Red Stags Stories & Pics

[Canadian Black Bears 23]

Top of the evening to everyone...7:44 pm here in grand ole Nova Scotia, Canada

 

I just watched the video on calling deer and it was great. I didn't want to ask on that topic as did not want to take away from the subject so I decided to start a new topic. I was wondering if anyone can share a story and pics of stalking Red Stags I would love to hear and see them. They look like majestic creatures and they must be pretty hard to stalk. Please share some stories with me

[Caprelous 217]

Hi Rob

I have never shot a red stag but quite a few hinds.

 

I had some stalking Nr Crook in Windermere where there is quite a large herd of lowland redeer of quite large preportions ,

 

I was out this particular day when a string of 22 hinds and calfs came through the wood off the nearby hill and in my cull program I needed to reduce the numbers down to 18, anyway i was on my own and as the string came through , I Slotted the leaing hind and the rest being confused with no leader ,shot off in all directions not knowing which hind to follow so it was a cock up on my part i thought i would be in a position that they would stand being confused , but obviously they hadnt read the book and worked me a thick one, Anyway cut a long story short I had to get this hind out of this thick copse on my own, obviously she was a big beast when finally got her to the larder ,she weighed in just over 12stone clean, there was no way I could carry it out so it had to be dragged, Fortunately I thought it was only 150 yds to the nearest highway from where i had shot it so I carefully walked out marking a trail of least resistance to the high way and got my car and drove to the nearest spot on the road (Volvo Estate)

 

Got a rope out of the back of the car and went to retrieve the hind carefully again following my planned exit route to the downed hind.

 

Laced her up and proceeded to drag her out of the dense coppice, after 1 1/2 hours i finally got the beast to the side of the road , my hands were covered in blisteres and red raw with rope burns and bleeding , and i can tell you my hands are exceeding tough as leather as i work in the construction industry. eventually i got the beast in the back of the volvo by attaching a rope and half hitch bight taking a snatch on it 1" at a time which took me ages.

Next thing as I had caused a lot of attention to myself at the side of the roadway the public had notified the local constabulary and I had an audience unwelcome from the boys in blue.

Needless to say they didnt give me a lift with it as they were to late in arriving on the scene but I did have some explaining to do, eventually i was let to get on my way but never again I vowed if I ever shoot a Red again I will extract it in bits, by quartering it I will never ever drag a animal out on my own again ever.

 

When these guys tell me that they can extract an 18 stone stag slung over there shoulder ( 6 stone heaviour) that the hind I pulled out with a rope I have this wry smile on my fissog and I am says to myself lying bastered but still there are some big lads out there. Ohhhh I forgot to say I am 19 stone a build like the preverbial toilet door

[dogs-n-natives 1,182]

 

 

 

 

Got tons of pics, heres a couple showing various aspects of scotish hill stalking. In many areas we extract the deer with ponies, as ATV's cant access the steep ground.

[jeppi26 1,855]

Some class pics there dogs n natives sounds like some enjoyable days out stalking

[dogs-n-natives 1,182]

Ah man, I absolutely live for it! Weather im out with the dogs or the rifles, whatever, as long as Im out hunting i am a happy chappy!

[jeppi26 1,855]

Lol good man keep at it ;-)

[Canadian Black Bears 23]

 

 

 

 

Got tons of pics, heres a couple showing various aspects of scotish hill stalking. In many areas we extract the deer with ponies, as ATV's cant access the steep ground.

 

Great pics brother, sure helps me understand what you go through stalking these critters, he country sure looks pretty rough and you would definitely need horses. You forgot to mention a lot of backbone as well....thanks a million. Sure is some nice looking stags, I assume a female is called a hind based on what Stuart is telling me?

[Canadian Black Bears 23]

Hi Rob

I have never shot a red stag but quite a few hinds.

 

I had some stalking Nr Crook in Windermere where there is quite a large herd of lowland redeer of quite large preportions ,

 

I was out this particular day when a string of 22 hinds and calfs came through the wood off the nearby hill and in my cull program I needed to reduce the numbers down to 18, anyway i was on my own and as the string came through , I Slotted the leaing hind and the rest being confused with no leader ,shot off in all directions not knowing which hind to follow so it was a cock up on my part i thought i would be in a position that they would stand being confused , but obviously they hadnt read the book and worked me a thick one, Anyway cut a long story short I had to get this hind out of this thick copse on my own, obviously she was a big beast when finally got her to the larder ,she weighed in just over 12stone clean, there was no way I could carry it out so it had to be dragged, Fortunately I thought it was only 150 yds to the nearest highway from where i had shot it so I carefully walked out marking a trail of least resistance to the high way and got my car and drove to the nearest spot on the road (Volvo Estate)

 

Got a rope out of the back of the car and went to retrieve the hind carefully again following my planned exit route to the downed hind.

 

Laced her up and proceeded to drag her out of the dense coppice, after 1 1/2 hours i finally got the beast to the side of the road , my hands were covered in blisteres and red raw with rope burns and bleeding , and i can tell you my hands are exceeding tough as leather as i work in the construction industry. eventually i got the beast in the back of the volvo by attaching a rope and half hitch bight taking a snatch on it 1" at a time which took me ages.

Next thing as I had caused a lot of attention to myself at the side of the roadway the public had notified the local constabulary and I had an audience unwelcome from the boys in blue.

Needless to say they didnt give me a lift with it as they were to late in arriving on the scene but I did have some explaining to do, eventually i was let to get on my way but never again I vowed if I ever shoot a Red again I will extract it in bits, by quartering it I will never ever drag a animal out on my own again ever.

 

When these guys tell me that they can extract an 18 stone stag slung over there shoulder ( 6 stone heaviour) that the hind I pulled out with a rope I have this wry smile on my fissog and I am says to myself lying bastered but still there are some big lads out there. Ohhhh I forgot to say I am 19 stone a build like the preverbial toilet door

 

What a great story Stuart. I have to tell you though I had to call my neighbor, who is from England, to translate some for me. I didn't know what a hind was, how heavy is a stone (she weighed about 190 lbs, right?..that's a nice red), coppice, cock up on my part, and fissog

 

You are absolutely right about dragging that baby out by yourself. You must be an able lad as you did get er done. Based on some of the country I have seen it would be a helluva drag. Thanks for sharing.

[dogs-n-natives 1,182]

Thanks mate, the stag in my pic is a small old bugger. You can see my drag ropes on him it was a straight forward drag as far as I remember. He probably only weighed 12 stone or 168 lbs.. but even on that very rough high ground we had a stag of 21 stone 294 lbs which my mate ben had to drag to the pony, luckily all down hill! I do remember some real grueling drags though, basically if there was any uphill involved it was going to be a b*****d!

[Canadian Black Bears 23]

Thanks mate, the stag in my pic is a small old bugger. You can see my drag ropes on him it was a straight forward drag as far as I remember. He probably only weighed 12 stone or 168 lbs.. but even on that very rough high ground we had a stag of 21 stone 294 lbs which my mate ben had to drag to the pony, luckily all down hill! I do remember some real grueling drags though, basically if there was any uphill involved it was going to be a b*****d!

 

Holy crap, 294 lbs, that is very impressive . My hat comes off to your mate who tagged that baby . On rough ground like where you are, 168 lbs could feel like 1068 lbs, you must be some able lads to be hunting these deer in that terrain . Great job for sure :thumbs: ...Thanks again for sharing.