Deer, Deer, Deer and Fox Too
By The Ole Hedge Creeper
We start off in Hampshire with my good friend Rob Elton, forth generation Game Keeper and the owner of Katch It Traps, I am firstly there catching up with him and my other old chum Brendan Anderson the lead man of The Grey Area a red squirrel conservation group, we are doing a series of question and answer live stream videos both from the katch It traps work shop and out in the woods setting traps etc, watch the videos at the bottom of this article as they will be better than me writing about them.
I was also there weekend to show Rob the awesome NiteSite Eagle Rtech Dark ops and Night Pearl Thermal Spotter in action, he was struggling with a couple of foxes he just could not get and they were eating his pheasants and partridges, Rob being old school he still only used a lamp at night and relied on his trapping skills, I am the same but there comes a time when technology really comes into its own and pulls the rabbit from the hat.
We head out late on the Friday night just after I had got there, the hay fields had just been cut so perfect timing really, there was a nice wind about and pretty cloudy, perfect lamping weather I say, but tonight Matthew we are using Night Vision and thermal technology to bring home the bacon, immediately Rob could not believe the clarity of my gear, he had seen others and found it blurry, pixelated and quite frankly not user friendly or fit for the job, that was until he saw my set up in action, blown away is an understatement he had his credit card out ready to buy himself a unit for himself today, now no yesterday, I explained Solware of Tamworth wont be open until 9am in the Morning, as its now almost midnight on a Friday night.
We drove around the whole estate, we stalked many paddocks and grass or crop fields but no foxes, we saw Fallow Deer, Muntjac Deer, Roe deer, Rabbits, Hares, Owls and Bats, but still no foxes, we were just heading back to the truck when my 6th sense kicked off, I just had to check the far paddock one more time, even though we had checked it on the way out, bugger me there was a fox laying behind the sparsest tuft of grass the forager had missed, he was watching some rabbits by a rough area, I spotted him on the thermal, if I was scanning with night vision I would of missed him, but nothing escapes my thermal and my 6th sense, you know he was laying flat out, he could not of got any lower or flat if he had tried, we stalked in to a ditch but could not go any further, I set up the ole 223 with the NiteSite on top on the Primos Trigger Sticks and zoomed in, Rob says that's a hell of a long shot, he said it was 150m I said no closer to 200m as I know my gear, Rob says that's too far off of sticks mate, I did chuckle at that one, a small target of about the size of a tennis ball was all I had, I could see the top of his ears clearly and both eyes, I gave him a rabbit distress squeal, he just lifted his head up a bit and said I am not falling for that and lay flat out again.
I said to Rob, mucker I have two chances here, a clean miss or a clean hit, or I give him a Tonsure (a monks haircut) so I steadied myself, got my breathing just right and my heart rate settled, just like I teach my Young Sports we shoot from a calm ripple less pond, I took the safety off and took a steady aim, exhaled and squeezed off the shot, that dull distinctive thump of a perfect shot, not to float my own boat but dang that was a good shot square between the eyes, literally right on the button, I think I surprised Ole Rob on that shot, now for the long retrieve mucker as Rob took off over the ditch like a gazelle, he came back a little out of breath saying that was a bloody long way that was, it was the big Dog Fox he had been after for months that kept giving him the slip, we never saw the vixen but that's the way its goes.
We head out late on the Friday night just after I had got there, the hay fields had just been cut so perfect timing really, there was a nice wind about and pretty cloudy, perfect lamping weather I say, but tonight Matthew we are using Night Vision and thermal technology to bring home the bacon, immediately Rob could not believe the clarity of my gear, he had seen others and found it blurry, pixelated and quite frankly not user friendly or fit for the job, that was until he saw my set up in action, blown away is an understatement he had his credit card out ready to buy himself a unit for himself today, now no yesterday, I explained Solware of Tamworth wont be open until 9am in the Morning, as its now almost midnight on a Friday night.
We drove around the whole estate, we stalked many paddocks and grass or crop fields but no foxes, we saw Fallow Deer, Muntjac Deer, Roe deer, Rabbits, Hares, Owls and Bats, but still no foxes, we were just heading back to the truck when my 6th sense kicked off, I just had to check the far paddock one more time, even though we had checked it on the way out, bugger me there was a fox laying behind the sparsest tuft of grass the forager had missed, he was watching some rabbits by a rough area, I spotted him on the thermal, if I was scanning with night vision I would of missed him, but nothing escapes my thermal and my 6th sense, you know he was laying flat out, he could not of got any lower or flat if he had tried, we stalked in to a ditch but could not go any further, I set up the ole 223 with the NiteSite on top on the Primos Trigger Sticks and zoomed in, Rob says that's a hell of a long shot, he said it was 150m I said no closer to 200m as I know my gear, Rob says that's too far off of sticks mate, I did chuckle at that one, a small target of about the size of a tennis ball was all I had, I could see the top of his ears clearly and both eyes, I gave him a rabbit distress squeal, he just lifted his head up a bit and said I am not falling for that and lay flat out again.
I said to Rob, mucker I have two chances here, a clean miss or a clean hit, or I give him a Tonsure (a monks haircut) so I steadied myself, got my breathing just right and my heart rate settled, just like I teach my Young Sports we shoot from a calm ripple less pond, I took the safety off and took a steady aim, exhaled and squeezed off the shot, that dull distinctive thump of a perfect shot, not to float my own boat but dang that was a good shot square between the eyes, literally right on the button, I think I surprised Ole Rob on that shot, now for the long retrieve mucker as Rob took off over the ditch like a gazelle, he came back a little out of breath saying that was a bloody long way that was, it was the big Dog Fox he had been after for months that kept giving him the slip, we never saw the vixen but that's the way its goes.
Rob invited me back up for the start of the Fallow Deer Cull, now I have never shot Fallow before, I have guided stalks on most species of deer and more but never pulled the trigger myself, so this would be a first for me, Niall came with me so did Dave, 31st July 2020 saw us heading to Hampshire in my Red Land Rover Discovery that, I am letting Niall use as a shoot vehicle for our pest control work as he only has a van, we arrived later afternoon, Rob had made us a wonderful home made chicken madras curry, all the boys scoffed that back even Rocky stealing some, that’s Robs Slovakian Sheppard, after tea and a few cold bottles of real coco cola out of the real glass bottles we headed out for a reconnaissance on the deer and to see if that Vixen was still hanging around some of his release pens, alas no foxes but we saw a few deer, Niall and Dave shot some Rabbits and Hares as these were doing some major crop damage, I held the lamp and Rob Drove the truck, a plan was hatched out, what we were going to do at 4am in the high seats the very next morning to start the Fallow Deer Cull, we were also told to cull Roe Buck and Muntjack.
Here we are 4am in the high seats, Niall & Dave using estate rifles with the under keeper over near the lake plantation, Rob and I in a double high seat overlooking a decimated maize crop in front of a huge mixed woodland plantation, Rob took the micky out of me when at 4.30am I brought out my finest Night Site china mugs and said would you like a tea/coffee/hot chocolate or a soup? Also here are some Alpen cereal bars for breakfast, he literally could not believe his eyes, he normally survives on red bull and nicotine, so I made us both a fresh brewed with real milk etc a couple of mugs of tea and ate our breakfast, I have learned with age comes experience, experience tells me I have to keep my energy up and some fuel in the tank, the formalities over now lets take a look at these deer, I put my Night Pearl thermal spotter on to see what was about as it was still to dark to see with our binoculars, I could see 40+ Fallow deer grazing on a small grass paddock some 300+ yards to my right, a very large Fallow buck slip silently off to my left about 200 yards and few odd smaller ones I deemed to be a young doe herd wondering about in the maize.
The light came up enough to be able to see, a black bird with a bald head landed just inches away from me in the high seat, Rob and I eagerly glassed this Doe herd coming in from our left, a mix of colours in there too from almost white to almost black ones, we were scanning to find a cull Pricket, I first saw him as he strode out with another Doe, both Rob and I were not sure as the light was still not great, we watched on further glassing him trying to be 101% certain it was a Pricket and it was a suitable cull beast, the decision was made to take him, I mounted my rifle and steadied my breathing and put myself on that calm pond, Rob said is the shot on, I said no he is inline with another deer lead down, so I waited, still keeping complete control of my breathing, heart rate and emotions, the Pricket strode forward from right to left showing me his broad side, he was right in front of a large mud bank giving me a perfect back stop, I slipped the safety of, took a breath exhaled and squeezed off the shot, I heard that distinct dull thump of a heart and lung shot, the beast reacted lifted up then dropped, I recycled the bolt ready for a follow up shot and stayed on him with my cross hairs just in case as I always do, I breathed easy after a moment knowing I had grassed my first Fallow Deer, Rob was a little more excited than me, I think that's because he knew he had made my first first Fallow possible, I am not one to allow my emotions to get out of control but I must say that was a truly proud moment and I cant thank Rob enough for that, The beast retrieved, gralloched and taken to the game chiller for preparation later.
Rob and I then headed out to check out some fresh cut the day before rape fields, these were bordered by some potato fields, as we drove around this vast area glassing with our binoculars for deer or indeed the problem vixen I spotted a Roe Doe with a Buck following her, we stopped and got out on foot to see if this was a cull buck, 200 yards and Rob says he needs to come out that one, I stalked the headland round on the wind as there was no safe back stop from any other position, this time my heart really was beating as it was a long arduous stalk, I got round on an elevated position but they had spotted Rob and dropped into a ditch between the rape field and the potato field, I mounted my trusty 243 onto my trigger sticks and took aim tracking them through the ditch, I could clearly see both deer well the top of their shoulders and their heads anyway as I was on the higher side looking down, they stopped about 45 yards from me, I dont normally do head shots but will on occasion and this was just such an occasion, I slipped the safety of and squeezed the shot of as if I was shooting rabbits, I put the shot perfectly between the ear and the eye, the Buck dropped on the spot, the doe half startled stayed there for seconds then took off running, Rob flew up across the rape stubbles in his truck, did you get him? I just smiled and said help me get him out of this dry ditch bottom, I think both our smiles said it all really on that one, gralloched and back to the chiller he went.
The sun was really up now and only 7.30am, we headed over to see how Niall and Dave had got on, Niall had only bagged himself a nice high bronze medal Roe Buck, apparently he walked right out onto the meadow in front of the high seat just as the sun had come up, Niall had taken him with a perfect heart and lung shot, I think Niall and Rob’s smiles said it all, alas Dave was still to get anything with the estate rifle, the buck was gralloched and we started to head back to the chiller, this was when disaster struck for me, you see I suffer with severe IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) or that's what the doctors are hoping it is, I am under a consultant and have on going tests trying to rule out other possible illnesses, that said its a real problem, one reason I must eat at regular intervals as the call of nature can come on at any moment with explosive consequences, that crossed with my diabetic medication messing my system up can prove to be very challenging times in the field, one reason I always carry loo roll with me in case I have to dive behind a tree, this morning no such luck, all of a sudden after hitting every bump on the track I shout stop the truck and dive out like a demented strip tease artist, hat went one way, shirt and body warmer the other whilst trying to get my braces down, too late and lets just say I lost yet another pair of boxer shorts in the woods, I used to get very embarrassed about this condition but now I have no choice but to accept it until the doctors work out what's wrong with me and get my medication right.
SHOW NO WEAKNESS, these lads as with most of us Country lads in general are like a pack of Hyenas, you show weakness they will eat you alive, quite rightly so too, they gave me some stick all weekend I tell you and still to this day, a lesser townie type would of gone home a crying wreck, but not me bring it on boys, I expect nothing less no quarter given or received, growing up with Dockers on one side of the family and Rough Ole Country Boys on the other, I was shock tested from an early age, I am well versed at giving it back too, so my new knick name among the lads is The Ole hedge Crapper, I do laugh as that's quite funny, I am still confused about the Scottish Muntjack from Glasgow that I upset for soiling his woodland that he has retired too, according to Rob that is and the variant paths that banter went down that weekend, a lesser man would not write this but its a memory that brought some hmmmmm amusment to the pack of laughing Hyenas.
SHOW NO WEAKNESS, these lads as with most of us Country lads in general are like a pack of Hyenas, you show weakness they will eat you alive, quite rightly so too, they gave me some stick all weekend I tell you and still to this day, a lesser townie type would of gone home a crying wreck, but not me bring it on boys, I expect nothing less no quarter given or received, growing up with Dockers on one side of the family and Rough Ole Country Boys on the other, I was shock tested from an early age, I am well versed at giving it back too, so my new knick name among the lads is The Ole hedge Crapper, I do laugh as that's quite funny, I am still confused about the Scottish Muntjack from Glasgow that I upset for soiling his woodland that he has retired too, according to Rob that is and the variant paths that banter went down that weekend, a lesser man would not write this but its a memory that brought some hmmmmm amusment to the pack of laughing Hyenas.
Niall’s Roe Buck was put in the chiller and we headed back for breakfast and a shower for me, the lads all went for a big belly buster fry up down the local cafe, I stayed behind had my shower and had a nice mug of fresh Yorkshire Tea and a bowl of Crunchy nut cornflakes with real gold top milk, oh Rob likes Earl Grey, YUK disgusting stuff and the sweepings from the floor, I will stick with my Yorkshire Tea, the boys came back to find me sewing my buttons back on my shirt that I ripped of in my hurry in the woods, the boys looked like stuffed pigs after their breakfast, we then all got some shut eye ready to go for the evening in the high seats.
Niall went with Rob this time looking over the Maize fields and Dave and I shared a high seat looking over the paddock, I was just Texting Niall back after he asked had we seen anything when a large Fallow Buck Stepped out in front of Dave and I, Dave was loaded up for taking a Muntjack as they had seen some in this paddock the day before, I mounted the rifle, breathed and exhaled then squeezed off the shot, thump as the deer turned round and ran 20 yards and dropped, I had already recycled the round and was back on him ready for a follow up shot, I stayed on him for a few moments to make sure he was dead, Dave went to retrieve him for me as I got down out of the high seat, a perfect heart and lung shot, a truly fine beast and after that I didn't want to shoot any more deer that weekend that was the icing on the cake, Dave was still to get a shot, Niall and Rob came back they saw lots of deer but none were Prickets or indeed a Buck, Rob said blimey you got a nice one, gralloched and back to the game chiller it went with the rest.
HOW MANY COUNTRYMEN DOES IT TAKE TO LIGHT A BBQ????
That night we had a wonderful BBQ with meat we had brought from Somerset and Meat that Rob had in, with Robs own home grown salad stuff and I even ate a tomato that's really unusual for me too, one question how many Countrymen does it take to light a BBQ? 3 is the answer, it was like watching the Three Stooges at work I telle.
4am the next morning we are back in the high seats, Niall was back with Rob, Dave and I were in a high seat looking over a cover crop and a stubble field, by golly they have so many Hares in Hampshire, I could of shot the best part of 40 from that high seat, it was Dave’s turn to shoot a deer, I was really there for spotting and well to just be there at that magical time of day, 7am Dave says I need a fag and a pee so got down out of the high seat, a few moments later a Muntjac Doe followed by a Buck came out playing chase in the cover crop field, I was on them with the cross hairs of my rifle, I could of taken both easily, but no it was Dave’s turn to shoot, so I whispered bang bang and left them to play chase, I said to Dave did you see them them? He said yes why did you not take them? I told him it was not my turn its yours, you have to have discipline in all country sports, we all headed back for breakfast with no deer shot from either high seat, I literally had nothing left in me after a 26 hour day followed by a 20 hour day back to back, so I had some food and fell asleep on the sofa, I was awoken some hours later by Rocky the Slovakian Sheppard, that dog has a sense of humor I telle, he picked up my full bottle of water held it over my head and gave me a shower, I awoke with a start as he dropped the bottle at my feet with a wagging tail as if to say time to get up and play now, after coming around a bit and growling like a bear I thought were are the lads, nobody was in the house but Rocky and Myself, I looked at the time and realised I had been out cold for 5 hours, I called all of them on their phones but no answer? Had they gone back out hunting? Out for food? Finally I got hold of them they were down the game dealers part of the estate and had fully prepared all the deer we had shot and were busy vacuum packing everything, mincing it and freezing it down, they said I looked to cute to wake up, well I was actually glad of that because I really was knackered and my diabetes said rest now fat boy before I drop you.
I made a wonderful steak bap with the sirloin I had brought up from home, Rocky helped me eat it too as it was quite large, the boys came back for some red bull (energy drink) and nicotine and we headed back out to the high seats, Niall was back with Rob desperate to get a Fallow Pricket, I was back in the high seat where I shot that nice Fallow Buck and Dave was in the High Seat we were in that morning, Niall and Rob again saw lots of Fallow but all Doe no Prickets of Bucks well one but it was too far away, I sat in the high seat in the high seat and thought I would try some calling for a change on my Butlo call, I didn't really want to shoot a deer just see how the call worked up there as the rut had just started on the Roe, I would of shot that Vixen had she come out, a beautiful high gold medal Roe buck came to my calling and stood broad side not 35 yards away, I could of taken him easy, but deemed him a good breeding Buck to keep a lesser man may have taken him but not me, I let him trot off after a few minuets, I hear a Muntjack Buck bark to my left then saw him and Doe
heading towards Dave,s high seat area, I stopped calling and waited and listened, a few moments later I heard a bang and a distinct thump of a clean hit, half an hour later I hear another bang, then my phone went off he had bagged the Muntjack Buck and Doe and sounded like a kid on Christmas morning on the phone, I got down out of my high seat and headed over to take a pic before we lost the light, Niall and Rob came back to pick us up and congratulated Dave, we then headed back for a kebab and a few well deserved beers.
heading towards Dave,s high seat area, I stopped calling and waited and listened, a few moments later I heard a bang and a distinct thump of a clean hit, half an hour later I hear another bang, then my phone went off he had bagged the Muntjack Buck and Doe and sounded like a kid on Christmas morning on the phone, I got down out of my high seat and headed over to take a pic before we lost the light, Niall and Rob came back to pick us up and congratulated Dave, we then headed back for a kebab and a few well deserved beers.
The next day we headed home with some very happy Countrymen, some awesome memories and my Land Rover full of fresh culled wild meat, we all send a massive thank you to Rob Elton of Katch It Traps for his hospitality, you sir really are a scholar and a gent sir, its my turn next for you to come to me mucker and me to host a weekends sport on the South Somerset/North Devon Estate for you and your good lady. If you want anything from Katch It Traps they are the best in my opinion go on their website www.katch-it.co.uk and say I sent you.
I hope you have enjoyed reading this as much as I have writing it and remembering a great weekend spent with top drawer muckers and some outstanding sport, so until the next adventures of The Ole Hedge Crapper I wish you all to stay safe and well.
Deer, Deer, Deer & Fox Too
By The Ole Hedge Creeper
www.theolehedgecreeper.co.uk
I hope you have enjoyed reading this as much as I have writing it and remembering a great weekend spent with top drawer muckers and some outstanding sport, so until the next adventures of The Ole Hedge Crapper I wish you all to stay safe and well.
Deer, Deer, Deer & Fox Too
By The Ole Hedge Creeper
www.theolehedgecreeper.co.uk
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