devon deer
Well-known member
The red and fallow deer are rutting hard at the moment, the red are indiginous to the UK, the Fallow were introduced to England in the 11th century by the Normans, thanks Normans!
I rang the landowner on one farm saying I might pop out for a Fallow buck, I was upset to learn that she had been very ill, and just got home after 3 weeks in hospital, for the exact same reason she found herself in there 12 months ago, she doesn’t take on enough fluids during the height of summer and things start to shut down, she is 88 years old.I always take a Sea Trout when I can, and always a bottle of Malt Whiskey at Christmas, I said to her last time ‘drink it in moderation’ quick as lightening she retorted ‘don’t tell me what to do’ with a mischievous glint in her eye!She is having good care at home now so hopefully I will be buying her a nice bottle again in a few weeks
Anyway I dropped by yesterday, I know her farm so well, and did a slow stalk into the rutting stand, no sign of deer but I could see where he had been, then I heard it’s ‘belching sound’ I looked out of the woods into the field and there he was, with does and fawns, around a dozen of the latter, and he was fired up, every time a deer wanted to go back to the woods he rounded her back up, just as well as I was in there!The wind was good but one doe started to get in line with me and I knew the game would be up soon, I couldn’t shoot him because he was skylined so I just had to wait.He then made his fatal error, he saw another doe break off, he went in hot pursuit, turned her back, and stood broadside at around 100 yards, totally safe and started to ‘belch’ again, I only have a .243 at the moment but the 100 grain did it’s job and he dropped on the spot.But he was heavy at 150lbs butchers weight and he had the thickest neck on a Fallow I had ever seen.
My mate in the game dealers is going to boil out the skull for $30 which is a good deal.
I phoned her and got her carer who said she would pass on the news, and felt sure she would be delighted I had some success.
I rang the landowner on one farm saying I might pop out for a Fallow buck, I was upset to learn that she had been very ill, and just got home after 3 weeks in hospital, for the exact same reason she found herself in there 12 months ago, she doesn’t take on enough fluids during the height of summer and things start to shut down, she is 88 years old.I always take a Sea Trout when I can, and always a bottle of Malt Whiskey at Christmas, I said to her last time ‘drink it in moderation’ quick as lightening she retorted ‘don’t tell me what to do’ with a mischievous glint in her eye!She is having good care at home now so hopefully I will be buying her a nice bottle again in a few weeks
Anyway I dropped by yesterday, I know her farm so well, and did a slow stalk into the rutting stand, no sign of deer but I could see where he had been, then I heard it’s ‘belching sound’ I looked out of the woods into the field and there he was, with does and fawns, around a dozen of the latter, and he was fired up, every time a deer wanted to go back to the woods he rounded her back up, just as well as I was in there!The wind was good but one doe started to get in line with me and I knew the game would be up soon, I couldn’t shoot him because he was skylined so I just had to wait.He then made his fatal error, he saw another doe break off, he went in hot pursuit, turned her back, and stood broadside at around 100 yards, totally safe and started to ‘belch’ again, I only have a .243 at the moment but the 100 grain did it’s job and he dropped on the spot.But he was heavy at 150lbs butchers weight and he had the thickest neck on a Fallow I had ever seen.
My mate in the game dealers is going to boil out the skull for $30 which is a good deal.
I phoned her and got her carer who said she would pass on the news, and felt sure she would be delighted I had some success.
Thanks for the recap!
