Alton Wood

Thought we'd try an evening stalk as the weather was on our side with glorious sunshine. Off to the Alton wood full of expectations, arrived at 5pm allowing a good three hours to find Mr Buck.

Well, Mr Buck remained elusive and as always Mrs Roe made an appearance!

The wood looked a picture with the bluebells out.

Thursday Night Lamping

After a three week gap on the lamping front an eagerly awaited session took place on Thursday night. Prior to setting out Stephen got his .17hmr zero'd in. Apart from a few rabbits nothing else was shot. Two reynards were lamped but due to the fast growing crops we couldn't get a shot off. It's going to be difficult until these fields are cropped.

It was good to get out though as it also gave the opportunity to spot some bucks and their locations for future stalks.

The things you do for work!

Today was spent mainly up in a boom lift repairing and replacing flags at the Staines branch. Not that good with heights but as the day went by I started to enjoy the task.

Did think about towing the lift back to the farm for some extra high seat action, but didn't fancy the hire company on my back.

Envious

Another short video clip from YouTube. Cracking shot, probably dead before it hit the ground.

5 hour session

Saturday just gone was spent at the farm with a client from Roger with the intended target a buck. We first met in the yard at 5.15am and proceeded over to the cow sheds to stalk the large field and stop at the high seats on the way round the fence line. The first actual beasts were on a neighbouring field, two doe's and a possible buck. After a 20 minute stop at the top high seat we continued on until two thirds round when two more doe's, mother and last years daughter were spotted making their way back into the wood.
Next destination was the new field stalking the top fence line to the right and then down due to the wind direction. After the bottom fence stalk I was able to see down to the bottom of the neighbours field were, yep you guessed right, not just one but two bucks were laying up with another doe. After a few minutes wait both bucks got up and started to browse the hedgerow moving in our direction. We kept our station hoping that the bucks would continue to close the the gap and more importantly cross the fence into our line of fire. 30 minutes was spent watching the blessed animals take two steps forward and then one step back until they all about turned and at a leisure returned to the original starting point, thus it was time to move off ourselves and try a find another buck elsewhere on the farm. Next it was across to Sausage Wood with no luck apart from another doe feeding on the hedgerow in between us and Beachwood.
After rejoining the truck it was over to the other side of the farm across the M3 to try along the hedgerows, this was soon scuppered as three white bums took off across the field at full pace. The wind was with us and we were out of sight so a noise must of spooked them although I think they were very nervy anyway to of shot off straight away.
Before we finished for the day another look was taken to see if the two bucks near the new field would be obliging. This was not the case so just before 11am it was time to call it a day.
At least the client actually glassed 11 deer and went home happy. I went home knackered!

Nice Shot.

Apologies for not updating the blog over the last few weeks as have been busy with work and home stuff. We did try a couple of stalks but with no luck. The first attempt was in light drizzle so was not expecting to find a buck although the second stalk a few days later in good weather also proved unsuccessful. Hence the video from YouTube just to give something to look at...if only!