Swasey tells us the hunting at Royal Deeside starts early. He and Michael Grosse of International Adventures Unlimited were up at 4 am to meet gamekeeper Arthur Fernie at 5:00. They then drove out in a Range Rover, glassing for deer. Once they spotted a roe buck, they started walking. It was cool and the heather wet. Getting close enough to the skittish roe bucks without being seen involved some climbing and sliding through the wet heather, so Swasey cautions that rubber boots and rain pants are a good idea.
While you may use your own rifle on this hunt, Swasey says it's easier to use the gamekeeper's, especially if you intend to do any sightseeing after your hunting trip. "The gamekeeper carries the gun in a soft case and then takes it out and positions it for the hunter. Arthur had a Sako in .243 with a Swarovski ballistic scope and a 'resonator (we'd call it a silencer,')" says Swasey. "After setting up a couple of times and having the bucks appear too far off for a shot, we spotted one coming out of the trees and scrambled down a hill to get close enough. Without time to get properly set up, Fernie pulled the gun out of the case and said, shoot off my shoulder.' For the first time in my hunting life, I heard the thump' of the hit, and the buck went straight down. Arthur and I were busy congratulating each other when the buck popped up and started off. Arthur had the gun and took off after it. He fired one........(continued)
