Luck of the Irish

The sika stag is first seen as a black spot against the autumnyellow grass far up the hillside. It has emerged in an open field in the immature forest above junior hunter Mads Thorup. As the stalker sends out another whistling call over the forest, he coaxes the deer from its lookout point to disappear in the dense forest, heading towards the call.

Five minutes later, the stalker calls again, the stag responds with three long-drawn whistles, only 50 metres from Mads. For the 23-year-old hunter, this situation is among the most intense he has ever had in his short career as a hunter. The intensity increases as the stalker answers the call, and a creaking sound in the forest tells him that the stag is approaching. A second later, it enters the open just 25 metres from Mads, who –