why is it hard too get out stalking or get into a stalking syndicate

[sikamalc]

I look at this from the deer management point of view, rather than individual stalker's interest. So my point about the age of stalkers, which I made solely from my experience around here, is about when the age means they're not doing a good enough job. Perhaps because they were taught it is distasteful to shoot a pregnant doe even in February or because they don't look to the future and engage help.

@Ratel 's post is a perfect illustration of how I wish it were around here. Someone dedicated to getting the job done, getting help and looking to the future. 100%


What happens when all the 70+ stalkers, who are protective of their land, die? No fostering the next generation? A backward step for the countryside.

And how are you not to know that any older stalker has not already mentored or have others ready to take over when they retire? No disrespect but you are rather assuming that all older stalkers will not pass their ground on. Besides, it would be up to the landowner, who takes over, not the retiring stalker, in the majority of cases I would think.
Trouble is these days, everyone wants everything handed on a plate at times.

 

[south-nofolk-stalker]

And how are you not to know that any older stalker has not already mentored or have others ready to take over when they retire? No disrespect but you are rather assuming that all older stalkers will not pass their ground on. Besides, it would be up to the landowner, who takes over, not the retiring stalker, in the majority of cases I would think.
Trouble is these days, everyone wants everything handed on a plate at times.

That is also fact

 

[Trickyd66]

OK. I have skim read the thread.
Land owners (AKA farmers) have always been looking for extra income. My dad had an 18 acre smallholding in Hampshire. Pre Internet (probably advertised in the farmers weekly) he allowed a family of Greek Cypriats from London to shoot (Shotgun) over our land. Think back in the 80's it was about £5 a day for the group of 3 or 4. Mostly a couple of woodies and possibly a rabbit for their efforts.
They won the trust of a neighbouring land owner, and shot there as well, best result being a roe (pre the deer act)

I came back to shooting and am working my way back up, gaining small pieces of land, initially for rabbits with the air rifle, which lead to FAC, and so the cycle continues.

It's all about trust and rapor.

 

[Hazlett]

And how are you not to know that any older stalker has not already mentored or have others ready to take over when they retire? No disrespect but you are rather assuming that all older stalkers will not pass their ground on. Besides, it would be up to the landowner, who takes over, not the retiring stalker, in the majority of cases I would think.
Trouble is these days, everyone wants everything handed on a plate at times.

That's not my position at all.

I'm not assuming about all older stalkers. I'm referring to my area (and hope that it is unique), where there are a number of 70+ stalkers who do not do a good enough deer management job because of their age (culture about shooting pregnant does and difficult-ground sanctuaries) and who have not, & the majority will not, take on anyone to help get the job done.

In the wider picture of regions where fallow numbers are not controlled, I am concerned that there are not enough younger, environmentally aware, enthusiastic people drawn into deer management, considering that there seems to be (from a number of threads on here, others' comments, my own experience etc) a disproportionately high percentage of stalkers who in 10-20 years time are unlikely to be around. Now is the time to plan for that.

On the other hand, in these regions, I am also concerned that there seems to be a lot of interest in getting into deer stalking, in the way one might want to get into some other niche hobby. Fallow need to be taken seriously.

I agree that new entrants need to prove their worth but established deer managers/stalkers, who hopefully are interested in the local/regional deer populations, should be seeking out younger can-do people to mentor for the future. I believe it is our responsibility for the goal of sustainable deer management.

Agreed re landowners making the decision (hopefully) but I am pretty certain that a recommendation of someone who had been mentored/fostered by the outgoing stalker would be listened to.

 

[Tim.243]

Yep 100 %

There you go Phil. Pic 18 is the door.
Also the gravity water drinker

With them using it!

First Pen Project...

Given the go ahead for a pen, cover strips and some birds for this season, I managed to track down some harris fencing panels which will have an angled top around 18" bolted to it for extra height and 2 runs of wire. Pulled a 9" deep trench and back filled the panels, also cut the bottom legs...

www.thestalkingdirectory.co.uk

@old 30-06
@south-nofolk-stalker

 

[Sol]

I think the older generation are more keen to teach and mentor the young ones (18 and below) since almost none of us have anything stalking related established, none have there FAC, none have all the gear, most dont have solid paying jobs to get the kit etc etc.

It makes it a bit safer to get comfortable with an individual and form a genuine friendship with long term, when your not terrified there gonna knock the chair from under your feet and steal everything.

 

[Overlay]

Bloody good idea tim, nice fresh water and easy to change over saving a lot of leg work and no leaves to clean out . Top job mate

Why didn’t I think of that when I was keepering
I always work harder than I need to

 

[mike308]

I'm in my 70's and have taken several
novice stalkers out and helped them to get into stalking. Some of those still stalking with me. One of the problems now is that forestry companies will not allow anyone to shoot on their land without levels 1 & 2, registered with Nature Scotland and emergency first aid. All my land now is with forestry companies so it makes it difficult.
And by the way I still manage to meet my cull targets every year.

 

[Tim.243]

I think the older generation are more keen to teach and mentor the young ones (18 and below) since almost none of us have anything stalking related established, none have there FAC, none have all the gear, most dont have solid paying jobs to get the kit etc etc.

It makes it a bit safer to get comfortable with an individual and form a genuine friendship with long term, when your not terrified there gonna knock the chair from under your feet and steal everything.

The each generation was 18 once Sol and had low paying jobs for many of us I can remember Dad telling me of earning £6 10s for laying a 1000 bricks these days a Pint in a pub is six quid.

 

[MGD]

The best way to learn .
Offer to help game keepers ,stalkers ,
Farmers ,deer managers and anyone that will listen for nothing but experience.
Don't mention wanting.
Leave gun at home until they offer a opportunity and be grateful until next opportunity comes along .
At some point if you have proved you will not think you own the land and do exactly as you want with out consideration for the person your hoping will help you.

They may let you have some great times out in the country.
That is why we all treasure our permissions and friends.
The trouble today people want it all easy and think they have the right to what ever everyone has put many years into.

 

[Overlay]

The best way to learn .
Offer to help game keepers ,stalkers ,
Farmers ,deer managers and anyone that will listen for nothing but experience.
Don't mention wanting.
Leave gun at home until they offer a opportunity and be grateful until next opportunity comes along .
At some point if you have proved you will not think you own the land and do exactly as you want with out consideration for the person your hoping will help you.

They may let you have some great times out in the country.
That is why we all treasure our permissions and friends.
The trouble today people want it all easy and think they have the right to what ever everyone has put many years into.

Nicely explained

 

[MGD]

While it's a bit off a rant.
Once I was a gamekeeper I wanted to help people get into the sport I love .
I gave permission to a person to use air rifle in fields next to his house in day light only that night I am chasing said idiot around my woods .
Before anyone thinks I didn't earn what I and other have I purchased 5 grands worth of thermal to control foxes for a keeper friend that was over run with foxes it cost me a fortune in fuel .
As time has gone by I have had land owners get in contact with me to control there foxes for free.
Some say I am a idiot.maybe but I can stalk roe and fallow to gold medal class any time I want on more land than I can cover.

Great stalking all.

 

[User00047]

View attachment 363623

What is this supposed to mean?

 

[Tim.243]

What is this supposed to mean?

The Y chromosome is present in.............

 

[MGD]

PS,
get in contact with sikamalc you want find better.
Learn the right way with great people and great ground.
When my son and I went with him it was one off the best weekends stalking so far and I am 60 .
Cheers for all you do malc

 

[User00047]

Is it now mandatory to communicate in riddles on here or can we just say what we mean?
What is Generation Y? And what is this chromosome riddle?

 

[csl]

Is it now mandatory to communicate in riddles on here or can we just say what we mean?
What is Generation Y? And what is this chromosome riddle?

I think it was actually this:

Millennials - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Carry on...

 

[User00047]

I still don’t get it.
Is the OP born between 1981 and 1996 ?
Is that the joke?

 

[Heym SR20]

To get onto land, whether you want to farm it, build on it, mine it, shoot over it etc etc you need to

1) choose your ancestors very carefully and make sure you are the first born.

2) marry one of the above

3) pay for it yourself through earning by other means.

In the UK land is valuable, no need for any residency requirements to own land so those trying to buy land are competing in the international market place. And these days its bloody difficult for land to earn enough to pay for what it costs - ie a crop of wheat doesn’t even cover the costs of the mortgage over the land on which its grown.

Most of us will be in category 3). If you are wealthy, have a high paying job etc., you probably don’t have a lot of time, but you have the money to pay for fieldsports. If you have no money you have to provide your labour to effect access to the land.

But like all things it is hard won and easily lost.

 

[David Barker]

I look at this from the deer management point of view, rather than individual stalker's interest. So my point about the age of stalkers, which I made solely from my experience around here, is about when the age means they're not doing a good enough job. Perhaps because they were taught it is distasteful to shoot a pregnant doe even in February or because they don't look to the future and engage help.

@Ratel 's post is a perfect illustration of how I wish it were around here. Someone dedicated to getting the job done, getting help and looking to the future. 100%


What happens when all the 70+ stalkers, who are protective of their land, die? No fostering the next generation? A backward step for the countryside.

Not at all when i pass on i have lots of chaps waiting to move in and that is the case with most ground,s. Do a good job and be reliable and trust worthy and you have more than you can cover. I have never paid for ground and never will.