devon deer
Well-known member
It's been patchy but the stags are roaring (bolving) steadily now.
A storm was forecast so we got out early.
Red deer are known for not leaving the woods until very late, so we got the wind in our face and started the slow, long stalk, nothing for around a mile, then we heard the first roar, so exciting, around 300 yards ahead.
Went into ultra slow stalk, watching every step so not to break a twig.
I saw movement ahead, a spiker heading straight towards us, potential disaster!
He got to within 10 yards, my mates rifle was already raised, secretly I was saying to myself 'don't bloody shoot it', he didn't, the staring game started, it moving its head side to side, up and down, trying to smell us.
It decided to slowly retreat.
Another movement, around 50 yards, a loud roar, a narrow window of opportunity, and boom, job done, a really old stag 'going back'
Sadly the other photo shows one of three reds that didn't make it this year due to poor design fencing.
Fallow rut hunting next week, then onto a friends place for the Sika rut!
A storm was forecast so we got out early.
Red deer are known for not leaving the woods until very late, so we got the wind in our face and started the slow, long stalk, nothing for around a mile, then we heard the first roar, so exciting, around 300 yards ahead.
Went into ultra slow stalk, watching every step so not to break a twig.
I saw movement ahead, a spiker heading straight towards us, potential disaster!
He got to within 10 yards, my mates rifle was already raised, secretly I was saying to myself 'don't bloody shoot it', he didn't, the staring game started, it moving its head side to side, up and down, trying to smell us.
It decided to slowly retreat.
Another movement, around 50 yards, a loud roar, a narrow window of opportunity, and boom, job done, a really old stag 'going back'
Sadly the other photo shows one of three reds that didn't make it this year due to poor design fencing.
Fallow rut hunting next week, then onto a friends place for the Sika rut!
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