The quarter century that has come and gone since I first enjoyed Iken stalking in September 1995 has passed in a flash. One outing has merged into another, leaving me with a rucksack full of happy memories and incidents that occurred in that special place. As I knock on the door of the 25th anniversary of Iken stalking, I can refer to my diary to highlight a few of those pleasurable forays.
I see from this that on 16 September 1995, I arrived at Iken just after first light, and saw fallow out on the stubble by the owner’s house.
These were not approachable, so I went on and stalked into Ashpoles wood, spooking a beast on my way into the high seat, which was situated overlooking an attractive open vista. From this I saw fallow deer on the right-hand side. This parcel were all does, and included one attractively dappled animal. While watching them, more fallow came in behind me. Two of these made a ‘clackety clack’ noise as they moved round me, and I suspected that they were prickets engaging in a little sparring. I never saw either of these, although they were in the wood only a few yards behind me. I stayed absolutely still in the high seat, hoping they would work round to my left and emerge from behind the leafy screen, but they never showed, and must have drifted away within the wood, which mainly consisted of mature sweet chestnut trees.