Murder Buck

While he waits for the hay to be cut on his main permission, Deano is called out to deal with some problem deer and makes an interesting discovery...

- DEAN HARRISON

It’s mid June and I am sitting in the garden with Shell, a glass of cider in hand, watching our new puppy playing and enjoying the last of the sun on Friday evening after work. The phone rings – it’s Nick, a very close friend of mine, asking me to come over and shoot some deer. “There are too many,” he says. I always have shot a few on his land over the years, but after he converted his barn and moved in, he enjoyed seeing them about so I stopped.

“They are hammering the hedges I am planting, even my yew hedge,” says Nick. “So can you take a few out?” I agreed, explaining to him that only roe bucks were in season so I’d have to return in the winter to take out some does. Nick agreed and asked if I’d take Bernie (who works for him) out as well. That’s perfect, I thought, as he is always on the ground and can let me know what’s about. I spoke to Bern and arranged to go over the following evening about 7.30 so we could have a chat and see what’s about.

This bit of ground is stunning – it’s about 60 acres along the edge of a big wood, with an oak belt and hedges leading off it. Normally it’s perfect for stalking, but at that time it was just tall grass everywhere waiting to be cut for hay; still it is what is and I was going to give it a go.