With the Roe rut due to commence in just four weeks time, do you need to brush up on your marksmanship?
So, you have just four weeks to make your preparations for this years Roe rut. That’s ‘28 sleeps’ as an excited child would say!
And I have to admit, even after years of stalking, to still be thrilled at the prospect of setting out on the first outing of the year with ‘buttalo’ in hand and letting out a tentative ‘peep’ and then wait…..Initially nothing shows….is it too early? Have I started calling too soon? Am I in a bad position? I question. “Never push a bad position” as an old Major friend would say’. Should I move on to another spot?
No, there it is, bounding like a dog to a whistle across the field toward me, the first Roebuck of the rut, responding to the call. Is there a back stop? Is he a good shootable animal? 200 yards, 100 yards, 50yards….how close will he come? A whisper into my clients ear…”You can take the shot when you are ready”. And the first thrilling days of the 2018 Roe rut are upon us.
Along with stalking Red Stag in the Scottish Highlands and Master Fallow Buck in the deep woods, Roebuck in the rut is one of the highlights of UK stalking and amongst the most exciting hunting events anywhere in the world.
But don’t be tempted to start too early, in the south, weather dependent (hot weather being the best) from maybe the 24th July, and in the north of the country and Scotland, maybe the start of August. Either way as sure as the sun rises each morning, it is coming to the woods and fields near you.
What can you do to prepare? Well, be on top of your game. Having been called toward you, many beasts will appear ‘head on’ meaning that a neck shot might be the only option. The deer will be alert and highly mobile. Shots at a small target, on a small deer species, require no more than the smallest margin of error. So, practice, practice, and you’ll be sure to be ready when the heart pounding moment arrives.
For those that would like a little practice, at County Deer Stalking we have developed the 'PDS Woodland Stalker' and 'PDS Woodland Stalker Pro'. These are two challenging courses designed for deer stalkers of all abilities to test their marksmanship over a series of target,s presented along a woodland trail. Shooters are invited to walk the course with one of our instructors, taking shots at a series of interactive steel targets set at a variety of ranges and positions designed to replicate real life hunting scenarios.
The training is designed to seriously test your marksmanship. The PDS ‘Woodland Stalker’, our shorter course, features shooting at ranges up to 150 yards and our more advanced course, PDS ‘Woodland Stalker Pro’ boasts shooting at extended ranges up to 400 yards.
'PDS Woodland Stalker’ takes about an hour to complete (£155) and the 'PDS Woodland Stalker Pro’ takes two hours (£295). You’ll be amazed at what you will learn. No one as yet, has achieved a 100% score - can you?
To find out more about the ‘Woodland Stalker Challenge’ follow this link: firearms-training or to book please call 0203 981 0159 / 0208 239 7311 or email
IN Season in England & Wales: Roebuck, Muntjac Buck & Muntjac Doe.
OFF Season in England & Wales: Roe Doe, Fallow Doe, Fallow Buck, Sika Hind, Sika Stag, Red Hind, Red Stag, CWD Buck & CWD Doe.
IN Season in Scotland: Roebuck, Red Stag, Sika Stag.
OFF Season in Scotland: Roe Doe, Fallow Doe, Fallow Buck, Sika Hind, Red Hind.
(Peter Jones - Editor)
