At last my first Buck (deer) of the season.

clivej · 23-11-2012 1:32pm #1

Out at first light this morning and decided to take a different route up the fields. I came upon this fox early on about the second field but said I'd let him by.
Silly sod came back down the field 15 minutes later, about 3 more fields up, and sat out @120y where I could just see his head. Set myself up on the sticks and let off a squeek to which he came a'running in. Stopped @45y to look at me and took a .308 155gr to the chest. Exit wound shown here.
My second fox to shoot here while out deer stalking.

Not 250y away in the next field, at 8.10am, I spotted this Buck feeding away @140y. I ducked back out'a sight to let down the bi-pod and took him laying prone to the shoulder where he dropped on the spot.
75y drag to the ditch for the grolloch and then another 140y drag down to the track where I could drive the van in and load up. All done by 9am and off home.

I've been out stalking one day most weeks since the start of the season and after seeing 5 deer @375 the first day and 1 Doe (out of season) the second day I've met nothing else until today.
Well that Buck is in the chiller now and I'll butcher him up in 2 weeks time.

It wasn't me! · 23-11-2012 1:56pm

Nice one Clive! Good looking animal too. Hope he eats well for you. Fair weight in chops and burgers off him now!

FISMA · 24-11-2012 12:14am

Nice one CliveJ.

I hope you're going to hold on to those antlers.

Keep shooting the ones with antlers so there's a few left when I arrive home.

Hurricane Sandy :mad:!

juice1304 · 24-11-2012 12:29am

Mighty beast:cool:

clivej · 24-11-2012 8:21pm

FISMA wrote: »

Nice one CliveJ.

I hope you're going to hold on to those antlers.

Keep shooting the ones with antlers so there's a few left when I arrive home.

Hurricane Sandy :mad:!

Hurricane Sandy :mad:!......... Fisma I know, I know.... You should have had your first one well before now. :cool::cool::cool::cool:

Only the one antler :eek:, you can just see the other at the first tine. Broke off about 3" from the head, pity as it would have been worth keeping the head.

E. Fudd · 24-11-2012 11:07pm

Nice one Clive!

How do you find the hanging for two weeks? Shot a mature enough sika stag this afternoon and am considering hanging him for two weeks.
Would it make the meat more tender and would it increase or decrease the gaminess?

clivej · 25-11-2012 12:59am

E. Fudd wrote: »

Nice one Clive!

How do you find the hanging for two weeks? Shot a mature enough Sika stag this afternoon and am considering hanging him for two weeks.
Would it make the meat more tender and would it increase or decrease the gaminess?

From MY experience:
Would it make the meat more tender YES and would it increase or decrease the gaminess YES

I never had a problem with "Gaminess" and think it pertains more to Bucks/Stags when they are in the 'Rutt'. Read they drink the Doe's piss and their liver gets overloaded and taints the meat.

The couple of weeks will relax the meat and it goes more tender, like aging beef for 'so many days' in the air chiller, dry aging I think it's called. And I'd leave the skin on, as told to me by the butcher, as this will prevent the meat drying out.

Last year there was another thread about hanging deer and there was a very good report on the way the meat will change over the days after the killing. To do with riger mortise and a chemical change in the meat. All a natural process.

From Field and Stream here
http://www.fieldandstream.com/articles/other/recipes/2006/01/deer-hang-time

waysky · 25-11-2012 10:03am

nice buck!
IS that a sako finnlight? nice

clivej · 25-11-2012 11:19am

waysky wrote: »

nice buck!
IS that a sako finnlight? nice

Hi waysky
NO its far better than a finnlight.
It is a Sako 75 laminated with fluted, threaded, barrel. The dealer had sold the laminated stock that it should sit in and put that Sako synthetic stock on. Now the stock is fully pillar bedded and there's also a custom bolt knob. I had to take a little more off the stock to fully float it.
It shoots sub MOA all day long.

I got the proper laminated stock that It should have come with from E-Bay and I fully pillar bedded that stock as you can see. I also fitted picatinny mounts on the rifle.

clivej · 07-12-2012 10:13pm

After 2 weeks in the chiller the deer was butchered today. Result is 30 - 1/4 pounders (all well over weight), 4 big roasts, the 4 shanks, and plenty of fillet steaks. I'd nearly forgotten how good venison tastes.