Dear all

Thought I would start a thread of asking for anyone to post their personal hunting highlights of 2009.

For me it was shooting a super representative 8 point Sika stag in the rut.

It was my 3rd year trying for one from the Dawyck bloodline and my first one was a super animal. I was very very lucky.

Please see pics below.

By the way it was taken with my .300 WSM Sako 85 using 165 grn BT's behind 75 grns of Vhit N560 (3200 fps) for anyone interested. Also text book side on profile at about 120 yards and heart/lung shot but still ran a good 70 yards!

My thanks to a super guide (Dougie) as he made a hunting ambition of mine come true.

Going again this year.

Looking forward to hearing/seeings pics of anyone else who wishes to add to the thread.

Best

JB

Very Nice Sika.

Out of interest did bullet exit?? hear very bad thing about BTs in magnums

Very nice sika mate - is there anything peculiar about the Dawyck bloodline, or was it just a personal goal to get one?

I had a great year and i suppose the best memory was taking a few chaps out for there first ever deer.

Nice Sika Jon

Jon
glad you said highlights, as i hav had a few
2009 started off with a few days in poland
1st boar

2nd boar one that ran and we needed to track it

3rd boar

4th boar

5th boar

6th and final boar


Then with March+shoot winner Mudman
his Munty, that was a special trip :wink:


as Varmint243 also shot his 1st ever munty with us on the same weekend

BJ's first ever deer on his first ever stalk, the look on his face said it all


my first ever head i ever had measured and it went Bronze ,



My Pierre David and Manchurian Sika



there are a few more but can't track the Photo's down as yet
but wot a year it has been ,hope 2010 is just as good
cheers

I think my was the AR "get to gether" in Baldock
lots of good frends and a lot of fun.

Eish - some year - couple of peaks:

May - Bushbuck in Zim taken with opensighted double:



June - old roebuck:



Dec - Zim trip:



And a story from one of the trackings I did this year - weird tho there is always something to learn.

Guy fired at the red calf that was following the hind in a thicket. After the shot they both just trotted away without any signs of hit. When I arrived at the spot to check things out (more or less just to confirm a miss) I found a tiny piece of meat (1/4 of cm2)and some weird dropings - after smelling those I could confirm a hit in the testines somewhere. On the trail nothing till after 500m I found 1m of intestines - still no blood - calf was still running with its mom - then after 300m or so the calf separated from the hind, another meter of intestines and a couple of tiny drops of blood - a sharp turn to the left and another 100m there was a calf on its bed - bumped it and at that moment noticed a huge (fist size) hole just infront of its thigh - dog let loose chased the calf for a klik or so where it kept the calf at bay - after I gave it a coupe the grace I've found that bullet (11g Nosler Partition from 7x64) had struck a barrier and hit the calf square on - still rotating over its longitudinal axe, just penetrated the skin and stayed there - the blow did tore the intestines tho...anyway - havent saw anything like it so far...just a heads up guys - always double check all the misses...

Have a good o'10 - Cheers

New Years Resolutions:-

1. buy some new rechargeable batteries
2. take some effort taking photos
3. find a better hosting site than Hunt 101 (any suggestions?)

So all I can add is this rather tacky photo of some of the better heads from the fallow rut.



The rut was definately the high point of my season. My favourite not surprisingly is the one in the corner, not because it was one of the best but because it was taken after a fun and quite long stalk and with my trusty 243 across a valley at 230yards (sitting with sticks) trying to control my breathing and trigger release on a very agitated buck that would only stop for moments.

Ummmmmmmmmmm, does getting a Searcy 470 NE for Christmas count? Getting my nephew back from Iraq safe and sound.

Rich

It's nice to reflect on good memories. I enjoyed a great trip to Africa for Plains Game, great time!


Then off to Montana for Elk and Deer Camp. Beautiful area, Elk eluded me but did manage to tag a Muley.


Back in time for Drive Hunts in Germany, busy weekends but sometimes you're in the right place at the right time! First triple, same Rotte:


Wishing all the AR folks a healthy and prosperous New Year, Waidmannsheil, Dom.

My first roe deer



Not a trophy, but one I will not forget!



Wishing you all a Happy New Year!
Jonathan

quote:

Originally posted by Idaho Sharpshooter:
Ummmmmmmmmmm, does getting a Searcy 470 NE for Christmas count? Getting my nephew back from Iraq safe and sound.

Rich

if you felt this nessecary to post then i feel it counts
happy for you, your son had a safe return
ATB

quote:

Originally posted by 1894mk2:

3. find a better hosting site than Hunt 101 (any suggestions?)

try Photobucket, it works for me

Thanks to all

TP yes I got a perfect exit (about an inch in diameter) and I have found that to be consistent with the 8 animals I have shot with this load so far.

Boggy the Sika which herald from Dawyck are notoriously difficult as in wary. This was the 3rd year of trying for one. Previous years had me waiting well after last light in the seats I was in and hearing them whistle in the tree line in front of me but not showing etc. I know in other areas of the country they behave like fallow deer in some cases. To me this is the ultimate UK hunt. My opinion of course.