First Time Stalking - Any Advice?
- Thread starter Turnips
- Start date
dont natter, tap on the shoulder if you need to alert anyone . Agree before procedures, if your mentor tells you do something do it ,if he tells you not to do something - dont ! if he doesn't tell you anything either way ? look around for a better mentor LOL
Rusty Gate
Well-Known Member
Just like we did
And this is me after a successful stalk.
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Turnips
Well-Known Member
Update, as requested:
Got to my mate for just before 4am, a little overcast so first light was going to be a little later than we had anticipated. Quite warm, around 15 degrees and really close so we were hoping that the roe on his patch would be active; he said they hadn't been up to much yet. He brought his .308, me just armed with my binos and a keen interest!
Working with the wind led us round the standing wheat and barley, this showed no activity but we were joined by owls, bats and the neighbour appearing 200yards down the way taking his pack of dogs for a walk... typical! Still, I'm sure he was happy to be out in the best part of the day too.
We doubled back and went to the far side of the fields we had been working, away from any human activity! We tucked up in a hedgeback and I was very surprised to see a lovely red hind passing through one of the cornfields. I didn't know reds were on this land, and I don't think I've ever seen one before (at least not since I learnt there are more than just 'deer'...). She passed through an open gate and onto the silage land which is growing back lovely fresh growth, followed by her calf, followed by another hind. Really great to see and we sat there quietly watching until they were far enough out that we could slip away leaving them undisturbed.
Now it was a little lighter we went down into the woodland and set up in a likely glade to try and call in a roe buck. Mate got busy on his buttolo (who knew deer could make all of those noises?!!) and tried to work the magic. There were a couple of times where something was out there, a crash in the undergrowth giving us the heads up, but no barking from any bucks and certainly nothing coming close enough for us to see. After what felt like a long time (phone was off and I don't wear a watch, so I couldn't tell you for sure) we moved out and continued stalking through the woods, but without seeing or hearing anything else. Inside the woods even though it wasn't hot like a summers day it was really humid and I was sweating even though we had been sat still. There was not a breath of wind in there, so I don't think our scent put them off, but I'm not sure why else they didn't come in.
At the end of the wood we went out onto the cow pastures, turned, and worked back up the side of the wood into a slight breeze again. The mist which had been hanging, obscuring these fields as we worked the wood was lifting as we went along, moving downhill and further from the treeline as the land opened out. About three fields in my mate turned to me and asked if I would be happy to lead the stalk now and carry the rifle. Usual disclaimer here that he explained the boundaries, where the rights of way would be coming etc. I was a little surprised as I didn't expect to be shooting today but feeling confident in my ability to shoot, and to identify a roe buck, I accepted. My mate stuck right with me as a guide, and we carried on along the way.
In the next field I was glassing the treeline up the hillside when a roe buck popped out of a hollow about 80 yards away. Now the thing is, it's very easy in hindsight to say what I should have done which is spread the sticks, mount the rifle and take the shot. However, in my excitement what I actually did was turn to my mate with a broad grin on my face and said 'I found one!', to which a polite version of his reply was 'hurry up and shoot it then!'. Of course the deer didn't fancy that so decided he was off, I tangled the sicks in my binos and by the time I was sorted and onto the sticks the opportunity was gone. My mate had done a sterling job of barking him to a standstill but alas I had shown my novice ability level. I'm certain that a more experienced stalker would have grassed it, and I'm really disappointed that I cocked it up - but I learnt some things so it wasn't a total waste.
No further deer were spotted on our stalk, we did see some footings here and there but no deer, though I didn't bump anything so my stalking must have been okay! Big uphill walk at the end and then into the kitchen for a few gallons of tea to quench our thirst.
My mate wasn't too upset at my missed opportunity, though he was a little sad that the roe are not really rutting, he was hoping to pull some bucks in very close to us for the experience. Excitingly, he said at the end that if we can't get out on roe bucks again it's red stags soon so don't worry!
Hopefully my write up wasn't too boring, no pictures I'm afraid as my phone was off the whole time. I'm now full of questions about what optic to buy for the rifle I'm going to put in a variation for, whether I should get a harness so I don't wrap my binos up in the sticks again, and why the heck my mate prefers humping a 12lb rifle about when he's stalking!!!
Got to my mate for just before 4am, a little overcast so first light was going to be a little later than we had anticipated. Quite warm, around 15 degrees and really close so we were hoping that the roe on his patch would be active; he said they hadn't been up to much yet. He brought his .308, me just armed with my binos and a keen interest!
Working with the wind led us round the standing wheat and barley, this showed no activity but we were joined by owls, bats and the neighbour appearing 200yards down the way taking his pack of dogs for a walk... typical! Still, I'm sure he was happy to be out in the best part of the day too.
We doubled back and went to the far side of the fields we had been working, away from any human activity! We tucked up in a hedgeback and I was very surprised to see a lovely red hind passing through one of the cornfields. I didn't know reds were on this land, and I don't think I've ever seen one before (at least not since I learnt there are more than just 'deer'...). She passed through an open gate and onto the silage land which is growing back lovely fresh growth, followed by her calf, followed by another hind. Really great to see and we sat there quietly watching until they were far enough out that we could slip away leaving them undisturbed.
Now it was a little lighter we went down into the woodland and set up in a likely glade to try and call in a roe buck. Mate got busy on his buttolo (who knew deer could make all of those noises?!!) and tried to work the magic. There were a couple of times where something was out there, a crash in the undergrowth giving us the heads up, but no barking from any bucks and certainly nothing coming close enough for us to see. After what felt like a long time (phone was off and I don't wear a watch, so I couldn't tell you for sure) we moved out and continued stalking through the woods, but without seeing or hearing anything else. Inside the woods even though it wasn't hot like a summers day it was really humid and I was sweating even though we had been sat still. There was not a breath of wind in there, so I don't think our scent put them off, but I'm not sure why else they didn't come in.
At the end of the wood we went out onto the cow pastures, turned, and worked back up the side of the wood into a slight breeze again. The mist which had been hanging, obscuring these fields as we worked the wood was lifting as we went along, moving downhill and further from the treeline as the land opened out. About three fields in my mate turned to me and asked if I would be happy to lead the stalk now and carry the rifle. Usual disclaimer here that he explained the boundaries, where the rights of way would be coming etc. I was a little surprised as I didn't expect to be shooting today but feeling confident in my ability to shoot, and to identify a roe buck, I accepted. My mate stuck right with me as a guide, and we carried on along the way.
In the next field I was glassing the treeline up the hillside when a roe buck popped out of a hollow about 80 yards away. Now the thing is, it's very easy in hindsight to say what I should have done which is spread the sticks, mount the rifle and take the shot. However, in my excitement what I actually did was turn to my mate with a broad grin on my face and said 'I found one!', to which a polite version of his reply was 'hurry up and shoot it then!'. Of course the deer didn't fancy that so decided he was off, I tangled the sicks in my binos and by the time I was sorted and onto the sticks the opportunity was gone. My mate had done a sterling job of barking him to a standstill but alas I had shown my novice ability level. I'm certain that a more experienced stalker would have grassed it, and I'm really disappointed that I cocked it up - but I learnt some things so it wasn't a total waste.
No further deer were spotted on our stalk, we did see some footings here and there but no deer, though I didn't bump anything so my stalking must have been okay! Big uphill walk at the end and then into the kitchen for a few gallons of tea to quench our thirst.
My mate wasn't too upset at my missed opportunity, though he was a little sad that the roe are not really rutting, he was hoping to pull some bucks in very close to us for the experience. Excitingly, he said at the end that if we can't get out on roe bucks again it's red stags soon so don't worry!
Hopefully my write up wasn't too boring, no pictures I'm afraid as my phone was off the whole time. I'm now full of questions about what optic to buy for the rifle I'm going to put in a variation for, whether I should get a harness so I don't wrap my binos up in the sticks again, and why the heck my mate prefers humping a 12lb rifle about when he's stalking!!!
Sounds like a great outing, in which you learnt a lot.
Shooting a deer is such a very small part of it that you didn't really miss out on a great deal in that respect - there'll be another time.
I had quite a few deer in front of me on quite a few stalks before i felt ready to actually shoot one . I wasn't accompanied , just didn't feel right . Glad I did to be fair . I had been shooting other live quarry with rifle for years something just made me think more . The Kill shot is still more a relief I didn't screw up even to this day , sounds like you take the memories with you and there is always a next
No wonder it didn’t see you !!
Monolooper
Member
All good advice. I’m taking note myself as I want to get into stalking myself.
Turnips
Well-Known Member
I'm not sure what your history with shooting is, but I've been lucky to be involved with pest control on farms for about fifteen years - starting out on airguns and moving up to rimfires and shotguns as time went on. For me, moving on to deer stalking feels like a big step up. Obviously deer are a much bigger animal and the potential for things to go wrong are higher. I really can't recommend doing a DSC1 or similar course enough, especially if you haven't been around deer or stalking before. If you don't want to do that all of the info that you would learn on a course is available online for you to look at for free, if you're handy with google.
Obviously I've only been out once so I don't have much advice for you but getting something booked and getting out there is the way to go. Plenty of reputable guides which can be contacted via here on SD
bottletopbill
Well-Known Member
Done my first stalk with a great guy this was priceless and shot one,
But the learning curve from my guide made it extra special for me.
Hope i was not to much of a pain for him.
Hope you enjoy as much as I did my first and remember these are wild animals they are the ones in control good luck to all
But the learning curve from my guide made it extra special for me.
Hope i was not to much of a pain for him.
Hope you enjoy as much as I did my first and remember these are wild animals they are the ones in control good luck to all
Last edited:
TringSaint
Well-Known Member
I can certainly recommend doing some dry stalking without a rifle.I'm not sure what your history with shooting is, but I've been lucky to be involved with pest control on farms for about fifteen years - starting out on airguns and moving up to rimfires and shotguns as time went on. For me, moving on to deer stalking feels like a big step up. Obviously deer are a much bigger animal and the potential for things to go wrong are higher. I really can't recommend doing a DSC1 or similar course enough, especially if you haven't been around deer or stalking before. If you don't want to do that all of the info that you would learn on a course is available online for you to look at for free, if you're handy with google.
Obviously I've only been out once so I don't have much advice for you but getting something booked and getting out there is the way to go. Plenty of reputable guides which can be contacted via here on SD
Go out and simulate a stalk by spotting real deer and moving into a position where you can take a safe ‘shot’.
See how the deer behave and react and that will be invaluable when you do it for real.
Watching their behaviour will help you be more successful and, hopefully, safer.
Also, walk your land. Have a really good idea where the safe and not safe zones are.
Carry a map with these zones marked on them clearly and learn how to move about the land with minimal disturbance in order to get from one shooting area to another.
Lastly, learn your distances. Pace out distances between markers on your land - trees, gateways, etc. this helps when it’s low light as you can then use your knowledge of the land to know if the deer is 150 or 250m away! (That or buy a rangefinder!!)
randello88
Well-Known Member
Don't shoot if you don't feel confident.
Rake Aboot
Well-Known Member
Take 4 steps then glass again
Repeat until you see a deer, then drop down and go into slow motion, unless the shot is presented, then ( if confident ) take it quickly.
If a final stalk in is required,
Try and calm down , take time , you probably have plenty.
Once you have a deer in your sight , breath, and enjoy the shot.
Repeat until you see a deer, then drop down and go into slow motion, unless the shot is presented, then ( if confident ) take it quickly.
If a final stalk in is required,
Try and calm down , take time , you probably have plenty.
Once you have a deer in your sight , breath, and enjoy the shot.
billy_boyle_2010
Well-Known Member
Enjoy it
Do as your told
If you're not 99.9% of a well placed chest shot- don't pull the trigger.
I still avoid pulling the trigger if I'm not calm and in the zone.
Do as your told
If you're not 99.9% of a well placed chest shot- don't pull the trigger.
I still avoid pulling the trigger if I'm not calm and in the zone.
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