A great stalk after hinds

steyrprohunter

Just thought I'd share this hunt as I thought the numbers were getting a bit low in some areas but I think the cold spell we're getting might be influencing their appearence now. I went for an afternoon hunt to grounds where we've been getting on well this season despite the heavy poaching in the area. I hadnt been to the area in a few weeks and opted to still hunt one section where Id seen a good few tracks a few weeks ago and lots of other signs too. I started the stalk at 3 p.m and moved silently into the sally trees and proceeded on. The guy that was with me is learning the ropes and we took our time sneaking through the timber lines following a fresh looking path. After an hour of seeing nothing we came out to a clearing which overlooks a stream and some areas of switch grass where Id shot a decent stag earlier last season. We decide to stay put for a while and scan ahead when I noticed 4 hinds already out and grazing calmly. The sun was shining right onto their backs and maybe this is why they had decided to feed there. There was still a light coating of snow dust on the hill but where these deer were, the area was starting to warm up nicely although still a bit cold. I decided to take a yearling first and then the hind if she stood. As I settled in for the shot a few more hinds had emerged from the thicket to join the others. Willie counted 11 in total, I was too preoccupied with the job in hand. The rangefinder gave out a reading of 171 yards so I took a careful neck shot on the yearling which dropped instantly. The herd stood unfazed so I fired again at the yearlings protege and she too dropped with a high neck shot. Satisfied with the the two kills I remained prone in the heather and waited for the remaining deer to scatter back into the wood. I think the population might have dwindled slightly but we've had a mild winter so far and Im of the opinion that they're there but not feeding at the expected hours. Still we had a great stalk yesterday, Willie learned how to perform the gralloch and most importantly- THE DRAG!!!!!:D

bibio

Hi Steyrprohunter,
On all our coilte lets you are only allowed to shoot after 11.00 am from a highseat and even then with permission from the forester. I checked this out and this was confirmed by coilte hq in Newtown.
Great to hear you are getting some action but be careful you don't lose your lease, if you read the lease you should see this condition referenced.
Cheers
Bibio

steyrprohunter

Im very much aware of the conditions attached to our lease!! Evening shooting is allowed on ours but with prior arrangement with the forester 48 hours in advance. Ive never had an issue getting permission to evening shoot even on a lease we had last year on the sally gap. Have you never got permission to evening hunt? As far as I know most woods allow evening shooting with permission of course. And its up to the local forester in the area not headquarters in Newtown by the way.

bibio

Strange one, we have two separate foresters and have held both leases for over twenty years, and both foresters have confirmed that evening shooting can only be done from a high seat and both said they contacted hq to confirm.
What part of the country are you in?
Our let's are near roundwood and rathdrum.
Maybe some other lessees might shed some light on this, your experience seems to contradict what we are being told, as we can evening shoot, but according to both foresters official coilte policy is that it can only be from a high seat.
Foresters said they can decide notice period, evening shooting or not and such like but they cannot decide on things like last shot by 11.00 am, or evening shooting not from high seat those aspects are standard part of all deer shooting coilte leases.
I find it hard to believe coilte would allow evening shooting by stalking on safety grounds.

Cheers
Bibio

steyrprohunter

BIBIO,- you are dead right in what you are saying about evening hunting from high seats. I should have stated at the start that we have private ground bordering the lease and a section actually runs through it and this is where the intended stalk was to take place. I had 2 plans for the evening hunt- hunt from the highseat on the Coillte lease or make my way to the private ground on the hill. I chose the latter after noticing fresh tracks. My apologies for the crap write up which obviously misled you.

bibio

No worries, we have an identical situation too, where we can shoot land adjoining the let anytime. Nice to hear you are getting a few animals, it s amazing on our let's how numbers can vary every few weeks. Just when you think there isnt any deer on the ground, and next time out you see plenty:)