A grand day out

clivej

I had great pleasure today in being able to accompany my good friend Dwighet on a stalk, my first ever stalk. I set off from home at 4.00am to meet at 5.00am and arrive at his shoot before first light at 6.45am. The older novice, myself, and the young master now set out into the light forest and up a mountain as a light drizzle started to fall, already my old legs where aching by just looking at the climb before me, the last time I was up any mountain it was in a car.

I had got all my gear together last night and had bought a new ski jacket for today. Good value from TK-Max @€;80 in camouflage of 3 tone grey, windproof, waterproof and breathable. And it worked well I didn’t get wet nor cold. Also I got 2 breathable vests again TK-Max that kept me warm and dry @€;12.50 each, again in camouflage.

We reached the first ridge where we crept down and peered over the top. Using our binoculars we both scanned the far rise for deer for 10 minutes or more but could see nothing before rising and walking on. As soon as we rose 3 good fine deer ran off in front of us about 75m away. How well they can merge into their surroundings, and how well we must stand out even with our camo on. So onward and upward we went and now it was now getting a little brighter perhaps we could see them better and the drizzle had now stopped

As Dwighet reached the next ridge he beckoned me to go easy as he could see something across a large clearing within the next tree line. I approached and keeping low I could see through my binoculars a good sized deer in the trees about 75m off. Resting the CZ 550 6.5x5.5 I tried to view the deer through the S&B but it had disappeared behind a large tree. I waited and after what seemed age it reappeared but now it was between 2 trees that were 60cm apart and all I could see was the body of the deer. The head and chest were hidden but I could easily see from the front legs back to the start of the rump end.

My shot hit that deer just behind the front leg lower body area in the heart and lung kill zone and dropped on the spot. I didn’t even hear the shot I was so pumped up - my first deer kill hit where it should be hit, just where my tutor had told me to aim for. It was then that Dwighet said that he had seen another deer run as the report from the gun was heard, he was looking through the binoculars at my kill. We waited and the does fawn return, it had been out of sight higher up in the trees, to find its mother. Dwighet now took aim from my position and dropped the fawn with another kill zone hit, this time it was I that viewed the kill with my bino’s and saw it drop on the spot dead.

These 2 deer were gutted up on the mountain before being dragged down to the car, a good morning’s work done properly.
We headed to another shoot before going home. After only walking some 250m up the walk through Dwighet spotted a deer up ahead of us to the left at a range of about 40m. It took off but stopped to look back, a fatal error of judgement on the deer’s part as Dwighet dropped to one knee took aim and fired. Again a good shot but this time the deer rolled down a slope to where he had to retrieve it from. 3 deer in the bag and it was now getting near the 11.00 am stop time so after gutting the young stag I dragged it back to the car.

With smiles all round and a short breather it was off back home to a nice mug of hot coffee, a hot chicken baguette and then a quick tidy up before hanging our day’s catch in the cold store.
Thank you Dwighet for a day out to remember and talk over for many years to come. Cheers mate.

clivej

Doe and her fawn


CliveJ with our kill


Dwighet with our kill


I am a rock.
Photo showing my new ski camo jacket

It wasn't me!

Great experience Clive . Going to try get out a few mornings myself now and observe for this year, hopefully be applying for the paperwork for a deer licence and rifle for next year.

IRLConor

clivej wrote: »

Photo's to follow but the forum is not letting me insert them now.
Is there a problem with the boards.ie database???

There have been a few problems over the past while but I think they're fixed now.

dwighet

It wasn't me! wrote: »

Great experience Clive . Going to try get out a few mornings myself now and observe for this year, hopefully be applying for the paperwork for a deer licence and rifle for next year.

It wasnt me... Give it a go my friend.... Its great craic..Almsot better than sex!!!! then when it all comes together and you start getting a few....SHHH!!! dont tell my MRS. its actuallly better than sex..

It wasn't me!

dwighet wrote: »

It wasnt me... Give it a go my friend.... Its great craic..Almsot better than sex!!!! then when it all comes together and you start getting a few....SHHH!!! dont tell my MRS. its actuallly better than sex..

Yeah, definitely will if I get a chance. Had a guy lined up, but he had surgery on his knee, so trying to arrange alternatives at the moments, as I don't know when he'll next be out on a mountain.

clivej

It wasn't me! wrote: »

Great experience Clive . Going to try get out a few mornings myself now and observe for this year, hopefully be applying for the paperwork for a deer licence and rifle for next year.[/quote]

MAYBE me as well.
I would have to clear it with headquarters as well --- you know the boss in the kitchen:eek:

See how I get on with the 223 first, you know baby steps first and then start to run.

clivej

dwighet wrote: »

It wasnt me... Give it a go my friend.... Its great craic..Almsot better than sex!!!! then when it all comes together and you start getting a few....SHHH!!! dont tell my MRS. its actuallly better than sex..[/quote]

BUT you were alone with the deer for a while :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

fish slapped

Nice one Clive, good to read.

greenpeter

Well done clive

Jonty

Its some buzz. Stalking to me is like drugs to junkies. I'm into my second year of stalking and still can't get enough. Got a dose of buck fever yesterday and missed a f3cker at 60yds. Wouldn't mind only I capped a fox on Friday night @ 232yds with the .223. Its true - you win some you loose some.

Good to hear you're bitten by the bug Clive

Tackleberrywho

Jonty wrote: »

Its some buzz. Stalking to me is like drugs to junkies. I'm into my second year of stalking and still can't get enough. Got a dose of buck fever yesterday and missed a f3cker at 60yds. Wouldn't mind only I capped a fox on Friday night @ 232yds with the .223. Its true - you win some you loose some.

Good to hear you're bitten by the bug Clive

i love the thrill of Deer stalking. Almost as much as roast Venison

Hard to get the help though. Noboby likes having to drag a buck through ditches and drains alone.

Although it's very easy keep quiet when you don't have to say Shhhhhhh all the time.
I have only ever shot Fallow. I'm on my fifth season now or 6th. I'd love to get at least 1 big Red and some Sika..... I'd love to see if they taste nicer ;)

And i need another hat stand :D:D

ianoo

well done clive
welcome to the DEER WORRRIERS CLUB

ian

hazza

Well done lads. Good stalk and well told.