First Roe Buck

[Yokel Matt 918]

Finally took my first buck I've had a few does off this piece of ground but the bucks have always elluded me as its only a small patch where i have stalking permission. I got to the farm about 6.30pm in a light drizzel but the air was very, very still. The beef cattle were all in a lower field and all the gates were left open, the ground had hardened up a lot as well and the grass was lush having being sprayed with slurry a few months ago. I saw a pair of does cautiously following a hedgerow up to a small copse of christmas trees so i though i'd try and beat them to it in the hope they'd attract some male company.

 

The drizzel was replaced by a dank mist. I almost trod on a doe as i passed a bank of stingers which jumped up and bounded into the center of the field to look over her shoulder. A young buck then emerged from under a hedgerow about 80meters away looking towards the doe, then moving casually to around 70mtrs from me. I'd love to say it was a case of bang and down he went but, i'm ashamed to say, it wasn't that simple Gun on sticks, wait to broadside, crosshairs on top heart & lung, breath... bang -THOP... f**k!! I saw the bullet strike and he hunched up and staggered. The doe scarpered and he started to follow at a hampered trot. I slammed another round in the chamber with my mind racing - the thought of following up in the dark, especially if he crossed the boundry didn't bear thinking about so, as it was still safe i led him a bit and squeezed off another round and he went down properly.

 

The exit was a bit of a mess and i totally bastardised to gralloch to get it out as quick a possible. Suprisingly the cavity wasn't that contaminated as most of it had simply been blown out. Totally ashamed and at a total loss as to the bad shot but relieved that i had the presence of mind to finish the job promptly although its not much consolation. My first buck but bitter-sweet

 

 

 

[Bobo 135]

Nice one,good on you for finishing the job quickly. Neck shot the next one. He would've been a nice buck out of velvet i bet.

[Gimli 0]

Don't be ashamed. You hit with both shots and he went down. He might only have gone a few yards after your first shot, but you sensibly and humanely killed him with a second.

 

You now have a fine buck and a good number of really good cuts of venision.

 

Well done and good hunting.

[dicehorn 38]

Well, as you said, you had the presence of mind to stay calm enough to take the second shot.

 

You are also honest enough to admit on a public forum the mistake you made - anyone who manages deer has or will make a bad shot - if they have not or think it will never happen to them they are in cuckoo land - its happened to me

 

Shooting off sticks can have risk variables especially when you are attempting to keep your adrenaline in check - it does take a little longer to get on the target and there may be the posibility of the worry that the perfect broadside shot may only be available for a couple of seconds. Perhaps if you are faced with the same situation again is to whistle or call the deer, provided you are still the deer will just about always stand still to guage where the sound came from therefore giving you more time to take the shot.

 

When I zero my rifle I always make a point of using the last two shots off my sticks.

 

Head and neck shots have their place in stalking, but you have to be 100% confident - especially off sticks. More deer are lost from head/neck shots. An inch out on such a shot can cause a lingering death whereas a misplaced body shot will almost always guarantee a retrieval.

 

I cull deer on a red deer farm where the owner requires only head shots, when they are tightly bunched its bad enough identifying the one he points out let alone shoot the damn thing that is in a state of high elert. I cull around 150 a year taking shots of between 60 and 120 yards off my bipod - yet to have a bad shot but believe I'm on borrowed time!

 

Anyway good luck with you next buck - your first buck is now history

 

Peter

[Yokel Matt 918]

Cheers fellas,

 

Pretty pissed off with the shot a I was 100% confident about it. I've done a fair bit of practice off the sticks as well so i'm going to check the zero incase its been knocked somehow I'm considering mounting the antlers, despite them still being in velvet as they are in good condition and show no signs of fraying.

Edited April 20, 2009 by Local

[v-max 2]

Well done & we have all done it so dont worrie its dead & in the bag. Just give it a good wash out & dry it & you have some good eating.

[LEWIS123 449]

good size buck there mate nice one

[wboulter 3]

well done mate nice buck what setup are you using

[Squirrel_Basher 17,100]

We all appreciate your honesty mate .Ive done it ,so have most that shoot regularly .The thing is not to dwell on it too much as confidence in the set up is 50% of a good shot .Well done on your first buck and may there be many more .

[moonflight 6]

WELLDONE YOU LOOK A PROUD MAN WITH THAT BUCK.

[novice 25]

I that your stalking knife in the 3rd picture? No wonder you managed to get the gralloch out quickly

[Wibuckhunter 0]

Congrats on a great first buck.

[Yokel Matt 918]

well done mate nice buck what setup are you using

 

Hi bud, its a cz 550 MC in 6.5x55 with a P8 mod- Glass is a Meopta 7x50. The sword on the table was for butchering... im not Crocodile Dundee

 

I'm not going to dwell on the shot anymore, unfortunate though it was it's just one of those things i guess - I'll take it down the range before I take it out again though to satisfy myself that the equipment not a fault.

 

He would have been nice out of velvit but opportunity knocked and the farmer had been honking at me for a while. I'm going to try and mount the twigs anyway although thats for another thread...

[Guest remmy]

nice one local on your first of many roe bucks, as vmax say dont worry we have all done it, alb dave.

[FOXHUNTER 5,021]

Well done on your 1st buck . I dont think youll forget it. I bet youre itching to be out now and get your 2nd !!