hinds, there was no clear shot, she stood slightly to the left of a large tree, the line of sight obscured by hanging branches, extending to the right of the tree trunk at ground level was the trunk of a fallen tree, above this and running parallel to the fallen tree was a branch extending horizontally forming a picture frame around the clear patch of ground beyond. All I needed was for my hind to turn and start heading in that direction. It seemed like an age before anything happened, she was head down feeding moving in the wrong direction most of the time, then she decided to turn and started moving ever so slowly in the right direction, head still down, still feeding, one step after another. My heart was racing, as slowly but surely she started to emerge head first from behind the tree into window frame formed by the fallen tree and horizontal branch of the tree that had up until now provided her cover. Two or three more steps and there in front of me was my minds eye picture of a nicely presented broad side on deer. This was going to be my first, it just took the slightest movement of my index finger and she was falling head first into the grass below, I cycled the bolt ready for the follow up shot, Andy kept the binos on her all the time assuring me she was down. There was a moment that I thought she was up which turned out to be the second hind we had seen earlier who came charging towards us when mine fell.
That was my first and last of the week, but what a day and one I won't forget in a hurry. The rest of the week presented plenty more sightings, especially on my last day on Jayb' s ground, unfortunately a combination of my limited experience pitched against these highly adept animals meant I never fired another shot. However I learned an awful lot and will venture out next time a much better stalker.
Thanks again to Malc, Sandra, Alex, Tom, Darren, Jayb and Andy for all the arrangements and guidance during the week, special thanks to Andy of course, for all that Tuesday brought to the trip and lastly but by no means least to all the great guys I shared the cottage with, it was a pleasure to meet you all and share the weeks experiences you all had. Hope to see you all again on another SD trip.
Sign me up for the next one!!!!
Steve
As for last week, well it was a week made up of many firsts and maybe some lasts as well, but I hasten to add enjoyable from start to finish.
For me personally Tuesday was a special day, the weather was the worst we experienced all week. We all set off in the morning to our chosen area probably wondering if we would see anything at all let alone get a chance at anything, two of the lads probably endured the worst of it exposed on the hill but both got a result, one however not quite what he thought, but that's his story to tell.
As for my day, well I set off with Andy (senior guide) along Blackwater, wind and rain in our faces not holding up much hope, but it was not long before we put up our first Sika of the day on the incline to our right. Encouraged that there were deer moving around we pressed on. From then on in its difficult to recall the exact series of events other than to say during the next hour or so the number of deer that showed themselves was quite unexpected and possibly something I won't see again in one place in such a short space of time, unless I visit a deer park. A lot of the sightings were brief but everyone worth the wait. I remember saying to Andy while we were sat waiting that they were bloody surrounding us. A stalkers dream possibly, however for me I did not quite know what to do, as although I have DSC 1 and have done a couple or larder days and a handful of paid stalks I had at this point never shot a deer. I had it in my minds eye that when I got the chance to grass my first deer it would present itself nicely broadside on in a clearing 70 yards in front of me and give me half an hour to compose myself for the shot before bowling it over. Well these hinds were just not playing fair, some did not hang around, some only showed me a head for a few seconds, others paraded around tempting me with every shot imaginable other than the one I was expecting. In the end I declined each one, a mix of nerves, inexperience and fear of not making a clean shot stopped me pulling the trigger. Andy and I walked back to the cottage, still quite staggered by the numbers we had seen, it was a slightly bitter sweet moment for me as all the way back I was wondering could I have taken the shot, should I have taken the shot. For sure anyone with more experience would have notched up a kill that morning and some may say what a wasted chance, but for me the missed chance meant we got to see so many deer, going about their business blissfully unaware they were being watched, it's the blissfully unaware bit that made me think that when the right oppotunity presents itself I will have the chance to grass my first deer without her having the slightest idea that there was ever anything a miss.
My patience was quickly rewarded, Andy and I set off again that evening along the same stretch of ground, it was not long before Andy clocked to hinds up on the incline where we sprung the first deer earlier that morning. In order to stay down wind we tracked back a little distance climbed through the fence and started our stalk into the two hinds. Senior Guide led the way, keeping me updated all the way with our progress and positive encouragement along the way. We came to a stop, Andy set up the sticks and told me to get in position. I mounted my rifle and looked through the scope, with a little direction I picked out one of the hinds, there was no clear shot, she stood slightly to the left of a large tree, the line of sight obscured by hanging branches, extending to the right of the tree trunk at ground level was the trunk of a fallen tree, above this and running parallel to the fallen tree was a branch extending horizontally forming a picture frame around the clear patch of ground beyond. All I needed was for my hind to turn and start heading in that direction. It seemed like an age before anything happened, she was head down feeding moving in the wrong direction most of the time, then she decided to turn and started moving ever so slowly in the right direction, head still down, still feeding, one step after another. My heart was racing, as slowly but surely she started to emerge head first from behind the tree into window frame formed by the fallen tree and horizontal branch of the tree that had up until now provided her cover. Two or three more steps and there in front of me was my minds eye picture of a nicely presented broad side on deer. This was going to be my first, it just took the slightest movement of my index finger and she was falling head first into the grass below, I cycled the bolt ready for the follow up shot, Andy kept the binos on her all the time assuring me she was down. There was a moment that I thought she was up which turned out to be the second hind we had seen earlier who came charging towards us when mine fell.
That was my first and last of the week, but what a day and one I won't forget in a hurry. The rest of the week presented plenty more sightings, especially on my last day on Jayb' s ground, unfortunately a combination of my limited experience pitched against these highly adept animals meant I never fired another shot. However I learned an awful lot and will venture out next time a much better stalker.
Thanks again to Malc, Sandra, Alex, Tom, Darren, Jayb and Andy for all the arrangements and guidance during the week, special thanks to Andy of course, for all that Tuesday brought to the trip and lastly but by no means least to all the great guys I shared the cottage with, it was a pleasure to meet you all and share the weeks experiences you all had. Hope to see you all again on another SD trip.
Sign me up for the next one!!!!
Steve
I want to echo all the comments from everyone on the week. Thoroughly enjoyable and absolutely beautiful surroundings to stalk in.
Not even the tail end of hurricane gonzalo put us off our stalking. The company was exceptional too. Great to meet all the guys and hope to catch up at some point in the future. I haven't laughed that much in ages. I probably haven't drunk that much in a while either. I definitely didn't lose any weight last week...
Looks like there were a few of us with firsts. My first sika as well. Congratulations to Steve and Louis. And well done for making the wedding Louis, not sure I would have liked the stress of having the speech to give and running extremely late and about 700 miles away!
Of course, a huge thanks go to Malc and the gang for a great week and the opportunity for some fantastic stalking.
Behaviour amongst the guides has a bit to answer for though - I think they are all getting a bit too familiar, especially Ginge and Tom! My mrs starts wondering what sort of week away I'm on when I get tagged in photos on facebook of them spooning in pink underpants!
Ha ha. Cheers all.
Not even the tail end of hurricane gonzalo put us off our stalking. The company was exceptional too. Great to meet all the guys and hope to catch up at some point in the future. I haven't laughed that much in ages. I probably haven't drunk that much in a while either. I definitely didn't lose any weight last week...
Looks like there were a few of us with firsts. My first sika as well. Congratulations to Steve and Louis. And well done for making the wedding Louis, not sure I would have liked the stress of having the speech to give and running extremely late and about 700 miles away!
Of course, a huge thanks go to Malc and the gang for a great week and the opportunity for some fantastic stalking.
Behaviour amongst the guides has a bit to answer for though - I think they are all getting a bit too familiar, especially Ginge and Tom! My mrs starts wondering what sort of week away I'm on when I get tagged in photos on facebook of them spooning in pink underpants!
Ha ha. Cheers all.
csl
Administrator
I'd just like to say for the record that I was not a willing participant in any Facebook photos which may or may not have been posted!
csl
Administrator
Nice write up Steve
Senior Guide will be unbearable now... his head will have gone up several hat sizes
If you ever have 14 sika parading past you like that again you'll be a lucky lucky man!
That said, over cautious is always better than over confident in my opinion and you did absolutely the right thing and your patience was rewarded in the end.all the best
Alex
tika.308
Well-Known Member
Thank you Steve that was a great write up mate.
Like Alex says you did the right thing by turning the shot/s down until you felt ready to take the shot, which did not take many hours and you did a perfect shot on your first deer.
Like I said to you that was something special what we saw how the deer just kept on coming to us (deer magnet in my pocket ) lol.
You will remember that first deer like we all do and I wish you all the best in your stalking in the future as I think there will be no stopping you now
.
P.s Alex did I tell you I went out for a stalk by myself on the friday afternoon ??
Like Alex says you did the right thing by turning the shot/s down until you felt ready to take the shot, which did not take many hours and you did a perfect shot on your first deer.
Like I said to you that was something special what we saw how the deer just kept on coming to us (deer magnet in my pocket ) lol.
You will remember that first deer like we all do and I wish you all the best in your stalking in the future as I think there will be no stopping you now
.P.s Alex did I tell you I went out for a stalk by myself on the friday afternoon ??
csl
Administrator
P.s Alex did I tell you I went out for a stalk by myself on the friday afternoon ??
Oh did you? Did you get anything?
"I'm not bothered... it's raining.... I'm not going out.... my clothes are dry now"
I tell ya! We all saw you heading off with the landowner to where he'd been feeding his pet sika hind and calf
Last edited:
tika.308
Well-Known Member
John we have another young contender coming on...................small, fast loves spooning and eats like a horse. Also rather partial to chickens as well
Only problem is he didnt shoot anything
csl
Administrator
Only problem is he didnt shoot anything
Now now now... he could have, but **didn't, remember? That takes maturity.
(** because he had his nob out, but still
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