Stalking Diary: the clean miss that turned out to be a five-point buck

I would like to return to the subject of the roe rut, not to relate tales of spectacular success or abysmal failure, but to reinforce the importance of deerstalker discipline and the value of the follow-up.

Out with Joe, a regular client from Michigan, we left the truck and headed into a scrubby bank of willows adjacent to a newly drilled turnip field. The young turnips were not only attracting woodpigeons, but in recent days I had noticed that the succulent growth had also caught the attention of the resident roe deer.

Within a short distance, and before I had a chance to give a few peeps on the roe caller, a doe dashed across in front of us with a roebuck in hot pursuit, both completely oblivious to our presence. The buck eventually turned broadside and stood long enough for Joe to take the shot.

Why an absent reaction is not proof of a miss

Watching through my binoculars, I saw what appeared to be a splash of dirt from beneath the buck. There was no reaction, no telltale sound of the bullet striking and, after pausing briefly, the roe simply ran on, stopped again, sniffed the air and then moved off out of sight. Certain it was a clean miss, I told Joe as much, commiserated with my now deflated guest and, to be honest, for the briefest of moments considered not checking at all.

Fortunately, I remembered how many times I had covered this very subject on training courses. Following the principles of good stalking practice, I insisted that we carry out a careful search of the shot site and the surrounding area. As stalkers, we have an ethical responsibility to confirm the outcome of every shot, regardless of how certain we may feel at the time. Assumptions have no place where animal welfare is concerned.

Always trust your deer dog

I first examined the spot where the buck had been standing, looking for any sign of a strike while paying close attention to the reaction of my dog, Zosia, a veteran of many successful recoveries. She sniffed around and immediately showed interest. Another lesson I have learned over many years is simple: always trust your dog. I cast Zosia off, and before long we were standing over a lovely five-point roebuck in prime condition, wearing a full summer coat.

The shot had been well placed and I am still amazed by the complete lack of an audible strike or any visible indication that the buck had been hit. It was a valuable reminder that deer do not always react as expected when shot, and the absence of an obvious reaction should never be taken as proof of a miss.

The follow-up is not an optional extra

Adrenaline and first impressions can easily cloud judgement, but they must never replace a methodical follow-up. Had I simply accepted my initial belief that the client had missed and walked away, the deer would never have been recovered. That would have been both unethical and irresponsible.

In stalking, the follow-up is not an optional extra – it is a fundamental part of our responsibility. Every shot deserves to be treated with the same care and diligence, regardless of what we think we have seen or heard. On this occasion, the experience served as a timely reminder that our assumptions can be wrong, and that discipline, patience and trust in a good dog remain among the most valuable tools any stalker possesses.