Out for a couple of hours

[FOXHUNTER 5,021]

The phone rang last night , my mate wanting to have a look around for a shot.

We arrived at his ground only to spot a buck on his travels , through a hedgerow up the side of a fence and disappear into the next wood.

 

We decided to lay in wait hoping that he would put in an appearance at some time.

 

At around 8.30 I spied a doe emerge some 340yards away and proceed to feed for 5 minutes or so.

 

I told my mate to get ready in case the buck emerged. A minute or so later and he did.

 

Waiting til he turned broadside my mate neck shot him at 340 yards checked on the Leica.

 

Now before you shoot us down in flames Robbo I know this is not best practice but my mate is a very experienced and competent shot.

 

A custom rifle with home load ammo and a lot of range practice and 500 yard rabbits is the norm before taking these shots. The buck dropped dead on the spot.

 

 

[wireviz 8]

f*****g mess-er best practice doesn't come into it neck shot at 300 plus is totally irresponsible and you should have your licence to stalk deer removed on the spot tell your mate he was lucky and so was the buck next time he wont be nor will the animal but you wont be bragging a bout it on the Internet you type never do wounds are a thing to dismiss.

[Yokel Matt 918]

Fantastic shooting whatever is said... the follow-up on a runner would be another story but like you say its about confidance and proven ability. Looks like an massive field - I guess in situations like that having the skill in the locker to confidently take a long shot like that gives you more options. No doubt i'd have ended up watching the him until it got dark hoping he'd come a little closer, getting eaten my midges in the process still - it's all part of the game. The satisfaction i'd get from pulling off a shot like that would be outweighed by the guilt of cocking it up - but thats just me.

 

ATB

Edited May 5, 2010 by Local

[Yokel Matt 918]

double post

Edited May 4, 2010 by Local

[Yokel Matt 918]

triple post

Edited May 4, 2010 by Local

[martin 332]

The result was good,but,it's not stalking is it,and we all know how deer are always twitching their head around,and,one twitch at the moment he pulled the trigger,and,you've got a runner with its neck/throat ripped open.........oh yeah,and it's already 400yds away and still going.

 

Not my cup of tea..........Martin

[FightTheBan 1,147]

At the end of the day, you cant judge people basing it on your own abilities.

Its all about shooting within your comfort zone, and I for one would never attempt a shot like that with my current setup.

 

I know a few grouse keeper pals who are more than capable of shots like those - doing them regularly on lamp-shy foxes etc.

If the guy is confident in his abilities and is well practiced then I see no problem.

A bad shot at 50 yard or 300 yards will still have the same effect...

 

Good shot!

FTB

[brno17 5]

At the end of the day, you cant judge people basing it on your own abilities.

Its all about shooting within your comfort zone, and I for one would never attempt a shot like that with my current setup.

 

I know a few grouse keeper pals who are more than capable of shots like those - doing them regularly on lamp-shy foxes etc.

If the guy is confident in his abilities and is well practiced then I see no problem.

A bad shot at 50 yard or 300 yards will still have the same effect...

 

Good shot!

FTB

 

same effect yes but which one would you prefer to take a second shot on if it went bad.................

 

not my cup either.

[john robbo 30]

Good shot no doubt , but enough said by the others.

Keep those shots to the foxes mate.

Or at least to yourselves.

p.s. your mate might keep still but can he garuntee the deer will.

Neck shots are very tiny targets at any range and aren't always a kill or miss

If you look at my post "bless em" look at the thickness of those deers necks and thats at 20m's a bucks neck bones are bigger but not by much, most is hair and muscle.

I could take the shot (probably) but if you asked me down to come stalking I would want to stalk(BUT THATS JUST ME.)

Edited May 5, 2010 by john robbo

[FightTheBan 1,147]

Good shot no doubt , but enough said by the others.

Keep those shots to the foxes mate.

Or at least to yourselves.

p.s. your mate might keep still but can he garuntee the deer will.

Neck shots are very tiny targets at any range and aren't always a kill or miss

 

 

 

No offence meant, and Im not wanting an argument - but whats the difference between fox and deer.

I know fox are seen as vermin and deer as game(to some) but that is where the diferences end shooting wise.

 

I class deer as vermin on most of my permissions, doesnt make any difference to range I shoot them at.

 

Shoot to kill every time, irrespective of species - and if you can do it at 300 yards plus consistently then your a better shot than me!

 

I would be equally gutted to see a fox run off with a bullet as I would a deer. Matter of personal opinion.

 

FTB

[john robbo 30]

I have to keep repeating this, surley you know that a fox is much smaller and less hardy than a deer( 12-20lb average as oposed to 25-180lb) and likewise a hit from a C/F rifle with a fast expanding bullet will usually kill a fox even with a "not so good shot".

Likewise a fox shot up the arse with a deer calibre will kill it and exit at the neck. Only a fool would shoot a deer here.

Also loads of foxes are shot with rimfires and shotguns, how many deer are killed this way now??

[FightTheBan 1,147]

I have to keep repeating this, surley you know that a fox is much smaller and less hardy than a deer( 12-20lb average as oposed to 25-180lb) and likewise a hit from a C/F rifle with a fast expanding bullet will usually kill a fox even with a "not so good shot".

Likewise a fox shot up the arse with a deer calibre will kill it and exit at the neck. Only a fool would shoot a deer here.

Also loads of foxes are shot with rimfires and shotguns, how many deer are killed this way now??

 

 

Gut shot foxes will travel a hell of a distance mate. They are hardy b*****ds.

I have pulled a dog fox from an earth, stone dead after the keeper gut shot it the night before lamping - this was nearly a mile away!.

 

A poorly placed shot will make an animal travel irrespective of species, rifle caliber, bullet type or distance - which is why I dont get it when they say "if it was a fox then I would take the shot".

 

Larger calibers will drop deer at range for fun if you place the shot well - same with fox.

As a sportsman, I see no difference.

 

FTB

Edited May 5, 2010 by FightTheBan

[john robbo 30]

Any animal at any range can be wounded we dont aim to wound but it happens, its far more likely to happen at long range.

I dare say the fox wasn't shot with a Vmax blitz or balistic tip.(which are the favoured fox rounds).

Been a keeper I could say digging isn't a sport matey (but I won't), killing foxes is killing foxes sometimes its sport sometimes its just a job. And if you dig you can't tell me the fox doesn't suffer before you kill it or bolt it and try and shoot it. Lets not get into this debate foxes don't get the same respect from almost all sportsmen or keepers.

If you thought about not letting an animal suffer you wouldn't dig.

So is killing deer at long range but don't call it stalking.

Pass me my tin hat INCOMING.

Edited May 5, 2010 by john robbo

[FightTheBan 1,147]

If you have a problem killing animals - your in the wrong sport.

I just think its our duty to do it as humanely as possible, and to segregate species as being mor important than another is hypocritical.

If you would shoot a fox at nearly 400 yards but not a roe deer, then you are a hypocrite.

 

Whatever you say about digging and working dogs will simply go over my head - I have done it for years and will continue to do so.

 

My point is this - you had an issue with this man shooting his deer at distance yet you have no knowledge of his capabilities or his setup and have no reason to back up your disagreement.

 

 

Each to their own...

 

FTB

[john robbo 30]

I can see the ethics of deer stalking go over your head as well mate.

Like I said i'm a gamekeeper/stalker have been all my life so have no problem with killing animals.

And i suppose I am a hypocrite deer deserve more respect than foxes THERE ITS ON THE RECORD.