That was the week that was!

After the two vixens on Thursday night a doe was added to the weeks success. Three of us got the early alarm call, myself, Stephen and Smudge. We met at the Farm and then proceeded to the wood at Alton. After parking up in an adjacent driveway to allow the gate to be unlocked, Smudge glassed two doe's on the field which then worked their back into the wood, so opportunities looked good. As we tried to walk in stealth mode (not really possible due to the frost, crunchy nut ground) Smudge dropped of on the first ride whilst Stephen and I carried on around. Lots of slots on the track but no further sightings. As we got down onto the bottom track two beasts on the field to the left of us took fright and took off. After a further 50 yards we sat down for 15 minutes to let everything quiet down, apart from a tree rat on its morning petrol for its breakfast nothing else moved. Back on the foot again and within a few yards I got a nudge in the back from Stephen who was bolt still, roe spotted just inside the wood approx 75 yards away. She was aware that something was amiss but decided after five minutes that all seem good and browsed on some foliage, a second roe then also came into view which looked like a decent size buck. The doe took a few steps onto the track and gave the perfect target, side on. By this stage my heart was giving it the heavy metal drum beat and after what seemed an age I managed to steady the aim and fired. It was a good hit as the deer hit the ground but to our surprised after a few seconds she got up and run out of view. We waited a good time to allow the beast to come to rest and walked to the kill spot which was blood covered. Within ten yards to our left the carcass was spotted by Stephen. Upon inspection the bullet had gone in at the top of the shoulder and come out lower side. The heart and lungs were damaged so even if I would of like the shot to been slightly higher the bullet strike did its job.

A big thanks to Stephen who spotted the deer and for the lamping on Thursday.