Recreational stalkers; is anyone considering a cheaper hobby?

[Ruby Tuesday 2]

The only benefit to wives having horses is that its a time rich hobby that often involves early mornings and late evenings so it fits in well with z stalking husband. The other issue other than cost is they wash all the horses crap in with your own washing so some mornings I go to work looking like I've spent the night waxing a long haired ginger man.

 

[sikamalc]

A good many years stalking across the UK, and dont really regret any of it. I have met some wonderful people, a good few off this site. I still get a kick out of a novice taking his first deer, the smile on their face says it all.
Managing large leases in Scotland, the largest being over 44,000 acres, then 13,500 acres and lastly 8000 acres was hard work, and although I still love the highlands and the roar of Red Stags and the Whistle of a Sika stag, I am taking a step back from commercial stalking in that area. I am still going up, but with friends this year, dam I might even get to shoot a stag myself .
That's the thing, many other stalkers think that as a full time guide you get to shoot a lot of deer. You dont, unless you are on a penalty clause or night licence.

Stalking and managing deer over large areas and keeping all the landowners, farm managers happy is no easy task. Every place is different and has a different attitude towards deer. Some expect you to be there 24/7 and one deer is one to many in their opinion.

Stalking is not that expensive compared to some hobbies, and since I started its been opened up to the masses. If you get into hunting abroad, especially such places as Africa, then it gets serious. Someone once mentioned that big game hunting was one down from running a formula one car........................ probably not far off the truth.

 

[jkhgun]

Im 6 years in stalking now and throughly enjoying it, ive shot all my life that and all types of country pursuits , carp fishing beeing very expensive if you let it! (im just a sucker for new gadgets and gear). I still do quite a bit of driven shooting and that is getting extremely expensive!! so mainly stick to wildfowling and pest control! Dont know what i would do with out my time in the field< its a release and mind emptier! Also like i said im a sucker for new gadgets! (not sayinging they aid you in anywwy or even contribute to more game/deer/carp on the ground.) Old school ways seem to work the best!

 

[John Gryphon]

carp fishing beeing very expensive if you let it!

yet here even though they are the same fish they are vermin, shot, netted, electrocuted in 1000`s of tonnes.

 

[Norfolk Deer Search]

yet here even though they are the same fish they are vermin, shot, netted, electrocuted in 1000`s of tonnes.

I fish for carp that are over 30 years old, some countries they are a pest some a gem!

 

[John Gryphon]

I fish for carp that are over 30 years old, some countries they are a pest some a gem!

They are all a pest here NDS
.22 LR is very good and wandering along head shooting rising carp is quite a past time.
I wont whinge about the cost of three bullets lol.

 

[John Gryphon]

I have shot perhaps up to 15 fish in a day strolling along the creek bank in summer among hip high tussocks.... with snake proof chaps on,of course.

 

[Norfolk Deer Search]

I have shot perhaps up to 15 fish in a day strolling along the creek bank in summer among hip high tussocks.... with snake proof chaps on,of course.

Multi million £££ business here in the U.K.

 

[John Gryphon]

Multi million £££ business here in the U.K.

Yes I had some dealings with a London investment banker, he saw my photo reports of shooting them and said "good lord a man would pay 2000 pounds for a days fishing like that"

 

[opticron1]

It's a constant barrage regarding the cost of living, everything from the weekly food shop to the cost of electricity and a suppose the cost of stalking to the recreational shooter.
We've have just had two separate syndicates pull out both stating cost as the reason. Cost of the ground, fuel, ammo, accommodation, and I suppose time.
Only this week I saw primers advertised at £20 per 100 and some loaded ammo (can't remember the brand) at £70 for 20 rounds!
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!
So just to gauge mood, is anyone cutting back on stalking trips, giving up ground or perhaps giving up all together?

Last year, for me was an expensive one - stalking wise. This year, I'll probably restrict myself to a few local trips after Roe deer to keep the supply in the freezer topped up. I am in the position of having to pay for shooting and using the estate rifle so I go when I can afford it and not have to worry about reloading/ammunition so the only other costs are equipment, accommodation, petrol and the day's shooting. So, this year should be cheaper - although I am still sorely tempted by the idea of an Iceland stalking/fishing trip - but it boils down to accepting that some things cost money and you can't take it with you. If it wasn't stalking, it would be fishing or the motorbikes......

 

[muddy42]

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.

True. My policy is if its the first time I give away venison, they get it butchered. The second time, they have to come and help me so I can show them the process. The third time a deer is dumped on their doorstep! Still supply exceeds demand!

 

[JH83]

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.

I think I’d say don’t commit to very large culls of the herding species unless you have the time, inclination and equipment-and actually understand what it is you are attempting. People will promise anything to get a permission but then the enormity of the task becomes apparent, then it becomes a burden. I read the other day you gave up red ground, fair play; I wish more folks would do the same-I think national populations would be much lower if they did.

The big herding deer are to my mind the biggest challenge, finest sport, and the only opportunity to cover some costs.

I’m lucky in that I pay for very little (patient and persistent) but with fuel costs- and having a young baby- mean going forwards I’ll need to be more efficient with time. Bits of land that are over an hour away will mean camping on the ground overnight instead of doing multiple trips (I am looking for a decent cooler for the pickup), generally working smarter not harder. I certainly don’t intend to give anything up, it’s taken 2 decades to get ‘enough’ !

 

[Norfolk Deer Search]

I think I’d say don’t commit to very large culls of the herding species unless you have the time, inclination and equipment-and actually understand what it is you are attempting. People will promise anything to get a permission but then the enormity of the task becomes apparent, then it becomes a burden. I read the other day you gave up red ground, fair play; I wish more folks would do the same-I think national populations would be much lower if they did.

The big herding deer are to my mind the biggest challenge, finest sport, and the only opportunity to cover some costs.

I’m lucky in that I pay for very little (patient and persistent) but with fuel costs- and having a young baby- mean going forwards I’ll need to be more efficient with time. Bits of land that are over an hour away will mean camping on the ground overnight instead of doing multiple trips (I am looking for a decent cooler for the pickup), generally working smarter not harder. I certainly don’t intend to give anything up, it’s taken 2 decades to get ‘enough’ !

Yep I have given it to my troops, they can get in with it and keep the carcasses and do as they wish.

 

[User00053]

 

[Kjf]

No , I'll do it as long as I can afford it ,

After paying out for the syndicate , I spend 3 days a month of the ground ( camping ) it costs about 150 notes for the 3 days , 100 notes on fuel and bout 50 notes for some grub and a wee dramme ,

Not cheap but 50 notes a day is the way I see it ( the lease cost, is what it is ), I pay for my freedom.to camp n hunt on the ground, if I can't camp.on the ground it's pointless to me , it's part of the reason I enjoy it so much , and ill pay for that freedom tp stalk deer in a wild place , as long as I can afford it

Kjf

 

[highseat6.5]

.my latest insurance quote for two horses with NFU.

I used to think nothing was as expensive as owning a horse (apart from owning several) , owning a boat runs it a very close second !
Thankfully all the horses are gone , as is the boat … never again ..

 

[Puds]

I don’t pay for any of my stalking or shooting (apart from very reasonable subs to the wildfowling club), don’t care about buying the latest kit or clothing and have no desire to buy big trophy bucks or similar. It’s not eating into my finances at all really.

 

[macfarlane]

Every so often I think about giving it all up,I’m fortunate I don’t pay to stalk.
I’ve often thought about joining a syndicate but read some horror stories over the years so I’m kind off put off .Also don’t have any certificates level 1 etc ,I hate the idea of being told how to do something I’ve done for years plus I suffer from dyslexia so I hate exams lol.
If I stopped shooting I’d just spend more money on fishing so no I wouldn’t really save on anything.

 

[gixer1]

Or even just a wife!

Good luck getting a blowie off your mates…

 

[Pedro]

I think everyone has to have at least one hobby. We all know of those people who stay in work as long as possible into old age because there's nothing else in their life, then drop dead shortly after having had to retire. Of course it doesn't have to be stalking. There's a vast array of interests that could float your boat. But I think you'll find that there aren't many that don't cost you money. Vintage cars and motorbikes are money pits. Golf (perish the thought) range fees/memberships are extortionate. Stamp collecting even ain't so cheap. As for incessantly going on holidays, well, good luck with that. Spending hours at a time paying good money sitting in an aeroplane seat built for leprechauns isn't my idea of fun, but neither is it cheap.

No, pretty much any worthwhile hobby will cost you a great wedge of any surplus income you might have. And with the cost of living crisis what it is, it's a worry. I have a number of shooting hobbies, ride a motorcycle and like to go to rugby internationals. All an ongoing cost. But I really don't want to give up any of them. So when money is tight, I just cut back. Then when the money tap opens a bit, I can do more. Give up? Nope, I'll do that when the body calls time, not before.