We moved house last year, across the country, so I had to give up my old ground of 20 years and find a new bit. I fell on my feet as it happed, a mate introducing me to a farmer friend who had a Roe problem. I started last June, did 3 deer counts, put a plan together and set about taking the males with poor heads and the young and then hitting the does hard over the winter.
There were only 3 good heads I saw last year and all were left. No idea what a medal looks like and don't really care but I doubt they were spectacular, just big for this bit of ground. This year I decided that towards the end of the rut I would take one of them. I knew I needed to do it before the rut ended as last year all 3 of the big boys disappeared into the forest in mid August, not to be seen again until this spring.
I had my eye on one in particular. He started rutting hard on 20th July. I sat and watched him chasing a doe hard that evening and then again later the same week with a different doe. Last night he had been at it for 19 days so I thought if I found him tonight would be the night.
My first customer was a little 4 pointer, probably two years old. He chased a doe across some bird cover, cheeky little sod. She had no interest and departed at pace to leave him broadside 90 meters away. Ideal.
Shot taken, deer down I looked right and saw a doe running out of the bushes below me, up the hill the other side of the little valley I was in. Followed by a buck. They stopped at 155m. He was arse on, neck turned back towards me. A quick check and yes, it was him. He didn't move, just stood perfectly still for me. It was all over very quickly with a shot to the neck and down he went.
It wasn't a great moment, pretty sad if the truth be known having been watching him for a couple of years, but it was time. He was pretty old judging by how well the teeth were worn.
So right and left Roe in under a minute. The dog who I had sat up 20 yards behind be hadn't moved a muscle which was particularly pleasing. At 11 months he is just starting to show signs of listening and doing as he is told from time to time. I cast him off to find his two trophies, one in deep stubble, the other in wild bird cover. Both were nailed very quickly and having sat beautifully for the grallochs he got his treat before we set off. Nice having a dog out with you.
So a great night out. A memorable end to the rut.
There were only 3 good heads I saw last year and all were left. No idea what a medal looks like and don't really care but I doubt they were spectacular, just big for this bit of ground. This year I decided that towards the end of the rut I would take one of them. I knew I needed to do it before the rut ended as last year all 3 of the big boys disappeared into the forest in mid August, not to be seen again until this spring.
I had my eye on one in particular. He started rutting hard on 20th July. I sat and watched him chasing a doe hard that evening and then again later the same week with a different doe. Last night he had been at it for 19 days so I thought if I found him tonight would be the night.
My first customer was a little 4 pointer, probably two years old. He chased a doe across some bird cover, cheeky little sod. She had no interest and departed at pace to leave him broadside 90 meters away. Ideal.
Shot taken, deer down I looked right and saw a doe running out of the bushes below me, up the hill the other side of the little valley I was in. Followed by a buck. They stopped at 155m. He was arse on, neck turned back towards me. A quick check and yes, it was him. He didn't move, just stood perfectly still for me. It was all over very quickly with a shot to the neck and down he went.
It wasn't a great moment, pretty sad if the truth be known having been watching him for a couple of years, but it was time. He was pretty old judging by how well the teeth were worn.
So right and left Roe in under a minute. The dog who I had sat up 20 yards behind be hadn't moved a muscle which was particularly pleasing. At 11 months he is just starting to show signs of listening and doing as he is told from time to time. I cast him off to find his two trophies, one in deep stubble, the other in wild bird cover. Both were nailed very quickly and having sat beautifully for the grallochs he got his treat before we set off. Nice having a dog out with you.
So a great night out. A memorable end to the rut.
And a happy1st
on a new perm.
