damage limitation

[Squirrel_Basher 17,100]

Recently had a call from a mate whos a keeper near me asking what can be done to stop deer knocking over feeders but short of changing the whole batch of feeders for sturdier models and fencing,we agreed that nothing short term would do the trick .We agreed that a cull was long overdue on the land and that we would start today .After other duties of feeding and topping up water stations [no mean feat this weather] it was decided that we would cover the lower ground .Just got to the first gate when mates phone rang. One very pissed off keeper had to go chop wood for the house followed by gritting duties at the other end of the estate but that life in a tied cottage for you . .However ,i was told to carry on as i know the place inside out as i do the terrier work here too.I headed towards a valley i thought the deer would be in and no surprise really that they were.Overnight hoare frost had turned the place into an even more beautiful landscape and the crunchiness underfoot was gone allowing a steady pace .I glassed more frequently than i would normally as i expected the deer to be lead down under the hawthorn but as nly deer can they proved me wrong .A pair were out on top of the valley and walking away from me in a dip that had been hidden due to the topography .I now had to back track to get above them providing a long shot but no matter.This valley is on a long sweeping slope that weaves in and out the chalk landscape so you can picture why i had to backtrack to get a backstop.Lead down on the bipod and waited for a broadside .Took the doe and follower in quick succession at approx 170 yds.Made in for the gralloch along the valley top but never got far .Spotted a doe and follower under a hawthorn bush and about 90 yds further on over the other side so a combined distance of maybe 130 .Both lead down and no sign that they were spooked so a crawl down the game crop saw me within 70 yds and on the 'pod.The follower was a buck kid and a long glass revealed it was scouring a bit so i took it with a head shot to which the doe stood up but with a bush covering the front end .Waited for ages but she eventually made off up over the valley side and out my veiw .The gralloch revealed a healthy beast with plenty of fat around the organs as was to be the case in all shot today .

Continued on leaving them for collection later .Further down the valley it splits into four smaller fingers and i chose the left hand to follow as this ended in a stubble field still full of round bales that the deer love .Glassed a pair of deer actually on a feeder clearing up the spilt corn greedily .Another doe and follower which turned out to another buck kid.Stalked in to roughly 120 using the abundant hawthorn and got myself steadied on an ant hill,my favourite rest of all .The kid fell to my first shot to which the doe did a half circle in the valley bottem and stood beside the kid dead on the gass.She joined him soon after though.The phone rang about my own work and i was distracted enough not to take any pics of this pair as i wandered on talking as i went . Stalked on seeing only pheasants and the abundant redlegs.

Down in the field at the end of the valley there was a party of deer amongst the bales ,a young buck ,a doe and two followers

I had shot what i thought was exceptable for the area so took a pic and was content to watch these as they picked their way along the field stopping to browse at nothing in particular.A cracking bit of sport and venison for the house .Walked to the truck ,drove back and collected the fallen .

Two mature does ,two buck kids and a doe kid .We are to cull in another area later towards christmas.

[martin 332]

Well done FD,I hope we have as much fun tomorrow(Wed)see you then.

 

Martin

[black lab 3]

Hi F.D.

Looked like a Good Day's sport, and a job well done

 

ATB

Wullie.

[hawkhigh 2]

Well done FD keep it up.

[Roonstar 0]

Well done, creacking write up and even better few hours stalking

[HiLost 32]

good cull there mate and a good write up looks like theres plenty of roe on that patch

[J Darcy 5,871]

Bloody good day that!

[brno17 5]

bloody good shooting mate brilliant sport. dont think that ive forgottten about january for you and local mate just have to pin the guy down to dates but he's busy with pheasants just now but the day you wanted shouldnt be a problem, i'll get it sorted.

 

atb

alan.

[Squirrel_Basher 17,100]

bloody good shooting mate brilliant sport. dont think that ive forgottten about january for you and local mate just have to pin the guy down to dates but he's busy with pheasants just now but the day you wanted shouldnt be a problem, i'll get it sorted.

 

atb

alan.

Give me a ring mate as i never saved your number

[Hywel 53]

A poor day out then FD

[Yokel Matt 918]

A poor day out then FD

 

Fair weather stalking that is Hywel

[doddsy1970 9]

Cracking day there FD....... I wish we had roe around by me

[Hywel 53]

A poor day out then FD

 

Fair weather stalking that is Hywel

 

A fair bag for FD as well

[pit bull 15]

NOT WONTING TO START AN ARGUMENT HER LADS BUT HAW CAN SHOOTING SOMETHING THATS STANDING IN THE MIDDLE OV A FIELD BE GOOD SPORT??? ATB PIT

[doddsy1970 9]

NOT WONTING TO START AN ARGUMENT HER LADS BUT HAW CAN SHOOTING SOMETHING THATS STANDING IN THE MIDDLE OV A FIELD BE GOOD SPORT??? ATB PIT

 

 

Its not a case of the position of the target but the art of getting into position without being seen heard or smelt.