With everyone else at work 'working from home', I took the opportunity to get out in the windy, overcast and slightly-threatening-to-rain weather.
Though it hasn't rained much in the past few days, the top layer of ground is still sodden in places, the little dips cross country threaten to bog in even the mighty Hilux.
A strong westerly is blowing, so I dismount well away from my chosen area and stalk in, using the gorse, blackthorn and blackberry bushes to keep myself from being skylined on the walk in.
I scan far ahead, into a shallow valley, convex grassy banks on either side, with a thin woodblock on either ridge. Bizarrely, I spot a Muntjac buck from about 400m out. He's merrily grazing his fill, out in the open, at just after 2pm! This is unusual, but this is the 2nd Muntjac in this area that I have stalked into, with both of them being out in the open.
Game on - visually acquire the points of cover I will move to and through, making sure I'm masked from him, but always able to keep tabs on him in case he moves off. He keeps troughing, so I keep moving, knowing that I need to capitalise on his feeding focus to close the distance.
I get to within 150m and I'm now on the opposite site of the valley to him, a high gorse bank behind me keeps me from being silhouetted, so I move closer through the low grass to a solid set up position, sitting and shooting off sticks. He starts to move - I notice the 'Muntjac highway' - proper pathway in the grass that will eventually bring him into me if I let him. I want to get a broadside shot though, a quartering shot with a .308 will run a high risk of 'souping' the insides. Brilliant, he drops down into the valley floor, about 100m away now, then turns and heads up the valley, presenting the broadside figure I need. I wait until he stops to check some grasses out, then fire, the 150gr Interlock dropping him on the spot. He kicks once, nearly slipping into a puddle then stays still. I quickly reload and continue to observe until I'm happy there is no more movement.
I offer a quick thanks to the man above for the clean kill, collect my brass and ensuring I have all my kit, move off to pick up the fallen Muntjac.
A short drag to some trees later and I complete a suspended gralloch. A fit and healthy Muntjac, I'm already looking forward to the steaks and roast haunch he will provide.
Though it hasn't rained much in the past few days, the top layer of ground is still sodden in places, the little dips cross country threaten to bog in even the mighty Hilux.
A strong westerly is blowing, so I dismount well away from my chosen area and stalk in, using the gorse, blackthorn and blackberry bushes to keep myself from being skylined on the walk in.
I scan far ahead, into a shallow valley, convex grassy banks on either side, with a thin woodblock on either ridge. Bizarrely, I spot a Muntjac buck from about 400m out. He's merrily grazing his fill, out in the open, at just after 2pm! This is unusual, but this is the 2nd Muntjac in this area that I have stalked into, with both of them being out in the open.
Game on - visually acquire the points of cover I will move to and through, making sure I'm masked from him, but always able to keep tabs on him in case he moves off. He keeps troughing, so I keep moving, knowing that I need to capitalise on his feeding focus to close the distance.
I get to within 150m and I'm now on the opposite site of the valley to him, a high gorse bank behind me keeps me from being silhouetted, so I move closer through the low grass to a solid set up position, sitting and shooting off sticks. He starts to move - I notice the 'Muntjac highway' - proper pathway in the grass that will eventually bring him into me if I let him. I want to get a broadside shot though, a quartering shot with a .308 will run a high risk of 'souping' the insides. Brilliant, he drops down into the valley floor, about 100m away now, then turns and heads up the valley, presenting the broadside figure I need. I wait until he stops to check some grasses out, then fire, the 150gr Interlock dropping him on the spot. He kicks once, nearly slipping into a puddle then stays still. I quickly reload and continue to observe until I'm happy there is no more movement.
I offer a quick thanks to the man above for the clean kill, collect my brass and ensuring I have all my kit, move off to pick up the fallen Muntjac.
A short drag to some trees later and I complete a suspended gralloch. A fit and healthy Muntjac, I'm already looking forward to the steaks and roast haunch he will provide.
