OlympusCol
Super member
With the weather being wet to say the least these last couple of days, and a break seen on the weather app earlier in the week for Saturday/today, the plan was hatched.
Asked a few mates, and the father in law of they fancied it, but they were either working or away on jolllies. So it was me and the pup on duties.
Up early and headed off to the ground before first light to see 2 deer looking from the outside of the ground in and a fox, it was still dark so I watched for 5 mins before making my way into the ground.
Out the car to get the boots and gaiters on it was noted to be rather nippy outside. Checked and it was -3
Got the rest of the kit sorted, pup ready, rifle loaded and headed on up the main track. Got to the end of the track having only seen an owl and a few pheasants, it opens into a large clearing where I've been lucky before, and sure enough I could see a heat source in the distance using the Thermal spotter.
Plan was hatched with the wind in my face to make my way towards the deer using the trees as a shield of view as I we made our way in. Quick peek to see the deer was still there and went to carry on, but the pup stood fast looking/pointing (hes a lab x German pointer) over to the woods on our left. Quick scan of the thermal and sure enough 3 deer ranging between 70-120 yards away.
I set the rifle on the quad sticks, and waited to see which would present a shot. 10 minutes passed (the pup sat silent the whole time) as the deer made there way in and out of the trees with no chance of a good shot before finally the furthest away deer came out and stood broadside for me.
She lay where she stood, and I almost got onto a second deer that had bolted into the main clearing before stopping to see what was going on. 3 seconds more and it would have been ours also.
We made our way over towards where the deer was, and I let the pup find his own way and use his nose to pick up the deer. He made his way nicely towards where I gathered the deer to be roughly and he made a beeline straight for it.
This is now the 3rd deer he has found for me. Granted this 1 was in the open, but his first was in proper thick cover and had no problem finding that either.
Loves a photobomb
I let him off the lead for the rest of the morning, and he came back to heel whenever I asked and as a treat he got the heart and kidneys for his hard work.
Happy to have a deer for the table, but more happy I have a dog that's showing great promise.
Asked a few mates, and the father in law of they fancied it, but they were either working or away on jolllies. So it was me and the pup on duties.
Up early and headed off to the ground before first light to see 2 deer looking from the outside of the ground in and a fox, it was still dark so I watched for 5 mins before making my way into the ground.
Out the car to get the boots and gaiters on it was noted to be rather nippy outside. Checked and it was -3
Got the rest of the kit sorted, pup ready, rifle loaded and headed on up the main track. Got to the end of the track having only seen an owl and a few pheasants, it opens into a large clearing where I've been lucky before, and sure enough I could see a heat source in the distance using the Thermal spotter.
Plan was hatched with the wind in my face to make my way towards the deer using the trees as a shield of view as I we made our way in. Quick peek to see the deer was still there and went to carry on, but the pup stood fast looking/pointing (hes a lab x German pointer) over to the woods on our left. Quick scan of the thermal and sure enough 3 deer ranging between 70-120 yards away.
I set the rifle on the quad sticks, and waited to see which would present a shot. 10 minutes passed (the pup sat silent the whole time) as the deer made there way in and out of the trees with no chance of a good shot before finally the furthest away deer came out and stood broadside for me.
She lay where she stood, and I almost got onto a second deer that had bolted into the main clearing before stopping to see what was going on. 3 seconds more and it would have been ours also.
We made our way over towards where the deer was, and I let the pup find his own way and use his nose to pick up the deer. He made his way nicely towards where I gathered the deer to be roughly and he made a beeline straight for it.
This is now the 3rd deer he has found for me. Granted this 1 was in the open, but his first was in proper thick cover and had no problem finding that either.
Loves a photobomb
I let him off the lead for the rest of the morning, and he came back to heel whenever I asked and as a treat he got the heart and kidneys for his hard work.
Happy to have a deer for the table, but more happy I have a dog that's showing great promise.
