Recreational stalkers; is anyone considering a cheaper hobby?

[JTO]

You would expect that but would you make up the cost in venison against a medal request stalk as that deer would have been left for such a outing. Muntjac Doe v GM Muntjac Buck as an example.
You could blank in both types with or with out...

The answer was with regard to deer management, not trophy management.

 

[merlin]

What is osr ?

Yes I know i am leaving myself open

Oil seed rape

 

[Tim.243]

The answer was with regard to deer management, not trophy management.

 

[Norfolk Deer Search]

So just to gauge mood, is anyone cutting back on stalking trips, giving up ground or perhaps giving up all together?

Yes I am cutting back, pretty much sold all my guns or had them cut up!

Done so much of it in years gone by, i have had a gut full.

But cost has not come into it, just lack of time, energy and enthusiasm.

I would rather spend my time fishing or sailing with my wife and daughter.

 

[NullMac]

I suspect some estates will no longer find it viable as they reduce numbers of deer and hence make things too hard for a guest rifles to gain success ?

Yes, I was on an estate on Deeside this year where I got the impression the stalker was pushing deer on early in the day and miraculously we managed to shoot one later in the day. Two of us had 3 hinds over 2 days. Whole thing was an omni shambles and I will not be going back there. Plenty deer elsewhere. If I had done some of the things he did on my mates estate you would have heard the bollocking in Edinburgh.

 

[Dave31]

I have loved the stalking that I have done. I don't know where to start to get regular cheap shooting so I pay a couple of times a year to go out. It's hard to justify more than that with a young family and other expenses.

 

[paulbshooting]

Fortunately my little venison business contributes to my stalking costs. It would be the last thing I gave up. Have decided to scale back game shooting plans for next season though.

 

[bottletopbill]

Yep I asked for that one . now I know

No one is growing it around my perm all apples and solar panels and sheep grazing

 

[NullMac]

Most of the forestry managers I've come across don't actually consider the recreational lease holder a very effective method of deer management.

Yes because there is mis-alignement of interests. Many/most recreational stalkers want to run a zoo and get some nice antlers in October, while the forestry boys would have them all shot on sight.

 

[Norfolk Deer Search]

Definitely think the trick is if possible to keep stalking as a hobby and a pleasure otherwise it will surely just become and must be a job of work regardless of either culling numbers or taking out paying guests the latter puts you into the entertainment industry, the curtain goes up and the show goes on

Turning stalking into a job unless professionally paid for it is a big mistake, I did that and now borderline hate it!

I wish i had just poked about for the freezer and kept that way.

I am hoping to learn to enjoy stalking again, given myself 5 years with my renewal paperwork now going In, if I don’t I’ll quit.

 

[scrumbag]

The only recreational shooting I do now is a bit of unofficial target shooting, gave up on clays due to cost, and couldnt justify shooting deer without being paid for it!

Funny, I can't conceive of getting paid to shoot deer...

 

[bottletopbill]

Norfolk Deer Search is there not away you could teach others with out the stress courses and more time for you.
Otherwise it is a Job

 

[Jon P]

If you think stalking is expensive try having a wife with a horse!

That is an easy £400 per horses a month before actually going anywhere with them.

 

[The Singing Stalker]

Not giving up but I am trying to reduce my mileage so cutting back and working to get land locally to me which will help a lot as a 100 plus mile round trip is my biggest time and cost issue. I don’t pay for land.
Avoid big estates, they are already covered, you need the ex banker, or smallholder who has 20, 40, 60:acres. They can be very productive.
Getting to know and meet those people is the difficult bit. Plenty people getting to know me locally as I can help out with a fox or a rabbit problem. And now I sell venison to the local pub so more people getting to know me.
Don’t bother going beating and then asking the game keeper if he has any shooting. He either keeps it for himself or his mates. There was a thread on here years ago about it. I’m too anti social to go beating anyway, more likely to tell the underkeeper to shove it up his ….anyway, small places especially if they have flowers. Deer and flowers don’t mix.

 

[Overlay]

Turning stalking into a job unless professionally paid for it is a big mistake, I did that and now borderline hate it!

I wish i had just poked about for the freezer and kept that way.

I am hoping to learn to enjoy stalking again, given myself 5 years with my renewal paperwork now going In, if I don’t I’ll quit.

Good on you NDS , have a wee break and get your mojo back, not a tooooo long a break though, there’s deer in them there woods waiting for you

 

[User00053]

Turning stalking into a job unless professionally paid for it is a big mistake, I did that and now borderline hate it!

I wish i had just poked about for the freezer and kept that way.

I am hoping to learn to enjoy stalking again, given myself 5 years with my renewal paperwork now going In, if I don’t I’ll quit.

Hope you start to enjoy your stalking again I never did and was professionally paid for it but not in the lowlands with more sun on back, only aspect I enjoyed was out witting hinds and the odd client I liked who knew what they were doing and could shoot, never really a deer man at heart.

 

[Norfolk Deer Search]

Norfolk Deer Search is there not away you could teach others with out the stress courses and more time for you.
Otherwise it is a Job

My door is always open and the kettle is on for those who want advice

For those who want a stress free stalking life, i give the following advice-

Leave the herd species alone, let others shoot and handle them , just shoot small stuff.

 

[Dave31]

Not giving up but I am trying to reduce my mileage so cutting back and working to get land locally to me which will help a lot as a 100 plus mile round trip is my biggest time and cost issue. I don’t pay for land.
Avoid big estates, they are already covered, you need the ex banker, or smallholder who has 20, 40, 60:acres. They can be very productive.
Getting to know and meet those people is the difficult bit. Plenty people getting to know me locally as I can help out with a fox or a rabbit problem. And now I sell venison to the local pub so more people getting to know me.
Don’t bother going beating and then asking the game keeper if he has any shooting. He either keeps it for himself or his mates. There was a thread on here years ago about it. I’m too anti social to go beating anyway, more likely to tell the underkeeper to shove it up his ….anyway, small places especially if they have flowers. Deer and flowers don’t mix.

Aye, it does seem that most of the area around my current neck of the woods (Glasgow) is covered as well.

 

[RescueMe0007]

No, my main issue is getting rid of the venison, the freezer is full, the family prefer chicken and there isn't a game dealer for 50 miles.

I can identify with that situation. Recently some of my neighbours have evidenced an interest in venison, so I hope to take more beasts next season as I'll have an outlet for the meat. I'll not take any money for the meat, love the sport and cannot bring myself to take the animals unless the meat will be consumed, it'd be sinful otherwise! So currently I'm pretty content with my situation.

 

[RescueMe0007]

What is osr ?

Yes I know i am leaving myself open

Thanks for asking the Q? I had no idea either!