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[Music]
Now and again, if he's been a good boy, Roy is allowed to leave Kent. Today we're on an
excursion to Hertfordshire - It's freezing, and this was filmed a few weeks ago, but at
least it is dry. He's a guest of William Alldis who runs a sporting agency for stalkers and
falconers. Roy first met him while flying his goldie.
Thank you very much for inviting us down today. Obviously I came and had a look with you earlier
in the season when we were flying the birds here and we were after a few hares, but we
did notice that you have a hell of population of muntjac on here.
Yes, there is a fantastic population of muntjac here. There has been very little management
of the numbers for the past ten years before I took over the sporting on this estate. So
lots of lovely big bucks and also some large quantity of cull animals as well that we have
got to deal with.
Have you been quite successful since you started.
Well we started in January really getting to grips with the cull animals because up
until then we were doing a lot of falconry work. We have been averaging six to nine a
week since the beginning of January and it has been a relatively easy time getting rid
of all the deer.
The hope is we're going to get near a nice buck today. It's all looking promising as
we walk through the grounds with a mixture of open rides, conifer and broadleaf woodland.
William describes his stalking as cheap, fun and within easy reach of London.
Once we find a decent vantage point, we stop to see if anything decides to pop out for
a bit of a browse.
Obviously muntjac feed pretty much almost all day long, but round here they have really
taken to laying up in these woods here and moving out over the grassland just at the
last knockings. The amount we see when we are out lamping foxes it is just staggering.
Obviously you can't do anything about them at that part of the day.
It is fantastic territory for them here - absolutely stuffed.
As we watch and wait, we experience four seasons in one day... and... draw a blank. But a barn
owl keeps us entertained as we lie in wait a little further along.
It doesn't matter if you don't see any deer when you get a sight like that. Watching a
barn owl come across like that, just gorgeous.
Then we spot a buck. The cover means Roy can't get a clean shot. He tries to call it but
no response.
With the light and our options dwindling, Will suggests that Roy takes a cull doe if
the opportunity arises. It does, but this first one won't stand still.
It came round and was going along and into quite a small ... and then went behind this
little ridge and into the next field.
Another crosses from the other direction. This time Roy knocks her down - food for the
larder but no trophy for the wall.
We couldn't have left that any later that was right at last knockings. The light is
pretty much gone on us. Luckily she fell on the spot where she was shot so we didn't have
to follow her up because if we had to follow up in this light and this thick cover it would
have been an absolute nightmare. So she bowled straight over and with optics on there that
weren't quite as good I very much doubt whether we would have had the opportunity to get the
shot because it was literally light fading, last five minutes and that is very often when
it happens. Very, very exciting stuff I really do enjoy muntjac stalking.
Fast forward a few weeks and the Chuckle Brothers are both let out of Kent.
We are going for round two with the muntjac and what we have decided to do today because
David does seem to be somewhat of a Jonah when it comes to muntjac is we have ditched
that camera man and changed to one of the stars of Fieldsports Channel who has agreed
to come out and film for me today. So if we spin the camera around and you should see
that we have got young
Andy Crow. I am trying to do this so I don't have a double chin.
It doesn't work does it. There you go. Look at that. Isn't it a bit scary when you look
at yourself in a camera.
Yes, especially me. It is not often that I look at myself in a camera like this and I
have got my clothes on. That will come out on the edit.
Or maybe not!
The weather has improved dramatically and the deer are out to play. We're not retracing
our steps but working through the top woods - Will knows he has three big bucks and Roy
has been offered one of them. A younger animal shows itself and Will suggests he takes it
as part of the cull plan.
Alright.
Yes.
It drops on the spot. A doe doesn't seem to be bothered that a .243 has just gone off
100 yards away.
Roy still hopes that the big boy may show himself but he is happy with the second stalk
and his new crew.
Isn't it a difference when you get weather like that. Absolutely superb.
Considerably better than last time. Not freezing ...
You can't blame the deer for the last time. That was just horrid.
Quite frankly I wanted to be at home in front of the fire.
But no, that was superb, thanks again for having us.
Much appreciated.
I have been really impressed with Mark today he has got fantastic artistic flair.
Yes, and lots more energy rushing around like a lunatic.
David just looked like a sad potato.
Potato? OK - Mark's on the case. Very smooth Mr Gilchrist - Well done Mark - you're hired ... but it's
probably best if you don't work with Roy again.
It is rolling, just get on with it.