A couple of forum members and I went over to the east coast for 2 nights. Them with all their trad gear and me loaded up with tech stuff. I hunted by myself - not that they shunned me - but thats how I like it. We had 3 evening hunts and 2 morning hunts, going back to the hut in the middle of the day for a bite and nanna-nap.
its a place where there are always deer so with the fairly new Sytong 50mm spotter I was expecting to see a few... but it was far better than that. The thing was freaking amazing. Day and night. I was an early user of thermal spotters and have had what I thought was a good Guide 50mm which recently packed it in - but this new one is next level. I saw dozens of deer, everywhere, in places I expected to see them and some places Ive never seen them. I smile to myself about thermal spotters now being legal on public land and people on YouTube now revealing them who I know have been using them for years. Like a parade of gay chaps "coming out".
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Anyway, I just observed the deer the first evening hoping maybe there was a decent stag around. That is our rule, only shoot the outstanding stags and leave anything with potential (although for some silly reason we shoot spikers, justifying it by saying "there are too many"). The next morning I was out before first light and as per the previous evening saw plenty through the spotter but left them - it just seemed too easy. Bella was with me and this is where we sat until about 7.30am.
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From here Bella and I sidled around the edge of the next basin and as we crested a little rise she froze and stared intently down hill. I moved next to her and peered through the scrub and could see a spiker 80 yds down the hill. I had already touched the "on" button on the modern scope and was ready to go. I actually had time to sit for the shoot at at the blam deer went everywhere. Five at least. Bella is a very steady pup but she skipped around me with excitement at the sight of them all. I waited five minutes before I let Bella lead me down to find the deer. It was about 50 or so yards down the hill from where I shot it. Quite dead. Bella was very pleased.
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The 'scope is a Sytong HT70 day night with ballistics, range finder and IR. The rifle a Kimber 257R. The scope is next level (as is a Arken Zulus I have too). Excellent both day and night.
I loaded of the meat shelf on my new-ish Initial Accent pack and headed for the top. It was steep but not difficult. This modern gear is pretty damned good.
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Later in the day Bella did the same thing again; locked up staring and when I drew up to her there were 6 deer in a little basin feeding, about 80 yards again.
The last evening I resolved to get another deer for the charity (I wanted 2). It was drizzly and cold. I turned down a few 'cos I was certain that I would get one on dark. But as dark drew in I hadn't got one. Time for plan B. I staked out a nice clearing on a steep face and started scanning with the thermal. Twenty minutes before the loss of normal shooting light I could see 2 deer working their war down through the thick scrub to the clearing, but they stopped 50 odd yards short of it. I waited. Well after dark I could see one through the thermal right on the edge of the clearing. Still in the scrub. I flicked the 'scope on and the IR lit it up. I could just see its spindly head, neck and shoulder. 164 yards the range finder said. Too easy. Blam, and it dropped. But it thrashed around so when it was still for a moment I gave it another. Silence.
It was dark, I was wet and Bella was keen. So off we went to get it. I went up the wrong spur to start with but after some sidling and thrashing around Bella got keen and took me to it. The .257R had done a good job. Second big carry for the new pack. Half way back I wished I had loaded the shoulders on too 'cos it was so comfortable.
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The other 2 shot 3 with their tatty old gear so obviously that still works. But I was pretty damn happy about being a thoroughly modern man. And aided by the oldest of hunting devices. The dag.
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