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HUNTING STORY | FIREARMS

blood supply is severed and the hard antler
below needs to be exposed. Rubbing on
trees, is their only way of removing it, this
also initiates dominance by leaving tell-tale
signs of tree fraying along his boundaries.
This is what foresters hate and what gets a
buck noticed, but in a bad way! Sure it’s a
sign to other males to stay away but to any
stalker it’s a good indication of his
presences and the acreage he controls.
I always take time to explore the woods
prior to roe season to ascertain their
movements, food sources and bedding
areas. This week was no different, despite
the horizontal rain, occasional snow showers
and howling wind, the tell-tale slanted
nibbled scrubs and foliage indicated deer

browse and slots (hoof-prints} indicated in

which direction they were feeding. Here red

share the same woods and hills as the roe

but slot size and browse heights distinguish

the species. I soon had a mental image of

how the deer were moving and where best to

direct my attentions.

Best of all were those ‘sign posts’ left by

the bucks, small conifers were

characteristically bent by the antlers to

remove not only velvet but also to leave the

soft light coloured sap wood beneath

exposed, which is instantly recognisable to

all to - stay out, occupied! Additionally other

giveaways are the scrapes bucks use as an

additional sign post. These represent usually

a triangular shape where their foot scrapes

Closer to the woodland edge

the fraying became more

frequent, getting closer

Despite the weather

and ultra slow stalk

it finally all came

together as the sun

broke through

Constant scanning

for movement and

feeding is the way to

go in Roe country