27/05/2026
ROE BUCK HUNTING
You're really are up early when you choose to take the "morning shift" on roe buck hunting.
There are however some advantages, and one of them is having the road all to yourself at 3:15 in the night - because night is exactly what it is.
While you drive to the hunting ground you can watch the sun slowly begin to rise in the east while your own excitement and anticipation for the hunt also grow.
I arrived and was settled in the stand at 4:30, ready to hunt from 4:47.
After about 20–25 minuts, I spotted out of the corner of my eye a beautiful young doe. Her coat had changed into its summer colors, a lovely reddish hue. Her body was a bit smaller, so she was probably a yearling doe.
She moved very calmly, grazing, lifting her head to scent the air, then continuing to feed.
Just as quietly as she had arrived, she silently slipped back into the forest.
A little farther ahead, about 10–15 meters inside the woods, stood a buck watching. He was very alert, taking only short steps and nibbling as he moved before finally stepping out into the open. He alternated between walking and standing still about 40 meters from me.
A truly beautiful buck. Nice large body, normal neck, a touch of gray around the muzzle, red summer coat, and on his head two long antlers with small beginnings of tines. A fine fork buck.
I’ve come across him several times before, partly in pictures from the trail camera and partly the other day when I was out buck hunting. Back then I saw him only at a distance and not for nearly as long as today.
I raised the r***e, found him in the crosshairs of the scope — and chose not to disengage the safety and send a bullet in his direction.
I simply couldn’t bring myself to do it.
He is probably only 2–3 years old, nowhere near fully mature, and has the potential to become something much more impressive.
I watched him with great joy for around 30–40 minutes as he wandered about, nibbled, lifted his head to check his surroundings, nibbled again, and finally lay down in the sun.
And yes, I admit it — I raised the r***e several times and still refrained.
It is not difficult to shoot, but difficult to refrain when you are allowed to and easily could.
I realize well, that the chances of someone else taking his life this season are very high, because he is a beautiful animal.
And as some people say: “…well, if you don’t shoot him, someone else will, so you might as well do it.” Yes, that may be true — but today was not the day.
My motivation for hunting is to harvest from nature and bring something home for the pot. In principle,
I’m not interested in the antlers themselves, and I certainly could have taken him today — I had every opportunity.
Had I shot him today, the buck hunting season would effectively have been over for me as well, which would have been a shame only a week into it and with no more outings until October 1st.
But I know he’s there — and I can always return. I know where he lives.
