I’ve been stalking for the past 18yrs and during this time Ihave been fortunate to shot across some wonderful locations in the UK & Europe.
My passion for deer was ignited one Christmas with the giftof a DSC1 course from my Mrs, who realised she needed to get me out of thehouse and get me interested in something other than her!
And so started my transition from the old deer to stalkingdeer..
From day one of the DSC1, I wanted to stalk each of our 6 deerspecies, and I have worked through the different types with friends, onschemes, commercial lets and on my own small permission in Hampshire, I hadshot all but one, the Chinese Water Deer.
Earlier this year a friend to a number of SD members wasover from Germany to shoot Muntjac. Afterdinner one evening we swapped stories of stalks of legendary beasts! And showedscars bigger than those in Jaws!I alsomentioned my desire to stalk for CWD.
Like most Germans our friend had never heard of, let aloneseen a picture of a CWD and at first thought we were pulling his leg withpictures of animals made up in the taxidermy studio or of a “Saber tooth tiger”!
It didn’t take long before it was agreed for the two of us totry for a couple of decent bucks before the year end and having taken a numberor recommendations from SD members it was clear “Muntjac Stalker” was the manto speak to.
Having been impressed with Jason, his knowledge, openness andwillingness to help, I booked in with Jason for 4 stalks over a long weekendfrom the 17[SUP]th[/SUP] December and what a weekend it was!
Saturday 17[SUP]th[/SUP] December –
The Saturday afternoon had us arrive at Jason’s in thickfog, not being one to give up easily we agreed to head down to some new ground Jasonhad recently acquired which had plenty of deer recently spied.
We arrived on site to thick mud, cow **** and fog almost asthick as the previous two, but we soon headed down into the fields and hedgerows of the farm and started to spot Deer in the fields. We stalked a number of animals, but couldnot identify the bucks due to the thick fog and our inability to accuratelyidentify teeth/tusks at range.We packedup and headed home having familiarised ourselves with the ground.
We arrived back at the B&B and received a very warmwelcome from the owners. The village isvery small and beautifully formed (so to speak) with a number of chocolate boxcottages, the B&B and a pub next door!
Being covered in mud it was clear the B&B loved stalkersbut not the mud we often bring, and I promptly decided to strip off the mud coveredtrousers I wore on the door step. Iclearly exposed far more to the owners then was possibly wise
) and nowfriends we were were shown to our comfortable rooms.We showered and headed to the pub.
The Pub –
Jason warned us that the pub had been very busy the nightbefore due to a number of Christmas parties and it would most likely be “dead”that evening.
Prepared for the worst andarmed with the names of a few locals with set foot across the threshold.Thepub was packed and fell silent!!
Looking the strangers up and down, we declared to the barstaff we were “friends of Jason’s” and had booked a table. It was quickly established there was only one Jason in the village! and before we knew it foodand booze were delivered at a rapid pace.In-fact far too much very good food and drink was consumed and many abeer brought by the locals, for the locals and by Jason who appeared a littlewhile later…
We had a hell of a night and the Pub is somewhere I’d goback too just to say hello and for some great beer and company in future(seriously recommended)
Sunday 18[SUP]th[/SUP] Early –
Up early we met Jason outside the B&B with slightlygroggy heads… We headed out into the fog and arrived on another piece of landlocated not far from the first. Readyat first light and with the fog now clearing we immediately saw some goodMuntjac heads and Doe around 150yrds in front of us.
We stalked the perimeter of this ground and spotted 2-3 CWDbrowsing the hedgerows and fields to our front. With Matthias on point I stayedback to watch and lay in the long wet grass waiting for a shot. A while later the pair returned with thewind in the wrong direction and no teeth seen we followed our tracks back pastthe car and onto the far side of the property.
Moments later a very large medal head was spotted, chasinganother buck around the immediate ground to our front. Rifle onto the sticks but unfortunately withunfamiliar equipment the opportunity was lost.
What followed was an amazing few hours of stalking CWD bucksaround this unusual piece of ground. They were alert and with the Rut in full swing it meant we had to be quick.3 further times Jason worked hard to getMatthias the shot, but it wasn’t to be on this occasion.He certainly made up for it later.The deer were plentiful, the guidancefantastic and lessons were learnt.
We headed back to the B&B for a super brunch supplied before a quick hour or so inspecting the inside of my eyelids. Up again and out the door for the afternoonand a return to the first piece of ground we inspected in the fog.
On this occasion I took the lead and sure enough on the 2[SUP]nd[/SUP]field we spied 3-4 CWD of good size.Again no teeth seen (proved to be difficult in the muddy conditions) andwe headed on through the farm.Westalked around the fields, through hedges, over styles, barbed wire, and weintroduced our German guest to the greatest challenge of all??A five bar gate.
It wasn’t long before we hit an old wooden gate in a hedgerow and Jason spotted a large buck heading straight for us. I got downonto 1 knee, pulled the sticks out and waited for Jason to give the ok as thebuck turned broadside.
I studied the buck through the scope and could see the faintflash of teeth, but how big was he? With mud around his face and jaws from digging/eating I certainly couldn’ttell, but Jason knew I was happy to try for a medal head and that’s exactlywhat I got.
With the ok squeezed the trigger and in apowder ball of pins down he went down to the shot. A fewkicks from the back legs and he was gone and we were up to check him out.
It wasn’t until we’d gone through the drills, made sure hewas dispatched and I had made safe that we wiped a finger around his teeth tosee a very large set of teeth/tusks. Later they would be measured as a good gold medal and I wait forhim to be CIC measured and the taxidermist to mount my buck.
With the gralloch done and deer in the roe sack, Matthiastook the lead once more and we headed around another mud filled field. With feet thick with wet mud and clay weheaded across a further two fields, over another gate and down hill to a hedge.
You could here two CWD bucks chasing each other on the otherside of the hedge some 15 feet or so away and the strange “Wickering” noisethey make when bucks chase each other. I've never heard it before, cant find it copied on line and would love a recording if anyone has it please..
Making a lot of noise we snapped, crackled and popped ourway into a hedge, dropped about 8 feet into a stream and up the other side of thebank onto the hedge row. In front of uswere the bucks chasing each other and I think around 10 – 12 other CWD.Jackpot!
Waiting a while Jason crossed the fence and took Matthiaswith him around the fields edge. Theytook forever as I watched them and clearly had a view far better thanmine.I lost sight of them for a fewminutes and then spotted them creeping up the far hedge row in full sight of anumber of deer.
They were clearly not used to being stalked and soon after Iheard a shot but didn’t see a deer go down. A good while later they returned and introduced me toMatthias’s buck, again this was later measured and proved to be another goldmedal head. I was thrilled and what aday for us all.
Delighted to let Jason carry the deer on his back, we workedour way through the darkness and back to the car. Had a chat with the farmer and were on ourway with two very happy stalkers.
That night we headed about 15 miles out of the village, hitthe Indian for a good meal and headed back to the pub with Jason and the locals waiting for usand pictures already shown around the pub.
Another truly great night was had and yet again a few toomany beers consumed by myself at least.
Monday 19[SUP]th[/SUP] December –
We had agreed in the pub to use our last stalk with Jasonand try for a cull doe for myself. Jason choose a much closer piece of land to the village and with evidenceof Gypsy’s and Coursing across the field I must confess to holding little hope.
The landowner had confirmed deer the afternoon before and wecrossed into the land, jumped out of the car and within a few minutes saw avery large field with green shoots exposed and a large number of CWD in smallergroups across the field.
Jason spotted a nice cull doe and again we droppedinto a large cultivation ditch, climbed the other side and I got thesticks out and the rifle ready. Giventhe Nod I squeezed the trigger once more and down she went.
Once collected and in the bag, we headed back to the treeline and Matthias choose to try for a cull animal. Once again it proved almost impossible tospot an animal with teeth and out of the hedge row 100yrds in front walked apotential cull animal/doe.
Down on our stomachs, bi-pod out and after what must havebeen 20 plus minutes of watching the decision was made to shoot. What followed will live with me forever andwas the strangest reaction to a shot I have ever seen.
(I’d like to stress on inspection of the red pluck later,the .243 round had done its job and taken part of the heart)
We heard the bullet thud as it hit the buck, it instantlykicked out and ran some 25 yrds into the field before kicking out again forcingit into a forward somersault! Back on its feet and running in a large circlenow the deer managed to flip over backwards before regaining its feetcontinuing the circle and then once more managed to kick out and ended up somersaulting forwards once again.
3 complete flips in two directions within about 35- 40 seconds. The deer then ploughed into theground head first.
I thought it was a gut shot as had never seen a reactionlike this before. We all stood open mouthed at the site we had just seen and probably a little shocked, But as said the pluckproved otherwise and I will remember it forever.
On inspection the mud beat us again, as with my buck on the2[SUP]nd[/SUP] afternoon this animal had been digging or eating from theground, no teeth could be seen yet on close inspection and after wiping itsmouth Matthias had his 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] Medal of the trip.This time it’s border line Bronze/Silver sowe await the CIC measurement with interest.
Summary –
A long write up for what proved to be a great 3 days and 4stalks away with my good friend.
I would like to thank Matthias for his great company once more and Jason “Muntjac Stalker” for his supportin pulling the trip together, allowing us to take 2-3 of his medal heads andfor his knowledge, professionalism and company during our trip.
Jason clearly cares about his clients and wants to ensurethey have a trip and an experience to remember. He does this with ease.
I’d like to thank him for his company in the pub, to all thelocals who made us all so very welcome and to our hosts at the B&B. All names and locations removed and for Jasonto provide as he wishes.
If you have ever wanted to shoot a CWD, Cull or medal headsI would seriously recommend Muntjac Stalker. I will return later this year/next for some cull animals as I now havethe gold I have always wanted.
My quest for al 6 of our UK deer species is complete and I look forward to many more trips and experiences here in the UK and abroad.
Thank you Jason…
One very happy client
My passion for deer was ignited one Christmas with the giftof a DSC1 course from my Mrs, who realised she needed to get me out of thehouse and get me interested in something other than her!
And so started my transition from the old deer to stalkingdeer..
From day one of the DSC1, I wanted to stalk each of our 6 deerspecies, and I have worked through the different types with friends, onschemes, commercial lets and on my own small permission in Hampshire, I hadshot all but one, the Chinese Water Deer.
Earlier this year a friend to a number of SD members wasover from Germany to shoot Muntjac. Afterdinner one evening we swapped stories of stalks of legendary beasts! And showedscars bigger than those in Jaws!I alsomentioned my desire to stalk for CWD.
Like most Germans our friend had never heard of, let aloneseen a picture of a CWD and at first thought we were pulling his leg withpictures of animals made up in the taxidermy studio or of a “Saber tooth tiger”!
It didn’t take long before it was agreed for the two of us totry for a couple of decent bucks before the year end and having taken a numberor recommendations from SD members it was clear “Muntjac Stalker” was the manto speak to.
Having been impressed with Jason, his knowledge, openness andwillingness to help, I booked in with Jason for 4 stalks over a long weekendfrom the 17[SUP]th[/SUP] December and what a weekend it was!
Saturday 17[SUP]th[/SUP] December –
The Saturday afternoon had us arrive at Jason’s in thickfog, not being one to give up easily we agreed to head down to some new ground Jasonhad recently acquired which had plenty of deer recently spied.
We arrived on site to thick mud, cow **** and fog almost asthick as the previous two, but we soon headed down into the fields and hedgerows of the farm and started to spot Deer in the fields. We stalked a number of animals, but couldnot identify the bucks due to the thick fog and our inability to accuratelyidentify teeth/tusks at range.We packedup and headed home having familiarised ourselves with the ground.
We arrived back at the B&B and received a very warmwelcome from the owners. The village isvery small and beautifully formed (so to speak) with a number of chocolate boxcottages, the B&B and a pub next door!
Being covered in mud it was clear the B&B loved stalkersbut not the mud we often bring, and I promptly decided to strip off the mud coveredtrousers I wore on the door step. Iclearly exposed far more to the owners then was possibly wise
) and nowfriends we were were shown to our comfortable rooms.We showered and headed to the pub.The Pub –
Jason warned us that the pub had been very busy the nightbefore due to a number of Christmas parties and it would most likely be “dead”that evening.
Prepared for the worst andarmed with the names of a few locals with set foot across the threshold.Thepub was packed and fell silent!!
Looking the strangers up and down, we declared to the barstaff we were “friends of Jason’s” and had booked a table. It was quickly established there was only one Jason in the village! and before we knew it foodand booze were delivered at a rapid pace.In-fact far too much very good food and drink was consumed and many abeer brought by the locals, for the locals and by Jason who appeared a littlewhile later…
We had a hell of a night and the Pub is somewhere I’d goback too just to say hello and for some great beer and company in future(seriously recommended)
Sunday 18[SUP]th[/SUP] Early –
Up early we met Jason outside the B&B with slightlygroggy heads… We headed out into the fog and arrived on another piece of landlocated not far from the first. Readyat first light and with the fog now clearing we immediately saw some goodMuntjac heads and Doe around 150yrds in front of us.
We stalked the perimeter of this ground and spotted 2-3 CWDbrowsing the hedgerows and fields to our front. With Matthias on point I stayedback to watch and lay in the long wet grass waiting for a shot. A while later the pair returned with thewind in the wrong direction and no teeth seen we followed our tracks back pastthe car and onto the far side of the property.
Moments later a very large medal head was spotted, chasinganother buck around the immediate ground to our front. Rifle onto the sticks but unfortunately withunfamiliar equipment the opportunity was lost.
What followed was an amazing few hours of stalking CWD bucksaround this unusual piece of ground. They were alert and with the Rut in full swing it meant we had to be quick.3 further times Jason worked hard to getMatthias the shot, but it wasn’t to be on this occasion.He certainly made up for it later.The deer were plentiful, the guidancefantastic and lessons were learnt.
We headed back to the B&B for a super brunch supplied before a quick hour or so inspecting the inside of my eyelids. Up again and out the door for the afternoonand a return to the first piece of ground we inspected in the fog.
On this occasion I took the lead and sure enough on the 2[SUP]nd[/SUP]field we spied 3-4 CWD of good size.Again no teeth seen (proved to be difficult in the muddy conditions) andwe headed on through the farm.Westalked around the fields, through hedges, over styles, barbed wire, and weintroduced our German guest to the greatest challenge of all??A five bar gate.
It wasn’t long before we hit an old wooden gate in a hedgerow and Jason spotted a large buck heading straight for us. I got downonto 1 knee, pulled the sticks out and waited for Jason to give the ok as thebuck turned broadside.
I studied the buck through the scope and could see the faintflash of teeth, but how big was he? With mud around his face and jaws from digging/eating I certainly couldn’ttell, but Jason knew I was happy to try for a medal head and that’s exactlywhat I got.
With the ok squeezed the trigger and in apowder ball of pins down he went down to the shot. A fewkicks from the back legs and he was gone and we were up to check him out.
It wasn’t until we’d gone through the drills, made sure hewas dispatched and I had made safe that we wiped a finger around his teeth tosee a very large set of teeth/tusks. Later they would be measured as a good gold medal and I wait forhim to be CIC measured and the taxidermist to mount my buck.
With the gralloch done and deer in the roe sack, Matthiastook the lead once more and we headed around another mud filled field. With feet thick with wet mud and clay weheaded across a further two fields, over another gate and down hill to a hedge.
You could here two CWD bucks chasing each other on the otherside of the hedge some 15 feet or so away and the strange “Wickering” noisethey make when bucks chase each other. I've never heard it before, cant find it copied on line and would love a recording if anyone has it please..
Making a lot of noise we snapped, crackled and popped ourway into a hedge, dropped about 8 feet into a stream and up the other side of thebank onto the hedge row. In front of uswere the bucks chasing each other and I think around 10 – 12 other CWD.Jackpot!
Waiting a while Jason crossed the fence and took Matthiaswith him around the fields edge. Theytook forever as I watched them and clearly had a view far better thanmine.I lost sight of them for a fewminutes and then spotted them creeping up the far hedge row in full sight of anumber of deer.
They were clearly not used to being stalked and soon after Iheard a shot but didn’t see a deer go down. A good while later they returned and introduced me toMatthias’s buck, again this was later measured and proved to be another goldmedal head. I was thrilled and what aday for us all.
Delighted to let Jason carry the deer on his back, we workedour way through the darkness and back to the car. Had a chat with the farmer and were on ourway with two very happy stalkers.
That night we headed about 15 miles out of the village, hitthe Indian for a good meal and headed back to the pub with Jason and the locals waiting for usand pictures already shown around the pub.
Another truly great night was had and yet again a few toomany beers consumed by myself at least.
Monday 19[SUP]th[/SUP] December –
We had agreed in the pub to use our last stalk with Jasonand try for a cull doe for myself. Jason choose a much closer piece of land to the village and with evidenceof Gypsy’s and Coursing across the field I must confess to holding little hope.
The landowner had confirmed deer the afternoon before and wecrossed into the land, jumped out of the car and within a few minutes saw avery large field with green shoots exposed and a large number of CWD in smallergroups across the field.
Jason spotted a nice cull doe and again we droppedinto a large cultivation ditch, climbed the other side and I got thesticks out and the rifle ready. Giventhe Nod I squeezed the trigger once more and down she went.
Once collected and in the bag, we headed back to the treeline and Matthias choose to try for a cull animal. Once again it proved almost impossible tospot an animal with teeth and out of the hedge row 100yrds in front walked apotential cull animal/doe.
Down on our stomachs, bi-pod out and after what must havebeen 20 plus minutes of watching the decision was made to shoot. What followed will live with me forever andwas the strangest reaction to a shot I have ever seen.
(I’d like to stress on inspection of the red pluck later,the .243 round had done its job and taken part of the heart)
We heard the bullet thud as it hit the buck, it instantlykicked out and ran some 25 yrds into the field before kicking out again forcingit into a forward somersault! Back on its feet and running in a large circlenow the deer managed to flip over backwards before regaining its feetcontinuing the circle and then once more managed to kick out and ended up somersaulting forwards once again.
3 complete flips in two directions within about 35- 40 seconds. The deer then ploughed into theground head first.
I thought it was a gut shot as had never seen a reactionlike this before. We all stood open mouthed at the site we had just seen and probably a little shocked, But as said the pluckproved otherwise and I will remember it forever.
On inspection the mud beat us again, as with my buck on the2[SUP]nd[/SUP] afternoon this animal had been digging or eating from theground, no teeth could be seen yet on close inspection and after wiping itsmouth Matthias had his 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] Medal of the trip.This time it’s border line Bronze/Silver sowe await the CIC measurement with interest.
Summary –
A long write up for what proved to be a great 3 days and 4stalks away with my good friend.
I would like to thank Matthias for his great company once more and Jason “Muntjac Stalker” for his supportin pulling the trip together, allowing us to take 2-3 of his medal heads andfor his knowledge, professionalism and company during our trip.
Jason clearly cares about his clients and wants to ensurethey have a trip and an experience to remember. He does this with ease.
I’d like to thank him for his company in the pub, to all thelocals who made us all so very welcome and to our hosts at the B&B. All names and locations removed and for Jasonto provide as he wishes.
If you have ever wanted to shoot a CWD, Cull or medal headsI would seriously recommend Muntjac Stalker. I will return later this year/next for some cull animals as I now havethe gold I have always wanted.
My quest for al 6 of our UK deer species is complete and I look forward to many more trips and experiences here in the UK and abroad.
Thank you Jason…
One very happy client
