Seems the wild population of Fallow are coming in closer to my property during the recent rut, maybe trying score with the does, so needless to say I don't have to walk far from home to find freshly used converging game trails to sit in ambush. Sign everywhere and hoof prints heading both directions. Spot on.
Sun had almost gone and I'd been sitting in my makeshift hide for all of 20 mins when the cracking twigs from more than one direction started and the odd branch getting scraped. Moments later a 2-3 year old fallow buck comes bursting across the trail in a hurry and just stands there, beside me sussing out the patch...all of 10m away. I sat and watched him for about 5 sec's, surprised, adrenaline rush, gathering my thoughts on how the next few moments should unfold. He still hadn't noticed me although he looked wary.
Any how I pulled the hammer back as he moved behind some Manuka, he re presents - kaboom !
Fcuk instant tinnitus; forgot to lift my muffs even to cover my right ear Whilst deafened and standing in a state of brain trauma, I watched him lurch forward another 10m seeming to falter in his stride. He paused looking around almost bewildered or in shock but definitely in no rush. Whilst belatedly racking another round he seems to spring to life and fled the scene.
In my peripheral I was now distracted by movement of a fawn and doe scrambling.
With the scrub canopy shadow and the already rapidly fading light;
roll credits.
So what to do?
From basically point blank did I miss, aim too high and let it rise ? 150gr RNSP not hit anything solid / pass through one lung leaving him able? How far could he go with a hole in one lung? There's no guarantee blood will spill a trail as it pools inside and how long he could go, unknown ?
I marked the trail and legged it to the ute. Decided a decent floody torch, my sniffer Rottie and smokes were what I needed. So of course just to stress me out a bit more, the bloody rain starts up again. Ten minutes later I sent my dog perpendicular to the marked spot but down breeze in hope he'd pick up on a fresh blood scent...IF there even was one. Tried to leave him be and not interfere. Searched the surrounding area with no luck. After 1.5 hours of searching and following his movements we kept ending up back to a similar spot and the same game trail heading back into the thicker scrub. Not keen on trekking km's now as I'm buggered and the old dog is clearly over it too.
Half the time I thought he was onto something he'd just cock his damned leg. Yeah so much for the help. I think all he wanted was rabbit. Good work Brock
Now my adrenaline and enthusiasm had waned and was replaced with feelings of disappointment, annoyance and disbelief of what a dope I was screw up the easiest shot I may ever be presented and to not send a follow up
I'd make that shot from the hip 9/10.All in all it was still a good experience, albeit quite deflating and another lesson learnt the hard way. Well I hope it sunk in anyway.
Pretty gutted. But, I will be persisting most days.
Lesson learnt:
IF NOT EMPHATIC - DOUBLE TAP !!
Rooky mistake, never again.
and I want some electronic muffs.
or as big fella said, a couple of days and he should start smelling 
Like last night whistling foxes and having one sneaking out of the scrub behind me. Makes sense they like to head into the wind to use their nose.
