Reflections on the Roe Rut 25 - So Far.

It’s been a tough summer for our 'green and pleasant' land. Early harvests, thin crops, and bone-dry fields tell the story of a season shaped by the driest Spring since 1836. Against that backdrop, the Roe Rut has been rolling on — sometimes lively, sometimes quiet — with each week bringing its own surprises. Since our first proper calls on 22nd July, the rut has been teasing us — offering just enough magic to keep us hooked.

Week 1 – Oxfordshire & Cotswolds with Tim

In the lead-up to the Game Fair, we took our German client, Tim, out onto some stunning ground across Oxfordshire and the Cotswolds. The bucks we found weren’t taken on blind calls — instead, each was first spotted, confirmed within earshot, and then coaxed in. Two fine bucks fell to the little lady Merkel K5 rifle that week, both showing just how effective calling can be when you already know you’ve got a willing ear nearby.

Week 2 – Billy’s Rut Return

From 28th–30th July, Billy was back with us, fresh off his DSC1 qualification and with a new rifle in hand (not a Merkel, unfortunately). Over three outings we accounted for three bucks, ending with a magnificent master buck we’d known for years from the trail camera. Taken at his prime, this was the kind of buck that becomes a story you tell over and over — and perhaps one that will go Gold (soon to be measured).

Week 3 – Sussex & Surrey Forest Bucks

From 5th–7th August we shifted back into woodland stalking for a change of scenery, across Sussex and Surrey. The first buck of the trip came beautifully to the call from behind early in the morning — one of those silent, sudden appearances that makes the hairs on your neck stand up and test your reactions on quietly and confidently turning your shooting sticks on a sixpence, without scaring the buck away. In the end, two nice forest bucks for the larder and the memory bank - Soon to be shared on an episode of our Roe Rut YouTube series.

Week 3 End - Hosted Paul Childerley

We had the pleasure to guide Paul for the day (7th Aug), starting out in the cool shade of the woods where we got onto a couple of nice bucks that came sneaking into the call, but with cover and the wind giving up our position before a suitable shot was presented. With frustrations at an all time high, what with the natural pressure of needing a result in only 2 outings, we headed to the Cotswold's to change up our strategy and target some bucks out in the open stubble fields - in the end, our hard work and perseverance paid off after an eventful evening of calling - excited to share that story on YouTube soon enough.

Rut Reflections – Stop-Start & Weather-Driven

The weather has been as inconsistent as ever: scorching heat one day, rolling storms and passing showers the next. Some mornings it’s felt like the woods and fields were completely empty with temperatures as low as 8°C in the early hours. Last week brought more success with blind calling in tried-and-true “good spots” — those cool, shaded areas bucks favour when the sun’s up. In other areas, particularly where we expected to see deer feeding in conservation crops like sunflower fields and legume fallows, we’ve drawn blanks. Perhaps it’s timing, perhaps the deer are holding elsewhere.

This Week – Rut Still On?

As of 12th August, rut activity is still evident across our grounds. Bucks are still chasing, and this morning we called one to within a metre of our client, Catharina — too quick and too close for a shot, however. With a 30°C+ heatwave we're already seeing this week, we’re expecting dawn and dusk to be prime, though this morning’s 9am buck is proof that the rut often ignores our neat predictions.

This week could well be the swansong of the Rut — with it tailing off next week. That’s the beauty of it: you never truly know until you’re out there, call in hand, heart thumping, waiting for the crash of hooves in the cover.