A Test of Patience
For months, the author waited for his new MAUSER 25. He’s been tracking a roebuck in the hunting grounds for almost as long. Just in time for the fall rutting season, the long-awaited rifle arrives …
Nothing. The stalking trip into the promising gorge yielded no results. It was perhaps predictable that stalking there in the early morning during the rutting season would not lead to the desired success. It was already over 20 degrees by 6 am. And as the hunting ground patrol late the previous evening with the thermal imaging device had revealed, the roe deer had shifted their rutting season entirely to the nighttime hours. Now everything came together: roe deer rutting season amid scorching heat and drought, plus a full moon. No wonder there was no activity to be detected in the slightly cooler early morning.
A tactical breakfast break. The plan was to try again in an hour in a different part of the hunting ground. There, at least one mature buck suitable for hunting has been confirmed – one that’s been “leading all the fellow hunters on a wild goose chase” since May. The terrain in this area is less than ideal. It’s rugged, partly steep, and undeveloped, covered with dense coniferous forest, with only a few spots offering cover. Even setting up a makeshift earthen screen – hastily constructed in May from fallen tree branches – in this spot is an ordeal and hasn’t yet brought the desired hunting success. Countless times, the target has slipped out of the crosshairs unshot, protected by the horizon or hidden behind trees. All hopes now rest on the rutting season. Perhaps I’ll manage to lure the elusive buck into range with the call. Although most of the bucks in the hunting ground are currently still with the does, as the wildlife camera images confirm, hope springs eternal.
SECOND STALK
First, the goal is to reach the blind as unnoticed as possible. The dry ground conditions are working against us. No matter how hard you try, there’s a rustling and crackling with almost every step. At least the roe deer can’t move quietly in this dry weather either. That’s a comforting thought. Three to four steps forward in slow motion, stop, listen, watch, and continue stalking.
Already on the third stalking stop, a movement on the horizon. I immediately raise the Minox X-Pro binoculars to my eyes and confirm: that’s him! And again: no background, no bullet trap. Just the shoulders and head peeking out from the blackberries! Stay calm and get the shooting stick ready while the buck isn’t looking this way for a moment. Said. Done. Another look, this time through the rifle scope. Where’s the buck? A movement gives him away; another glance confirms it: No, it’s a second deer, a doe being chased by the buck. But the rutting pair is still moving on the horizon. No opportunity to shoot. Last chance: a fawn call. But what if doe and buck then move toward their current position? Then it’s still not possible to shoot. Now, patience is still required. The scene lasts a few minutes; suddenly, neither the roe buck nor the doe can be seen or heard. I immediately take the opportunity to shift my position slightly and let a few soft fawn calls escape. Everything is still quiet. Two more slightly louder, yet still subdued, fawn calls.
A CHANCE
Suddenly, a movement up the slope. Now, at least, heading toward a suitable backdrop to serve as a bullet trap. Immediately, the MAUSER 25 is raised to the shoulder and my gaze goes through the rifle scope. A red movement between two thick spruce trees. A buck? No, a doe. The finger remains still. Wait. About 4 meters behind her, another movement. That must be the buck. But the tree trunk completely obscures the animal’s body. Only the pair of hind legs peeks out from behind the right side of the trunk. The red dot of the reticle moves to the left side of the tree trunk, and the thumb releases the rifle’s safety. Seconds feel like an eternity. Two more fawn calls from the leaf call bring movement back to the courtship ritual. The doe follows the calls; behind the tree trunk, the buck appears in the reticle, and the shot from the rifle brings him down after a brief death run.
Patience, calm, and the right moment brought the successful hunt with the long-awaited MAUSER 25. A successful debut for the new rifle and a crowning finale to an exciting hunt.
Text: Thore Wolf; Photos: David Voss
For months, the author waited for his new MAUSER 25. He’s been tracking a roebuck in the hunting grounds for almost as long. Just in time for the fall rutting season, the long-awaited rifle arrives …
