Interesting Morning

[Philluk 181]

For the past few years ive shot this land there is a silver birch tree which has a Y at the bottom so its always been perfect for shooting as you can see down a bank of about 75 yds then there is a line of trees and some bracken then a field about 200yds long and a wood. Ive often laid down against the tree and picked off deer in the valley below, but often lost a few as I couldn't shoot as they were in the field below the trees. So last year I put a high seat up in the line of trees.

 

This morning was my first early morning outing, and on the way I was thinking do I use the high seat or the old tree, its been too warm and ive had a lot on work wise so I am behind on the bucks so far, on this land ive only taken 2 and at times 40 or 50 can be seen grazing so I have work to do and need to get my finger out. I went for the high seat and it was pitch black, I think I was a little too early but I settled in and enjoyed watching dawn break, when we had some light I could hear a conversation between blackbirds, crows and the cock pheasants in the wood below, as that's all that could be heard apart from the aircraft on a last section of their journey before turning into Gatwick. out of the mist in the bottom of the field I saw my first deer of the day, walking along a hedge line in the same place as I shot a buck a month or so ago and he walked along the hedge - stopped and trotted off. a few mins later a second appeared more or less in the same place and walked the hedge - stopped- then trotted up the hedge line out of sight. it was when the third one did the same I thought that the lack of wind is drifting my scent that way and maybe this will be my first blank morning on this land.

 

I watched a fox walk past the seat without a care in the world unaware just how close he was to me he carried on out of site, that was about all the action until about 7.30 when I heard a noise behind me as I turned 3 deer came bounding out the bracken like they only had 2 legs as they do, they came in front of me, stopped looked about then bounded back behind me again, as I turned even further bending my neck around to look at my old faithful silver birch tree I saw about 30 fallow grazing, now this reminded me of a funny comment my father made a few years ago when were out foxing once, we were both on my quad he was behind me and we were going along a track and turned to cross a corn field, I leant back halfway across the field and shouted over the sound of the engine " are we making any marks on the field"? he replied as quick as a flash and said "what do you think I am a fecking Owl" I will always remember that comment. Now as I tried to turn I needed a way to rotate and the only way to do it was to turn my whole body round, so putting safety first I pulled the bolt up and out a bit, and began to turn whilst climbing down the ladder and twisting standing on one foot and then trying to move the foot im standing on, and trying to be as quiet as I could be, I caught the bolt on the tree and it popped out a bullet which went straight down and didn't touch the metal ladder. Now I was standing on the ladder and as slow as I could I reloaded rested on a branch sticking out which was perfect height to rest on, I looked at the deer and took aim at buck which was grazing away and when he lifted his head to look around I dropped him, the others all grouped up and were looking around but I had a single doe slightly higher up the bank so I took the shot, then they split with about 7 coming in my direction and under me into the field I was in, as careful as I turned before I turned again sitting down I lined up on the 3rd one and dropped her, the rest of the group all came from another field and ran to the corner of the field I was in making their way into the wood, there was a group of 4 who stopped and looked back and were all too close to each other to shoot but as I watched the one at the front was stamping her foot and walked forward giving me the gap I needed to take my 4th and final head shot.

 

When I got home all were tagged and weighed in at 155KG,

 

This evenings trip was not as successful as I only saw 2 doe's which were both too small so I let them go, but just as it got dark a fox came into view and to round up the day I dropped him as well, all being well I am out tomorrow afternoon so will see what another day brings.

 

 

[sussex 5,803]

Busy morning Phil ...good start .

[hutchey 147]

Hi Phil, nice going there fella.

[Squirrel_Basher 17,102]

Good to bag a few like that ,Nice shooting mate .

[j j m 6,630]

good shooting mate

[Philluk 181]

Thanks for the comments, didn't have as much luck tonight, went into a field this afternoon that had about in and I didn't shoot any.

 

Had a main rd on one side a house the other and when I got there They were already in the field so couldn't get into position and was concerned I caused a panic over to the main road so I watched and walked.

[Lloyd90 509]

Lucky man. Sounds like a fantastic piece of land. Good luck with the season pal

[The one 8,598]

Good going mate

[seprim 32]

nice read phil and well done

Andrew