Poor Start - Strong Finish

[Yokel Matt 918]

Was down in Dorset on Saturday for the first time in a while - The last time I was down here the wind was so strong the highseat was swaying like standing wheat at times and the day ended with some b*****ds dog chasing away the decent sika stag I had in the crosshairs. It wasn't looking too peachy when Tim and I arrived an hour before dawn and it was absolutely hammering it down and blowing a hooney. We've both been out in worse but to start what would be a long day soaking wet and cold didn't seem too sensible so we had a kip until after eight by which time the wind had moderated and the rain subsided to a light pitta-patter.

 

It was pretty chilly in the seat so I decided to have a wander and look in the shallow estate quarry which was 100m behind me - I was sure it would be nice and sheltered in there and I was rewarded with a glimpse of a young roe doe, arse onto me but craning her neck so that she could scratch her back. She was tiny and a definite cull so I got ready on the sticks for her to present a better shot. Ten minutes later she was still going at what was apparently a persistent itch and, as she was only 30 meters away I went for a head shot which turned out to be a proper 'pink-mister'. I slowly moved round the side of the quarry to the access point and saw the adult doe and another tiny doe follower only 20 meters or so away from the one i'd just shot. There was a nice bank of gravel to have a prone shot from and down the second follower went, the doe disappearing into the brush.

 

 

I called Tim to let hit know the crack and he began to make his way towards me, he caught the flick of an ear just to the side of the ride he was on and a doe gave him all the time he needed to get up on the sticks and neck shoot her at about 15 meters... all close quarter stuff so far.

 

The landowner had us over for lunch and after a good fill of nice hot soup to warm the cockles we went to another permission nearby. The last few visits here a big old doe had got the better of us. Tim stood in a nearby gateway ready to intercept her when she made a break for it from the copse and I crept down the farm track beside it expecting to bump her. About halfway down I saw a shape that didn't look quite right and it took me a few moments of trying to focus through the layers of brambles and brush to recognise the antlers of a young sika stag who was couched no more that 15 meters away from me. I slowly put the rifle on the sticks and tried to find a hole to shoot through, eventually settling on a neck shot to which he never moved other than for a few twitches. Of course now I had to explain to Tim that this hadn't been my plan all along!

 

It was a job to get to him and there was no way I was going to gralloch him in there so I hauled him to a small clearing to do the job, the gralloch alone weighing close to the combined weight of the two roe id shot earlier.

 

 

 

Up to the top of the estate it started raining again and the wind picked up. Moving to the point of the valley where it was more sheltered we saw a pair of roe up in the gorse / bracken banking. We were both in plane view and Tim did well to get to 100 meters where he dropped the doe to a chest shot. The footage isn't the best as I was a fair way back.

 

https://youtu.be/-TXYOgr2ONQ

 

 

A mile drag back to the truck and time for a quick flick of the lamp where Tim had a dog fox next to the lambing sheds and that was it.. knackered!

Edited February 16, 2016 by Yokel Matt

[jok 3,253]

I felt for you reading that. I got the chance, which I took, of shooting a Sitka stag which had been earmarked for some Belgium gentleman who didn't show. I got the lucky seat. Weighed 19 stone and took the land rover and winch to get him the 200 yds to the track. Followed that with a 15 stone and between them the landi sagged a bit.

[Yokel Matt 918]

If I tried to get these in my Landy (90) they'd be sharing the front seat with me! Not known for their spaciousness... big roe sometimes need to fold up a bit!

[sussex 5,777]

Hard earned but worth it Matt , good effort ..I've really suffered with the dog walkers over the last two weeks , drove me fcuking nuts , even the owner messed up this evenings effort , did manage 6 this morning so it's not all bad ..

[Squirrel_Basher 17,100]

Can i just add that Matt dealt with a sticky situation with a tennant extremely well and professionally whereas we"d of had AR if id gone to see her, not known for my patience im afraid .The stag was just another in a long line of stags kept from me as only those whos permission it is know how lol.Seriously though ,another cracking trip to beautiful Dorset .Cheers Matt ,maybe i could go first next time lol.

[Yokel Matt 918]

Hard earned but worth it Matt , good effort ..I've really suffered with the dog walkers over the last two weeks , drove me fcuking nuts , even the owner messed up this evenings effort , did manage 6 this morning so it's not all bad ..

Might have been double figures if it wasn't for that dog Rich. At least your landowner has an excuse for being off a footpath which is more than can be said for the b*****ds who frightened off my stag!

 

That tenant took some patience.... Especially when she was telling the person at the end of the 999 call that, as well as being 'armed and dangerous' I must also be responsible for all the dead badgers she's been seeing on the roads... Grrrr!

 

The next pricket is yours Tim...!

Edited February 16, 2016 by Yokel Matt

[sussex 5,777]

 

Hard earned but worth it Matt , good effort ..I've really suffered with the dog walkers over the last two weeks , drove me fcuking nuts , even the owner messed up this evenings effort , did manage 6 this morning so it's not all bad ..

Might have been double figures if it wasn't for that dog Rich. At least your landowner has an excuse for being off a footpath which is more than can be said for the b*****ds who frightened off my stag!

That tenant took some patience.... Especially when she was telling the person at the end of the 999 call that, as well as being 'armed and dangerous' I must also be responsible for all the dead badgers she's been seeing on the roads... Grrrr!

The next pricket is yours Tim...!

How did that all come about ? ..

[Rabid 1,936]

 

 

Hard earned but worth it Matt , good effort ..I've really suffered with the dog walkers over the last two weeks , drove me fcuking nuts , even the owner messed up this evenings effort , did manage 6 this morning so it's not all bad ..

Might have been double figures if it wasn't for that dog Rich. At least your landowner has an excuse for being off a footpath which is more than can be said for the b*****ds who frightened off my stag!

That tenant took some patience.... Especially when she was telling the person at the end of the 999 call that, as well as being 'armed and dangerous' I must also be responsible for all the dead badgers she's been seeing on the roads... Grrrr!

The next pricket is yours Tim...!

How did that all come about ? ..

Lack of education on the general public !

[Yokel Matt 918]

Ohh no.... she knew exactly what she was doing! Her house backed onto some fields, we were 200 meters away and Tim noticed her leaning on her gate taking pictures of us. We carried on walking (away from her house) and she started shouting - her husband turned up and hollered that he was calling the police. I left my rifle with Tim and walked over to politely set her mind at rest. She was already on the phone calling in air support... I just kept it cool and civil and once I knew the police had checked me out and backed me up listened to her make an idiot out of herself. Cringeworthy!

Edited February 16, 2016 by Yokel Matt

[Kingsview Safaris 0]

Good shooting. Always difficult dealing with those that not only don't understand but refuse to even try and understand.

Nice going chaps. Well done!

[IanB 0]

Thread cleaned up.

[Squirrel_Basher 17,100]

Thanks Ian