My First roe Buck

[langouroux 14]

a year ago I went to Africa....I had been shooting rabbit with my air arms s310 and whilst over there the surf went flat so I decided to go hunting and ended up shooting and lovely little impala...no trophy by African standards but its a trophy to me, I had the skin tanned and sent over as a memento and promised my self I would continue hunting when I got back to Cornwall...after a long slog I found some one that was wiling to teach me to stalk, its about nine months since then, I have been stalking here and there but life was throwing things at me out of my control (redundancy/break ups/moving house etc) the stalking wasn’t going well either, I wouldn’t see deer, then someone would go in the evening and shoot 2 in the same spot I had stood that morning, then I would see them and they would be out of season, then I would see them and they would be "travelling" and we couldn’t get them to stop etc etc etc. I had told my surf buddy I was going to give up stalking and put the money I am saving for a rifle towards a jet ski, as it just wasn’t happening for me. So I said I would go one last time even though I have been ill with a throat infection, I got up at 3.45am realized I was to ill to stalk so I grabbed my phone and was going top make the call - then I thought I may as well go as it could be the last time I ever go.....this was the result.

 

Bring on that 6.5 x 55 I wanted!

 

 

http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=2rniz38&s=5

[wildfowler-2007 0]

dont lose heart we dont always get a buck every time we go out the reason why we all love stalking is because you never know what you will encounter in a morning or evening stalk.

 

Nice little buck keep faith and keep stalking

 

Regards

[the Verminator 0]

well done and keep at it

[Boghossian 0]

Nice one, bet that gave you a weak knees feeling that a day on the beach doesn't!

[Squirrel_Basher 17,100]

To be honest mate ,your heart is not in it .Stick to the jet skying as there are enough pretenders at it any way .

[arveyboy 0]

i agree and disagree with foxdroppers statement. i know how frustating it gets when you spend hours preparing then hours out on a trip and see nothing so for a first time shooter i can understand why you would feel like quitting after several failures. its that good experience that should cement shooting in your heart and im sure everyone on here can remember the first time they knew shooting was something they wanted to pursue.

 

however, if you had the oppurtunity to go to Africa and stalk and shoot impala, something most of us can only dream of, and then feel like giving up after a few bad experiences then maybe shooting isnt for you. i know many would jump at the oppurtunity to do what you've been able to do so id suggest you think long and hard about whether or not shooting is for you. dont get me wrong its a great sport to pursue but its also not cheap. ive just spend £450 pounds on reloading equipment am about to spend another £1500 on a new rifle which could easily have gone to something else, (but i never would because i love the sport). all im saying is think about whether its right for you because if it is...enjoy

[langouroux 14]

thanks for all the posts guys much appreciated - and some food for thought - i think the point is i didn't give up i was ridiculously ill and i still decided to go because i just couldn't help myself and i'm so glad i did cos its the kick in the ass i needed. as for the trip to Africa i'm very lucky to have friends out there so all i have to pay for is my flights etc and i now know a very good PH who offers everything from fishing right through to cape buffalo bow hunting....so if anyone would like his details then it would be a pleasure. peace.

[langouroux 14]

also here is a link to the impala i shot

 

http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=2d8qn2v&s=5