Whats the best way to get started?

[tom.h]

Hello,

I'm wondering what is the best way to get started in deer stalking as someone without rifle shooting experience or FAC or DSC1 etc. I think either finding some paid stalks to get experience or do DSC1 first? Another idea would be to join a fullbore rifle club? (I guess I'm not sure the appropriate order of things)

I'm reading a book on long range shooting I found on amazon: Long Range Shooting Handbook: The Complete Beginner's Guide to Precision Rifle Shooting: Amazon.co.uk: Cleckner, Ryan M: 9780999417300: Books So I will have some theoretical knowledge.

I will be living in London but have a car. I've had a shotgun certificate in the past and have done some rough shooting with that. I also have access to a car up at my family home in Newcastle for going up to Scotland etc for DSC1 or paid stalks. I'm assuming with things getting back to normal paid stalks maybe open now with appropriate distancing?

Any advice or suggestions much appreciated.

Best,
Tom

 

[Mike L]

Hi tom, the owner of the site sikamalc runs stalking in West Sussex, pretty sure he has an estate rifle, get some paid stalks and take it from there.

Mike

 

[HappyHunter]

Paid stalks before DSC. You'll learn more having witnessed aspects of what you're learning. From there in terms of gaining a permission it's patience and persistence or just cracking on with paid stalks if you're happy. Joining a club never a bad shout as that's how I ended up here.

 

[Roestalker39]

Courses are all well and good but don’t mean you’ll get land , and being classroom based there’s a limit to what you can learn , seriously tag along with someone a few times to get a feel for stalking , ask to be shown the gralloch procedure , give them a hand moving highseats etc , if you’re ever in the yorkshire area give me a shout and if our schedules synch I’ll take you out for a stalk

 

[Uncle f]

As above do some paid stalks or ask to tag along to see if it’s for you? It may not be. Get some experience on deer, the legalities and knife work and carcass inspection. Ask questions

Pm me when you have enough posts and I can take you out a few times in the winter when stalking gets a touch easier for the beginner as the cover is down and more species/genders are in season certainly where I stalk fallow roe and muntjac

Good luck

 

[HappyHunter]

The forum at it's best! Generous offers gents!

 

[riflerob]

I have to say the biggest concerns I've found, when doing paid stalks, from talking to guides etc, has been marksmanship and shot placement of clients.

'Trigger time' is under-rated, in my opinion. Even on a range, putting rounds down there, getting consistent, makes for far more confidence and capability in the field.

As such, membership of a club (even if you're not going to get your FAC and just use club guns on the range, estate rifles when stalking), and using range days are really worthwhile.
Likewise eventually your DSC 1. Knowing shot placement, when to (and more importantly, when NOT to) take the shot, all critical skills.

 

[sikamalc]

Drop me a PM and I will se what I can do to help you. I am not stalking at present as I have finished my Roe Buck cull. We can have a chat and see what I can do to help.

 

[opticron1]

If you are looking for something near Newcastle as you have transport there, Jon at Greenlee Deer Management may be worth a try, lovely spot and one of the good guys.

 

[sikamalc]

If you are looking for something near Newcastle as you have transport there, Jon at Greenlee Deer Management may be worth a try, lovely spot and one of the good guys.

I can second that. Jon is a friend of mine and a very good guy.

 

[opticron1]

And he can (or rather his better half can) produce some very nice venison burgers!

 

[paulbshooting]

As per above, do some paid stalks, ideally with a couple of different stalkers maybe after different species. Then commit and do your DSC1 to learn the basics. Ideally then find a mentor who should be able to support your FAC app and with your DSC done. Then enjoy the never ending learning journey of deer stalking. Stalking and culling your first unaccompanied deer ideally on your own permission is a truly wonderful experience

 

[Kjf]

Drop me a PM and I will se what I can do to help you. I am not stalking at present as I have finished my Roe Buck cull. We can have a chat and see what I can do to help.

There's an offer you should NOT refuse

Good look on your journey bud

Kjf

 

[Bavarianbrit]

Do trawl youtube as there is mountains of good info to be found but disregard the ones with music as thats a wannabe clue of the posters abilities imo. Ref trigger time, going to a smallbore rifle club once a week will get your brain synch/breathing/trigger pull into gear, it has made me a very good shot but I did do that for 20 years before stalking got me.

 

[Erik Hamburger]

Book yourself in for 3-4 Stalks with a prof. guide.
if you enjoy the experience, book a DSC1 course AND put your name down for membership of a target rifle/shooting club/range.
Once you have the DSC1, a FAC and some Range experience (1-2 years down the line) you may want to start to look for land or a syndicate to join.
Just clearing up a misconception: Deer stalking is NOT about long-range shooting! You're much better off to spent your initial learning years trying to photograph wildlife, and deer in particular. The field skills learned will come into good use once you're out with a rifle. Good luck and have fun.

 

[paulbshooting]

Agreed, shooting is one thing, field craft is another! Time spent stalking rabbits with small rifles is never wasted if you can. Hence its deer stalking not deer shooting I guess

 

[308tikka]

There are many routes.
You could join a club and learn the fundamentals of marksmanship - never a bad thing. More should.
As mentioned if you know anyone who stalks try and accompany. They will advise on clothing, footwear and so on.
dont spend money on rifles until youve done this. Some people cant pull the trigger on live quarry. Its a fact of life for many, that Police firearms licensing may insist on you doing DSC1 before granting an FAC. Its not a legal requirement but you will learn a lot anyway. After that it is up to you to go on paid stalks or accompany friends who stalk.

I will repeat good advice given to me for when you eventually buy a rifle etc. Spend as much on your scope as your rifle. Spend as much on your binos as rifle and scope combined.
This may not be quite as important these days with decent scopes can be had for under £150 in sales, but good binos are essential.

 

[bullet chucker]

All good advice so far, What rifle experience have you? No good booking a paid stalk and ditching the rifle because it made you jump when it went BANG!
It matters not if you have only fired air weapons,they give the basics required to hit your mark. Good luck in your quest!
And remember we all' had to start some where.

BC.

 

[tom.h]

Thanks very much for all the replies. Very kind offers to help.

 

[tom.h]

And I will definitely be looking to join a shooting club/range at the same time. As long as they provide the rifle since I don't have one. I have shot air rifles quite a bit air arms tx200 / FX verminator mainly when I was younger on targets and stalking small game like rabbit.

I totally understand that stalking is about fieldcraft and the shots are generally close. The long range book I'm reading is really not named appropriately ( Ex US Ranger Sniper wrote it, so probably marketing hype) it's really beginners guide to rifles starting with what is a rifle.