The weather was for clear skies and favorable winds after some heavy rain which was going to make my hunt all that much easier given how dry the bush has been in most areas. I was hoping to hear my first Fallow Buck croak on this trip. I began my hike through the bush at dawn to discover fresh tracks everywhere and scrapes too. I came to one animal trail that crossed over to the other side of a ridge. I paused and listened. There it is. The faintest step every 10 seconds about 30m away. I've learnt that fallow blend well into their surroundings with the advantage of being small which make them a worthy opponent. The deer were onto me and I heard them dissapear quietly into the thick bush. Moving on I dropped down into a creek and found more fresh sign so decided to follow that for a bit. After not seeing anything for a while I made a steep climb out of the creek into a gully. Sure enough when I least expected it 2 fallow (one black the other a cream colour) bolted in different directions. I decided to pursue the caramel one as it was going the way I had intended on going and there easier to see ;) I caught up to this animal several times but it was always obscured by bush for a clean shot. Moving on I came to a open area with a gully next to it. Just as I had decided to check this gully out a deer erupted out of it and man was it a big animal and it was not stopping for anything. Deer 3, homo 0.
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I looked at my GPS and made a bearing for a open area. This area was the bees knees and it had deer written all over it. I was conscious to try and work the edge so as to not disturb any thing that may be in the open. I stepped once every 10 seconds and paused, the heart rate getting up on the prospect of seeing a nice buck. I think I counted 6-7 scrapes in this area with every thing chewed out. I found a warm deer shit still green and soft next to this rut (crikey I just missed bumping into one).
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Time to sit back and have a bite as it was lunch time according to the growls coming bellow. I decided to do a big circle around the opening to double check something hadn't come out. Nothing. Moving on I came to a hill and decided I'll have to go up it. Well some other things decided they were coming down to greet me? Out of the bush a caramel doe (leading) and a young buck (following) were making there way at quick pace towards me. 20m, 15m, 10m, 5m :o The doe looked up and spread her front legs to apply the brakes with the buck going head first into her arse. She spun and bolted, the buck followed. I had in this short amount of time composed myself enough to raise the rifle and close the bolt. The two deer were now semi-obscured by the bush. I whistled 3 times and heard them stop. No clean shot. So I take one big side step, and see the buck standing perfectly side on. I aim for the lungs and squeeze. Then there is a puff of white wood when I raise my head. Your shitting me. I had hit a tiny little branch no bigger then my pinky. The Brno 223 55g would not have liked that. The deer are moving off, so I follow. I can hear one animal thrashing about so know its a hit but no idea how good it is. It was still alive when I got to it so dispatched it quickly. The shot had been deflected low but still done enough damage. Beauty, first spiker but not the palmed variety I was after. On reflection the deer probably thought I was another buck or mate coming into their area. I boned him out and hiked out with a full pack of prime venison! Doesn't get much better then that!
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Cheers!
