Stalking roebuck in the rut and camping under the stars is a great experience, but make sure you have all the necessary equipment, urges Paul Quagliana
I am a casual or recreational stalker. if i can bag one or two deer a year, along with assorted small game, sea fish and trout, i am more than happy. it is a great thing to be in a position where you can be as self-suffcient as possible and i have always maintained that going “shopping” with a gun or rod is a far more interesting — and possibly healthier — way of obtaining my dinner than strolling to the supermarket.
After a largely cold start to the year, July and august have proved to be rather sweaty and, as any roe stalker knows, hot, humid weather around the end of July puts the deer into the mood for rutting. it is an exciting time to be out and there is no telling how long the rut will last — sometimes a matter of days, sometimes weeks. During this time, calling the bucks with an artificial call can make for an exciting outing because they often come close to the caller — but it is never guaranteed.
I had received a kind invitation from some seasoned stalkers to go out during the rut to try for a buck, with the added amusement that we would be camping. I was only down for one night while they were putting in nearly a week. I had eagerly packed what I felt was everything but the kitchen sink, but completely forgot a torch, of which more later.
Hard to beat
Denne historien er fra August 24,2016-utgaven av Shooting Times & Country.
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Denne historien er fra August 24,2016-utgaven av Shooting Times & Country.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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United we stand
Following United Utilities' decision to end grouse shooting on its land, Lindsay Waddell asks what will happen if we ignore our vital moors
Serious matters
An old gamebook prompts a contemplation on punt-gunning
They're not always as easy as they seem
While coneys of the furry variety don't pose a problem for Blue Zulu, he's left frustrated once again by bolting bunnies of the clay sort
Debutant gundogs
There's lots to think about when it comes to making the decision about when to introduce your dog to shooting
When the going gets rough
Al Gabriel returns to the West London Shooting School to brush up on his rough shooting technique
The Field Guide To British Deer - BDS 60th Anniversary Edition
In this excerpt from the 60th anniversary edition of the BDS's Field Guide To British Deer, Charles Smith-Jones considers the noise they make
A step too far?
Simon Garnham wonders whether a new dog, a new gun and two different fields in need of protection might have been asking too much for one afternoon's work
Two bucks before breakfast
A journey from old South London to rural Hertfordshire to stalk muntjac suggests that the two aren't as far detached as they might seem
Stalking Diary
Stalkers can be a sentimental bunch, and they often carry a huge attachment to their hill
Gamekeeper
Alan Edwards believes unique, private experiences can help keepers become more competent and passionate custodians of the countryside