It is a while since I posted a little trip report and, to be honest, there hasn't been much to report. In fact there still isn't anything much to report but as Friday was such a lovely day I took some pictures as I went along and thought to report in on my day chasing sika.

As soon as I arrived they'd got my number:



As you can see it was a glorious winter day and there was even some heat in the sun so I took a few photos of my little furry friends:



Then I went and got the rifle out and...



There they were, gone.

As can be seen there was a little snow on the ground here and there and in the more open areas there was actually quite a covering of crunchy ice which made any attempt at sneaking up a disaster. As it was a flat calm day and as walking through the dense under growth, made enough noise to announce my presence to deer on the other side of the world I was a bit stuck. This image of the ground gives some idea of how it is impossible to move silently:



Not having a high seat I decided that the only route open to me was to lie in wait and so I picked a comfortable spot in deep shadow which looks out on quite an open ride. The ride is a regular deer motorway with beasts around it nearly all the time.



I made myself comfortable about an hour before dark and settled in to watch. It must be said that, based upon past observation, I was pretty confident of getting a shot and I thought I made a rather good lurker but the deer had other ideas. After about half an hour I heard a bark and two deer trotted out onto the ride. They were too high up and I didn't have a shot but I was sure they would come my direction in due course. They had other ideas and vanished back into the wood. Somewhat later on I got a repeat performance with the deer nearly, but not quite, coming into my window for a shot. I think they knew.

Once it got past shooting light I made my way back through the forest to catch a glimpse of 6 deer scattering in the face of my crunching, thumping and muttering as each foot found a twig, or a branch, or a hole that just wasn't there earlier.

I think I need to get myself a high seat. However, it was great to get out and about on such a lovely winter day and the fact that I came back without a deer was a very minor matter that did nothing to detract from my enjoyment of the day.

c,

Nice report - I really like it and your photos fantastic.



(I'm REALLY not being Cynical).



Especially your Lurker spot. You consider this a great ambush site; it appears to me as a lovely place to take a nap; which I would have done, awoken in the dark and without a flashlight had a difficult time getting back to transportation.

Glad I wasn't there, woulda just, well; you know, Ugh, slept.....send us another "Trip Report" when you've seen something else to potentially shoot at - O.K.?

Philip, I am going to let you into a secret regarding this stalking business...

Shoot the deer first with the rifle, the camera stays in the bag until the deer is dead. That way you can take all the photo's you want when the deer are lying on the deck.

Anyway, great photo's.

I sat out until well after legal hours last Saturday evening, the Sika did not show at all. There were the tracks of about 20 deer in the snow in front of me from that morning. Such is life.

quote:

Originally posted by Gerry:
Especially your Lurker spot. You consider this a great ambush site; it appears to me as a lovely place to take a nap;

You might have me sussed there Gerry, it was a most comfortable spot to sit in and watch the world go by. I did stay awake the whole time, honest.

You don't need to tell me Brian, the photos of the deer were taken from the car. The minute I open the door and get out... Gone. In such thick cover I think the only way I'm going to get a shot, apart from a lucky break, is from a high seat. In the mean time I'm holding out and stalking them on the ground with the occasional nap, errr make that ambush, thrown in.

Great story and photos.

Nice pictures, they are very pretty deer.

You will probably kill more deer from a high seat but it probably won't be as exciting.

Nice photos sir!

Glad you enjoyed the trip, it is enough just to be out there isn't it?

I've found the best way to avoid falling asleep in a highseat is to take Artemis along.

No chance of a quick 40 winks what with all of the chocolate wrapper rustling and "don't shoot that one" should one accidentaly sleep-place the crosshairs on a big red

Regards,

Amir

Suck-

Amir, the trick is to finish the sweets in the car,

by the way have you learned to back a decent hunting bag yet? A tip is to have two, one in use and one ready to go.

I have a good friend and recent father of his second child, we were out hunting the other week and after about 2 hours in another stand I walked over to his,

I noticed the fox tracks in the snow across his field of view and questions arose.

Snow is the ultimate telltale.

After a short interogration, I promised to return the ladder should he speak out, he confessed to have been napping, bur only for the shortest of time.

I laughed all the way back home.

Btw does any one ells think that the Sikas are qute?

Nice pics in this thread, makes me want to come back over again.

Best regards Chris

quote:

Originally posted by Husqvarna M98:


Btw does any one ells think that the Sikas are qute?



Best regards Chris

Yes,really cute hanging in the larder !

quote:

Originally posted by SIKA98K:

quote:

Originally posted by Husqvarna M98:


Btw does any one ells think that the Sikas are qute?



Best regards Chris

Yes,really cute hanging in the larder !

Well I sort of set myself up for that one didn´t I?

/Chris

quote:

Originally posted by Boghossian:
Nice pictures, they are very pretty deer.

You will probably kill more deer from a high seat but it probably won't be as exciting.

I agree with this and as my purpose is to enjoy myself and get some sport I would rather try to sneak up on them than sit in a high seat. I might not get a shot but, as you say, it can still be quite exciting. To be effective there is no question that I need a high seat but there isn't really a serious management problem so there is no pressure to meet targets.

I know high seats seem to be the normal approach for both reasons of safety and also practicality but does anyone have much experience of the "improvised ambush" method that I'm trying? Any hints and tips?

I'm new to this so I'm making it up as I go along and while I might not be killing a lot of deer I'm enjoying myself but I'm open to all suggestions to improve the success rate.

fair play to you lad , sika are the most lovely of deer .
i often go culling and come back with more picture that deer .

you can only kill them once ! but you can look at them every day .if there thin on the ground spend more time looking than killing .
its better to under shoot than over shoot deer.

I know high seats seem to be the normal approach for both reasons of safety and also practicality but does anyone have much experience of the "improvised ambush" method that I'm trying? Any hints and tips?

Approach the deer grounds up wind and make sure that you dont wind bedding or feeding grounds,

I would guess that Sika as well as most other deer travel to and from those sorts of ground, get and idea of where those are and then get patient.

Or rather like I would, not being world renound for being patient, get better at stalking and remember the always bed in the worst of bogs,

best regards Chris

quote:

Originally posted by Claret_Dabbler:
Philip, I am going to let you into a secret regarding this stalking business...

Shoot the deer first with the rifle, the camera stays in the bag until the deer is dead. That way you can take all the photo's you want when the deer are lying on the deck.

i'm forever taking pics of the deer before i shoot them

then always a few more once i hav grassed them
heck i just luv taking pics of deer

some lovely pics there caorach