I had arranged a stalk with my superviser but a phonecall mid morning derailed that idea, rifle, cammos etc had gone to work with me as arranged.
My permission is only about a mile from where i work so i decided to use some time to knock on a couple of doors and offer my pest control services. I arrived at one house, this chap Mr C, he owns the fields right next to my permission, i`ve only ever seen someone there once but there is a high seat way over the other side. He had a big accident a while ago, so his arms in a sling and he`s on crutches (so i hear)
Anyway, i rang the bell, the door opens and there stands Mr C. I introduce myself, hold out a friendly hand, explain that i do Mr K`s pest control and was there anything i could do to help him out with his pest control. Mr C replied that he did have someone shooting his land but did i have a FAC. Weird i thought, said yes but i could only shoot with my superviser, i asked why. Mr C went on to explain that his shooter was away and due back Wednesday or Thursday of next week. He has his own Class 1 but due to his injuries was unable to use a rifle. He further explained that there had been a Doe and a Buck in his wheat field for about a week and he wanted them out ASAP as it was a small field and was worried about the damage.
I said to him, if he has a class one then he could supervise me shooting the buck, he agreed. So, somehow he got in my Freelander and he guided us to his wheatfield, i drove into the field, Mr C said the deer were over in that far corner, i drove a little further, stopped and seen two heads above the wheat. Iasked Mr C what the hedges were and he said the one behind the Deer is thick blackthorn but there`s nothing on the otherside, that`s mine as well, the other hedge to the side of the deer is solid and about seven feet thick.
When i said i`ll drive up the other side of the field so that i`m facing the solid hedge plus i`m more looking down on the Buck, Mr C said ok then, good choice. I`m thinking that if i make a good impression, he`ll remember me in the "word of mouth" way for the future. (I`m not going to try to step on another stalkers toes here, (i don`t agree with that way)
I pull up near the corner, pick up the binos and spot the Buck. He`s about 160 ish yards, two thoughts, 1. I know that head, that`s the buck that in a previous post i mentioned that i`d like to leave him but there`s to many idiots around here so i intend to be the one that takes him. 2. F%^k, that`s a fair distance for me at my stage of my stalking career but i have to be "professional" about this. Assess the shot, safety of the shot, welfare of the buck.
I admit to Mr C that this is probably my longest shot yet, but we`ll make a joint decision on this. I turned the motor around so it`s facing the Buck, get out, go to the back of the motor and open the door. Rifle out, plus the roll of paper hand towel (this is the perfect height to shoot off of) I`ve picked up the Buck in the scope "god, he looks proud of himself" i thought, and i don`t even think he realises we`re here. I asked Mr C if he wanted to wait till the Buck stood, i thinking of him grimacing in pain in the front seat, but i`m also thinking of MY, yes, MY Buck. "Up to you" he said. I hand him the binos, hopefully, this will keep him focused for five minutes longer. Again, i get up on the back of my truck. I load three Federal, 100 grainers, bolt one into the chamber. Resting the rifle on the hand towel, butt to shoulder, eye to scope, and there he is. Another two thoughts, Don`t f£ck this up and is that a medal head, hmmmm. Forget that one.
One last check with Mr C, all is ok so i scope him again, bottom jaw and upper throat area is what i`m aim for (don`t want to damage the upper jaw area, medal head thought again) without hesitation, the bullet is on it`s way and thud Buck goes down with a thud. I love that thud sound, gives a good feeling. Made Mr C happy anyway.
The rifle is made safe and sleeved then we drive down to the buck. I find the Buck, the bullet placement is spot on, bottom jaw. Although they are small, this buck has eight points, three on one, five on the other!!!
I have offered the buck to Mr C as long as i keep the head. Hes said halfers on the Buck, so i am one happy bunny tonight.
I`m going to drop a thankyou letter into Mr C`s home tomorrow night along with his half a buck. I owe him a big debt of gratitude.
P.S. Poor photos but they weren`t taken till i got home, sorry.
basil.
My permission is only about a mile from where i work so i decided to use some time to knock on a couple of doors and offer my pest control services. I arrived at one house, this chap Mr C, he owns the fields right next to my permission, i`ve only ever seen someone there once but there is a high seat way over the other side. He had a big accident a while ago, so his arms in a sling and he`s on crutches (so i hear)
Anyway, i rang the bell, the door opens and there stands Mr C. I introduce myself, hold out a friendly hand, explain that i do Mr K`s pest control and was there anything i could do to help him out with his pest control. Mr C replied that he did have someone shooting his land but did i have a FAC. Weird i thought, said yes but i could only shoot with my superviser, i asked why. Mr C went on to explain that his shooter was away and due back Wednesday or Thursday of next week. He has his own Class 1 but due to his injuries was unable to use a rifle. He further explained that there had been a Doe and a Buck in his wheat field for about a week and he wanted them out ASAP as it was a small field and was worried about the damage.
I said to him, if he has a class one then he could supervise me shooting the buck, he agreed. So, somehow he got in my Freelander and he guided us to his wheatfield, i drove into the field, Mr C said the deer were over in that far corner, i drove a little further, stopped and seen two heads above the wheat. Iasked Mr C what the hedges were and he said the one behind the Deer is thick blackthorn but there`s nothing on the otherside, that`s mine as well, the other hedge to the side of the deer is solid and about seven feet thick.
When i said i`ll drive up the other side of the field so that i`m facing the solid hedge plus i`m more looking down on the Buck, Mr C said ok then, good choice. I`m thinking that if i make a good impression, he`ll remember me in the "word of mouth" way for the future. (I`m not going to try to step on another stalkers toes here, (i don`t agree with that way)
I pull up near the corner, pick up the binos and spot the Buck. He`s about 160 ish yards, two thoughts, 1. I know that head, that`s the buck that in a previous post i mentioned that i`d like to leave him but there`s to many idiots around here so i intend to be the one that takes him. 2. F%^k, that`s a fair distance for me at my stage of my stalking career but i have to be "professional" about this. Assess the shot, safety of the shot, welfare of the buck.
I admit to Mr C that this is probably my longest shot yet, but we`ll make a joint decision on this. I turned the motor around so it`s facing the Buck, get out, go to the back of the motor and open the door. Rifle out, plus the roll of paper hand towel (this is the perfect height to shoot off of) I`ve picked up the Buck in the scope "god, he looks proud of himself" i thought, and i don`t even think he realises we`re here. I asked Mr C if he wanted to wait till the Buck stood, i thinking of him grimacing in pain in the front seat, but i`m also thinking of MY, yes, MY Buck. "Up to you" he said. I hand him the binos, hopefully, this will keep him focused for five minutes longer. Again, i get up on the back of my truck. I load three Federal, 100 grainers, bolt one into the chamber. Resting the rifle on the hand towel, butt to shoulder, eye to scope, and there he is. Another two thoughts, Don`t f£ck this up and is that a medal head, hmmmm. Forget that one.
One last check with Mr C, all is ok so i scope him again, bottom jaw and upper throat area is what i`m aim for (don`t want to damage the upper jaw area, medal head thought again) without hesitation, the bullet is on it`s way and thud Buck goes down with a thud. I love that thud sound, gives a good feeling. Made Mr C happy anyway.
The rifle is made safe and sleeved then we drive down to the buck. I find the Buck, the bullet placement is spot on, bottom jaw. Although they are small, this buck has eight points, three on one, five on the other!!!
I have offered the buck to Mr C as long as i keep the head. Hes said halfers on the Buck, so i am one happy bunny tonight.
I`m going to drop a thankyou letter into Mr C`s home tomorrow night along with his half a buck. I owe him a big debt of gratitude.
P.S. Poor photos but they weren`t taken till i got home, sorry.
basil.