Out on a rather cold sunny spring day this morning.

Of the 4 roe bucks I saw last week (out of season) there was no sign - no doubt they will show up 1st October

Anyhow in the distance I spied a doe and stalked closer hoping a buck would be in attendance. After a lot of slow stalking I lost her - I thought she might have moved on or bedded down, there was no buck so I started to move on a touch faster. As I stepped past a tree there on my right she was bedded down 20 yards from the path with head and ears looking right at me above the brambles. I froze and after a minute took two steps back to the cover of the tree. A slow rifle mount for practice and I wondered what to do next. I couldn't get past her without spooking her and maybe there would be a buck somewhere around. Finaly I decided to just brazenly march past her looking the other way - she never moved!

Wonder how many times that's happened without me knowing!

I'm sure Roe know what season it is as well as we do!

[This message has been edited by Pete E (edited 04-04-2002).]

I'm envious of the long stalking season you have in the UK. We still have to wait another month for our 1.5 month spring roe season and then wait until mid august when it opens again. I can't understand why some think it's more ethical to shoot a given number of deer during a few months instead of shooting the same number spread out over a longer period. Long seasons kind of make you put up with all gun laws. Given the choice I'd rather have unlimited hunting and limits on what firearms to own than the other way around.

Anyway back to the topic. Animals often seem to know when you're out after them. Just think of two people approaching you, one just strolling along and whistling a song and the other walking slowly, eyes fixed on you, clenched fists etc. Which one would make you afraid??

1894, didn't you know that old trick of the trade. I've shot a few bucks that I approached, playing the "tourist" in plain view of them. Deer are weary of someone tiptoing through the bushes and stopping now and then. It screams "HUNTER !!!" to them, while they're used to woodmen and strollers making lots of noise but meaning no harm BTW, that trick fools Muntjacs too, as a silver medal on my wall can attest. I'll sell you another one : during rutting time, how often do you freeze because an unseen and undetectable buck barks at you from a bush nearby ? Take out and wave your handkerchief but you better get ready to shoot at once ! Chances are he hasn't identified the trespasser yet (otherwise he'd be on the run already) and will come out, charging that rival buck, whose white behind flashed a second ago...

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Andr�