Take off Saturday...

...with my wife for the UK. One week of touring London and the Cotswolds where one of my great grandfathers is from (he and his brother came to Texas in the late 1800's and they married sisters around Cross Plains, so I've got "double cousins" all over west Texas. Insert Deliverance music here.) Then we head up to around Aberdeen, Scotland and I'm going to stalk a couple of red stags for a couple of days and maybe a roebuck, not terribly far from Balmoral, Her Majesty's family's estate up there. (Victoria bought it in 1852, well, really Prince Albert of "do you have Prince Albert in a can? Well, let him out!" fame.) There for a week, then to Edinburgh for a few days and home.

I will use an "Estate" rifle, probably something like .270. Although I have a nice #1 in 7x57 that I'd thought about using, I didn't want to lug it all over England and have to make accommodations for it at each hotel. Wish me luck and pray the "gillies" don't make too much of a fool of this "yank". I did buy a wool cap from Orvis and I look pretty darn good in it, if I do say so myself.

Cheers compadres.


Caveat: I think I need to point out that I believe this is low fence. No way I could afford the fees of a trophy stag behind high fence. But if the subject comes up over our 4th or so scotch, I will attempt to represent the THF admirably.

Safe travels my friend for you and the Mrs. Do us proud! Look forward to seeing some amazing pics.

best wishes

Jealous much


Good luck brother

CR, get the test results back yet?
Have a great trip man, I'm not worried if you make a good impression over there, just hope they don't piss off a Texan, could go downhill from there

Safe travels and the best of luck on the hunt.

Wow, cool trip! Good luck.

That's going to be a lot of fun. Enjoy it.

You'll enjoy it. Take it it isn't your first time to Scotland? Beautiful country. London... Well, you'll like to sight see, but I avoid it like the plague. A trip into some of londons gun makers would be interesting for you, not so much the wife. If you ever make another trip and could head south there's some huge fallow lurking that I know of. It's been nearly two years since I was "home" in England. Missing the waterfowling right now.
I hope you're in shape, those gillies are like sheep when it comes to hills!
You should see some good goose and duck numbers in the Cotswolds depending on location. Again, beautiful country. Hopefully you'll have some nicer weather for you, but bring the cold back with you too. I miss the cool summer evenings!

HF, LF, you'll be lucky to see any fence in Scotland!

Sounds like a fun trip.

Safe travels to you and the Mrs.

Post some pics.

Two "hill" stags down, done over two days. Not huge beasts, but old, 14+ and around 12 years old. A "proper" stalk each time - lots of cardio exercise then crawling like a snake for a couple of football fields length through the heather. Looked through a scope for about an hour waiting for him to get up today. Tikka .243 with suppressor. I'll post pics when I get back. Time for a wee dram.

Congrats CR!! way to get it done Sounds like you 2 lovebirds are having a great trip!

sorry, had to do it Congratulations, I am working with a friend from Aberdeen right now and he shot a gun for the first time a few weeks ago, now he is hooked.

Do us proud, Creek. You are an ambassador of good will from the THF

Awesome. Looking forward to the pictures.

x2!!

Enjoy

By chance, is there a last name of "Purvis" involved in that Cross Plains reference?

Thank you sir. I did my best, but at times it wasn't easy. We were lodging in an estate home for 7 nights with other Americans that were in a driven grouse shooting group - Dallas Highland Park and similars from around the country, vintage English side-by-side shotguns, matched pairs of Hollands, etc. Them people sure do talk a lot about what they have and where they've been, especially the women. I did observe a shoot one day; very cool, but crazy stupid what they pay to dress in funny clothes and do that. Watched lots of great dog work though in some of the prettiest scenery on earth.

In Edinburgh now with just the wife for a couple of touring days then home. Anxious to get out to the deer lease and in my own "element".

CR, if those stuffed shirts didn't ask you to refill their drinks, you did good brudda As you probably already surmised, you where there with your wife, so YOU where the richest fella on the place

I will miss this though. Bar in Edinburgh. That's all Scotch.

Beg your pardon... that's all Single Malt Scotch.

Sounds like an amazing trip....congrats to you and the Mts.