Not sure if this qualifies, but was out today. Just after leaving the house saw 5 young does huddled down beneath a hedge, scuttled off up the field the other side of the hedge towards the nwest.
Followed along after about 100 yards saw some fallow through the hedge. If I had continued I would have had to shoot towards a lone house on a byway at the edge of the perm, decided better to approach from the other direction. Back through the hedge, into my field, out the other side and moved towards the group. As I got to the corner of the hedge, a few heads looked my way, was about to set up the sticks when they started to trot off towards the northeast. And the kept coming around 50 plus, mostly mature does (i think) with a few year or two bucks and some much younger/smaller deer.
Swearing i watched the whole herd gather pace and run to the far corner of the field about 400yards away to where even if i was close enough, a shot would not be on with the road immediately behind them.
Sighed and thought id walk round see if i could encourage them into a shootable position, when blow me they ran back, right past me towards a cut through into another field.
Started to trek in their direction, through the hedge onto a byway and there was no sign of them.. Thought most likely the entered the next field, nada, nothing no sight of them. Fortunately the fields around were mostly part of the perm so i moved across and open field in the direction of the slot marks where they crossed the ditch. Although to be fair whilst they looked fresh to me there are some many fallow round here and they use the same tracks for all i know they could have been a few days old.
Anyway after walking for around another hour spied a small group of 8-10 does, followed them now i noticed the wind was in my face which i figured was good. I realised that earlier the wind was at my back less than ideal. Anyway got within about 150m and decided it was too far for me.
Got close but then they disappeared.
No shorting but good fun watching and following the deer, maybe tomorrow.