So this write up is long overdue.
Late last year I asked the members of the forum if they had or knew of any fieldsport opportunities over the Christmas new year period in the south, Hamps Dorset etc.
I was contacted by a number of people and was offered the chance to do various things, from Grayling fishing to Pheasant shooting, Pigeon shooting to stalking.
Now as this is a Stalking forum I will concentrate on that aspect. Some of the kind members that offered i was unable to take up, not enough time, other I did go out with were privet people who would not appreciate my naming them.
So that leaves me with two persons that did me proud with not only the standard of the hunting, but also their great company.
In no order the first was sd member Keeper Randell. He contacted me to say he would be able to take me out for Roe and Muntjak.
I in turn explained that I would rather leave the roe for him or other guests as see plenty at home but would love a chance of Munties.
Arrangements were made to meet up, which we did mid afternoon at the side of a main A road at some electrically locked gates.
Introductions over and we drove up to a huge area of forestry, parked up and got ready. On the drive in Garry explained to me that a lot of trees were felled due to ash die back, I was amazed at the numbers and devastation of the forest. The forestry was a mix of trees, but predominantly ash and oak with great ground cover in the form of brambles.
We were not out of the car more than five minutes when the first Roe deer was spotted, fairly close and we could have easily taken it, and it was followed in quick succession by two more.
We basically walked in a big circle over some lovely terrain of rolling wooded hills, eventually getting back to the vehicle. We then drove onto another area that was quite different. This area was basically shallow valet between two forests, the valley itself typical English park land of standard mature trees stood in bramble thickets surrounded in grassland.
We took a slow stroll down the side of the forestry, but time was getting on and many pheasants were heading back to roost, making a din in the presses and that didn’t help our cause, nether the less we spied yet another easy to stalk Roe and then got excited by a pair of unseen Munties barking at one another. Alas although we tried, time was not on our side and they were not seen. It was time to leave and although I was invited back and would have loved to it was not possible due to other commitments.
Garry was a true gent a pleasure to be with and the estate was not only picturesque but also a haven for deer. I would love to return sometime.
The second person was forum member TH4, who arranged to meet me at garden centre that was easy to find. As we drove a short distance to a mature hardwood with great under cover of scrub willow, hazel and bramble I was informed by Trevor that I was likely to encounter Roe, Fallow and munities. My instruction were to head down the track to a high seat and try that for a hour, then to circumnavigate the woodland and to shoot any cull animals as he still had a few to reach culls.
On getting to the high seat it was just getting light and I spooked a small group of fallow! I should have watched my companion Emrys a bit closer! A half hour or so I saw one or two roe in amongst the dense undergrowth, but either they were not on or I simply chose not to take them on. After the hour I took a slow walk and when nearing the end a roe doe was spotted after Emrys indicated. An easy 120 yard shot of the sticks, the 180gn bullet found its mark, destroyed the heart, yet it would have been the very devil to find without a dog as it was buried deep in the brambles, luckily Emrys dragged it out. It was dragged into the clear and field dressed before going in the vehicle.
On the way to the larder I was shown round affair bit and it was in the general area that I used to shoot Pheasants on some 40 years ago. Another area was checked out without success although we saw deer, just not what I wanted. On reaching the larder and dealing with things there, it was time to head off for lunch and very enjoyable it was too. After lunch we checked other areas out before finally heading to an area of new plantations with various pheasant feeders dotted here and there.
Again I was perched up a high seat with good views in three directions, but this time there was a very cold wind, so not very pleasant. However watching the antics of Pheasant, Hares and Ravens amused me and occupied my mind, thought about how there were so many Ravens in an area where none existed forty years ago.
My musing was broken by a Muntjac doe coming out the trees some 150 yards in front of me, the instant she stopped she dropped to shot, again 180gn in the neck this time. Emrys squeaked and was pointed at, that was enough to silence him. Some half hour past when I saw a movement to my left, another muntie headed some two yards from the plantation to a thicket of bushes. As there was not much time left I carefully got myself on the ground and crept to the other side of the thicket. Expecting to see the muntie i was instead surprised by 5 roe, I did wait ten more minutes before making the decision to take a Roe, 100yards and again it was in the bramble thicket! yet nother for Emrys to retrieve.
Both deer were dealt with and back to my car and our farewells. Trevor kindly gave me all three to give to the pensioners back in the village we live in, they were dealt with in the larder and meat was distributed a few days later.
I had a thoroughly enjoyable day with Trevor, good chatting and laughing and some great sport to boot. I did get his address so I can send some highland goodies.
Finally I would like to thank all the others who helped me catch, grayling to two pounds, double figure pike, and a few perch. I had great pheasant and partridge shooting as well as pigeons etc and fallow, roe, sika and munti I had a great three week break and only hope I can reciprocate one day.
Late last year I asked the members of the forum if they had or knew of any fieldsport opportunities over the Christmas new year period in the south, Hamps Dorset etc.
I was contacted by a number of people and was offered the chance to do various things, from Grayling fishing to Pheasant shooting, Pigeon shooting to stalking.
Now as this is a Stalking forum I will concentrate on that aspect. Some of the kind members that offered i was unable to take up, not enough time, other I did go out with were privet people who would not appreciate my naming them.
So that leaves me with two persons that did me proud with not only the standard of the hunting, but also their great company.
In no order the first was sd member Keeper Randell. He contacted me to say he would be able to take me out for Roe and Muntjak.
I in turn explained that I would rather leave the roe for him or other guests as see plenty at home but would love a chance of Munties.
Arrangements were made to meet up, which we did mid afternoon at the side of a main A road at some electrically locked gates.
Introductions over and we drove up to a huge area of forestry, parked up and got ready. On the drive in Garry explained to me that a lot of trees were felled due to ash die back, I was amazed at the numbers and devastation of the forest. The forestry was a mix of trees, but predominantly ash and oak with great ground cover in the form of brambles.
We were not out of the car more than five minutes when the first Roe deer was spotted, fairly close and we could have easily taken it, and it was followed in quick succession by two more.
We basically walked in a big circle over some lovely terrain of rolling wooded hills, eventually getting back to the vehicle. We then drove onto another area that was quite different. This area was basically shallow valet between two forests, the valley itself typical English park land of standard mature trees stood in bramble thickets surrounded in grassland.
We took a slow stroll down the side of the forestry, but time was getting on and many pheasants were heading back to roost, making a din in the presses and that didn’t help our cause, nether the less we spied yet another easy to stalk Roe and then got excited by a pair of unseen Munties barking at one another. Alas although we tried, time was not on our side and they were not seen. It was time to leave and although I was invited back and would have loved to it was not possible due to other commitments.
Garry was a true gent a pleasure to be with and the estate was not only picturesque but also a haven for deer. I would love to return sometime.
The second person was forum member TH4, who arranged to meet me at garden centre that was easy to find. As we drove a short distance to a mature hardwood with great under cover of scrub willow, hazel and bramble I was informed by Trevor that I was likely to encounter Roe, Fallow and munities. My instruction were to head down the track to a high seat and try that for a hour, then to circumnavigate the woodland and to shoot any cull animals as he still had a few to reach culls.
On getting to the high seat it was just getting light and I spooked a small group of fallow! I should have watched my companion Emrys a bit closer! A half hour or so I saw one or two roe in amongst the dense undergrowth, but either they were not on or I simply chose not to take them on. After the hour I took a slow walk and when nearing the end a roe doe was spotted after Emrys indicated. An easy 120 yard shot of the sticks, the 180gn bullet found its mark, destroyed the heart, yet it would have been the very devil to find without a dog as it was buried deep in the brambles, luckily Emrys dragged it out. It was dragged into the clear and field dressed before going in the vehicle.
On the way to the larder I was shown round affair bit and it was in the general area that I used to shoot Pheasants on some 40 years ago. Another area was checked out without success although we saw deer, just not what I wanted. On reaching the larder and dealing with things there, it was time to head off for lunch and very enjoyable it was too. After lunch we checked other areas out before finally heading to an area of new plantations with various pheasant feeders dotted here and there.
Again I was perched up a high seat with good views in three directions, but this time there was a very cold wind, so not very pleasant. However watching the antics of Pheasant, Hares and Ravens amused me and occupied my mind, thought about how there were so many Ravens in an area where none existed forty years ago.
My musing was broken by a Muntjac doe coming out the trees some 150 yards in front of me, the instant she stopped she dropped to shot, again 180gn in the neck this time. Emrys squeaked and was pointed at, that was enough to silence him. Some half hour past when I saw a movement to my left, another muntie headed some two yards from the plantation to a thicket of bushes. As there was not much time left I carefully got myself on the ground and crept to the other side of the thicket. Expecting to see the muntie i was instead surprised by 5 roe, I did wait ten more minutes before making the decision to take a Roe, 100yards and again it was in the bramble thicket! yet nother for Emrys to retrieve.
Both deer were dealt with and back to my car and our farewells. Trevor kindly gave me all three to give to the pensioners back in the village we live in, they were dealt with in the larder and meat was distributed a few days later.
I had a thoroughly enjoyable day with Trevor, good chatting and laughing and some great sport to boot. I did get his address so I can send some highland goodies.
Finally I would like to thank all the others who helped me catch, grayling to two pounds, double figure pike, and a few perch. I had great pheasant and partridge shooting as well as pigeons etc and fallow, roe, sika and munti I had a great three week break and only hope I can reciprocate one day.
,,
