My working week consisted of a half day at a remote
warehouse, three long days, two short nights, 2 planes, 3 trains, a tram, two
cars and a cab, along with two hotels in two cities and I was wrecked at the
end of all that!
I arrived home at 11-00 pm on Thursday, barely safe to drive
so, after 6 hours of deep sleep, I did the bare minimum in the office on
Friday, before taking the rest of the day off to get some rest and recreation
in the Cambridgeshire woodlands!
I headed to the woods where our cameras had captured a daily
visit from Muntjac and an occasional Roe. I have the faithful Browning X-bolt,
with 100 grain hollow points today.
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A range of ammunition performs a range of tasks, lighter bullets for foxes and vermin to heavier bullets for the larger deer species. |
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The matching Browning x-bolts one in .223 for smaller deer and foxes and one in 6.5*55 for the larger deer. the 6.5 was my choice today. |
I made slow and near silent
progress to my high seat. I ascending the ladder and made myself comfortable in
my seat for a long, warm afternoon and it really was warm! I think I had a
little doze.
Checking my watch, it was close to the time of the regular
visit, this is the joy of trail cameras which date and time stamp pictures, I
was focussed on the right spot at the right time, the shortening days creep up
on you and I was a little surprised as roosting pigeons started to drop in
around me and the light faded by the minute. I was wondering if it was going to
be a no show day, when, as if by magic, a nice little Muntjac buck stood just
clear of the trees about 70 yards distant. I readied myself but I wasn’t going
to wait long as it was a narrow field of view and if he spooked, he’d be gone
in seconds. I followed him through the scope with the cross hairs over his
heart and as he paused to sniff the warm evening air, I increased the pressure
on the trigger and sent the bullet on its way.
The little fellow put up his white flag of a tail and
sauntered off at a brisk pace, clearly disgruntled but completely unharmed! I
wasn’t so tired that I couldn’t see straight and that Muntjac should now be
lying dead in the leaf litter of the forest! Disappointed, I made safe and
climbed down, making for the spot where the deer was standing when I fired. I
did all the right things and checked for signs of impact, blood, hair etc but I
knew I wouldn’t find any, the deer wasn’t touched, which is the best possible
outcome if he’s not lying dead where he should be, no wounded animal to track,
no worry about any undue suffering.
Then I saw it, a 2 inch diameter blackthorn stump had been
exactly over the Muntjac’s heart as he stood a couple of yards behind it, there
was no colour contrast between the deer’s coat and the blackthorn when I took
the shot but now there was, the reddish orange of the freshly shattered shaft
showing where the hollow point bullet had struck it and come to pieces
instantly throwing a few splinters of wood but nothing more deadly than that
towards the unsuspecting Muntjac, who had immediately done the smart thing and left
the scene! There was nothing more to be done, I cursed my luck and l laughed a
bit as I collected my kit and headed for the car. There are no guarantees, this
is hunting not shopping and you don’t always get what you came for, today was
one of those days!
Enjoy the journey, not just the destination!
MG
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