I shot my first menil fallow yesterday, at two minutes before legal last light, using an old 8x56 Klassic with no illumination.
Range was about 130 yards. The deer was broadside, and the shot was put on the shoulder with the 308WIN. Ot made it 30 yards into the woodland before collapsing. A very clean, straightforward outcome.
Thought I would share a couple of photos, partly for that lovely menil coat, and partly because I am properly taken with my Peter Eaton knife. It is a short blade, which is exactly what I wanted for inexperienced hands.
The stalker’s own knife needed a bit of a tickle, so for the last parts of the gralloch on the three deer we had, he borrowed the Eaton as things started to stiffen up with his. On the first stroke the little knife parted the skin with effortless ease, to the point he had to quickly readjust so he did not open the whole lot in one pass.
Back in my hands I even went through the ribcage with what felt like no resistance. A lovely tool to use and a beautiful object in its own right. I’m hoping to gralloch more deer and get more experience leading towards eventually DSC2 and trained hunter certification.
Range was about 130 yards. The deer was broadside, and the shot was put on the shoulder with the 308WIN. Ot made it 30 yards into the woodland before collapsing. A very clean, straightforward outcome.
Thought I would share a couple of photos, partly for that lovely menil coat, and partly because I am properly taken with my Peter Eaton knife. It is a short blade, which is exactly what I wanted for inexperienced hands.
The stalker’s own knife needed a bit of a tickle, so for the last parts of the gralloch on the three deer we had, he borrowed the Eaton as things started to stiffen up with his. On the first stroke the little knife parted the skin with effortless ease, to the point he had to quickly readjust so he did not open the whole lot in one pass.
Back in my hands I even went through the ribcage with what felt like no resistance. A lovely tool to use and a beautiful object in its own right. I’m hoping to gralloch more deer and get more experience leading towards eventually DSC2 and trained hunter certification.
