Thought I better post this as a thanks to 9.3 Nige for taking me out on one of his bits of ground after Chinese Water Deer. It was a gift from him and Puntgunner for organising the eventual return of their skins and trophies along with my own from Africa last year.

We met up on a crisp saturday morning at 9.3's house swapped our gear over into his house and were off. We got onto the ground stalking just as day broke and the sun was starting to lift it's head. We loaded upand we were off. It wasn't long before we spotted a buck meandering through a field straight towards us. So following 9.3's advice I was up on the sticks watching him wander along, never pausing long enough for a shot, then just as he stopped for the shot he promptly thought he'd have a lay down. We stood and watched for a while waiting for him to get up but he refused. So with that we decided we'd go off and look for another. It wasn't long before we spotted another buck wandering along in a field to our left. we were stood there trying to figure out how we'd get to him with the conditions when we turned back round and there was a young doe only 100yards from us. I don't know where she'd come from as we'd both checked the field several times. But with that 9.3 said quick down on the bipod and take her. So (for once) I did exactly as I was told. One shot and she was down. We layed and watched for a while to ensure she didn't get up then got up had the usual hand shakes and we were off to pick her up.



Not massive I know but she was my first and I was over the moon. As 9.3 was gralloching her i was just stood there admiring the day when we turned and there were another 2 CWD watching us minding their own business without a care in the world. 9.3 said that one looked like a nice buck and that he'd make a nice stalk. So with that we were off. We followed him for a while until he dissappeared without offering a shot. Then whilst we were stood glassing he appeared at 300 yards feeding straight towards us. We were down and waiting for him off of the bipods. He got to about 160 yards when 9.3 told me to take him, I told him I wasn't keen on the distance as I'd just started uing a heavier ammo and wasn't sure if it'd drop or not, and there fore that he should take him. Well with that 9.3 took aim and fired, he hit him square in the shoulder and he took off, I was watching him in my bins and told 9.3 that he'd layed down at 211 yards and that he might want to take him again, with that there was a fantastic shot straight through the base of the neck from 9.3. When we got over to him we had a quick look and the first shot was right on the money, just me I think being a bit over cautious. I was over the moon 9.3 had just shot a magnificent animal. So there were more handshakes and ciggarettes.





Whilst 9.3 was gralloching his animal i noticed that there was another CWD in the field behind him. He said if she came any closer to shoot her. Well as I was watching her she ran straight at us and into a hedge just 40 yards away. We waited and waited until she came out and I shot her straight through the shoulder, she lept in the air and came dowm like I'd hit her with a sledge hammer. But started to try and get up again so I let her have a second through the throat. When I gralloched her i don't know why she went anywhere, all her vitals were totally destroyed. But yet more ciggarettes and hand shakes then back off to pick the car up and collect our animals.



I had a fantastic day, it was brilliant to see 9.3 shoot that beautiful buck and for me to have 2 does as well I was absolutely over the moon.

Thanks once again 9.3 - you really are a gentleman.

Well done!

This may sound insane,but I want to hunt CWD more than cape buffalo....

My next trip for sure...

Nice photos,Great report.....

Congrats....

Dan

Nice one!
What are the carcass weights on those little fellas?

Paul,

Waidmannsheil!

Great hunting tale and the photos excellent as well.

9.3's Buck is truly a superb specimen of a CWD.

Just have to ask, "Did you see the Halo?"

Milwall - thanks for the write up, and your generous comments. It was great to see you enjoying your stalking and it has to be said the Gods were smiling on us that day.

Boghossian - weights unknown but those little ones make a very tasty mouthful! They also have a remarkable amount of fat on them.

Gerry - At the polishers!

Thanks for sharing such a pleasant hunt. Congratulations as well, You hasn't come for nothing and you have amply reasons to fell satisfyed.
I am really impressed by the lively look of your deers, one could believe they are alive and ready to jump away.
Definitely nice game.

Congratulations to the lot, that was some great CWD:s taken and obviously an even great time was had.

That would be a very great buck there.

Best regards Chris

woodmanDan, having hunted both sucessfully I agree I would rather hunt CWD, Reeves Munjac and any of the pygmy antelope more than cape buffalo.

Lads,

WELL DONE Millie for a nice write up. Well deserved

And congrats to Nige for a fine Home Counties Vampire.
Looks like it will go well into Gold CIC points when it's boiled out.

Regards

Nice animals,

I would rather hunt lots of things than Cape Buffalo, don't understand why they are the holy trali for so many people.

Great write up!

Well done lads, good shooting and ten house points to Paul for refusing to take a shot he was not 100% sure about.

Can't wait to see the skull!

Regards,

Amir

Very nice!
Thanks for sharing brilliant photos and story!
Love those little CWD's and I'm crossing my fingers as I hopefully will try for them in February!

Slightly off topic but....do you think the new close season is beneficial to the CWD population?

I think that the closed season is probably of benefit to the CWD as they are in smaller populations than most of our other species. I had a fantastic day stalking with 9.3 and would just like to thank him and Puntgunner once again. - Ooh and may I add that once again 9.3 was right - the CWD is particularly fantastic eating.

Bog,

You have to wonder why we have introduced a close season for an alien species in this country.
It is viable, due to it being almost impossible to distinguish between the sexes at any time of the year. But do I believe that it is wise to have a season that ensures that the population of an alien species can expand ?

Up until recently, Sika deer were not considered tolerable in many areas due to their ability to cross breed with reds - thus diluting the natural red deer gene pool. We now have a close season for the also.


Grey squirrels, cormorants, Gliss Gliss, Muntjac. All alien species, but none with a close season.

Can I dare to say that the reason we do not have a close season for CWD is because they are so lucrative.........

We have the biggest population ,(including their native home land) of the little critters in the world. Surely that has something to do about it.

Also strange that we are allowed to hunt something on the endangered species list, but that's another story.