Last September I got really lucky during the red deer ruting season.

I had bought a tag to hunt one old male during the rut season in Sologne. The hunt had to be taken on a private property just 2 hours south of Paris. Since I leave in Paris I told the owner that he should call me when the rut begins and I would then drive down to take my chance.

He called me on September 29th saying that he was starting to see some activity. Hi property is completly open but it is 500 acres, which for France is small. But stags love this place because it is very quiet and the hunting pressure is very low. So he calls me on September 29th in the morning saying that the rut is on, I tell him that I'll be there that same day around 5:30 PM to go out.

I get there on time and I can hear the stags roaring in the distance. The owner tells me that there is a big one at the corner of the property and he will drive me there where there is a high seat. I get ready and we jump in his 4x4 to go to the high seat. As we get close to the place he stops the car and tells to check an open field just behind a small lake as stags often like to come out at night. So I get out of the car and carefully walk 100 meters.

I am at the corner of the open field and I can hear stags roaring on my left, I carefully looked behind a tree where I stand and I see a young stag on the other side of the field. The stag seems to be annoyed by something moving in the forest on his right. I take my binoculars and I look in the forest on the other side of the field, I can see something moving but I cannot tell if it is a male or a female. Suddenly the animal starts to run and get out in the open field. It turns out it is a nice 14 pointers very mature.

After looking at his trophy I decide to shoot with my Tikka 270 Winchester. The stag is at 100 meters and does not see me. I take a deep breathe and squizze the trigger. The stag take the bullet in the shoulder, jumps and start running and collapses after 50 yeards. It is a nice 14 pointers and the owner tells me that it is a big one for the area. I am happy and know that I got very lucky. the hunt only lasted 30 minutes.

Here is the pictures:





Augustin Motte

Very nice stag Augustin, congrats!

Beautiful animal. Thanks for sharing

a really great stag!

Massive stag for Sologne - especially open! Congratulations

Excellent !!
Though getting one that quickly takes some of the fun and challenge out of it .Enjoy your meals.

I agree that I got really lucky !
I saw it was a big one so I took the opportunity and pulled the trigger.

Congratulations. That is a beautiful stag. Never feel bad about good luck! I always look at good luck in hunting as a gift and blessing from St. Hubert. Red Stag is by far my favorite animal to hunt.

Again, congratulations.

Larry

Very nice! Congrats!

Excellent! Congratulations. How did you have him mounted? Photo of the mount?

Grand Stag! Very well done.

Thank you Blanco County. I kept the trophy "european style", just the skull with antlers on a wooden plate. I have no pictures yet because it is still at the taxidermist, I have yet to pick it up.
Augustin

For me it looks like a uneven 16 Pointer. Only Good knows

Very nice...CONGRATULATIONS!!!