Thread: My first Double

My son has not long taken up hunting deer, he bought a nice riffle and I helped him sight it in however after 2 trips out with no animals seen he has lost a bit of interest so when I asked him if he wanted to come out last night he said no there's nothing out there.
I got home from work, mowed my lawns then grabbed all my hunting gear and headed out for a hunt. I arrived about 6.30 pm and decided I would do a bit of a bush hunt through a plantation of pine trees, after about 10 minutes and me breaking every twig in the forest I decided to head out of the trees and take a look at the open hill sides.
I sat down and took a look around directly opposite where I was sitting but not a sausage to be seen then I looked up way in the distance and something ginger caught my eye, glassing with the bino's I could see it was a deer but it was rather strange as it had antlers yet was so small.
I thought could this be a fellow deer something I hadn't seen at this spot before, I knew I couldn't take a shot from that distance so headed back into the trees and headed in the direction of the deer.

I headed back out to the edge of the trees and hunkered down, got out the bino's again and took a look, it appeared there was nothing and then I spotted something dark move and it was a little deer. I kept looking and saw the ginger deer walking down the side of the hill, both of them disappeared in behind the hill in front (bummer!).

Dilemma do I go for a walk and try to stalk them or do I stay put and hope they show up again, I got out the range finder and took a look where they were 380 meters. I waited for 5 minutes then thought I might go and try to stalk in, I moved forward into the open then I decided to sit down again thinking I would give it another 5 minutes.
Just when I was about to get up again I thought I saw a dark object so I stood the Badlands summit pack on it's end and rested the riffle on top, I dialed up 400 meters on the Z 5 scope and then backed it off about 3 clicks then I wound the scope up to get a good look and sure enough a deer.

Taking no chances I quickly scoped up on the deer's front shoulder pulling down on the sling at the front while holding the riffle steady and squeezing the trigger, the 7mm Rem Mag bucked in the air like an untamed bronco and after the shot I quickly looked to see the deer rolling down the hill (beauty).
I got the range finder out to confirm the distance 360 meters, I then gathered everything up and looked around the area to make sure I had left nothing behind then proceeded to head after the deer.

I descended the hill and started to head around the side of a hill between me and the deer when I looked up and there about 200 meters in front of me was the ginger stag standing side on, he was looking jittery so without hesitation I took off the pack, stood it on it's end, dialed the Z 5 to 200, sighted in on the front shoulder and squeezed the trigger BANG!
I took a look and to my amazement the deer took 3 steps, as I chambered another round I was thinking this should be bread and butter after that last shot then I noticed him wobble then over he went with 4 feet sticking up in the air (perfect hit after all, 2 shots for 2 deer) Elation!

I gave my boy a call and when he answered he said you got one didn't you and I said no, he said what and paused and then I said no I got 2 and how energetic are you feeling. The good boy that he is he came out to give me a hand to carry them out and as a good father I said he and his family could have half.
It was a great evening hunt and one I won't forget in a hurry, I hope my boy will come out with me next time as I love spending time with him.

Happy hunting everyone

Photo of the first deer (spiker) shot at 360 meters


Photo of the stag shot at 200 meters


Photo of both fellow deer together


Photo of the inward and exit hole from the 162 gr ELDX

Good one. That will help get the young fills keen again.

Originally Posted by Chur Bay

Good one. That will help get the young fills keen again.

I hope so mate

Funny how a slow start to an evening can suddenly change into a big job shifting meat, well done and hope your sons a little keener next time. Enjoy the meat.

Originally Posted by Mooseman

Funny how a slow start to an evening can suddenly change into a big job shifting meat, well done and hope your sons a little keener next time. Enjoy the meat.

Thanks Mooseman, a big BBQ is planned for the family this weekend with plenty of the venison on the menu

Originally Posted by 7mm Rem Mag

Thanks Mooseman, a big BBQ is planned for the family this weekend with plenty of the venison on the menu

Sounds like a plan

Well done some prime eating there.
Just remember they are spelt FALLOW not Fellow.

Get ya some strange looks down the pub that last one

Well done

Good work , it wasn't that long ago there was a bit more lead in the air to hit your targets , now your hitting fallow at 360M that is a great shot on a little deer , fallow is my favourite venison .

"my first double" ..... and here was me thinking 2 hot blondes

Originally Posted by Boaraxa

Good work , it wasn't that long ago there was a bit more lead in the air to hit your targets , now your hitting fallow at 360M that is a great shot on a little deer , fallow is my favourite venison .

You are dead right about the lead in the air, I did receive a lot of constructive criticism and I took it all on board. I bought the new scope and verified where my bullets were going out to 500 meters so now I am confident with what I am doing. Spot them , range them, dial up the scope and aim right on them.

It almost feels like cheating as I have never missed since and the bullets are going where I am aiming even out to those longer ranges. The little dark fallow was a small target and the elevation was spot on so confidence in the set up is high. I have learnt a lot off this forum from a lot of good buggers including yourself so thank you for that.

Originally Posted by veitnamcam

Well done some prime eating there.
Just remember they are spelt FALLOW not Fellow.

Get ya some strange looks down the pub that last one

Fallow Buck , not Stag

Originally Posted by chainsaw

"my first double" ..... and here was me thinking 2 hot blondes

Ha ha we can only but dream but if the wife caught me

great effort...just one thing...you shouldnt have to dial AT ALL FOR 200 yard shots...if you are sighted in for 2-3" high at a hundy you should be point and shoot out to 300ish.... it saves you alot of time and thinking if you can get your head around the sub 350 yard stuff.
enjoy the venni

Great shooting on the first shot, that's only a little deer. Good on ya.