I'll be working but roll on the weekend, heading down to Dad's home place for a crack at the ducks and maybe a stalk.

Working on the 1st.

Will go for a walk at the weekend to see if there are any duck about.

Brilliant! Much obliged to you J.R I think the map will be really helpful 👍👍👍

Hoping to head for sika tommorow evening. Wind direction forecast, has made me have to think carefully? the usual spotsd won't be a runner. Good luck and safe hunting to all.

Wishing you all the best for the season lads, feather or fur may your aim be small.

It's not looking like I'll be out at all with health reasons this year, maybe for a shot in the new year all being well.

Getting out later today for the 1st attempt of the season.

Had 2 good months on a Sec 42 during the summer. With the rifle tightened up with a new stock, better scope and finding the right ammo for the rifle, on the Sec 42 I've managed my longest shot (343mtrs), graduated to trying for a frontal shot as opposed to heart/lungs/broadside(done at 110mtrs) and finally decided to go for a headshot (86mtrs).

I've realised the frontal shot meant the deer actually ran towards me after it was hit for a few metres, making it easier. The headshot was dropped on the spot and maximum meat retention.

It has highlighted to me the difference in being confident in your setup and then yourself as a result. The shooting improves dramatically which in turn is much fairer on the animal being hunted too.

Been waiting the last few weeks now to get back out!

**Update..not a sign of anything in the fields. Like the deer know its September. I did hear a stag calling in the forest(very small coillte woods- not shot in) beside me, which I thought it was a bit early for so thought it was someone using a caller. However it called again about 10 minutes later further along in the forest. Anyone hear any calls yet or is it still a bit too early for that?

My first year on the deer and two for the freezer, absolutely loved the hike for these two (both shot a week apart). Hooked now, amazing experience and hopefully more to come.

Was rang by a friend to come down to a farmer he knows, deer on his land and he decided he wanted venison so I got the call to help out.

'What kind of deer?'

'They're brown anyway...'

'Oh right. Sure I'll have a look'. With much scepticism.

Anyway, it's in a known fallow area. Came face to face with this about 3 hours ago. Beautiful to see, as I've never hunted reds before. Can't upload the video so these are screenshot. But some experience. See you in 4 weeks....

For good measure, as I walked along, a stag jumped out into the clearing about 5 metres from me. Scared the sh1t out of me😂 before I could react he turned and ran back in. I've never seen reds in the flesh so this was some mornings walk. Really big animals.

Conclusion....I'm gonna need a bigger fridge.

Congratulations. Much and all as I dream of reds, I reckon sika are plenty big.

Just in from the field from the Reds and sika.VERY quiet out there this AM and PM.Usually, you'd hear a Red bellowing at this time of the year and with the dry patch and cold wind you would think they would be out on the Western slopes catching some rays and it should be mid rut by now. But nothing so far this year.🤔

Yea for us The 1st meant the 1st of Nov. Chained to the desk, Dad is out though, will give him a shout later to see how he got on.

Was out for a few hours this afternoon and seen nothing, had all packed up in the car and went for a nosey in some wallsteads beside where I was parked and raised a woodcock just at the ditch.

Interesting head, esp with the deformation at the base of the antler almost growing into the eye. He must have had an injury to the base sometime early this year for that to occur.

Great looking fallow buck you have there.