It was an early morning last weekend, and despite some drizzle forecast it looked to be staying warm through the night… so up early onto a patch i haven't particularly hammered this summer, to see what bucks are mooching…
I got out mega early due to me wanting to watch the sun rise and thermal spot the hill side along the wood, with the intent of glassing any potential/worthy bucks of taking, rather than stalking blindly through a very noisy woodland.
Parked up in my usual spot, around 0515hrs and started spying through the thermal, with just enough light coming through the clouds for me to see through the binos if needed.
I clearly saw a small group of sheep around 400 yards off, and something mooching on its own just below them, around 300 yards from where i was, but its movement wasnt typical, no long obvious neck or roe type movements at first….
That annoying moment set in of talking to myself in almost frustration ‘what the fu** is THAT ?’… trying to swap for binos but then losing sight of it…
This went on for around two minutes where i was tracking with the thermal, swapping for binos and using the odd feature to pin point it through glass and get eyes on… then all of a sudden ‘ITS A BUCK’…
A really lovely looking mature buck trotting about between the reeds/heather, at one minute showing himself fully then a second later only his head on show.
I rested my rifle on a dry stone wall over watching where he was, but i just wasn't comfortable and as he moved oblique and away from me, 250 yards turns into 300… 300 turns into 340… 340 turns into 400…
Now i need to get in that wood and get ahead of him !!
So i gets my gear jumps back in the jeep and as quiet as i could, drove up the hill and into the wood..
I parked up, slowly pushing doors closed as i kit up for a short walk… and as i locked the car doors and spied through the thermal….
Theres a fawn about 100 yards outside of the wood im now stood in, all cuddled up below a small bit of gorse, which was roughly where i last saw this buck… ‘WHERE THE FU** is your mum and dad little one
’
Spying and glassing, and as the fawn decided to get up and have a little mooch, i decided to get on the caller and see what reaction id get…
Few peeps and squeeks on the caller… and a doe rapidly appeared to my right within about 30 seconds, stood around 150 yards off very much focusing on her fawn… the kid trotted towards her and was now glued to her side as they both seemed to trott into cover where i lost sight…
Then all of a sudden… here comes this buck toward me !
He came trotting over the hill from where id originally seen him, and stood bolt on towards me around 200 yards, just attentive to where the calls were coming from…
I shuffled into position on a strong fence post as a rest, as i was facing too sharply down hill to use my sticks, but using the slight movement to ping his interest towards me, and whilst letting out a few peeps on the call… with my low profile hed clearly believed the slight movement was other deer and came confidently trotting towards me…
He got within around 90 yards… he came out of some reeds and as if by magic, stood perfectly broadside for me looking at the trees to my immediate left as i went ‘silent’..
I sent the .308 bullet whipping through his heart and lungs, his rear legs went flying into the air as he stumbled and collapsed within 5 meters…
I could see where he fell, had a small climb down towards him and on arrival, had the enjoyment and massive smile on my face whilst inspecting him !!
Turned out an absolute cracker of a buck, and being in such good condition with a strong head… hes been caped out, and im hopeful hell make a bronze medal #CIC
To be continued, thanks for reading !
I got out mega early due to me wanting to watch the sun rise and thermal spot the hill side along the wood, with the intent of glassing any potential/worthy bucks of taking, rather than stalking blindly through a very noisy woodland.
Parked up in my usual spot, around 0515hrs and started spying through the thermal, with just enough light coming through the clouds for me to see through the binos if needed.
I clearly saw a small group of sheep around 400 yards off, and something mooching on its own just below them, around 300 yards from where i was, but its movement wasnt typical, no long obvious neck or roe type movements at first….
That annoying moment set in of talking to myself in almost frustration ‘what the fu** is THAT ?’… trying to swap for binos but then losing sight of it…
This went on for around two minutes where i was tracking with the thermal, swapping for binos and using the odd feature to pin point it through glass and get eyes on… then all of a sudden ‘ITS A BUCK’…
A really lovely looking mature buck trotting about between the reeds/heather, at one minute showing himself fully then a second later only his head on show.
I rested my rifle on a dry stone wall over watching where he was, but i just wasn't comfortable and as he moved oblique and away from me, 250 yards turns into 300… 300 turns into 340… 340 turns into 400…
Now i need to get in that wood and get ahead of him !!
So i gets my gear jumps back in the jeep and as quiet as i could, drove up the hill and into the wood..
I parked up, slowly pushing doors closed as i kit up for a short walk… and as i locked the car doors and spied through the thermal….
Theres a fawn about 100 yards outside of the wood im now stood in, all cuddled up below a small bit of gorse, which was roughly where i last saw this buck… ‘WHERE THE FU** is your mum and dad little one
’Spying and glassing, and as the fawn decided to get up and have a little mooch, i decided to get on the caller and see what reaction id get…
Few peeps and squeeks on the caller… and a doe rapidly appeared to my right within about 30 seconds, stood around 150 yards off very much focusing on her fawn… the kid trotted towards her and was now glued to her side as they both seemed to trott into cover where i lost sight…
Then all of a sudden… here comes this buck toward me !
He came trotting over the hill from where id originally seen him, and stood bolt on towards me around 200 yards, just attentive to where the calls were coming from…
I shuffled into position on a strong fence post as a rest, as i was facing too sharply down hill to use my sticks, but using the slight movement to ping his interest towards me, and whilst letting out a few peeps on the call… with my low profile hed clearly believed the slight movement was other deer and came confidently trotting towards me…
He got within around 90 yards… he came out of some reeds and as if by magic, stood perfectly broadside for me looking at the trees to my immediate left as i went ‘silent’..
I sent the .308 bullet whipping through his heart and lungs, his rear legs went flying into the air as he stumbled and collapsed within 5 meters…
I could see where he fell, had a small climb down towards him and on arrival, had the enjoyment and massive smile on my face whilst inspecting him !!
Turned out an absolute cracker of a buck, and being in such good condition with a strong head… hes been caped out, and im hopeful hell make a bronze medal #CIC
To be continued, thanks for reading !
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