One Heck Of A Ride

143 Poland’s Roaring Stags knew that it had struck the stag. A few minutes later, Ryszard arrived out of breath and wearing a big smile. He had found my stag! The mayor then made a European ritualistic presentation to honor the kill. Tradition and ceremony obviously are very important to our hosts. Guide Ryszard Ryborczyk on right side of Red Deer and Author on left side It was, indeed, a fine stag with six points on each side, three-point crowns and good mass. Author’s hosts surprised him with a Polish celebration commemorating his forty-fifth birthday After the evening hunt, George, Zelda, Doug, Jean and I met Paul and Dennis at their lodge for dinner. We had a bit of vodka for my birthday with the traditional singing of their Polish birthday song, “One Hundred Years For You.” The second animal I hunted in Poland was a European roe deer, a small deer with antlers that usually are parallel and covered with “pearling.” It is an extremely territorial animal. On the morning of our fifth day, I watched a small roebuck scamper under our favorite tree stand and run off into the forest. I had a very good look at him and estimated his antlers would score 31 under the SCI measuring system. While it only takes 30 to place in the SCI Record Book of Trophy Animals, I decided not to shoot him because Ryszard convinced me we could find a larger buck. After no success that evening, I had another talk with Ryszard through our interpreter. He said that roebuck would be at the same place at the same time the next day. Since it would be our last day to hunt, I wanted to try for that roebuck. Much to my amazement, the doe and two fawns crossed in front of the tree stand right on cue as if the scene I was watching had been scripted. Same time, same place. And then, again right on cue, the roebuck suddenly appeared in the clearing. At first, it stayed down in the high grass and didn’t show itself. When it finally came into view, I could see Author’s hosts surprised him with a Polish celebration commemorating his forty-fifth birthday