Two in a row

[Gimli 0]

I ws too lazy to get up for a dawn stalk today. I'd thought about it but couldn't quite drag myself out of bed at 4.30. So I got up at seven, had a coffee and set off. the traffixc around north Watford was a swine and it took me ages, or so it seemed, to get out on the A41 ti Tring. Once on the road it was plain sailing.

 

In less than 20 minutes I was stopping the X-trail by the gate to the woods. As I cut the motor I looked down the track into the wood and not 40 yards from the gate was a muntjac buck calmly feeding in full sight. It didn't seem bothered by the car. I got out and it still didn't move. As I was officially still on the road and not on my permission I couldn't shoot. So I unlocked the gate - and still the buck didn't move. I got the rifle out, loaded it, walked through the gate and then the buck moved, straight off into the trees. I moved the car into the wood, parked and got all the gear out.

 

As I walked through to the high seat, I saw the buck making off into the trees well beyond the range of the high seat. So I dropped my bag by the seat and walked up to where there are some old, broken down pheasant pens. I sat on an old feed tub and listened. After a few minutes, I heard something moving about 50 yards to my right. I moved off to investigate and a big roe set off. I didn't follow both because we're leaving the roe on this bit of land because they are probably under the number the wood can bear and anyway I was pretty sure it was a doe.

 

Back to the high seat but with the sinking feeling that having seen and startled two deer near the seat not much would return. So two hours in the high seat and not a sight but I did hear the repeated alarm bartks on a muntie some way off. This again convinced me I was wasting my time.

 

So I decided to stalk round the wood and see if anything was around away from the seat. I got right round the far side of the wood - saw plenty of slots (mostly fresh muntjac with just one or two roe) and some fairly fresh droppings. But no sign of a deer. So I decided to sit up in the tree house high seat, have my lucnh and enjoy being in the wood on a great spring day.

 

After another hour I was wondering whether to stay for a few more hours or whether to call it a day, when a muntjac buck walked into the clearing 45 yards from me and started feeding on bramble leaves. I lined it up, fired and own it went. I waited a few minutes and was about to climb down when another buck appeared, sniffed the dead body and then started feeding. It wouldn't quite move side on but I got a good bead on it and fired. It went down too - with a bullet though the chest and heart (as I found when I gralloched him).

 

I got then both ready, somehow fitted them both in the roe sack and staggered the half mile back to the car dripping sweat.

 

But was I pleased !

[N E poacher 4]

well done

[wboulter 3]

top man

[Guest little lurcher]

good read , i dont shoot but love to read the reports esp posts such as this which make you feel you are there with the poster , thank you

[martin 332]

They are great little deer to stalk aren't they Gimli mate,I love them,and,luckily I have a ready supply right on my doorstep..............great read too.............Martin.

[mule 0]

great post

living over here in ireland our season is over oh how i look forward to september

[tomandroz 0]

Top Job

[Gimli 0]

Thanks guys. I like writing up the shoots almost as much as the stalking and am really pleased when you enjoy them.

 

I tell a good story over a pint too - my missus says I don't need to shoot deer, I could talk them to death!

[Yokel Matt 918]

Another good read and good result for you. I'll bet when you first got there and saw that Munty you looked over your shoulder and the thought of putting the bi-pof of the bonnet of your car rushed through your head for a fleeting moment Good restraint mate

[Gimli 0]

How did you guess. It was that or rest the gun on the top of the gate and shoot. But sense prevailed and that buck lived another day - as I'd guess by the antlers it was an older one than the two I shot.

 

After the first few hours of not seeing anything else, I began to regret my restraint, but then clearly virtue has its own rewards!

[Boghossian 0]

Well done and a pleasure to read! I've often wondered how my success would change if I didn't get out before first light. It is great usually, but sometimes a long week makes it very difficult, especially over the next few months...

[FOXHUNTER 5,021]

I love stalking muntjac as well but unfortunately they arent up here and I have to travel to shoot them . You are very lucky to have access to such a fascinating little deer !!

[Squirrel_Basher 17,100]

Cracking read mate. Its the unknown that makes this sport so fascinating and long may it be so

[LEWIS123 449]

nice pair of munties there

[outdoors kid 1]

nice munties