Completed my DSC1 last month, so while my FAC application is in progress, I was looking for guided stalking opportunities to start building some experience.
I posted on one of the Facebook groups, looking for a local guide, and was messaged by a chap not far from me. After a chat we agreed on a date and arranged an evening stalk, mid-week.
Met up after work, had a practice shot with his rifle on a steel target to make sure I was comfortable - no issues there - Blaser, 6.5x55, Swaro optic on sticks, very nice to shoot.
We loaded up into his truck and headed out. I won't give out his land location out of respect for privacy, but it was hilly terrain, and fortunately a nice, clear and dry evening.
Out of the truck, we worked down over the top of a large hill and along it's edge, checking the thermal for any deer in and around the trees on the opposite side of the valley.
Before long, the guide had picked up a buck, we sat and observed, I was looking through the binos - yep, definitely a Roe buck, looks like a nice one.
The guide ranged it at about 140 yards. It was 'sitting', broadside but looking away from us. The guide set up the sticks and I got on the rifle and sights, he was happy that it was a good shot, but I only had to take it if I was comfortable, otherwise he was happy for us to continue the stalk. After a few moments observing through the scope I was confident in the shot, so a gentle squeeze of the trigger and it was done. Quick reload and back onto the sights to check. My heart was pumping at this point, but I was relieved to see that the buck had gone straight down, and the guide confirmed a great shot.
At this point I think I finally took a breath and relaxed a little! A congratulations from the guide, and we then made our way down our side of the hill, across the stream at the base, and up the other side to the deer. Checked it over, confirmed a clean heart / lung shot, which was a further relief to me. A nice 6-point buck, good condition overall.
We dragged it down the hill to a suitable tree, for a suspended gralloch. The guide had asked if I wanted to do this, he was more than happy to do it for me but as it's part of the learning process I was happy to give it a go, with his assistance / instruction. I'd say it was relatively straightforward, the anatomy is pretty logical - if that makes sense - it's just getting the right technique and being able to do it efficiently, but I enjoyed giving it a go for the first time.
We carried the carcass back up the hill to the truck, after a quick clean up, then continued until last light. We looked for some Muntjac where he had spotted them before, but no luck this evening, however we observed a couple of bucks fighting briefly over some fields, and followed a Roe doe through some woods and across a field, right up to last light - this stalking I found just as exciting as taking the shot earlier, to be honest!
So overall a fantastic evening, and a great first deer. I'm keeping the guide and location a bit private as it's not an 'advertised' one so out of respect for that... But I will say the guide was brilliant as was the location.
I won't disclose prices, but I will say, I was given pricing for cull bucks and then 'pointers', and was only charged a cull price this time as it was my first stalk, and I'm having the meat butchered (estimate around 12kg) and the head mounted as it's a rather nice one!
Few pics below, cheers!
I posted on one of the Facebook groups, looking for a local guide, and was messaged by a chap not far from me. After a chat we agreed on a date and arranged an evening stalk, mid-week.
Met up after work, had a practice shot with his rifle on a steel target to make sure I was comfortable - no issues there - Blaser, 6.5x55, Swaro optic on sticks, very nice to shoot.
We loaded up into his truck and headed out. I won't give out his land location out of respect for privacy, but it was hilly terrain, and fortunately a nice, clear and dry evening.
Out of the truck, we worked down over the top of a large hill and along it's edge, checking the thermal for any deer in and around the trees on the opposite side of the valley.
Before long, the guide had picked up a buck, we sat and observed, I was looking through the binos - yep, definitely a Roe buck, looks like a nice one.
The guide ranged it at about 140 yards. It was 'sitting', broadside but looking away from us. The guide set up the sticks and I got on the rifle and sights, he was happy that it was a good shot, but I only had to take it if I was comfortable, otherwise he was happy for us to continue the stalk. After a few moments observing through the scope I was confident in the shot, so a gentle squeeze of the trigger and it was done. Quick reload and back onto the sights to check. My heart was pumping at this point, but I was relieved to see that the buck had gone straight down, and the guide confirmed a great shot.
At this point I think I finally took a breath and relaxed a little! A congratulations from the guide, and we then made our way down our side of the hill, across the stream at the base, and up the other side to the deer. Checked it over, confirmed a clean heart / lung shot, which was a further relief to me. A nice 6-point buck, good condition overall.
We dragged it down the hill to a suitable tree, for a suspended gralloch. The guide had asked if I wanted to do this, he was more than happy to do it for me but as it's part of the learning process I was happy to give it a go, with his assistance / instruction. I'd say it was relatively straightforward, the anatomy is pretty logical - if that makes sense - it's just getting the right technique and being able to do it efficiently, but I enjoyed giving it a go for the first time.
We carried the carcass back up the hill to the truck, after a quick clean up, then continued until last light. We looked for some Muntjac where he had spotted them before, but no luck this evening, however we observed a couple of bucks fighting briefly over some fields, and followed a Roe doe through some woods and across a field, right up to last light - this stalking I found just as exciting as taking the shot earlier, to be honest!
So overall a fantastic evening, and a great first deer. I'm keeping the guide and location a bit private as it's not an 'advertised' one so out of respect for that... But I will say the guide was brilliant as was the location.
I won't disclose prices, but I will say, I was given pricing for cull bucks and then 'pointers', and was only charged a cull price this time as it was my first stalk, and I'm having the meat butchered (estimate around 12kg) and the head mounted as it's a rather nice one!
Few pics below, cheers!
