Recreational stalking in Scotland. Your views

[swampy1]

Currently recreational stalkers in Scotland have a few choices when it comes to pursuing their hobby. We can join a syndicate where prices range from a few hundred pounds per year to A few thousand. Or we can pay for individual days out etc. The cost of which varies hugely depending on species, is it a trophy beast? & cost of carcass, if you pull the trigger etc, etc for myself the average cost of a day's stalking is couple of hundred quid for a roe stalk and that includes the carcass. Now I am not having a dig at those offering stalking opportunities so please bare with me. I am a regular visitor to publicly owned land in Scotland(not stalking related visits) and I recently got talking to a stakeholder of that particular land. The subject of stalking on public land came up, and remember that this is land that every tax payer in Scotland essentially owns and as with any other land owner, what is on that land is theirs. It was suggested that each and every person(I assume who has or is paying tax in Scotland) should be able to access publicly owned land, albeit by appointment, x number of days per year as long as they have the relevant qualifications and gear and be permitted to take x number of deer that are in season, pretty much in the same way they can in some of the Scandinavian countries. What are peoples thoughts? Please discuss

 

[levigsp]

So, please tell us where this public land is? I don't know of any, maybe the national forestry could be described as owned by the nation, but where else.
Oh you also forgot you can go and buy the stalking on land for yourself or you can lease it from someone.

 

[swampy1]

Not at liberty to say at the moment which public land. As stated just seeking the opinion of other recreational stalkers and not having a dig at anyone.

 

[jimbo1984]

Or you can knock on someone’s door and possibly get it for free

 

[swampy1]

Or you can knock on someone’s door and possibly get it for free

I have clearly not made a very good job of explaining my question in relation to stalking on publicly owned land. If we already own it why the need to pay some middle man.

 

[CarlW]

I assume you mean land owned by "Forestry & Land Scotland" (successor to "Forestry Commission Scotland")?

 

[swampy1]

I assume you mean land owned by "Forestry & Land Scotland" (successor to "Forestry Commission Scotland")?

There are more organisations the the former forestry commission who are responsible for managing Scotland publicly owned land therefore not only meaning Forestry and land Scotland but public land in general where deer stalking would be appropriate.

 

[nick.308]

Sounds a fair and reasonable argument to me

 

[Mick9abf]

Are you basically asking whether people would advocate an American ‘Tag’ style set up in Scotland?

If you are I can only imagine the bun fighting between stalkers with no permissions and poaching that would go on - rangers would have to be employed to police that alone from a practical point of view.

The other thing to consider is there is more chance of the hole in your backside closing up than the current Scottish Government (who are anti shooting and field sports) ever allowing it.

 

[Uncas]

If you have or find some land do keep it to yourself, or someone will out bid you and then you will lose it.

 

[bogtrotter]

If its not broke don't fix it.

 

[swampy1]

not familiar with the American system. My understanding of what happens in some of the Scandinavian countries is that hunters /, stalkers register and are appointed certain days of the year where they are free to take x number of deer. To the best of my knowledge this system works well there but you are always going to get individuals abusing whatever system is in place. With regards to the Scottish gov being anti field sports they would have to be absolutely mental to try banning it as the amount of money this brings into rural areas is huge and many peoples livelihoods depends upon it.
Are you basically asking whether people would advocate an American ‘Tag’ style set up in Scotland?

If you are I can only imagine the bun fighting between stalkers with no permissions and poaching that would go on - rangers would have to be employed to police that alone from a practical point of view.

The other thing to consider is there is more chance of the hole in your backside closing up than the current Scottish Government (who are anti shooting and field sports) ever allowing it.

 

[Mick9abf]

On another note Swampy1 if your paying £200 for stalking roe buck and keeping the carcass these days I’d stay happy and hand the man, or woman my money. An average Buck nowadays for joe public up my way is more than that and your unlikely to get a sniff of the carcass unless you pay game dealer rates.

 

[swampy1]

On another note Swampy1 if your paying £200 for stalking roe buck and keeping the carcass these days I’d stay happy and hand the man, or woman my money. An average Buck nowadays for joe public up my way is more than that and your unlikely to get a sniff of the carcass unless you pay game dealer rates.

Like I said in the original comment I am not having a dig and I am happy to pay the 200 quid I have been paying. However I would also like to get out more but at 200 a pop it is something I can only justify now and again. Having the opportunity to get out on land that theoretically I already am a stakeholder in along with every other tax payer, and having a system such as in Scandinavia would at least to me seem a fair option and would allow me to get out a little more than I currently do.

 

[swampy1]

If its not broke don't fix it.

But for a number of recreational stalkers it is broke. It could be argued that a few individuals, who granted may have worked hard and tendered for deer control on public land. But is it right that they are also able to then charge to take out recreational stalkers who through the tax system are already stakeholders on that land?

 

[countrryboy]

Plus look at all the places that have free public stalking ur taking the likes USA, Canada Oz, NZ scandi etc..
They all have tiny population densities even the most remote places in Scotland are tiny and over populated by comparison.

Also all the countries these are wilderness areas even if they harvest the trees/timber many are not planted commercially and the areas are vast so any loss by deer will be negligible really.
It's is not cheap to grow trees by times ploughed/filled, planted, sprayed (possibly twice or more), beat up and that's all in the first 5 years, possibly respaceing which are all big costs, then ur thinning cycles even harvesting is not cheap.

While it seems ideal solution, the problem is simply demand is greater than supply.
When u add in all the other countryside users from dog walkers to mountain bikers etc. The woods are just too busy.

Also look at the accident rates in those countries, my kiwi mates who are big stalkers are almost scared to go to certain DoC areas during peak off the roar, hunters shoot each other most years

 

[countrryboy]

But for a number of recreational stalkers it is broke. It could be argued that a few individuals, who granted may have worked hard and tendered for deer control on public land. But is it right that they are also able to then charge to take out recreational stalkers who through the tax system are already stakeholders on that land?

U can't take paying clients out on FC land
In the old days FC rangers would guide stalkers with the money just going back to FC. Pretty sure that's all stopped now

Not really sure wot other public land there is

 

[Mossypaw]

U can't take paying clients out on FC land
In the old days FC rangers would guide stalkers with the money just going back to FC. Pretty sure that's all stopped now

Not really sure wot other public land there is

NNR’s, SNH ?

 

[jimbo1984]

U can't take paying clients out on FC land
In the old days FC rangers would guide stalkers with the money just going back to FC. Pretty sure that's all stopped now

Not really sure wot other public land there is

But you can hammer them on the lamp

 

[bogtrotter]

Still don't know of any public land in Scotland other than F.C. in fact I am almost sure there isn't any.