The SD week

[8x57]

I would like to second Sikamalc on that one. I had a tremendous week and enjoyed every minute of the week. It was an absolute pleasure to meet all the guys mentioned, every one of them went out of their way to help and assist us in connecting with the deer. My magic week started slightly early on the Saturday evening, when Countryboy very generously put me up for the night on my way up north and even invited me on a duck flight, thank you Stuart. It’s a long time since I’ve come across such a nice group of people, and hopefully I will meet up with all concerned again sometime in the future.
The accommodation was great, the scenery amazing and the deer absolutely fascinating, I even got to connect with a few myself. So I now have a couple of trophies to mount that will remind me in years to come of a most pleasurable experience. I can only suggest that if the opportunity arises in the future, members of the site should grab it with both hands, you won’t be disappointed. You certainly won’t be disappointed by the company and you might even get to see Todd working, that’s a pleasure in itself.

 

[wadashot]

Well, Andy (tika308) and me got home safely at tea time today so I will share a few words with you regarding my 3rd tour of duty on the SD stalking week.
I made some great friends and had the usual laughs.
I would like to thank Malcolm and jayb for once again putting on a fantastic and successful week for some very privileged people who saw lots of deer and also shot a few too.
I only managed to stalk twice myself but it brought me more pleasure to take out guests to get their deer instead, but this was always the plan anyway.
This is Simon with his 6 point Sika wish which was what he was after. The stalk on this stag was very memorable as I called it in for Simon to shoot. The tension was electric as we knew that the Stag was only just over a crest coming into the call which Simon subsequently shot in the neck.

This 8 point Sika stag was shot by Selina, Simons girlfriend. This Stag was shot on a morning stalk when we sat under a tree. At first we spotted a 6 pointer on heartbreak ridge which we had planned on stalking into after a chat on how best to get to it. We were just preparing to get up and navigate a fence when Selina spotted 3 Sika hinds coming down the hill with this 8 pointer behind them. I asked her if she was happy to shoot it, which she was, so with that I said to wait until it was broadside and only to take the shot when she was happy to. With that I watched him through my bins for the reaction to shot and waited. With a crack, the stag dropped to shot. As you can see, the photo says it all, another happy client for Malcolm.

Another photo of the pair together for the memories.

I also had another memorable stalk with Stu (countryboy) up on heartbreak ridge when we got into a group of red hinds and stags. Unfortunately for Stu it wasn`t their time and so walked on over the hill, but Stu really enjoyed his first proper highland stalk.

I had a stalk on jayb`s ground where i saw and filmed my first Pine martin, although i didn`t see any deer, that experience itself was more than enough to make up. Thanks John.
　
Thanks to all the guys that came up for the SD week, I reckon you enjoyed yourselves. We will hopefully keep in touch and meet again sometime.
ATB
wadas
　

 

[Dick darstardly]

Enjoyed the write up and pics, not ashamed to say im jealous and hope to be there next year.

 

[6pointer]

Well done all it looks like you had a great time i hope every one is happy

 

[JAYB]

It was a good week, everybody seemed to gel and get on really well. I'm sure there will be a few yarns to add to this, I shall try to dig out a few photo's

John.

 

[centralbeltstalker]

When do we see pictures of Franks stag?

i will upload them shortly and write a wee story to accompany them.

atb f.

 

[centralbeltstalker]

Sika stag ,mmmmmm I've seen the pic's I had't realised that the muntjac population had reached Scotland never mind Inverness shire ,they say the camera never lie's.

Now thats just not nice ha ha it was my first and he was a real monster to me, pictures to follow.
Robin, thanks for that stalk mate. first every Sika for me. BIG CHEERS.

atb f.

 

[centralbeltstalker]

Oh dont worry Bob, the final tally was 20 deer in 11 days. 16 sika stags, not bad and Frank took a nice 6 pointer on the last morning I was there, and in total Frank took 3 stags in 5 days. Not too bad really and the muntjac one was his first and didnt cost him anything

ATB

Sikamalc

Hi,

A special thanks to malc for the six pointer. he was my third deer in four days.
What a week and a huge thanks to both you and John for that.
All the sd members who accompanied us too where brilliant, Alex, Ian, Andy, Robin and Terry.
I am at work now so will start write ups later.
All i will say is you have to see it to believe it.
Dave a big well done mate, a nice 6 pointer at 74 years of age and he dragged it back too.

wait for write ups.

thanks guys for everyone's company... what a week.

atb f.

 

[dspensley]

Hi
Thanks for a grate week it was grate Malc John Robin Andy Alex Ian and Terry
Thanks to Andy on the stalk on the nice 6 pointer and for preparing the head
.

Dave

 

[tika.308]

well guys what can i say, i went up there to help out by taking some of you guys out stalking, this was my second time on the estate so i have got to know the place a bit ( still loads to learn) i really wanted to get someone there first sika stag. me and countryboy had a cracking stalk on the hill into a sika but things went against us and no shot, then on wednesday morning when the wind eased i got dave into his 6 point stag, which he took nicely off my sticks. well done dave for making that a first for me to by getting someone else a deer, what a feeling it is to get someone else onto a deer i now see why so many members on here help so many others out by doing the same.thursday morning mike got a 8 pointer with me so i was over the moon then on friday he took a 6 pointer whilst with me. moments i will never forget dave/mike well done you both shoot very well. that was some drag me and you had dave but we got there in the end. hope to see you all again sometime you really were a great gang to spend the week with. p.s im bloody knackered

 

[countrryboy]

Alright

I would jist really like to thank Malc and John for a great week and all the hard work they put in to organise it and make it run like clockwork.

I would also like to thank the rest off the boys; Alex, Andy, Ian, Robin and Terry they were great craic and really tried as hard as possible to get us into the deer, which they managed quite a few times, they really made it a memorable occasion.

Also a big thank u to all the other guests who were there too, it was a nice mix a folk who all enjoyed it to the full and made the wholoe trip very enjoyable.

Personally i had an absolute ball, unfortunately i never got into a nice stag but i seen some absolute crackers had some really memorable stalks which i will remember for a long time to come.
3 in paticular really stand out
1 with andy which he spied a deer well out 800m we boxed round and came into it despite the wind changing direction constantly, as we neared the stag (about 50m very close as lying up jist over the ohter side off a wee knowe) a bloody grouse flushed giving it the full 'go back go back' alarm call which spooked the hind taking the stag with her. Couldn't be helped but very exciting as we knew the whole way we would be very close to him before a shot was on.

2 the stalk mentioned by ian, he made me crawl throu the wettest spaghnam moss he could find and despite the shot not being on when i got there as the spiker was skylined. Jist one of thoose things

And 3 my first stalk with Malc and todd the BMH. worth it for that alone, got my first red, but jist watching todd work/air scent as we stalked was great to see. After my first red we stalked on and todd could constantly smell deer jist in front, it was really exciting stalking forward knowing deer very nearby, unfotunately we never seen any more but very thick either side off us so could off been anywhere. It was a great experience.

Thanks again i really enjoyed it and hopefully will meet u all again sometime.

Ps Does anyone ken if Ken and Pete got home ok

All the best stuart

 

[countrryboy]

Forgot to thank todd

 

[centralbeltstalker]

Forgot to thank todd

Ken,

glad you had a ball i must also say thanks to todd, what a dog and also what an experience getting the heads up there is deer near by.
is that ken and pete or barbie and ken or both

thanks for a great week mate sorry i was unable to stay up late a few nights to try and drink you under the table but my head was too sore.
hope you manage to keep on the diet and keep them few pounds off

cheers again f.

 

[BMHpup]

What an amazing week! Thank you to everyone at the Stalking Directory for making it such a brilliant trip.

I still cannot believe we drove home (via the taxidermist's house) with such incredible heads in the boot of our car!
Big thank you to Brock Waddlington (you know who you are) for some amazing stalks...calling in Simon's sika stag was a once in a lifetime experience.
Really enjoyed the company of our housemates as well - and thank them for capturing the Barvarian escapee!

I cannot recommend the trip highly enough - the scenery, cottage and location are all stunning.

Big thank you to Malcolm and JayB as well - brilliant, brilliant week!

Selena

 

[SKB]

I had such a good week with some tremendous stalking memories over scenery I had only dreamed of before. Mega result that we all scored and some awesome heads to boot. Well done all involved, really impressive bag for the week.

Superbly organised and so glad to have met some nice like minded folk. At the beginning of the week I thought it could have been a bit of a joke with an englishman an irishman and a scotsman all under one roof (not to mention the welshman!) but it worked out brilliantly!

Our heads are with the taxidermist and will be done by xmas he tells us, I will of course post images as and when they are done.

Take care all and thanks for an unforgettable trip.

Yours in hunting,

Simon

 

[csl]

Glad you both made it home safely. I trust Selena got back without any more 'unwanted passengers' making an appearance? Those Scottish keds are tenacious little blighters!

Looking forward to seeing the mounts

all the best,

Alex

 

[Robin]

Absolute blast all week with you guy's, all great company and all prepared to help one another.
It was a pleasure for me to be out with you all, a special thank you to Malc for allowing me to help out on one of the best two weeks stalking I've had.
Also a big thank you to Sheila for THAT CAKE, it must have been the picture that made it taste so good
John your a sly old bugger with that camera, future guests beware.

 

[countrryboy]

i'm glad evreyone seems to have made it home ok.

Was jist wondering how scotlands most southern colony off keds is gettin on, bet there loving that mild weather down there, be out catching the rays on ur forehead all day i bet. mind them eggs be hatching soon aswell!!

Robin i can't believe u ate that cake i thought it was for hanging on the wall, terrific likeness off u