Birthday Buck
Very early yesterday morning I packed the car and headed off to a local private patch for some thorough recon work. I arrived at the property before the first hint of light and in position before sunrise.
Throughout the day I carefully relocated to different positions throughout the property to observe Fallow deer. With the new full 3D camouflage suit I was able to get within 20m of a number of Fallow. On five separate occasions I was stalked by inquisitive Fallow Does. Each time I was barked at, the matriarch Doe cautiously tracked around sniffing the air every few steps until the predicted result once she got a nostril full of me.
During 2007-08 the property was smashed by a couple of cowboys from the local the Rural Lands Protection Board with 300+ deer destroyed in total. In September 2008 recall witnessing in one paddock alone 24 Bucks (including some big boys) wiped out in a single night. It takes years for the population to recover from that. So it was refreshing to see five bucks today two were good, but not brilliant (IMO).
The Buck pictured was in full rut, happily grunting away with his harem and using the camera tripod as a rest was in my sights for a number of minutes. He was not trophy material, Andrew (7mmmag) and I have seen bigger Bucks on the property 2-3 yrs ago. My Birthday wish was for him to procreate. He should be good in 1-2yrs.
All up I observed 5 Bucks, 6 Spikers and 30+ Does. Approximately 300m from the car a young Buck and Doe sprung from some bracken fern – the Doe was instantly reamed by a 250gr Hornady RN from the 358 at ~100m. With the light failing, all four legs and back straps were taken with a short carryout of ~200m to the car.
Poor old bun was at the wrong place at the wrong time, i.e. near the front gate.
Although feeling totally stuffed when I got home the day was very pleasant and IMO very successful.
