First buck

[Lurchandhistribe 0]

Hi I have been stalking for about 6 months and am being mentored by a local keeper and pest controller. So here is a write up on a stalk a few weeks back.

 

It was a quick dash home through the traffic a lightning lap of the fields with dogs and on site by about 6. The sun was out and the air was still nice and warm with that nice breeze of a spring evening.

 

I jumped in the keep's truck and headed to the furthest boundary as we had been seeing a roe buck that was a suitable cull beast. We parked up sorted out our gear and headed off along the back of a small plantation towards the boundary fence. As keep and I whispered about what had been running the fence line we both paused as something crashed through the plantation. Lord, knows what it was or how it got as its rabbit and deer fenced. With no easy access we continued on and down a Cotswold stone wall using it as cover before we made the boundary fence. Fence made we slowed right down to a snails pace and worked our way along quietly. Twenty minutes later and 800yards later the keep spots deer ears on the horizon. Roe.

 

We are now pinned to the deck and as quiet as mice. We watch over the next twenty minutes as she slowly plods towards us. Stopping every so often to check on her buddies who remain on the other side of the boundary and out of view. At yards she decides to pop over the fence. Keep and I look at each other with that look of “wow†you get when things like that happen, a few whispers and we hatch a plan on how to proceed.

 

We had got about 100 yards further and to a gate when I noticed some thing unusual some 800 yards away and two fields away. We settle on it being hares mucking around as the wheat couldn't be tall enough to hide a deer. We clambered over the nice new fence the farmers erected, very swanky with the most robust posts I have ever seen! fence scaled with have a scan round and Keep spots a lump and then another. Just 50 yards below the hares, 3 fallow bucks tucking into a wheat supper and a lounge in the sun, so we hatch a sneaky plan of attack. We have 800yards to cover over largely open ground. The crawl begins in and out of gulleys, we do the odd meerkat impression to check they are still in the same place.

 

30 mins later and we have covered half the distance. One of the three is clearly bigger than the rest with some head gear, the other two are smaller. We hold our tongues as we crawl through ground covered in young nettles and thistles. 200 yards! We can now see six! One small poor buck, two prickets, two knoblers and a question mark. We select the buck as he looks to be of poor quality for our patch. We are still to far for a shot as I lack experience and I cant control my breathing through the excitement.

 

We crawl a further 50 yards but I still cant get my breathing right. One beast gets up and we pause. We agree that if they all raise now keep will take the buck. The pricket circles round and slumps himself back down into a more comfy position. My heart is nearly out my chest

 

I tell keep I cant make the shot from here and I need to be at about 100yards and even then I need to get a control of my breathing. We crawl on! I duck out of site and as I re-appear the buck is up and about. My heart is thumping so I take a few breaths and compose myself I move a few more yards to a nice resting position. Hes massive and literally fills the whole scope. He's bum onto me so I wait, a few mins later he's broadside. I check the backstop again and make sure the other five deer are clear! My breathing has settled and I gently squeeze, as the scope settles he falls on the spot.

 

My first buck, we wait a couple of minutes and then make our approach. My shot was good for line but a little high. I set about the gralloch which im getting quicker at but need more practice. Boys tho def seem easier than girls. Head is poor at widest point its maybe 5cm and one side the top section is cracked open and looks like pages of a book almost. am preparing the head however as a reminder altho it will take some forgetting.

 

 

Deer wise we have 3 species on our patch with some good fallow bucks, so this guy will not be missed at all. There was a black pricket with the group who we think is likely to be the son of a big black buck who was killed whilst rutting two years ago so hopefully this lad will be left by the neighbouring estates and will go on to emulate his dad.

[gav243 1]

well done good write up and nice pic

[Squirrel_Basher 17,100]

Good cull animal id say ,well done mate .

[john robbo 30]

Well done a nice beast.

[brno17 5]

well done mate that'll be the first of many but one you will never forget

[gentleman jim 2]

well done fella

great read

[dogs-n-natives 1,182]

cracking post mate I wish I had more than just roe in my neck of the woods.... your very lucky to have 3 species. regards DnN

[Yokel Matt 918]

Very nice mate. Good write up and a nice and nice reward for all those yards

[martin 332]

First of many mate,well done.............Martin

[Lurchandhistribe 0]

cheers lads. I had hoped to be out this week but family duties call. Hopefully a post next week on whether we have any luck catching up with the roe buck. Will let you know one way or other.

[beagrie7 0]

well done mate