I thought I’d share my latest stalk with you, just to give a little balance to the thread after seeing all the successful results!
My friend had suggested we leave Liverpool at around 1am so that we could get to the stalking ground near Dumfries just before sunrise.
I arrived at his house 45 minutes early because I’d checked the route and saw it might take a little longer. He appeared just before 1am and we got on our way.
For a few reasons, it took us a little longer than anticipated and we arrived at the ground just as it was getting light at around 5am.
As soon as we drove in, I spotted 3 roe absolutely pegging it in the same direction we were headed with the thermal. Great! They’re awake!
2 of them did a 180° whilst one continued heading in the “correct” direction.
We parked up, grabbed our kit, loaded the rifles and started to walk along the dusty track.
Within 5 minutes, we spotted a roe buck a few hundred yards ahead just browsing on the left side of the track. As we moved closer, he made his way across the dirt track and to the right of us.
My friend told me to get the gun on the stick and walk with it over the next hill we were approaching, as once we got over the top of it, the deer should be right in front of us…and it was!
It was stood in front of a rising bank of grass with its right side presented to us.
I placed the gun and stick down, took the safety off and lined up the shot.
I couldn’t believe the deer had given us such a winner almost straight away, with barely any effort.
All I had to do was take the shot and we’d be back home before breakfast.
Sounds easy enough, doesn’t it?
My mate swears blindly it was buck fever, but the jury is still out on that one.
I took the shot, the deer turned and look about a second after the bang, waited a second, then took off running.
I assume, that second he waited, he was looking at me thinking “how on earth have you just missed me?!”
There was no usual “slap” of the bullet hitting the target and there was definitely no sign of blood or anything else a .308 would have removed at sub 100 yards.
Little did we know it, but that would be our only chance of the day.
Considering the good weather we’ve been having recently, I threw on a pair of converse after noticing my waterproof hiking boots were a bit firm and made a bit too much noise.
Definitely would wear them again, as they’re quit as anything when walking!
We walked from one end of the ground to the other, not seeing anything and unable to pick anything up on the thermal now that the sun was out.
My mate, not being fully convinced of my alibi, asked me to hit the ding target he had set up from 100 yards. I put 3 rounds into it, moving further back each time ending up at about 150 yards.
Whilst we didn’t get any more rounds off, we did see one or two does moving back into cover (flicking the v’s if they could).
On the plus side, the trail cam we put up on our last visit caught some brilliant photos, even if the time/date had been set incorrectly
All in all, a decent day in the sun and it’ll all go towards the end result for next time.
Take aways are:
Converse are alright for a dry days stalk
Remember to aim a few inches higher if you’re sub 100yds
Avon’s “skin so soft” is brilliant for midgies
My friend had suggested we leave Liverpool at around 1am so that we could get to the stalking ground near Dumfries just before sunrise.
I arrived at his house 45 minutes early because I’d checked the route and saw it might take a little longer. He appeared just before 1am and we got on our way.
For a few reasons, it took us a little longer than anticipated and we arrived at the ground just as it was getting light at around 5am.
As soon as we drove in, I spotted 3 roe absolutely pegging it in the same direction we were headed with the thermal. Great! They’re awake!
2 of them did a 180° whilst one continued heading in the “correct” direction.
We parked up, grabbed our kit, loaded the rifles and started to walk along the dusty track.
Within 5 minutes, we spotted a roe buck a few hundred yards ahead just browsing on the left side of the track. As we moved closer, he made his way across the dirt track and to the right of us.
My friend told me to get the gun on the stick and walk with it over the next hill we were approaching, as once we got over the top of it, the deer should be right in front of us…and it was!
It was stood in front of a rising bank of grass with its right side presented to us.
I placed the gun and stick down, took the safety off and lined up the shot.
I couldn’t believe the deer had given us such a winner almost straight away, with barely any effort.
All I had to do was take the shot and we’d be back home before breakfast.
Sounds easy enough, doesn’t it?
My mate swears blindly it was buck fever, but the jury is still out on that one.
I took the shot, the deer turned and look about a second after the bang, waited a second, then took off running.
I assume, that second he waited, he was looking at me thinking “how on earth have you just missed me?!”
There was no usual “slap” of the bullet hitting the target and there was definitely no sign of blood or anything else a .308 would have removed at sub 100 yards.
Little did we know it, but that would be our only chance of the day.
Considering the good weather we’ve been having recently, I threw on a pair of converse after noticing my waterproof hiking boots were a bit firm and made a bit too much noise.
Definitely would wear them again, as they’re quit as anything when walking!
We walked from one end of the ground to the other, not seeing anything and unable to pick anything up on the thermal now that the sun was out.
My mate, not being fully convinced of my alibi, asked me to hit the ding target he had set up from 100 yards. I put 3 rounds into it, moving further back each time ending up at about 150 yards.
Whilst we didn’t get any more rounds off, we did see one or two does moving back into cover (flicking the v’s if they could).
On the plus side, the trail cam we put up on our last visit caught some brilliant photos, even if the time/date had been set incorrectly
All in all, a decent day in the sun and it’ll all go towards the end result for next time.
Take aways are:
Converse are alright for a dry days stalk
Remember to aim a few inches higher if you’re sub 100yds
Avon’s “skin so soft” is brilliant for midgies
... unfortunately.
