Wednesday stalking

[Squirrel_Basher 17,102]

First place we pulled in at is just a small farm with maybe 100 acres but theres always deer here drawn by the crops grown here pretty intensively .Just turned the corner by the barn when i spotted a doe couched under a hedge and just over the 100 yd mark .She was gazing out over a field towards a wood and probably more deer.My mate crawled to a tump for a better view and head shot her off the bipod with his new .243.Paced the shot at 120 as i forgot the ranger .The gralloch stood out a mile on the snow and as we dragged the carcass back ,the first crow landed nearby to peck at it .Certainly drops the guard of otherwise cautious creatures does hunger .While my mate loaded the beast into the truck i wandered around the other side of the buildings to glass that area but nothing seen .What i did see was plenty of fox tracks and it was very noticeable how varied they were from one fox to another ,almost like a fingerprint i guess with some walking with feet in a straight line whilst otheres walk in a triangle fashion with a leg out to the side ,just an observation .

Spoke to the farmer who informed me that another lad had shot 7 deer off here last sunday morning .I told him what i thought of that sort of slaughter and pointed out that bucks were out of season and that we had not seen the usual bucks about .Pisses me off but then its his land .

Moved to another area but what with sheep and shit spread fields ,we never saw another living thing .

Another move took us to where i shot the does in a quarry.Checked out this area but nothing and no tracks either so moved out to the set aside fields and did better .Poking my head around one particular gate revealed a group of does sat in tight to the hedge to my left and a single buck further on up the hedge sat in tight as well .Over the other side of the field i could see another group of does ,4 in all and a young buck stood watching me .As the second lot were a good 250 yds away i decided on a crawl up the hedge on my belly to get to a shooting position for the couched does .My mate stayed back and watched through the bins .I kept my eye on the group of 5 as i knew they would affect what i was stalking as they ,the intended ,were out of sight until i rounded an 's'shape in the hedge to a tree aout 150 yds from the deer .Got to it ok and slid the rifle forward on the bipod .Picked out the futhest doe and head shot her at which the other two got uo and i chest shot them both before any reaction .It was then i realised how wet i was from the snow .Went to inspect and realised id shot a young buck by mistake in the heat of the moment ,and theres me cussing another stalker earlier on .Oh well ,accidents happen .Gralloched and left them there for pick up with the truck when we got back .Good days stalking all in all and lovely scenery in the snow .

Edited to add that as i walked forward the buck up the hedge came running towards me ,disorientated a bit by the moderator i think but allowed me to get a pic of him before he departed

Edited February 6, 2009 by foxdropper

[Guest GoneToGround1]

nice big roe buck there matey......

[martin 332]

You have certainly been racking 'em up 'FD' well done mate................martin.

[lady-hunter07 15]

good going

[Guest remmy]

nice going there foxdropper, them roe of yours sure like lying up in the hedge bottoms mate,looks like you and your mate had a good days stalking , nice read and a good job done,

[Squirrel_Basher 17,102]

Dave mate -They have no chioce .There are not many wooded areas around us but a good head of deer .Makes for good stalks as a rule as you are in full veiw most of the time .Like i said before ,you are welcome to sample a bit if you wish .

[FOXHUNTER 5,022]

Another good day mate !!

 

Remmy , its not the fact that they live in hedges but that you can shoot them at any hour of the day also.

 

FD is a very lucky man to have access to such good stalking............