First Sika

[Squirrel_Basher 17,100]

Yesterday ,Friday, saw me in beautiful Dorset with Local Yokel off the site.He has a patch of ground here courtesy of his Godfather .The area ,although small is situated within a large forest area of mixed woodland and is mostly cleared forest ground with high pruned areas .The local deer are mostly sika with a sprinkling of roe and fallow and they are making a nuisance ,as only deer can,by eating the regrowth as fast as it appears . There is two high seats ,one at either end that allows to cover the whole patch and any deer on it are shootable when both seats are filled .We arrived in good time for day break and we were in our seats as the first rays came up .Just before it got light the sika stags started whistling in the forest around us ,including one right behind Locals seat but despite both our efforts to lure it closer with the screery nothing showed .Probably said more about our calling than the state of the rut .Shortly after daybreak a pair of hinds ran up my side ofthe open ground and i thought maybe a stag was incoming but no show.Just after that a pair of prickets or spikers if thats the correct terminology showed on the edge of the forest and only 40 yds from my seat .The seat design is such that there is no side support for a shot so a careful move had to be off hand .They appeared nervous about being in the open so movement was very slow until i had the rifle where i wanted it and my first sika fell to a high neck shot .What a feeling ,This has been a long time coming with several trips a blank but definately worth the weight to complete all six deer species in the uk shot to date .He was bigger than i imagined a spiker to be with a huge stomach ,disproportionate to its size.We carried him out to the car ,a trip of several hundred yds through the woodland and were treated to glorious sunshine filtering through the firs .sat back in the seat to enjoy the sights and surrounds and treated to more hinds in the afternoon that browsed slowly on the grasses . Saw 7 deer in all .Locals seat however yielded nothing but squirrels .As the evening came on the sika once again became vocal and we tried again to lure a stag to us . .My sincere thanks to Local for a cracking day out.

[tommydeer 2]

Congratulations FD, its nice to complete the 6, looks a nice animals too

[dymented 2,220]

well done there bud always a great feeling when adding another species to your list

[wireviz 8]

Weldon FD only shot a few my self but must admit to likeing them as a animal to stalk.

[Yokel Matt 918]

More than welcome mate - made you sing for your supper though with a bit of tree work earlier in the year though

 

 

I was surpised with the size as well - when you're used to Roe trying to get a sika up on a hook makes you wish you ate more spinich. I'll weigh him tomorrow now i've found a pully as once I'd lifted up to the roof beam (off the top plate of a step ladder) I was buggered if I was taking him down again.

 

A few more pics from the day..

 

The view from my seat as the dawn mist cleared:

 

 

The view from some of the 'grip adjustment' breaks carrying the spiker back to the car.

 

 

 

The last few yards:

 

Edited October 1, 2011 by Yokel Matt

[FOXHUNTER 5,021]

Well done mate I knew it was only a matter of time before you grassed a sika. Next time an 8 pointer will cross your path

[martin 332]

Certainly looks a lovely place to be in the early morning mate,and well done.

 

M

[nastybilly 55]

nice one mate ..i got a nice 6 pointer on monday and have been watching a 8 pointer too, we seen him on teusday in the distance and waited about but never seen him again till yesterday morning where upon he run out of the wood [bANNED TEXT] past me and run across the hill without stopping ..lol..well not till he was about 800 yds away..he never had a clue i was there and the wind was bang on its just a thing they do it can be quite frustrating..lol..but it puts ya heart rate up, iv still not herd a whistle as yet but that'll have to do with the warm weather roll on a good frost...good luck with your next one

Edited October 2, 2011 by nastybilly

[Squirrel_Basher 17,100]

Be good to get a wall hanger ,thanks for the replies .

[ketekmelet 0]

Congrats! Very nice pictures too!

[The Duncan 802]

Fantastic experience well shared - thank you

I've not shot a deer yet of any species but it's certainly on my list. How lucky you are covering all 6 and what a lovely setting.

 

Duncan.

[whin 463]

good post had a few sika good eating, eerie, hearing them wistling in a wood , thougth it tasted more like roast beef , good pics

[IanB 0]

Now there my taste in photos... well done foxdropper..

[zx10mike 137]

beautiful pics and a good read.

[Hywel 53]

Excellent result lads Great post with pics to match FD, I take it you didn't have to drag that beast too far