Behind the power-curve on this one since we're in the middle of preparing for a Namibian Gras Ranch Hunt which is rapidly approaching.

15-18 May the four of us, from L-to-R, Yours Truly, Tom, Kenny & Rick spent a extremely enjoyable extended weekend Roe Buck Hunt in the CZ Republic, in/around a small country-side village, Touzim. This is the heart of the Bohemian forest @ 40 km's south of the world-reknown Spa city; Karlovy Vary (Karlsbad).



This was a hunt organized thru a German/Czech Hunting aquaintance where the four of us were guests in a local Hunting Lease guided by the respective CZ Hunt Lease members. Savy Guys that know their Lease intimately. All carrying Brno's in 7x64 Brenneke - flat shooting and we soon find out why - large (huge) open expanses of Rapse fields between mature forested areas. Outstanding cartridge selection under their hunting circumstances; it's always smart to pay attention to what the locals are up to.

While there were siginificant language obstacles our experience reflects Hunter's World-Wide are a great Folk sharing a common passion. We communicated wondefully through a combination of hand signals, head nods, scribbled graphics, glibberish & common expereince without a spoken language. What Fun! The Pilsner Urquell in .5 ltr. bottles a CZ delight at the end of the day accompanied by the gesticulations & Spanglish made for a lively exchange.

I picked up Rick at FKT Airport and we traveled south to Heidelberg where our inital foray in a friend's St. Leon reviere resulted in Rick breaking the ice on Friday a.m. with a Roe Buck (Gabbler=4-pointer). We all saw Bucks but Rick was the only one who could snake in a Telling Shot. He's using Tom's DWM Mauser in 6.5x55 Swede w/Swarovski 3-12x56 Hubble Telescope mounted. Nice Boomer for low-light conditions.



Back to Heidelberg, gear loaded and off to the CZ Republic. Arrival in CZ Friday afternoon, the weather Sucks!

Saturday 04:00 - weather still very iffy for Roe Deer, pouring rain & wind (the Show Stopper).

Tom gets dropped off at his High Seat at 04:15. As we approach Wild Boar scatter in every direction; one appears to be the size of a Quad Bike. Tom later gets a good peek at the monster; a Keiler that apparently they do not want shot, supposedly off-season - Ugh! After the morning outing we are informed that we can also shoot Wild Boar but only Mid-Sized Porkers; knee high and between 25-40 Kgs - Piglets and Mature Piggies in Season-Closed (when in Rome.....). We see plenty of Wild Boar sign the weekend but glances are fleeting and although sighted by Tom & Kenny; no Piggies Bite the Dust.

My guide Anton, great guy - we just can't communicate as effectively as we'd have liked to. Extremely knowlegable, knows the Lay-of-the-Land like his vest pocket. We're not Stand Hunting but rather driving from one forested area & field to another and stalking areas he is trying to communicate to me as supposedly holding "Good" Bucks. Initial outlook is good despite the sideways driving rain, 7 Roe spotted but mostly Does or immature Bucks. They get the Pass. The one Good Buck takes a single bound into a head-high Rapse field - gone, just vanished.

Then @ 07:00 the rain stops. Hastly drive to another field, exit vehicle and slowly stalk the fridges of a large meadow. Shortly thereafter Anton spots tips of Antlers on the horizon - he obviously knows what he's looking for here..... A 15 minute stalk later the two of us have closed the distance to @ 250 meters and the Buck is standing in a boggy, marsh area adjacent to a forest. Anton gives me a questioning look & I nod in the affirmative; he's a Shooter. Off I go - one step at a time, keeping the crest of the meadow between me & the Buck's destiny.

An exciting 25 minute step-by-crawling, sliding & kneeling stalk later the unsuspecting Buck is now a mere 60 paces distant, completely unaware of my presence, broadside and now takes a hesitating, slightly quartering step away. Red Dot on, the K-95 7x57R Stutzen eases to my shoulder and the Dot's now glued to his left-side last rib; a quick glance to the Off-Side confirms the exit will be in front of his right shoulder. BOOM! - I see him go Ass-Over-Teakettle in the recoil, he's down. As I quickly attempt a fumbling reload the Buck staggers to his feet; then goes all wobbly and collapses. Perfect. Exactly what the Blaser K-95's made for, a light stalking rifle, good trigger and perfect pointability.



We've all seen plenty of Roe Deer, many lesser Trophies that get the Pass, Tom fleeting glances at Wild Boar but just can't quite make it happen. Rick's seen a very mature 3x1 receeding Buck that he gives the Pass. His decision, IMO would have made avery interesting Trophy. Now, with Rickie, I'm on the Scoreboard too.

Saturday evening the weather has turned, sunshine and T-Shirt weather. We're stalking mature forest. One step at a time; glassing constantly. Fox in an open glen mousing at 80+ meters. Anton queries me with a quizzical look? I shake my head, No. Sorry, Bucks are on the Menu.....a fat pregnant Doe at the fridge of the same Glen; let's wait and see if her boyfriend makes an appearance - Nope. Then an agitated Roe Buck barking at the other end of the wood - a quick 400 meter march ahead, another stalk in fading daylight at the forest's edge renders another fine Trophy.



Tom, Kenny & Rick have had exciting stalks also, some two - although without success.

Sunday morning Rick & Kenny take Good Bucks after initially sitting in High Seats and then making successful stalks. Fine Trophies. Kenny's an especially heavy, long-Tined Roe Buck with a "Double Rosette" on the right side. An oustanding Trophy.



A Five Roe Buck weekend including Rickie's Fatherland Gabbler & 4 in CZ. A great weekend hunting with friends; plenty of success, lots of game seen, many laughs, good food, a few Beers. IMO it just dosen't get any better than this. Only downside was we wished we could have communicated better with our Hosts - who were a great bunch of Guys!

Waidmansheil!

Waidmannsheil
Nice Bucks.

Seloushunter

Excellent Gerry.

Can we assume the young guy sitting on the tailgate of the pick-up is "of your blood"?

Nice one, the best kind of long weekend.

Brian,

No, but I'm sure Rickie wil get a kick outa your observation.

Stay Tuned though because the real "of my Blood" now has a German Jagdschein and is stationed in The Fatherland, too....

Thank you for posting up such an excellent report Gerry!

Sounds like you had a fantastic time in some very nice country.

Also, may I just say, your timing was impeccable, just in time to give me something to read over lunch!

ATB,

A

Gerry, my apologies to Rickie. I am sure he has been insulted before...

Waidmannsheil Gerry
Truly a great weekend
Thanks for posting

Brian,

You haven't a Clue - Rickie is actually the Butt of all of our Jokes since he's such a great Guy.

I'm sure he'll understand as he's Thick Skinned and takes it all in Stride.

Weidmannsheil Gerry, super report!

- mike

Excellent write up and photos.

Waidmannsheil Gerry, good report and write up. Touzim area is very nice. Need to make some time one of these trips and eat in the Chodovar Cave, worth the visit:

Chodovar Skale

If my link works there's a little video showing inside it, quite the atmosphere! Ricky's even been there, ate there last Fall with a small group on our way to Bor, Dom.

Nice bucks and report.

Waidmannsheil!

Hi Gerry

Great to see you getting out with the Blaser. A lovely looking rifle to my eye, and well suited to a Wandersmann on the hunt for a Roe buck.

The Drilling really should have been given an airing though!!

Great company, Bucks and hunting - what more could a man ask?

ATB

Ian

Great looking bucks, Gerry!
Makes me look forward to our buck season. Only two months away..

Nice report,thanks for sharing the tale with us.
BTW,nice rifle Gerry,very tasteful and left handed also if I,m not mistaken.

Sika,

Thx, Pal - I opted for the L/H Bavarian Cheekpiece Stock.

Blaser sent the Dealer 4 stocks to select from. One of them was the American Model. It appeared a bit plain to me; O.K., a matter of personal taste but I'm pleased with my selection.

When I did decide I also informed the Dealer that I wouldn't accept the rifle unless the two reamining pieces of wood on the forearm were cut from the same slab. Sadly, I've seen too many K95's that have wood cut from three different pieces of wood on them. If you prefer patchwork rifles - great; I consider this an affront for the price they ask for these rifles.

Great stuff bud,

Roe Buck really are a great quarry. They seem to inhabit the most beautiful of places.

Rgds,
FB

Waidmannsheil my Friend,

What a motley looking bunch in the first photo. Sort of reminds me of us hunting geese north of Berlin!

Great write up and lots more info than Rick gave me after the trip. Have you thought about changing careers and becoming a “hunting” writer? Sounds like things went well despite the daily changes in the weather. Hoist a cool one for me.

Loved the comment about Rick being “of the blood”. Just don’t tell #1 son he has been replaced.

Dies for the boomer should be in today.

Again Waidmannsheil,

Don