What book for a beginner to learn ?

[Lloyd90]

Looking to pick up a book to do a bit of reading about stalking.

Trying to learn more about it before I give it a go, have been looking at

Deer Watch: A Field Guide

Deer Watch: A Field Guide: Amazon.co.uk: Richard Prior: Books

I have permission to shoot a farm with fallow deer on it, there farmer says the numbers are higher than ever. I have never stalked deer before and wanted to learn more about it, then will go onto the land and scout it out for the deer

Anyone recommend any good books to pick up ? The book I looked at apparantly mentions about all the species of deer, includin identification and all sorts

 

[dave1372]

you may want to buy a couple of books then....I am a newbie and found the BDS book really great and it is the basis for DSC1.
http://www.bds.org.uk/BOOKD19

 

[SussexFallow]

Best to find someone local to show you the ropes. You will learn a lot quicker.

Atb Steve

 

[Lloyd90]

I have a mentor who I am going to shoot this farm I have with and also arranged to go along for a stalk with someone off this site

Just thought it may help to read up on it a bit aswell

 

[norma 308]

I have a mentor who I am going to shoot this farm I have with and also arranged to go along for a stalk with someone off this site

Just thought it may help to read up on it a bit aswell

spot on way to learn books give the idea but nothing like some practical help

 

[logburner]

hibigthug would recommend you take your level 1 and then get your level 2.As well as going out with somebody with experience.you will learn more if you spend time out in the field observing the deer.Get to know the habbits and location odeer throughout the year.good shooting logburner

 

[SussexFallow]

hibigthug would recommend you take your level 1 and then get your level 2.

What would that prove. He has a mentor he has land .

Atb steve

 

[Taff]

Unless you need the book and bits of paper to raise your level in the high seat to get a better shot, spend your money on getting hands on experience

 

[Lloyd90]

This is what I was thinking! I know people who have done DSC level 1 and say they didn't learn anything extra than they could of just from reading a book!

When you factor in the course and costs of going to / staying there its a few hundred ££! Id rather book a couple stalks and get proper experience than a piece of paper that doesn't really prove anything!

I might do the course some day but there's no rush! It aint cheap and if you do it and then find it's not for you it would be a big waste!

 

[SussexFallow]

I think most do level 1 just to get a deer calibre. As you already have one use the money on paid stalks on roe or muntjac. they will improve you as a stalker as they are a totally different beast to the fallow you are going to shoot.

atb steve

 

[willie_gunn]

I know people who have done DSC level 1 and say they didn't learn anything extra than they could of just from reading a book!

My guess is that they probably went into the course with that attitude already

If you're not sure if stalking is for you then first invest the time by going out and gaining hands-on experience with some experienced guides - there are plenty offering their services on this site who come highly recommended. If you then find that you're bitten by the bug for deer and deer stalking you'll probably find you'll want to do the course anyway. If you get to the point that you are going to be selling your deer to a dealer then realistically you'll need to do it.

If you want a guide to stalking then take out a subscription to the Best Practice Guides and you won't go wrong. If you'd prefer a more regular narrative style book then have a look at those by Prior, Potter or Downing (you can find them on Amazon).

willie_gunn

 

[Claret_Dabbler]

Unless you need the book and bits of paper to raise your level in the high seat to get a better shot, spend your money on getting hands on experience

If you think there is nothing to be learned from reading a book, you must have a very closed mind.

There are always things to learn, and different ways of learning them.....

I have learnt a lot more from sites like this and reading books, than I learned paying big money to look at the back of a pro stalkers neck, or getting shoved up in a highseat in a sitka plantation from mid afternoon til dark.

Learn the theory certainly, and then get out on your own, make mistakes, bump about in the woods, you will start seeing and shooting deer.

 

[pj1]

I have two books by graham downing and would highly recommend them. Yes you need practical expeiriance to progress and get better at stalking but these books are full of usefull info and tips.

Regards pj

 

[Taff]

Cd the question was which book to buy or a ds1 for a person with the choice between affording to buy a book or get hands on experience there is little choice , if you have payed big money to just look at the back of a so called pro then you wasted your money, nobody said don,t read books, I have never read a book on deer stalking in the uk, as my preference is for books on hunting with hounds and general history, having read several hundred books on these subjects I don,t think I can hunt hounds from my armchair or would have been much use at crossing the poles.

 

[pj1]

big thug. did you find a good book

 

[re'M'ington]

hibigthug would recommend you take your level 1 and then get your level 2.

What would that prove. He has a mentor he has land .

Atb steve

 

[Wolverine]

It would prove that at least he has a basic knowledge of deer,if selling carcasses he would be better getting the qualifications,depends how many he is shooting
If 1 or 2 no probs,if you want to develop and learn take the courses in time
You get what you put in
Landowners(farmers)up here actually have started asking me if I am level 1 or level 2 qualified,it can open more non FC ground up to you,or FC ground if you so wish
PS I love this mentoring condition crap,is he responsible or not,either get rifle and shoot or don't,a lot of this is putting things in the way of people starting
I would say the mentor condition is worse than DSC qualifications,at least if you sit basic "exams"you get an idea of what is required
What if you don't know anyone suitable to be a mentor?
What is deemed suitable to be a mentor?