Recreational Stalking in Forestry and Land Scotland/Tilhill

[TheDeerWalker]

Hello,

I'm new to the sport, and currently waiting on my first FAC application. The permission I have is with my Brother in Law and is about 1.5 hours away (on a good drive) so not the most ideal.

I live in Central Belt Scotland but I'm surrounded by Forestry and Land Scotland managed forests and some Tilhill stuff with very few farms. Anyone have any idea if they do recreational leases? Or had any experiance trying to get in contact, I'm planning on waiting until my FAC is in before going permission hunting but any information on them would be ideal.

I walk the dog through the Tilhill every day, as my garden backs onto it and there are definiety some nice looking high seats about, so guessing it is actively managed - not that I've heard much shooting tbf.

Also there is a windfarm next to the forest, but not sure who would own the rights over that and even if they let shooters on there.

I'm DSC1 and SACS insured, but don't have the DSC2 nor First Aid - however i'm happy to do the first aid, and will work towards the DSC2.

Any advice for a newbie?

Cheers

 

[VSS]

Yes, Tilhill do do recreational leases.

 

[geoshot]

I don't know what the current procedure is with Tilhill, but I used to lease a patch of ground from them with a few friends of mine, it was simple enough to do so

 

[Bowland blades]

An hour and a half isn't much of a travel , if your not paying for the stalking . Just make sure you have the weather and enough time to do both ends of the day .
Leases aint cheap on good ground near travel from lots of folks who will also be after it

 

[Dave_45]

Leases in Scotland are largely filled from people who live 5-8 hours away and don't want locals in the syndicate

 

[Bowland blades]

Leases in Scotland are largely filled from people who live 5-8 hours away and don't want locals in the syndicate

True and the local rouges soon learn this

 

[TheDeerWalker]

Leases in Scotland are largely filled from people who live 5-8 hours away and don't want locals in the syndicate

That is a shame, barier to entry for this sport is pretty high it seems. I was just lucky my Brother in law has a small permission I could use for the FAC

 

[Bowland blades]

That is a shame, barier to entry for this sport is pretty high it seems. I was just lucky my Brother in law has a small permission I could use for the FAC

Subjective , regards contacts and i have always found fuel and lodgings the expensive bit of stalking

 

[Dave_45]

True and the local rouges soon learn this

It works both ways I suppose.

You wouldn't want a syndicate member that lives local , on it every day knocking hell out it, and when you travel up you see nowt.

But if no one is close by, the locals all know the score...


As I keep saying , syndicates are a minefield

 

[Stevie/P]

The only way to get a foot in the door regarding forestry companies is through the forestry mangers I’ve been registered with several of them for ten years and nothing has ever been offered.
Seek out the forestry managers as this is the way forward to acquire a leas.

 

[Dickie]

I don't believe the leases are give out or offered the are advertised when up for renewal, if you then apply with the many others and are lucky to be chosen then your in.
There are many boxes to tick as well as the right financial part of the bid.

 

[Dan Newcombe]

More and more seem to be moving away from syndicates as well and taking a more robust approach to tree protection.

 

[VSS]

I don't believe the leases are give out or offered the are advertised when up for renewal, if you then apply with the many others and are lucky to be chosen then your in.
There are many boxes to tick as well as the right financial part of the bid.

Some are advertised. Others are acquired by being on good terms with the local forestry manager. Both routes in are equally valid, but the second is more likely to be successful, and cost a lot less. (Or may even result in you being paid for your efforts ).

 

[viking90]

It's mad having to pay to sort out someone else's pest problem

 

[Dan Newcombe]

Or more often - to not sort out the problem.

 

[sako751sg]

It's mad having to pay to sort out someone else's pest problem

They don't actually "have" to pay to sort someone's problem and it's actually their own choice to.

 

[User00040]

Any advice for a newbie?

Cheers

Get some experience first.

Most recreational stalking leases in Scotland require the following:

FAC, rifle of suitable calibre + insurance

DSC 1&2

NatureScot (formerly SNH) Fit & Competent register, which is a matter of applying for it when you have DSC1&2

Emergency First Aid at Work + Forestry module

Quad bike and Argo tickets if to be used

FLS will require you to pass a shooting test which is easy enough but still many fail

I'd reccomend you also get the following:

Shooting sticks and practise using them

Dog which can track shot deer, as they can easily be lost in forestry

A thermal spotter

Some leases are complete rip offs where the ground has been scoured before being leased out.

Very few leases will want to take on a novice due to concerns over safety, so build up some demonstrable experience.

Best of luck!

 

[User00040]

It's mad having to pay to sort out someone else's pest problem

Think of it as monies paid in lieu of crop damage and covering admin fees.

The elephant in the room is whether forestry, fenced or not, should be considered taxable under sporting rates per acre if leased out.

This fear is the main reason behind FLS cancelling most leases in favour of contractors.

 

[Dan Newcombe]

As a note - you can get F&C with just DSC1 but you need to be referred by 2 people and at least one has to have DSC2

 

[TH4]

As a note - you can get F&C with just DSC1 but you need to be referred by 2 people and at least one has to have DSC2

No they don't, one of them needs to have dsc1.