I moved into a position so that as the light improved I'd get a good view across both fields and the edge of the wood 

I arrived at the farm in pitch black pouring rain; the omens were not that good. I put my equipment on and made my way up the track that opened out onto the fields; two large fields to the left and right and a thin sausage shaped wood opposite  the track. It was still too dark to make out anything but fortunately the rain had eased off to fine drizzle. Given that this was the first real break in the rain for about 20 hours I figured that there was a chance - albeit a slim one - that this might tempt the deer out onto the fields. I had the wind advantage so I was comfortable that if anything was going to appear it would not be scenting me.

The area I was shooting over with its rolling terrain and open horizons is not the easiest in which to get into a position for a safe shot. On many occasions I've been thwarted by having a lovely side on shot but nothing but fresh air as  a back drop and in such circumstance you just smile and move on to try and get a better angle for a safe shot. This morning was no different. I spotted 5 Roe moving out of the wood on to the field and creating a lovely silhouette against the skyline. They were about 300m upwind from my position. Just shortening the distance between them and me would still not have provided a safe shot as there was no backdrop. At this point I decided to back right off until I had lost sight of them (and them me) over the brow of the rising ground at the end of the field.

The light was still poor and to my advantage so I moved as quickly as possible to the far end of the Sausage wood. I quietly moved the length of the wood stopping every so often to check the position of the Does. Of course, roe being roe they weren't going to be staying still and as I was moving to try  and get a fatal shot they were moving further away. After about 40 minutes of very tense stalking I was almost in a good position to take the shot as the deer stopped to forage , but I had moved virtually the entire length of the wood and I was now in a position where the wind could be carrying my scent ! It was now or never and I carefully raised the rifle onto my sticks, took a final safety check and noted a prominent landmark feature of where the target deer was standing clear of the others and then placed the bullet. It dropped immediately as the rest made off smartly! reloading I waited watching for movement, ready to shoot again if necessary and  after a few minutes I approached slowly , on reaching the  beast I checked the eyeball for re-action  which  confirmed death . It was a clean heart shot from what paced out to be 110m. Inspecting the carcass carefully before eviscerating and field dressing it I admired the beautiful courgette patches on the throat and noted the thick, and efficient design of her Winter coat. It is impossible to be sure of the age of deer but teeth and general condition can give some clues and I judged her to be about three years old. I examined the bullet entry wound and was pleased to note that my bullet had hit and rapidly expanded as it was designed to do and  blood was gushing well  from the exit wound .

Going back to my former target point I collected my pack to field dress and check the carcass for disease.  I returned to the carcass and carried it carefully off the field to the woodland edge where I hoisted it by a neck rope in a tree at comfortable working height . After carefully cutting it open from the throat, I  opened it completely working my way down to the rear end , where I used my croppers to gently split the aitches of the pelvis and allow drainage of the bladder and removal of the anal tract and contents. I then removed the heart, liver and lungs and all the other organs Inspecting and incising the various lymph glands , feet and mouth as required to check for disease.

I packed her into my Roe sack at which point I realised that perhaps I wasn't spending as long in the gym as perhaps I should she was heavy. It's always tempting to take the most direct route back to the vehicle especially when you've taken an animal and have a heavy sack. However, I took a slower route  across the field and along the hedgerows as you can never be sure of what you might see. My rifle reloaded and safe on my shoulder.

As I reached the opposite hedgerow I saw the back end of a fox move very quickly through it. I was pretty sure that it hadn't seen me and I was unsure why it was moving so quickly. I stopped, set my rifle onto my sticks and waited to see if it reappeared. Sure enough, a couple of minutes later it reappeared with a cock Pheasant in its mouth. It was moving so I whistled, it stopped, I fired, it dropped and I was able to add a Pheasant to my bag.

It was one of those mornings when everything went just so well; great stalk, safe perfect shot, text book gralloch and a Pheasant .