Deer, Deer, Deer, and Rabbit Too.
By The Ole Hedge Creeper
A few weeks leading up to this lock down due to this ghastly Covid 19, for me was some of the best Sporting and Professional work I had ever done to date, I was asked to go and help deal with three different deer control culls on three different deer species, this was also in three different counties here in the UK, first was a rabbit clearance job and a Chinese Water Deer Cull in Buckinghamshire, Second was a roe Doe Cull in Somersetshire, the third was a Muntjac Deer Cull in Hampshire, I will tell you of all three in turn, I will also tell you about each of my Ole muckers that had invited me to go help them and that of the Muckers who came to help me with these adventures.
Buckinghamshire:
I had been meaning to go up and see my Ole Mucker Bucks Moocher for a couple of years now, also he was going to come back down to me too, but our lives just got too busy with work and other things so we just kept in touch on social media and the odd phone call from time to time, Now Bucks is an old school Countryman after my own heart, he prefers to hunt with dog and ferret net and lamp as do I, although he is a damn fine shot too with quite a good collection of shot guns etc, he is pretty tidy with a catapult too but that's for another story, we have hunted together many times over the years all over the country with the most memorable being in West Wales many years ago now, that has already been well documented and written about before.
Bucks called me up one night asking could I come up with my rifles and help out on a Chinese Water Deer Cull on another good friends of ours (David) farm well his families farm, they had or well still have a huge problem with these deer destroying the crops and eating more grass than their sheep, so a weekend was arranged and I was to head up, also joining me was Niall my right hand man on a lot of my professional work and Little Jon he is the mountain man with the beard in the pictures, I am mentoring him well sort of in his deer stalking career, Bucks also used a magic wand and said oh whilst your up can you come help with some traditional ferreting and rabbit control with a Game Keeper friend and his family, now that was the magic word and for the few weeks leading up to this weekend all I could think or dream about was getting out Traditional ferreting with purse net/long net/ferret and running dog, to me this sort of hunting is the panicle the golden crown of hunting, I have heard folks say this about catching a Salmon or stalking a Red Stag, both of which I have done and filled my bag, but to me as a rough Ole Countryman that I am, nothing beats a bolting rabbit in a purse net on a frosty morning as the Viking war drums start as the Pug’s (ferrets) make contact with Drummers (rabbits) deep under ground, as I am writing this I can feel my heart pounding at just the thought of it, so as many get goose/duck/stag fever what ever I get rabbit fever, its never left me since my very first day in the field traditional ferreting when I was just two years old.
Friday morning Niall arrives in his van to pick me up two hours early I might add, but I was ready as I was just as excited to be going up to Buckinghamshire too and catching up with my old friend Bucks and David, the journey up seemed to fly by as we chatted like a couple of excited school kids, Niall was really excited about seeing Chinese Water Deer for the first time, I was too but for me it was the chance to run a running dog, work a terrier, slip a ferret down a warren and bolt the humble bunny, before we knew it we were outside Bucks House, well I better rephrase that as Her Majesty might have not have had the kettle on, we were out side my Ole Muckers House Bucks Moocher, I tapped on the door and he answered it was just like I had only seen him yesterday not several years had passed, his good lady made us a wonderful fresh home made vegetable soup and a cottage pie for the boys, she was working all weekend and staying at the farm, so it was a boys weekend too, I will say she is a wonderful cook and keeps a lovely house, it was nice to see my old friend with a little weight on him, as he used to be like a coat rack, sorry mate you were a bit skinny that girl looks after you well, she is defiantly a keeper, don't forget my invite to the wedding too.
Little John arrived a couple of hours later, we all sat there chatting like old friends as if we had known each other all our lives, we had that lovely tea then headed out to meet up with the Game Keeper and his family, I was greatly looking forward to this as I wanted to chat to a fellow keeper and see how he did things there different to what I do on my shoot in Somersetshire, this was also who we would be going ferreting with too, we met up with the keeper James and his Son Liam, by golly they were two man mountains and I could see why the local poaching travelling fraternity gave them a very wide birth as they both had hands like shovels, right away we hit it off chatting when he said lets take these two running dogs for a walk and run a few rabbits and survey the land for tomorrows ferreting trip, my smile just grew from ear to ear, Bucks grabbed a lamp in case it got dark so we could lamp a couple of rabbits too and give the dogs a stretch of the legs.
I had been meaning to go up and see my Ole Mucker Bucks Moocher for a couple of years now, also he was going to come back down to me too, but our lives just got too busy with work and other things so we just kept in touch on social media and the odd phone call from time to time, Now Bucks is an old school Countryman after my own heart, he prefers to hunt with dog and ferret net and lamp as do I, although he is a damn fine shot too with quite a good collection of shot guns etc, he is pretty tidy with a catapult too but that's for another story, we have hunted together many times over the years all over the country with the most memorable being in West Wales many years ago now, that has already been well documented and written about before.
Bucks called me up one night asking could I come up with my rifles and help out on a Chinese Water Deer Cull on another good friends of ours (David) farm well his families farm, they had or well still have a huge problem with these deer destroying the crops and eating more grass than their sheep, so a weekend was arranged and I was to head up, also joining me was Niall my right hand man on a lot of my professional work and Little Jon he is the mountain man with the beard in the pictures, I am mentoring him well sort of in his deer stalking career, Bucks also used a magic wand and said oh whilst your up can you come help with some traditional ferreting and rabbit control with a Game Keeper friend and his family, now that was the magic word and for the few weeks leading up to this weekend all I could think or dream about was getting out Traditional ferreting with purse net/long net/ferret and running dog, to me this sort of hunting is the panicle the golden crown of hunting, I have heard folks say this about catching a Salmon or stalking a Red Stag, both of which I have done and filled my bag, but to me as a rough Ole Countryman that I am, nothing beats a bolting rabbit in a purse net on a frosty morning as the Viking war drums start as the Pug’s (ferrets) make contact with Drummers (rabbits) deep under ground, as I am writing this I can feel my heart pounding at just the thought of it, so as many get goose/duck/stag fever what ever I get rabbit fever, its never left me since my very first day in the field traditional ferreting when I was just two years old.
Friday morning Niall arrives in his van to pick me up two hours early I might add, but I was ready as I was just as excited to be going up to Buckinghamshire too and catching up with my old friend Bucks and David, the journey up seemed to fly by as we chatted like a couple of excited school kids, Niall was really excited about seeing Chinese Water Deer for the first time, I was too but for me it was the chance to run a running dog, work a terrier, slip a ferret down a warren and bolt the humble bunny, before we knew it we were outside Bucks House, well I better rephrase that as Her Majesty might have not have had the kettle on, we were out side my Ole Muckers House Bucks Moocher, I tapped on the door and he answered it was just like I had only seen him yesterday not several years had passed, his good lady made us a wonderful fresh home made vegetable soup and a cottage pie for the boys, she was working all weekend and staying at the farm, so it was a boys weekend too, I will say she is a wonderful cook and keeps a lovely house, it was nice to see my old friend with a little weight on him, as he used to be like a coat rack, sorry mate you were a bit skinny that girl looks after you well, she is defiantly a keeper, don't forget my invite to the wedding too.
Little John arrived a couple of hours later, we all sat there chatting like old friends as if we had known each other all our lives, we had that lovely tea then headed out to meet up with the Game Keeper and his family, I was greatly looking forward to this as I wanted to chat to a fellow keeper and see how he did things there different to what I do on my shoot in Somersetshire, this was also who we would be going ferreting with too, we met up with the keeper James and his Son Liam, by golly they were two man mountains and I could see why the local poaching travelling fraternity gave them a very wide birth as they both had hands like shovels, right away we hit it off chatting when he said lets take these two running dogs for a walk and run a few rabbits and survey the land for tomorrows ferreting trip, my smile just grew from ear to ear, Bucks grabbed a lamp in case it got dark so we could lamp a couple of rabbits too and give the dogs a stretch of the legs.
My golly you have to be fit to keep up with these boys its like mountain goat territory, had this been four years ago I would of died on those hills I was so unfit for duty back then, but the hard work of the gym etc has paid off and I am almost as fit as those running dogs, up hill and down dale we went, James pointing out famous land marks etc in the distance and explaining the history of the place, I telle that man knows his stuff, Bucks and young Liam were keen and after the rabbits running the dogs, catching a few, a few getting away, to me it made my heart beat like a Viking war drum or was that just the climb up the hills, seeing the runs really was a pleasure I don't get to do now days as we hardly have any rabbits here in Somersetshire now due to that ghastly RHD disease, James and I hung back and chatted like to old chums, Niall kept up with Bucks and Liam and the dogs, poor Ole Little Jon I think he thought he might die on those hills as he is a little bit larger than life and not the fittest of the bunch, but I was proud of him he managed the best part of five miles on foot according to his pedometer on his wrist.
We got to a high hill ground that ran along the side of a main road, James was just explaining this was where we were going to clear some rabbits in the morning, at this point two men with running dogs came into the field, shone a lamp straight the six of us just standing there seventy yards out stood bolt upright looking right back at them, James said that's poachers, as he and Liam took off after them, I could hear a lot of shouting as James escorted them off the field and told them not to come back and he was reporting them to the police as he had their registration number, they had Irish accents and were shouting something about losing their shoes in the field as they drove away, blimey that was enough excitement for one night, Jon walked back to the car as he was done he had nothing left in him but he did well, the boys carried on for a few more fields and ran a few more rabbits, James and I meandered along following them chatting away, time to go home as we had to be up for ferreting in the morning.
We got to a high hill ground that ran along the side of a main road, James was just explaining this was where we were going to clear some rabbits in the morning, at this point two men with running dogs came into the field, shone a lamp straight the six of us just standing there seventy yards out stood bolt upright looking right back at them, James said that's poachers, as he and Liam took off after them, I could hear a lot of shouting as James escorted them off the field and told them not to come back and he was reporting them to the police as he had their registration number, they had Irish accents and were shouting something about losing their shoes in the field as they drove away, blimey that was enough excitement for one night, Jon walked back to the car as he was done he had nothing left in him but he did well, the boys carried on for a few more fields and ran a few more rabbits, James and I meandered along following them chatting away, time to go home as we had to be up for ferreting in the morning.
We were up bright and early, I was more excited than a polecat faced with a rat, a good Ole Full English Breakfast was had by all and we were off, I got to meet Emma James wife and Liam's brother, bugger if I can remember his name, but a thoroughly nice lad as was Emma she was e a very nice lady and set purse nets beautifully, Liam and his brother constantly dug at each other as brothers do all day, it reminded me of my brother and I and my as we always used to, or my Ole ferreting muckers the Kington Brothers they were the same, there is a famous story of those two fighting one ferreting morning that actually got us some great ferreting permission, James showed us the huge warren on this big high bank at the bottom of one of his best partridge drives, I showed Jon and Niall how to lay a purse net and we went to work laying all the purse nets and setting the long nets, this was done in almost complete silence, I smiled and though oh yes I am home back under the hedge after coney (rabbits), nothing I love more than traditional ferreting, I have said this so many times.
The ferrets were slipped in and that silence came over the warren, no sound existed for me, the wind stopped the birds stopped, dead silence I could hear my own heart beat as I strained to hear the rumble of the drums deep under ground, the first rabbit hit the net like a cork from the bottle, to me it looked almost in slow motion with muffled sound, rabbit in hand and a net re set it was like watching a well oiled machine, then another rabbit hit the net right in front of Niall but he was too slow, so Jet the whippet and myself launched into action from two different angles, who got there first it was a draw, she had a good hold of it and so did I, that rabbit was not getting away, it turned out to be a ginger rabbit, I had not caught a ginger one in thirty years so that is a memory made right there, the rest of the day went on like that, rabbits hitting the purse nets, slipping the nets and hitting the long nets, dashing in all directions to grab rabbits, this was when disaster struck, we had a kill very deep under ground, as always right in the most awkward place to dig right in the middle of the hedge, Dad always said two things, if your going to get a kill it will be in a god awful place to dig, also if you miss that bolt hole and not net it the rabbit will always find it, bloody true both of those saying I telle, James got to digging and had a half grown dead rabbit out in no time, again we could not find a ferret, turned out Bucks didn't check his locator batteries in his collars before using them, that's a rooky mistake as we gave him some stick for that, also the boys didn't see his big Hobb wander out of the warren, it headed across the field to a road hedge warren, what gave it away was the rabbits bolting out of it, eagle eyed Emma spotted the Hobb walking about, in no time at all we had the ferret to hand, picked up all the nets and returned the area to its former glory leaving nothing but foot prints and a few less rabbits, I gave Liam a few of my nets as he didn't have many, for me that's an investment into the future traditional rabbiting man, I have sorted a bit more gear out for the lad too, so when I go back up I will gift him the kit that has served me well for over forty years, we paunched out the rabbits, said our goodbyes and headed back for fish and chips and a few beers, we headed up to another of Bucks woods for a spot of roost shooting with 4.10 shotguns as Bucks and I have the same guns, we got a few shots but the pigeons and squirrels really didn't play ball, so we headed back for food, there's another funny long story about the best fish and chips in Buckinghamshire that will take too long to write, all I will say my fish and chips looked just like a large pizza and I will say no more for now.
The ferrets were slipped in and that silence came over the warren, no sound existed for me, the wind stopped the birds stopped, dead silence I could hear my own heart beat as I strained to hear the rumble of the drums deep under ground, the first rabbit hit the net like a cork from the bottle, to me it looked almost in slow motion with muffled sound, rabbit in hand and a net re set it was like watching a well oiled machine, then another rabbit hit the net right in front of Niall but he was too slow, so Jet the whippet and myself launched into action from two different angles, who got there first it was a draw, she had a good hold of it and so did I, that rabbit was not getting away, it turned out to be a ginger rabbit, I had not caught a ginger one in thirty years so that is a memory made right there, the rest of the day went on like that, rabbits hitting the purse nets, slipping the nets and hitting the long nets, dashing in all directions to grab rabbits, this was when disaster struck, we had a kill very deep under ground, as always right in the most awkward place to dig right in the middle of the hedge, Dad always said two things, if your going to get a kill it will be in a god awful place to dig, also if you miss that bolt hole and not net it the rabbit will always find it, bloody true both of those saying I telle, James got to digging and had a half grown dead rabbit out in no time, again we could not find a ferret, turned out Bucks didn't check his locator batteries in his collars before using them, that's a rooky mistake as we gave him some stick for that, also the boys didn't see his big Hobb wander out of the warren, it headed across the field to a road hedge warren, what gave it away was the rabbits bolting out of it, eagle eyed Emma spotted the Hobb walking about, in no time at all we had the ferret to hand, picked up all the nets and returned the area to its former glory leaving nothing but foot prints and a few less rabbits, I gave Liam a few of my nets as he didn't have many, for me that's an investment into the future traditional rabbiting man, I have sorted a bit more gear out for the lad too, so when I go back up I will gift him the kit that has served me well for over forty years, we paunched out the rabbits, said our goodbyes and headed back for fish and chips and a few beers, we headed up to another of Bucks woods for a spot of roost shooting with 4.10 shotguns as Bucks and I have the same guns, we got a few shots but the pigeons and squirrels really didn't play ball, so we headed back for food, there's another funny long story about the best fish and chips in Buckinghamshire that will take too long to write, all I will say my fish and chips looked just like a large pizza and I will say no more for now.
The next morning we loaded up the van with all our gear as we would be leaving to head home to Somersetshire after we had finished the Chinese Water Deer cull that very evening, again we had a lovely breakfast and then headed over to David’s families farm, as soon as I got there and caught up with my old mate it was like we had never been apart, David is another fine Countryman of the old school and he hails from a long line of fine Countryman just like his Dad another dear friend of mine, so we surveyed the farm with binoculars working a plan of action out, Niall and I would cover the long ground these were huge crop fields, we would work our way round and back to the woodland on the boundary hedge, Little Jon would stand by the wood as the ground was too much for him and ambush the deer from a stationary positions with a strict clear safe shooting area, David and Bucks would go beat the far reaching field and drive the deer towards us, this worked perfectly as I had my first Chinese Water Deer grassed within ten minuets of being there, it was a slightly longer shot than I like to take, not that I am not capable of taking the longer shots, but to me stalking is just that, I like to stalk in and take the animal, but these wide open undulating fields gave us no cover what so ever, I also reminded myself this was a cull not a stalk, actually I had never seen so many deer in one place like this, if a field had a 100 strong flock of sheep in it, the next field had the same but were Chinese Water Deer, no wonder there was so much crop and grass damage, Niall came over and said blimey that's a big one I thought they were smaller as I just laughed, Bucks and David came over and took my deer back to the keepers house to field dress and hang in the game larder.
Now it was Niall's turn to stalk some whilst I took a breather and just watched, all I will say on this one is, they are not Roe Deer he was stalking in lovely deep wooded valley in Somersetshire, the deer educated him that, he came back to me red in the face puffing like he needed new lungs saying what the hell are these deer, its like deer on speed or something, I full on belly laughed, so much so I could have had a Muntjack deer but didn't see it for giggling, by now it was starting to get late so we stalked around towards the woodland where Jon Was waiting, we text him to say were on our way and from what direction, he text back he knew as he was watching us with his binoculars, David and Bucks were stood with him too, we stalked around and came up from his back left as to not compromise his safe shot zone, we were just about to enter the field as we hear a shot report and a dull thump, I said to Niall I think Jon had got that, by the time we got there David and Bucks were retrieving a lovely medal Chinese Water Deer Buck, Jon was smiling like a Cheshire cat, not a bad start for his one, Jon has a bad back due to his size so he headed back to the keepers cottage too with his deer in tow with the lads, I said I will hang on for the last chance to get Niall on to a deer, I spotted a nice buck coming into the woodland field, it was a bit of a long shot for a beginner like Niall, he was not confident, so I said I would take this one, I let it come right round to my left so it had a perfect back stop of the hill behind it, resting on a round bale of straw I steadied myself, calmed my breathing and slipped off the shot, it dropped without a twitch another perfect shot to the engine room, I breathed easy and made the rifle safe, turning and saying that's how its done mate, Niall did get a chance of a shot, but I think nerves got the better of him and he missed cleanly, that was the end of a brilliant weekend spent with old friends and making new ones, some great food drink and banter, oh yes and some remarkably brilliant sport too, we said our goodbyes and thanks for a lovely weekend and headed back to Somersetshire loaded up with fresh shot venison and Jon back to Dorsetshire.
*There will be a video link to Bucks Moocher YouTub Channel at the bottom of this page*
Now it was Niall's turn to stalk some whilst I took a breather and just watched, all I will say on this one is, they are not Roe Deer he was stalking in lovely deep wooded valley in Somersetshire, the deer educated him that, he came back to me red in the face puffing like he needed new lungs saying what the hell are these deer, its like deer on speed or something, I full on belly laughed, so much so I could have had a Muntjack deer but didn't see it for giggling, by now it was starting to get late so we stalked around towards the woodland where Jon Was waiting, we text him to say were on our way and from what direction, he text back he knew as he was watching us with his binoculars, David and Bucks were stood with him too, we stalked around and came up from his back left as to not compromise his safe shot zone, we were just about to enter the field as we hear a shot report and a dull thump, I said to Niall I think Jon had got that, by the time we got there David and Bucks were retrieving a lovely medal Chinese Water Deer Buck, Jon was smiling like a Cheshire cat, not a bad start for his one, Jon has a bad back due to his size so he headed back to the keepers cottage too with his deer in tow with the lads, I said I will hang on for the last chance to get Niall on to a deer, I spotted a nice buck coming into the woodland field, it was a bit of a long shot for a beginner like Niall, he was not confident, so I said I would take this one, I let it come right round to my left so it had a perfect back stop of the hill behind it, resting on a round bale of straw I steadied myself, calmed my breathing and slipped off the shot, it dropped without a twitch another perfect shot to the engine room, I breathed easy and made the rifle safe, turning and saying that's how its done mate, Niall did get a chance of a shot, but I think nerves got the better of him and he missed cleanly, that was the end of a brilliant weekend spent with old friends and making new ones, some great food drink and banter, oh yes and some remarkably brilliant sport too, we said our goodbyes and thanks for a lovely weekend and headed back to Somersetshire loaded up with fresh shot venison and Jon back to Dorsetshire.
*There will be a video link to Bucks Moocher YouTub Channel at the bottom of this page*
Somersetshire:
It was almost the end of the Roe Doe season, what with the weather and other commitments I was right behind on this years cull on 2 of the estates, the land owners were breathing down my neck to complete both herd cull management plans, I asked Jon if he would like to join Niall and myself on this one as it would be great experience for him, also as I am sort of mentoring him this would be the perfect time to put what he has been learning into great practice, it was late on the Thursday night he got to my Country Penthouse Apartment (my flat overlooking the farm) here in Somersetshire, I had arranged to do a very early stalk on one estate in the morning and an evening stalk in the evening on the other, so after some wonderful food a couple of ciders it was an early night for us boys.
I arranged to meet Niall and Young Sports Ambassadors Oliver and Carter on site before first light to get set up and make sure the kabuto was all ready to go, I love early mornings before the sun comes up its a magical time just like sunset, we all met in the car park of the lodge and Niall opened up the first flask of coffee, we studied the estate maps and I told him where to wait for me with the kabuto and told him how I would stalk in onto the estate gardens/vast lawns and open parkland and where I wanted him and the Young sports ambassador's to be, I had been watching some cull does there all week so knew where I wanted to be and the wind was just right for this today, I spoke with the boys showing them field craft, tracking, other prominent signs most folk just walk past, discussed the wind direction and how I would use what natural cover there was to get to a good shooting position with good back stops.
Jon was to wait at a good vantage point so he could watch me as I stalked in, later on he said it was like watching a leopard stalk a gazelle after watching me stalk in on the deer he could see though his binoculars, I did laugh but then again I have leaned to become one with nature after 40+ years of being in the field and taught by the old masters.
I stalked around the headland way out to the right away from the feeding deer, then turned back in when the wind was right to a little out crop of trees, the stalk into these trees with the wind in my face did two things, one my scent and any sound was being taken away from the deer, two the trees covered my stalk in across the open parkland by keeping the tree cover between me and the deer, I got to the copse and set up on the far left side, I range found it and it gave me 400m of open undulating ground all around me, as the light came up the deer started to meander back to the big woods from the lower ground, I studied them all until I picked the right cull doe I was after, actually there were two that had to come out this morning, both very big deer old deer and they never threw any young last year so I determined these two would be the ones to take out.
It was almost the end of the Roe Doe season, what with the weather and other commitments I was right behind on this years cull on 2 of the estates, the land owners were breathing down my neck to complete both herd cull management plans, I asked Jon if he would like to join Niall and myself on this one as it would be great experience for him, also as I am sort of mentoring him this would be the perfect time to put what he has been learning into great practice, it was late on the Thursday night he got to my Country Penthouse Apartment (my flat overlooking the farm) here in Somersetshire, I had arranged to do a very early stalk on one estate in the morning and an evening stalk in the evening on the other, so after some wonderful food a couple of ciders it was an early night for us boys.
I arranged to meet Niall and Young Sports Ambassadors Oliver and Carter on site before first light to get set up and make sure the kabuto was all ready to go, I love early mornings before the sun comes up its a magical time just like sunset, we all met in the car park of the lodge and Niall opened up the first flask of coffee, we studied the estate maps and I told him where to wait for me with the kabuto and told him how I would stalk in onto the estate gardens/vast lawns and open parkland and where I wanted him and the Young sports ambassador's to be, I had been watching some cull does there all week so knew where I wanted to be and the wind was just right for this today, I spoke with the boys showing them field craft, tracking, other prominent signs most folk just walk past, discussed the wind direction and how I would use what natural cover there was to get to a good shooting position with good back stops.
Jon was to wait at a good vantage point so he could watch me as I stalked in, later on he said it was like watching a leopard stalk a gazelle after watching me stalk in on the deer he could see though his binoculars, I did laugh but then again I have leaned to become one with nature after 40+ years of being in the field and taught by the old masters.
I stalked around the headland way out to the right away from the feeding deer, then turned back in when the wind was right to a little out crop of trees, the stalk into these trees with the wind in my face did two things, one my scent and any sound was being taken away from the deer, two the trees covered my stalk in across the open parkland by keeping the tree cover between me and the deer, I got to the copse and set up on the far left side, I range found it and it gave me 400m of open undulating ground all around me, as the light came up the deer started to meander back to the big woods from the lower ground, I studied them all until I picked the right cull doe I was after, actually there were two that had to come out this morning, both very big deer old deer and they never threw any young last year so I determined these two would be the ones to take out.
As luck would have it the first showed herself on the low ground slowly making her way back, she came right across the cops around a 100m out, stopped in a little hill ground dip and took a pee, I was already on her cross hairs on the heart, she was facing left to right with a perfect broad side shot, I squeezed the trigger and thump she fell on the spot not even a twitch to the Federal round from the 243, all the other deer took off running for cover as you would expect from the crack of a moderated 243 shot, luck surely was on my side this morning as the second cull doe appeared on my left coming across the open parkland on her way back to the big woodland, she dropped out of sight in the hilly parklands leading up the hill, then appeared again 70m from me, this was a little tricky this shot as she was half facing me, many folks like to take a head or neck shot, but not me I prefer a heart and lung shot, I have seen all to often other stalkers wound a deer this way and then I have to go and find said deer and deal with it, so head shots are not for me, not because I cant do them, no it’s my respect for the animals I have to deal with, as I was taught as a boy we have a duty of care to the animals and birds we are culling etc, so the chance of wounding one I will not do, luckily enough my patience paid off and she turned full broad side facing to the right with a perfect engine room shot, I squeezed off the shot and that distinctive thump of a perfect shot on target was heard, she dropped on the spot with not so much as a twitch, two perfect humane shots and two cull does in the bag, I radioed Niall to come pic the deer up and Jon to come over too, I think Oliver and Carter could not believe their eyes as they watched it all with binoculars from right up on the high ground, the boys helped load them into the kabuto and we all jumped on board and headed back to the estate game prep area and cold room, Niall Gralloched the deer and I showed all the boys what to look for as far as disease etc went, we all then headed back to my secretaries for a big old full English Breakfast and a huge pot of fresh brewed tea, after breakfast I took the boys up to one of my big woods on the shoot to give them a go on some squirrel clearance I had been meaning to get on with after the end of the game season, I think the boys enjoyed going round squirrel drey poking with me especially my Young Sports Ambassador's Oliver and Carter, the day passed so quickly and it was time to get back to the other estate for the evening stalk.
I had arranged for the boys to cover the top hill ground woodland with air rifles, this was for a few reasons, one we had a major squirrel problem there and a few rabbits that needed culling, this would also keep the deer away from that area as I deemed it not safe to shoot with a full bore rifle, they could watch my every move from there too with binoculars as I was on the low ground, I stalked around this beautiful estate but only saw Bucks and a the does that were not on the cull management list, that was until I got to meadow view, it what we call this big meadow at the bottom of one of the big woods as it has a wonderful view, I stalked round to the bottom of the meadow as this would give me the best and safest shot into the hill side, I glassed the tree line and picked up five deer, after studying them for a while I stalked in as there was one doe there that was on my list, she had a bit of a limp so the estate manager said take her out, I stalked right into 60m and settled in with the Primos trigger sticks, you know I bloody love those sticks, there they were grazing quietly none the wiser I was there, there were actually two of the cull does there, limpy moved out into the open as she was stood dead in line with another deer so did not present a shot until she moved, I waited although I could of taken the other cull one first I wanted to get this one with the limp in the bag, again cross hairs on the engine room and she dropped to the shot without a twitch, I quickly reloaded the deer did not bolt and I dropped the second cull doe in quick succession, this time the other deer took off running and I took a breath and radioed for the quad bike, we took them back to the estate game prep area gralloched them and hung them up in the chiller ready for the game dealer to come collect her.
The rest of the weekend I took the boys out on some of my other grounds a bit of rough shooting, working Tess the young Springer Spaniel, just had a jolly good weekend until it was time for all the boys to call it a day, Jon to go back to Dorsetshire, Niall to go back to his day job and Oliver and Carter back to their school, so that Sunday night everyone went home with a smiling face and a game bag full of fresh wild ethically sourced wild meat.
The rest of the weekend I took the boys out on some of my other grounds a bit of rough shooting, working Tess the young Springer Spaniel, just had a jolly good weekend until it was time for all the boys to call it a day, Jon to go back to Dorsetshire, Niall to go back to his day job and Oliver and Carter back to their school, so that Sunday night everyone went home with a smiling face and a game bag full of fresh wild ethically sourced wild meat.
Hampshire:
I got a call from a good friend of mine Bruce, he was having trouble getting on top of a Muntjac Deer problem in some of his vast forestry in Hampshire, he had arranged for a few of the boys to go up last year and help him cull, I don't think they got on so well, alas I could not go over then as I was away in Malta on a Masonic Pilgrimage, so when he called me this time to arrange it again I said of course, I cleared my diary, booked a hotel and was looking forward to catching up with the other lads as well as my old friend Bruce, alas as it was all the lads cried off one by one what with work commitments and other reasons, so it just left Bruce and I to have a go and see what we could do in this vast forestry plantation.
I got a call from a good friend of mine Bruce, he was having trouble getting on top of a Muntjac Deer problem in some of his vast forestry in Hampshire, he had arranged for a few of the boys to go up last year and help him cull, I don't think they got on so well, alas I could not go over then as I was away in Malta on a Masonic Pilgrimage, so when he called me this time to arrange it again I said of course, I cleared my diary, booked a hotel and was looking forward to catching up with the other lads as well as my old friend Bruce, alas as it was all the lads cried off one by one what with work commitments and other reasons, so it just left Bruce and I to have a go and see what we could do in this vast forestry plantation.
Talk about mountain goat territory or what, I thought I was going to have to carry oxygen and mountain climbing equipment on this one, I jokingly said if I shoot one up there it will roll down to the truck for us, we both laughed, I spent a wonderful couple of days up there, stalking round, tracking, using all my field craft, in fact it reminded me of hunting in Germany and their vast woodlands, I saw lost of signs of deer from tracks fur left on barbed wire and more, but did I so much as a see one of these fabled Fallow Deer or a Roe Deer no, not even the bark of a Muntjac let alone see one.
We headed back to the low ground to the base camp, we sat down had a lovely mug of coffee and some really nice meat rolls, pasties and other tit bits, I finished off with a custard slice from a local shop, I am a bit partial to something sweet now and again, Bruce and I sat there and discussed the afternoon stalk, I said I will cover the low ground, for two reasons really, one I didn't fancy that climb to the top again and two my gut feeling was these deer will be on the low grounds or at least at some point they will be, we discussed what high seat I should go in as Bruce didn't fancy the climb again either so he would take another high seat.
I just finished my second mug of coffee when I had that gut feeling, I don't know its like a sixth sense I get, over the years I have learned to trust this gut feeling in so many situations not just out in the field, I turned to Bruce and said I am going to just take a look down this track a moment I just have a feeling, he said crack on I am pouring another coffee, I stalked down about a 150m something told me to stop and glass this big scrub covered embankment, I scanned with my binoculars and there is was a young Muntjac Buck staring right at me 73m out right next to a tree half way up the embankment showing a full broad side from left to right, by golly the hunting gods were on my side on this one, a perfect broadside with a perfect back stop, I dropped the Primos trigger sticks nice and slowly and quietly, mounted the rifle and took a breath with the cross hairs on for a perfect heart and lung shot, I squeezed off the shot and that dull thump report was heard telling me I was right on target as the beast rolled down the embankment to the bottom, I breathed easy and smiled as I really had earnt this one, I made the rifle safe took another breath and laid the rifle on the floor.
I beckoned Bruce to come down who was just finishing his coffee, I heard the shot he said did you get one, oh yes I smiled as we both went to retrieve it, I really could not of been more happy as the shot was pin point where I wanted it to be, a totally humane ethical shot, I saluted the beast as I do with all I cull and took it back to base camp to gralloch and dress out and butcher, well Bruce did the gralloch and skinning I did the butchery, we split the beast half each into out cool boxes, after this we headed around to the high seats, I never saw another deer this day, Bruce did he was his big matriarch Roe Buck and said he was in full velvet, I was gutted I would of loved to have seen him, we were only here for the Muntjac on this trip so even if I saw a cull fallow or a cull roe I would not have taken the shot, we headed back to my hotel as the light fell, had some lovely food and a few well deserved pints of Guinness, alas the next day the Sunday the weather came in bad heavy rain and high winds, so that put pay to another days awesome stalking in some of the most magnificent of scenery even though it was mountain goat territory.
I beckoned Bruce to come down who was just finishing his coffee, I heard the shot he said did you get one, oh yes I smiled as we both went to retrieve it, I really could not of been more happy as the shot was pin point where I wanted it to be, a totally humane ethical shot, I saluted the beast as I do with all I cull and took it back to base camp to gralloch and dress out and butcher, well Bruce did the gralloch and skinning I did the butchery, we split the beast half each into out cool boxes, after this we headed around to the high seats, I never saw another deer this day, Bruce did he was his big matriarch Roe Buck and said he was in full velvet, I was gutted I would of loved to have seen him, we were only here for the Muntjac on this trip so even if I saw a cull fallow or a cull roe I would not have taken the shot, we headed back to my hotel as the light fell, had some lovely food and a few well deserved pints of Guinness, alas the next day the Sunday the weather came in bad heavy rain and high winds, so that put pay to another days awesome stalking in some of the most magnificent of scenery even though it was mountain goat territory.
I stayed in the hotel and went in the pub over the road for a jolly good Sunday lunch with some people I met there, Bruce had gone home to the Isle Of White, I must say the Guinness did flow rather well and I retired in the early evening to my bed, I got up the next day had a jolly fine breakfast, loaded my truck and headed home with a full belly, a full heart smiling like a Cheshire Cat as my cool box was full with half a Muntjack Buck I culled with a good friend, so many memories made together with all my chums.
I hope you have enjoyed reading this as much as I have enjoyed writing it, please keep your messages and emails coming in to The Countryman’s Diary Magazine, I do try to get back to you all personally but some of you do slip the purse net from time to time like a good rabbit does.
Deer, Deer, Deer and Rabbit Too.
By The Ole Hedge Creeper
www.theolehedgecreeper.co.uk
countrymans-diary.co.uk
I hope you have enjoyed reading this as much as I have enjoyed writing it, please keep your messages and emails coming in to The Countryman’s Diary Magazine, I do try to get back to you all personally but some of you do slip the purse net from time to time like a good rabbit does.
Deer, Deer, Deer and Rabbit Too.
By The Ole Hedge Creeper
www.theolehedgecreeper.co.uk
countrymans-diary.co.uk
RSS Feed
