As most people with the current situation ive been patiently waiting to get out and chase some sika. Was hoping with fingers crossed that the level 3 would work in favour with both weather and work. Things were aligning but the block i was meant to hunt required a 4x4 or quad to get access to in the time frame i had allowed to hunt. So that plan was scratched and the sika itch still stands.
Change of plans ended up going to another block to chase some fallow on foot in some nice country. Seen a few promising heads from younger stags and some nice looking heads but only with 1 antler left due to fighting through the rut.
Nothing was making noise but headed around the track and no more than 15m around the corner were a nice fallow buck and a younger one with him. Anyway left them as didnt really get a decent look at the head gear. Carried on and left a few animals with potential.
Decided we would come back to the area where we spooked that buck and see if we can find him on a face with broken scrub. Found him. Nice length, depth in the palms and quite even. Ranged him at 270yds and was waiting for him to stop moving. He sidled into the 3m2 bit of scrub and disappeared.
Didnt see him come out and was a little spur where he was so thought he may have sat down in the sun (10am). Gave it 5 mins and there was no sign of him coming out. Hatched a plan to cut up a ridge and get a good angle on him as we were sure he was in this 3m2 bit of scrub.
Got up there. Nothing. Was dumb founded. We would have seen him come out. Surely not.
After doing circles and looking in this small bit of scrub and thinking where could he have gone. We felt abit embarrassed.
Headed along the ridge 50-75m and looking down below us. Stumbled across the buck no more than 30yds below us grazing away. “Hes right there.” Working a round into the spout without looking and made a hua of a noise. Not ideal. Buck was onto us off. Was no pulling him up at all.
330yds away and still on the trot. By then i was lying on the ridge gun setup and following this buck. Got a mate to range a spot 100yds in front of the buck were we anticipated the buck would come across. Ranged that spot at 440yds, dialled in for that and waited. The buck came to this spot and stopped for half a second broadside. Licked the stamp and sent it. Buck down and a happy couple lads.
Also first animal for the Hells Canyon 300wsm. Ive always had a go to xbolt 308 bushpig that is capable of 450yds but wanted to blood the 300wsm. Done plenty of range work with it but its not the same. Safe to say happy days.
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