The hunt

What does hunting in other countries give, what do you learn. The pleasures of meeting good people around the globe.

Hunting for the illusive Sika in the hills of Ireland was a very different hunting experience.

Good Sika stag harvested. Had a great stalk/pürch on this incredible strong animal. Spottet in the hill with the wind in the back out on 700-800m. Went down the hill fightin the wind, trying to get in within range without spookin the forrest ghost. We went back few hundred meters trying to figure out the shifting wind and make a correct aproach. We went out of sight for the deer. Had to reasure some horses that we where not a danger or of interrest cause that could alarm the deer.We gav them few minutes, then we went further on still with the wind in the back but now it blew a little left of the deer. We went in closer. Spottet the deer again. We stopped. Made a new plan. Then I felt a big blow of wind in my hair and on my chin. 600m from the deer. Game over I thought. Up with the binos. I saw the nostrols running on a big old hybrid. He smell us but couldnt see us. We waited until he relaxed. It took a while, but within 20 minutes it happend, it felt like hours. He started graising. But was very aware. We gave him few more minutes to relax. Then we went on our four and crawled for about 80-100m out of sight for the deer. Got to a stone fence. Hid behind it taking 5m at a time closing in on the deer knowing that when the wind caught us it would spook the deer. But then I was in range and could take a shoot. Suddenly I saw two ears and antlers to its right out on 160m. That looked like a spiker. The neck got free and I took the shoot from the @viper_flex sticks. It dropped. Then two Sika stags rose and startet their ascend. 200, 250 no shot. They stopped side by side giving their broad side. No shot. 300m they stop again and I get a good shot. The Sika is down. I follow the other one in the scope, get a clear shot I take it. Its a clear miss. The gun jammes. Then suddenly the first Sika rises again. Then the first priorety is off course getting him. He is clearly well hit, walks 50m, lays down. We go after it. Get within 100m. I can see his antlers and portion af his neck. I send a bullet. Its a miss. I dont understand. I send another bullet.Then I understand. Im hitting a rock that is in betwean, the sound of bullet hitting a rock is not to miss.