I suppose it's about time for a recap of my escapades for the last few months.
February -
A cold, wet, drizzly miserable Friday morning sets the scene for the stalk in February. I was expecting some inclement weather, but good grief did the heavens provide it today. The plus side is we're seeing plenty of deer about and it doesn't take long for us to get onto a stalk on some Chinese Water deer. There's also a lovely new rifle to shoot, my mentor had his variation through, so we're having a go with a Sako S20 chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor (gulp).
We stalk in, I get the rifle up on the sticks and line up as normal. I must admit, it's cold. It's wet. It's a new rifle. Mars was in retrograde. I'd not worn my favourite undies. I could think of a long list of excuses, but that doesn't change the fact that when I pulled the trigger, I missed an absolute sitter. Not even a little bit, well off. Bugger. Not how I'd hoped to start the day! I do my very best to not get into my head about it, but it crept in all the same. "Bad luck mate, we'll get on to the next one" says my mentor. All kit back in the truck and off we go to find another.
The deer are obliging, of course, reluctant to get up from where they're couched as it's bloody cold and miserable out. It doesn't take long to find another CWD sat in the field, eyes looking right at us. Off the bonnet this time, as we've spotted this nice buck as we're driving around the margins of the permission. I send a round off his way, and he bolts. I've missed again. I can only think I must be pulling the rifle, or doing something different to the usual. Of course we all miss, but now it's really starting to seep in to my head. "What's going on mate, you were well off that one, everything alright?" Don't I know it. I don't feel like I'm doing anything differently at all. I must be pulling the rifle.
I'll spare you the details, but after missing yet another deer after this one, it was time to check the rifle was alright. 3 in a row isn't like me at all. I'm normally a competent shot. I'm not perfect, but I can hit a target well enough with acceptable groups, so this feels weird. We find a spot we could do a fixed range shot with the rifle, and set it up on a hay bale. A quick rummage in a nearby barn gets an old plastic bottle with a nice big yellow lid for me to aim at and we put this down range, around 100yds. I get set up on the bipod, line up the crosshairs on the bottle lid, and send one down range. The bottle doesn't move. You've got to be kidding me.
We walked down, both fairly sure that I've completely missed. Once we get to the bottle, I'm even more sure. What the hell am I doing?! Wait…. Was there a hole in the lid already? No… I'd drilled it straight through the centre of the lid. I breathe a sigh of relief. I can still shoot on target, and so can the rifle! Somewhat buoyed by this, we load up, and continue on.
Again it's not long before we spy a lovely CWD doe browsing half way down the edge of a dyke between 2 fields. Perfect stalk, as we can get up nice and close, ensuring I should have a much reduced chance of missing. Back up on the sticks, and slowly amble up to the edge. She's facing away from us, 80yds off, presenting a somewhat challenging shot. Patience. Thankfully the rain had paused for a brief while, and it was just the cold to deal with. I wait on the sticks for the shot to come. Her head pops up, I line up the crosshairs, bang.
The crunch noise that returns from these rounds is rough. But you are in no doubt when your bullet has found its target. The curse of the day has been broken, and we've our first deer in the bag. I'm absolutely relieved, and more than happy to have some gralloching to do! I normally take a nice picture, but this one was a mess. No taking pictures of what's left of that one, a bit grim!
The gralloch reveals the doe was gestating quadruplets. It's a wonder we see so many of these little deer around the area if the litters are this big. CWD coming to an area near you soon…
The next stalk led us onto a nice little CWD buck. This one was much more business as usual, and I lined up a shot off the sticks and nailed him first time, no drama at all. Which was merciful as the drizzle was hammering us. Moreso my fingers, crikey it wasn't taking long for your hands to get cold and stiff in this weather. Another one gralloched and in the tray in the truck, and we continue on.
The last stalk of the day was into a group of 5 roe. We've spotted this group a field over from us, and mull the plan. We're out of the truck and kitted up, and make our way along a hedgerow, hoping to remain hidden from the group in the opposite field. Well they were onto us quite rapidly, breaking for the cover of a nearby wood to our right. The wood is around 250yds in length and not very wide, so the plan was to stalk up the opposite side, and hopefully double back onto this group.
We quietly make our way along the woods boundary, and spied one of the group through the trees. Unfortunately it seems they also spotted us, and bolt back in the direction we'd just come. Foiled again! Undeterred we press on, following toward the group but through the wood for cover, so hopefully out of eyeshot. We managed to close the gap considerably, down to around 300yds. I was a little apprehensive as I'd been a less than ideal shot that day, but with the confidence of the last two taken, I was happy to take a broadside shot on a nice big Roe doe. Up on the sticks, and waiting for the right time. The group keep moving, they know we're not far away, and they increase the gap. So with the rifle on the sticks, I pick the whole lot up together, and keep pressing forward. I select the biggest doe in the group, and send the shot off. The deer hunches up, and the group panic. They all seem confused, and none of them bolt immediately, taking few seconds, before starting to run. The doe I'd hit is still moving, but she's definitely hit. She eventually goes to ground, but her head is still up, so the shot was not immediately fatal.
This is the first time I'd needed to take a follow up shot, but we move in close, and I dispatch the animal with a headshot from 50yds. The approach quickly reveals it's a gut shot. I was further back than I had intended, but mercifully had completely missed the rumen. She was a big lass for a Roe doe. My first attempt with the roe sack as well, as my mate had headed back to the truck, and I'd had to jump a dyke to get to her. We could get her back to the truck a bit easier if he drives the truck around to the opposite corner of the field, then I can walk to the edge, rather than recovering a big doe down a dyke, and across 2 fields. She was heavy! I recall she weighed in over 40lb when back in the chiller, and it was a good stomp across to the truck from where I'd gralloched her.
A tumultuous start to 2026! I finished the day with a mix of feelings, having managed to bag 3 deer and missing just as many. I'll need to work out what might have caused my string of misses, so I'm heading home with a plan to swot up, and research things that I could potentially be doing to cause it.
March -
I'll have to look back to my stalking log for information on this one, as sometimes my brain decides not to retain it.
I note for weather conditions for the stalk in March - 6 degrees, overcast, drizzly. Low wind, visibility variable.
First 2 stalks on CWD, shots taken but landed high by 2" on both, both deer laying low to the ground, so only head shots available. Both deer ran, no chance of a follow up. Shots were quite challenging. 3rd stalk, CWD spotted sat low in the field. approx 170yds, and shot taken from bonnet, headshot landed cleanly. Animal presented in good health before shot taken, and no abnormalities from gralloch. Doe gestating twins. A few stalks taken and quickly abandoned, many deer observed to be quite skittish, and some disturbance throughout the day from working farm equipment. Group of 5 Roe deer found on field, difficult to approach as wind headed slowly in their direction. Used undulations in the field to close 350yds down to 200. Deer aware, quite skittish. Doe selected, providing good broadside shot. Landed as intended, deer popped up, ran around before going to ground. Good health before shot taken, and no abnormalities from the gralloch. Doe was gestating twins. Weighed in at 37lbs in skin going into the larder.
Somewhat misses my usual prose, but unfortunately I can't remember the details for this one! I'll have to make a more concerted effort to jot it down sooner after the stalk.
April -
Much fresher in my mind, as we headed out the day before attending The Stalking Show at Stafford - which was terrific. I'm sure I saw a lot of you there, not that I'd recognise any of your faces! I managed to get myself a new bino harness that opens away from you rather than toward, a worthwhile purchase from the Vortex stand. What a fantastic show though, my first time visiting, and I'm sure it won't be the last.
For the stalk, it was infinitely better weather than we've had of late, mostly dry which is a good start and low wind to boot, brilliant. My sister chose to join us for this stalk, which was great, a real family outing lol.
This stalk took us to a few less trodden permissions, along with scouting a new permission of 2 parcels of land. There were much lower numbers of deer seen throughout the day, largely due to the time of day we headed out, around 2pm. For the first decent stalk, we found a high vantage position, which enabled us to spot 3 Roe deer moving across field on the permission. Keeping an eye on their progress, we made our way down toward the field they were in, glassing 2 does and a buck.
With our buck selected, we began the stalk, however managed to spook the group slightly, and they started running, so we pushed on a little further in the truck rather than stalking in on foot. Once the shot presented, I quickly got set up on the bonnet with a bag. A clean broadside shot taken, however he ran on some way before going to ground. Fully prepared that we might have to follow up with this one, we approached on foot, and noted the buck was taking some time to expire. On this occasion, I observed my mentor handle the buck and help him expire.
The gralloch revealed that the shot was a clear lung shot through both lungs. This 6.5 creedmoor round punched through the deer like a pencil, tiny entrance and exit wound, explaining the long time for expiry.
This was my first 6 pointer, so I couldn't be happier! He was a great specimen, a good body on him in lovely condition.
The 2nd successful stalk was onto pair of muntjac spotted up the side of rape field. We stalked in close with the wind in our favour. The 2 Muntjac were moving away from us, so I lined a back of head shot up, and placed it perfect, the buck dropped on the spot, I wasn't quick enough to follow up with the Doe, managing to get a little snared up on the bolt handle before I could reload. Still, another good specimen presenting in good health, and only my second Muntjac!
We had a chance at another lovely Muntie buck in a patch of wood just across from the rape field where the first Muntjac pair were, with my sister having spotted him in the thermal, just on the boundary of the wood. They are so well camouflaged, it took me a second to spot him. We quietly pulled the truck to a stop, and I go into the bed to get the sticks. When trying to lift them out, I clipped some equipment in the truck bed, causing a clatter. The buck immediately dived deep into the wood, where even the thermal couldn't pick him up. I was a bit gutted as he was impressive, had a good head on him from what we saw before he ran off!
With the light beginning to fade as the sun dipped over the horizon, our last stalk was on the neighbouring permission. 3 Roe were spotted on the approach, with 2 bucks and a doe, one of the bucks sheltering on the margin of the field next to some trees dividing the field we were on with the next. It was a really good stalk in along the margin, staying close to the trees. As we closed the distance and moved out to get a shot, the deer quickly startled, and shot off across the field. The buck stopped when called by my mate, and at around 160/170yrs out, I lined up and took the shot as he stopped. The buck ran at the sound of the shot, taking off through a gap in the trees. Both my mentor and my sister were sure I'd missed this one, and I saw the puff of dirt fly up from behind and underneath him when I pulled the trigger. We quickly moved through the gap in the trees to pursue, and lo! A deer was found expired just on the edge of the next field. Again the round had punched through the deer, tiny entry, small exit, breaking ribs on the way through. The shot was admittedly low, hitting the bottom of the heart, but it was definitely in the right spot. All 3 of us were left scratching our heads on this one. A great stalk though, I was 3 for 3 on shots taken, pleased to have that monkey off my back from the last couple of stalks with misses. He was another nice little 6 pointer.
I had spent some time in the interim between stalking outings practicing my trigger control at home with my air rifle. I am also mindful of a tendency to really grip the rifle, so I have to consciously wiggle my fingers before lining up a shot. I'm working on my control here, and seeing improvements in the field, which is great.
I'm sure I'll be out again soon, happy hunting, folks.
February -
A cold, wet, drizzly miserable Friday morning sets the scene for the stalk in February. I was expecting some inclement weather, but good grief did the heavens provide it today. The plus side is we're seeing plenty of deer about and it doesn't take long for us to get onto a stalk on some Chinese Water deer. There's also a lovely new rifle to shoot, my mentor had his variation through, so we're having a go with a Sako S20 chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor (gulp).
We stalk in, I get the rifle up on the sticks and line up as normal. I must admit, it's cold. It's wet. It's a new rifle. Mars was in retrograde. I'd not worn my favourite undies. I could think of a long list of excuses, but that doesn't change the fact that when I pulled the trigger, I missed an absolute sitter. Not even a little bit, well off. Bugger. Not how I'd hoped to start the day! I do my very best to not get into my head about it, but it crept in all the same. "Bad luck mate, we'll get on to the next one" says my mentor. All kit back in the truck and off we go to find another.
The deer are obliging, of course, reluctant to get up from where they're couched as it's bloody cold and miserable out. It doesn't take long to find another CWD sat in the field, eyes looking right at us. Off the bonnet this time, as we've spotted this nice buck as we're driving around the margins of the permission. I send a round off his way, and he bolts. I've missed again. I can only think I must be pulling the rifle, or doing something different to the usual. Of course we all miss, but now it's really starting to seep in to my head. "What's going on mate, you were well off that one, everything alright?" Don't I know it. I don't feel like I'm doing anything differently at all. I must be pulling the rifle.
I'll spare you the details, but after missing yet another deer after this one, it was time to check the rifle was alright. 3 in a row isn't like me at all. I'm normally a competent shot. I'm not perfect, but I can hit a target well enough with acceptable groups, so this feels weird. We find a spot we could do a fixed range shot with the rifle, and set it up on a hay bale. A quick rummage in a nearby barn gets an old plastic bottle with a nice big yellow lid for me to aim at and we put this down range, around 100yds. I get set up on the bipod, line up the crosshairs on the bottle lid, and send one down range. The bottle doesn't move. You've got to be kidding me.
We walked down, both fairly sure that I've completely missed. Once we get to the bottle, I'm even more sure. What the hell am I doing?! Wait…. Was there a hole in the lid already? No… I'd drilled it straight through the centre of the lid. I breathe a sigh of relief. I can still shoot on target, and so can the rifle! Somewhat buoyed by this, we load up, and continue on.
Again it's not long before we spy a lovely CWD doe browsing half way down the edge of a dyke between 2 fields. Perfect stalk, as we can get up nice and close, ensuring I should have a much reduced chance of missing. Back up on the sticks, and slowly amble up to the edge. She's facing away from us, 80yds off, presenting a somewhat challenging shot. Patience. Thankfully the rain had paused for a brief while, and it was just the cold to deal with. I wait on the sticks for the shot to come. Her head pops up, I line up the crosshairs, bang.
The crunch noise that returns from these rounds is rough. But you are in no doubt when your bullet has found its target. The curse of the day has been broken, and we've our first deer in the bag. I'm absolutely relieved, and more than happy to have some gralloching to do! I normally take a nice picture, but this one was a mess. No taking pictures of what's left of that one, a bit grim!
The gralloch reveals the doe was gestating quadruplets. It's a wonder we see so many of these little deer around the area if the litters are this big. CWD coming to an area near you soon…
The next stalk led us onto a nice little CWD buck. This one was much more business as usual, and I lined up a shot off the sticks and nailed him first time, no drama at all. Which was merciful as the drizzle was hammering us. Moreso my fingers, crikey it wasn't taking long for your hands to get cold and stiff in this weather. Another one gralloched and in the tray in the truck, and we continue on.
The last stalk of the day was into a group of 5 roe. We've spotted this group a field over from us, and mull the plan. We're out of the truck and kitted up, and make our way along a hedgerow, hoping to remain hidden from the group in the opposite field. Well they were onto us quite rapidly, breaking for the cover of a nearby wood to our right. The wood is around 250yds in length and not very wide, so the plan was to stalk up the opposite side, and hopefully double back onto this group.
We quietly make our way along the woods boundary, and spied one of the group through the trees. Unfortunately it seems they also spotted us, and bolt back in the direction we'd just come. Foiled again! Undeterred we press on, following toward the group but through the wood for cover, so hopefully out of eyeshot. We managed to close the gap considerably, down to around 300yds. I was a little apprehensive as I'd been a less than ideal shot that day, but with the confidence of the last two taken, I was happy to take a broadside shot on a nice big Roe doe. Up on the sticks, and waiting for the right time. The group keep moving, they know we're not far away, and they increase the gap. So with the rifle on the sticks, I pick the whole lot up together, and keep pressing forward. I select the biggest doe in the group, and send the shot off. The deer hunches up, and the group panic. They all seem confused, and none of them bolt immediately, taking few seconds, before starting to run. The doe I'd hit is still moving, but she's definitely hit. She eventually goes to ground, but her head is still up, so the shot was not immediately fatal.
This is the first time I'd needed to take a follow up shot, but we move in close, and I dispatch the animal with a headshot from 50yds. The approach quickly reveals it's a gut shot. I was further back than I had intended, but mercifully had completely missed the rumen. She was a big lass for a Roe doe. My first attempt with the roe sack as well, as my mate had headed back to the truck, and I'd had to jump a dyke to get to her. We could get her back to the truck a bit easier if he drives the truck around to the opposite corner of the field, then I can walk to the edge, rather than recovering a big doe down a dyke, and across 2 fields. She was heavy! I recall she weighed in over 40lb when back in the chiller, and it was a good stomp across to the truck from where I'd gralloched her.
A tumultuous start to 2026! I finished the day with a mix of feelings, having managed to bag 3 deer and missing just as many. I'll need to work out what might have caused my string of misses, so I'm heading home with a plan to swot up, and research things that I could potentially be doing to cause it.
March -
I'll have to look back to my stalking log for information on this one, as sometimes my brain decides not to retain it.
I note for weather conditions for the stalk in March - 6 degrees, overcast, drizzly. Low wind, visibility variable.
First 2 stalks on CWD, shots taken but landed high by 2" on both, both deer laying low to the ground, so only head shots available. Both deer ran, no chance of a follow up. Shots were quite challenging. 3rd stalk, CWD spotted sat low in the field. approx 170yds, and shot taken from bonnet, headshot landed cleanly. Animal presented in good health before shot taken, and no abnormalities from gralloch. Doe gestating twins. A few stalks taken and quickly abandoned, many deer observed to be quite skittish, and some disturbance throughout the day from working farm equipment. Group of 5 Roe deer found on field, difficult to approach as wind headed slowly in their direction. Used undulations in the field to close 350yds down to 200. Deer aware, quite skittish. Doe selected, providing good broadside shot. Landed as intended, deer popped up, ran around before going to ground. Good health before shot taken, and no abnormalities from the gralloch. Doe was gestating twins. Weighed in at 37lbs in skin going into the larder.
Somewhat misses my usual prose, but unfortunately I can't remember the details for this one! I'll have to make a more concerted effort to jot it down sooner after the stalk.
April -
Much fresher in my mind, as we headed out the day before attending The Stalking Show at Stafford - which was terrific. I'm sure I saw a lot of you there, not that I'd recognise any of your faces! I managed to get myself a new bino harness that opens away from you rather than toward, a worthwhile purchase from the Vortex stand. What a fantastic show though, my first time visiting, and I'm sure it won't be the last.
For the stalk, it was infinitely better weather than we've had of late, mostly dry which is a good start and low wind to boot, brilliant. My sister chose to join us for this stalk, which was great, a real family outing lol.
This stalk took us to a few less trodden permissions, along with scouting a new permission of 2 parcels of land. There were much lower numbers of deer seen throughout the day, largely due to the time of day we headed out, around 2pm. For the first decent stalk, we found a high vantage position, which enabled us to spot 3 Roe deer moving across field on the permission. Keeping an eye on their progress, we made our way down toward the field they were in, glassing 2 does and a buck.
With our buck selected, we began the stalk, however managed to spook the group slightly, and they started running, so we pushed on a little further in the truck rather than stalking in on foot. Once the shot presented, I quickly got set up on the bonnet with a bag. A clean broadside shot taken, however he ran on some way before going to ground. Fully prepared that we might have to follow up with this one, we approached on foot, and noted the buck was taking some time to expire. On this occasion, I observed my mentor handle the buck and help him expire.
The gralloch revealed that the shot was a clear lung shot through both lungs. This 6.5 creedmoor round punched through the deer like a pencil, tiny entrance and exit wound, explaining the long time for expiry.
This was my first 6 pointer, so I couldn't be happier! He was a great specimen, a good body on him in lovely condition.
The 2nd successful stalk was onto pair of muntjac spotted up the side of rape field. We stalked in close with the wind in our favour. The 2 Muntjac were moving away from us, so I lined a back of head shot up, and placed it perfect, the buck dropped on the spot, I wasn't quick enough to follow up with the Doe, managing to get a little snared up on the bolt handle before I could reload. Still, another good specimen presenting in good health, and only my second Muntjac!
We had a chance at another lovely Muntie buck in a patch of wood just across from the rape field where the first Muntjac pair were, with my sister having spotted him in the thermal, just on the boundary of the wood. They are so well camouflaged, it took me a second to spot him. We quietly pulled the truck to a stop, and I go into the bed to get the sticks. When trying to lift them out, I clipped some equipment in the truck bed, causing a clatter. The buck immediately dived deep into the wood, where even the thermal couldn't pick him up. I was a bit gutted as he was impressive, had a good head on him from what we saw before he ran off!
With the light beginning to fade as the sun dipped over the horizon, our last stalk was on the neighbouring permission. 3 Roe were spotted on the approach, with 2 bucks and a doe, one of the bucks sheltering on the margin of the field next to some trees dividing the field we were on with the next. It was a really good stalk in along the margin, staying close to the trees. As we closed the distance and moved out to get a shot, the deer quickly startled, and shot off across the field. The buck stopped when called by my mate, and at around 160/170yrs out, I lined up and took the shot as he stopped. The buck ran at the sound of the shot, taking off through a gap in the trees. Both my mentor and my sister were sure I'd missed this one, and I saw the puff of dirt fly up from behind and underneath him when I pulled the trigger. We quickly moved through the gap in the trees to pursue, and lo! A deer was found expired just on the edge of the next field. Again the round had punched through the deer, tiny entry, small exit, breaking ribs on the way through. The shot was admittedly low, hitting the bottom of the heart, but it was definitely in the right spot. All 3 of us were left scratching our heads on this one. A great stalk though, I was 3 for 3 on shots taken, pleased to have that monkey off my back from the last couple of stalks with misses. He was another nice little 6 pointer.
I had spent some time in the interim between stalking outings practicing my trigger control at home with my air rifle. I am also mindful of a tendency to really grip the rifle, so I have to consciously wiggle my fingers before lining up a shot. I'm working on my control here, and seeing improvements in the field, which is great.
I'm sure I'll be out again soon, happy hunting, folks.
Like all rifles if you do your job it will most certainly do its 
