Hi IG,
Just to give you a better flavour, the ground we are intending using is pasture surrounded by 900 acres of thick and extensive cover. Much of it woodland/ancient common while the rest is nature reserve. The understorey has been almost completely grazed out by the deer!
Nett result is a constant feed of animals coming out from cover to graze on pasture, especially as the available foodstuff reduces in the cover. Whilst moon state may well have an effect - it is fair to say that animal movement on this area is consistentily very high.
I would estimate the breakdown to be 70% Fallow / 20% Sika / 10% Roe (no Roe to be shot on this estate). There are sounders of Wild Boar regularly seen - one being shot most months. These are increasing in numbers and will only get to be more of a problem.
Herd numbers I have recently seen on the ground vary from 6 - 80 deer.
Morning and evening outings are limited by shooting light and animal activity. Midday, the activity is almost nil, so we do not waste your time.
With four shooters on the ground, I usually end up stalking one beat with the remaining three shooters being seated. The shoot starts with you drawing your 'pegs,' the guns move location each session.
Numbers? Well the last party consisted of only three shooters, they took a total of 11 beasts in four sessions. A pretty good average!
If you are based in NI or Eire, the easiset link would be a flight into Exeter. We are forty minutes drive from the airport - Bristol being about an hour in the opposite direction.
Hoping this takes your fancy and looking forward to hearing from you.
Rgds
Ian