Iberian Red Stag Hunt in Portugal

24 October 2012, 00:03

Fallow Buck

I decided it was about time to go and check out the red stag hunting that is on offer in Portugal and the deal was sealed as it gave me a chance to catch up with Seargent Major Robinson for the first time since he left Africa.

We had a great time and a full report is on its way, however here are a few photo's to start things off. The trophy quality is exceptional with one of the stags having an inside width of 114cm, and that was just a bronze medal. Added to that some great fallow bucks and a smattering of wild boar and it makes for a great hunt.

I haven't been so enamoured with a hunt since I started wingshooting in Africa, and I can't wait to get back to Portugal now. We already have plans to head out in January to sample the partridges and a small Monetria, and plans to hunt the rut for the truly huge reds that turn up then are already afoot so it looks like seargent major Robinson may be forced to drink a few single malts with us again!!

Anyway here are the pics:

Worn smooth by the wild boar rubbing on it:

Numerous captions have been suggested to this one:

There are a heap more pics but I haven't had a chance to go through them all yet. We also got some great video footage so hopefully we will have a short film available soon.

Rgds,
Kiri

24 October 2012, 01:52

Scriptus

The Sarn-major looks scary.

It could be the gaitors, no, the hat, maybe the hat, or is it the eyes, no the beard. I dunno, I am leaving now.

24 October 2012, 03:24

Use Enough Gun

No-kidding! I think that it's something to do with the combination of the gaitors and the beard!

24 October 2012, 04:00

Scriptus

Actually, its those single malt eyes, put the damn sun glasses back on. Look lively then, before you bleed to death.

24 October 2012, 14:12

shakari

quote:
Originally posted by Scriptus:
Actually, its those single malt eyes, put the damn sun glasses back on. Look lively then, before you bleed to death.

I think it was a combination of fine malt whisky and equally fine local vino.

When you get over here for a visit, I'll be sure to have some of each ready for you....... the whisky you know about but I promise, the locally made wines will be a revelation to you!

........ as will the quality of the hunting.

24 October 2012, 16:16

Fallow Buck

Actually the quality of the food and the wine was superb.

They took the view that if you had finished everything on the plate then you wanted more, so additional platters would be provided to the table.

Combine that with no portuguese, Steve and my, finely sculpted and athletic physiques, and it took about 51 platters of pork chops for us to understand the system!!!

Can't wait for the piggies!!

K

24 October 2012, 16:36

Scriptus

quote:
Originally posted by Fallow Buck:
Actually the quality of the food and the wine was superb.

They took the view that if you had finished everything on the plate then you wanted more, so additional platters would be provided to the table.

Combine that with no portuguese, Steve and my, finely sculpted and athletic unique physiques,,[oh boy ] and it took about 51 platters of pork chops for us to understand the system!!!

Can't wait for the piggies!!

K

24 October 2012, 16:49

shakari

quote:
Originally posted by Fallow Buck:
Actually the quality of the food and the wine was superb.

They took the view that if you had finished everything on the plate then you wanted more, so additional platters would be provided to the table.

Combine that with no portuguese, Steve and my, finely sculpted and athletic physiques, and it took about 51 platters of pork chops for us to understand the system!!!
Can't wait for the piggies!!

K

Hey, it took us a lot of hard work and no end of good grub to get to this fine physical condition.

In the world of gorillas, we'd be considered to be absolutely at the very top of the pecking order!

I've gotta agree with Kiri. The food and drink was really great and just perfect for a hunting party.

24 October 2012, 19:04

Scriptus

quote:
Originally posted by shakari:
quote:
Originally posted by Fallow Buck:
Actually the quality of the food and the wine was superb.

They took the view that if you had finished everything on the plate then you wanted more, so additional platters would be provided to the table.

Combine that with no portuguese, Steve and my, finely sculpted and athletic physiques, and it took about 51 platters of pork chops for us to understand the system!!!
Can't wait for the piggies!!

K

Hey, it took us a lot of hard work and no end of good grub to get to this fine physical condition.

In the world of gorillas, we'd be considered to be absolutely at the very top of the pecking order!

I've gotta agree with Kiri. The food and drink was really great and just perfect for a hunting party.

Hence my observation via e-mail, that you had become a Member of the International Treasure Seekers Club and that you now carry around with you, a "sunken chest!"

24 October 2012, 19:17

shakari

Oh I got the humour....... I just tried to ignore it!

24 October 2012, 20:37

ddrhook

sunken chest and no lead in his shooter either

24 October 2012, 20:49

shakari

Hook,

Mate, you need to get over here..... the hunting is simply phenomenal!

25 October 2012, 01:00

Fallow Buck

quote:
Originally posted by Scriptus:
quote:
Originally posted by Fallow Buck:
Actually the quality of the food and the wine was superb.

They took the view that if you had finished everything on the plate then you wanted more, so additional platters would be provided to the table.

Combine that with no portuguese, Steve and my, finely sculpted and athletic unique physiques,,[oh boy ] and it took about 51 platters of pork chops for us to understand the system!!!

Can't wait for the piggies!!

K

I resemble that remark!!

K

25 October 2012, 01:26

Scriptus

Tell me about the acorns.[3rd photo] Is that a cork oak, as the leaves do not look like the English oaks found here? Just curious.

25 October 2012, 01:36

shakari

I'm no expert but believe there are both types in the region but mostly cork oaks and I think the acorns of the cork oaks are indeed longer.

FWIW, cork oaks are heavily protected out here and it's BIG shit if you cut one down etc.

Let me know if you want me to send you a few acorns..... or alternatively, get your arse over here and collect some for yourself.

25 October 2012, 01:51

Adam.270

I'm sitting in a hunting lodge in southern Finland, finishing writing the full report of the trip to Portugal with Athina Hunting Tours and getting ready to go out into the cold to hunt Whitetail deer in 3 hours time...

I'll finish editing some film clips when I get back on Monday - I've had a quick scroll through the footage and there are some very nice stags there. What's not to like about hunting in Portugal - challenging stalking, magnificent primary quarry species, plenty of secondary game to hunt, magnificent countryside, fabulous food and great company.

Adam.

25 October 2012, 02:37

Fallow Buck

Adam

Shoot me a big whitetail mate. Looking forward to seeing the pics.

Is there any way you can edit the footage so my stag falls over?

Rgds,
K

25 October 2012, 02:55

shakari

quote:
Originally posted by Fallow Buck:
Adam

Is there any way you can edit the footage so my stag falls over?

Rgds,
K

That has to be the funniest comment I've seen all year!

You'll do better next time buddy!

25 October 2012, 03:38

Scriptus

quote:
Originally posted by shakari:
quote:
Originally posted by Fallow Buck:
Adam

Is there any way you can edit the footage so my stag falls over?

Rgds,
K
That has to be the funniest comment I've seen all year!

You'll do better next time buddy!

HHMmnn? Did the 51 platters of pork chops cause you to list somewhat? Just could not get the elbows past the sunken chest?

25 October 2012, 17:53

Fallow Buck

Hey Scriptus,

It was a simple case of giving the wrong answer to the question of "what do you do when you are 50m away from the vehicle and realise you have forgotten your shooting sticks back at he car?"

The wrong answer is "fcuck it, I'm sure we will be able to get a rest on the hill" The right answer is to haul your sorry pork chop enhanced arse back up the hill, past the ~~sleeping guard~~ ever alert S'arn Major, and retrieve the aforementioned implement. My grade in this particular lesson was a solid D-minus and earned me half an hour on the naughty step....

An couple of hours later after a 2-3 km stalk on to a pair of nice stags and a group of hinds, I needed a rest to shoot from. The only thing handy was the camera tripod which proved nice and stable to take the 255m shot from. Settled in and having a good 20 minutes of b-roll footage in the bag I was ready to achieve hunter hero status (at least in my own lunchtime...

) and take what appeared to be a slightly rangy but slam dunk of a shot o a great 12-13 pointer.

This is where it all went wrong, as this particular basket ball player, was bang out of slam dunks... On autopilot I removed my hand from the front rest and cupped the rifle stock as I would when using the "V" shaped support of the bog pod, (BTW thanks Tim!!). As I ~~yanked~~ gently squeezed the trigger, the rifle slid across the rest, went bang, and the bullet went under the stag, missing him clean. In a split second, I saw it all happen in the scope but I was committed and powerless to put on the brakes.

The only thing more epic than the ripping I got from my former friends, was the amount of roast potatoes Steve managed to eat at lunch time!!

Jokes apart I was quite !@?$ed off with myself but it goes to show that however much you shoot you must stay in the moment and be concious of your actions. I was just relieved to see that the shot was a clean miss.

Rgds,
Kiri

25 October 2012, 19:05

shakari

Wot, me eat stunningly crispy roast tatties when I'm on the dukane diet? - Never!

Of course, you could have had the Sarn't Major to send a runner with the sticks to meet you half way!

Joking aside, shit just happens sometimes and I'm sure you'll get one in the bag next time.

25 October 2012, 20:02

Fallow Buck

I'm loose and cool mate. I'm really looking forward to more tatties!!

K

25 October 2012, 20:17

shakari

I'm looking forward to seeing and smelling them but of course, I'd never eat one.....

25 October 2012, 23:27

maki

Inspiring countryside and wonderful stags! I simply didn't know that such hunting was possible in Portugal. Congratulations.

Dean

25 October 2012, 23:46

shakari

Dean

I've no idea why or how it happened but Portugal seems to be the best kept secret in hunting!

26 October 2012, 00:28

MARK H. YOUNG

Kiri,

This is all very interesting. What you told me about the possibility of adding a genuine wild boar and fallow deer makes this all more interesting plus the game is free range. Nice! Sadie and I are in for '14 for sure.

Mark

27 October 2012, 23:38

Caracal

Nice stags!

29 October 2012, 16:05

Fallow Buck

Thanks Caracal,

Hopefully you and your brother will have one onn your wall this time next year!!

Rgds,
K

29 October 2012, 16:06

Fallow Buck

quote:
Originally posted by MARK H. YOUNG:
Kiri,

This is all very interesting. What you told me about the possibility of adding a genuine wild boar and fallow deer makes this all more interesting plus the game is free range. Nice! Sadie and I are in for '14 for sure.

Mark

Mark that's cool. It looks like we have something to talk about over a few whiskeys in Dallas!!

Rgds,
K