By Larry Taaffe
Mag’s Tracking Skills Save The Day
T
his morning I received a call from my stalking partner to suggest we go for a stalk in the afternoon. I reminded him of the weather forecast but we decide we could get a few hours in the ‘dry’ before the rain, which was forecast arrived. Alas, as we drove in the gate of the forest the promised rain began, just what we needed. Martin went to the low ground and I began a slow climb to the top of the forestry. Within 100 yards of my stalk I spotted a stag, his backside to me so I could not make out his antler structure. Unfortunately, at that point a change in the wind direction as I prepared to get into position alerted him and away he went at speed.. As always when I go stalking for Sika, I bring my Bavarian Hound with me. She was fully aware of my change of attitude when I had begun to close on the stag, she is now beginning to read my body language. This is a vital mental connection between dog and handler.
deer came along the forestry track. My position was looking up a forestry roadway, forward visibility of about 200 yards before the track turned a corner. I was now tucked in, with a Sitka spruce behind me to break my outline and with the wind in my face. I was waiting for the possibility of a wandering hind. Rain was still pouring down. My dog had positioned herself under me to get some shelter from the rain, but not completely. Ten, twenty, forty minutes went by still raining. The dog gave an occasional shake to remove the rain dripping from me on to her coat.
The stag stopped and looked in my direction Then, just as I was about to call it a day, I spotted a movement at the furthest end of my visibility and peering through the binoculars, I saw a sika stag walking in my direction. Steadily he approached my position, a nice young six pointer, ideal for venison for my table. I now had him in my scope; ‘just
‘Mags’ the author’s Bavarian Hound is used for tracking
Stalking on for another hour or so with no other sightings, I decided to retrace my steps. Rain was now spilling out of the heavens and I was getting wet. After a few hundred meters, I decided to stand and wait, just in case a 64
A solid impact brought no reaction
Spring 2022 Irish Country Sports and Country Life
turn broadside please,’ I heard my self say. But at that exact moment my dog gave herself a shake. The stag stopped and looked in my direction, but did not appear to be upset at the sound - even ignoring it. Then he turned broadside, but kept walking but slowly. My brain was in overdrive: I reckoned he would soon disappear into the young forestry in that short distance - but would he come out again…? I decided that wouldn’t be very likely, and promptly sent a 6.5x55 in his direction. A solid impact sound told me I am on target but apparently no reaction from the stag as he went forward into the cover, but almost immediately he was out again and running back down the road. He went 100, then 200 yards and was out of sight. He was gone! Several words were uttered by me, not for printing here and my dog did not understand any of them! So we waited, as best practice is to wait when the deer has been shot in the heart and lungs area, commonly called
