The best place for a hunter to live in the south

[Dunwaters]

As close to Heathrow as you can stand.

 

[Stalker62]

 

[Rutland lad]

We didn’t burn him !

 

[Rutland lad]

Off topic but further to the above, I went to see the LoG live show in Nottingham a couple of years back. More than few of the audience turned up dressed as their favourite character. Took me a moment or two to realise, after I’d seen a blood soaked butcher buying popcorn….

 

[Mungo]

What the the best place for a deer stalker to live in the south of England?

I am looking to move somewhere within southern England and would like to find out if anyone recommends their home (or if anyone has somewhere they would want to move).
This is taking into account that I enjoy deer stalking, would like a strong community and a decent shooting range (potentially long distance to help with ethical shots).

As it stands I am looking at new Forest and the Cotswolds.

New Forest because it has Sika and a rich hunting history.

The Cotswolds because it is a bit better situated for travelling north which might make hunting opportunities more accessible.

Scotland…

 

[User00047]

It depends on what you mean by “great hunting opportunities”

Only if there was some particularly great hunting opportunities further south. We have looked at New Forest for this reason.
The Cotswolds/Gloucestershire are where we are looking for northern facing accessibility.

Moving to live in an area doesn’t necessarily guarantee that you’ll have access to all the quality stalking in that area unless you have very deep pockets and are willing to make yourself extremely unpopular locally.

 

[Pete6.5]

I would also say the new Forest is one of the hardest places to get stalking and housing is very expensive so not leaving much to pay to get out.

 

[Twigsandbranches]

It depends on what you mean by “great hunting opportunities”

Moving to live in an area doesn’t necessarily guarantee that you’ll have access to all the quality stalking in that area unless you have very deep pockets and are willing to make yourself extremely unpopular locally.

This makes sense. I can't say that I have plans to buy up hunting land.
I am gathering that a syndicate might be the best way to go for socialising and access to hunting grounds.

 

[Twigsandbranches]

I would also say the new Forest is one of the hardest places to get stalking and housing is very expensive so not leaving much to pay to get out.

That is excellent to know. I would have thought places like Chipping Norton might have the same budget issues.

 

[long_range_rob]

Richmond park.

 

[pheasant sniper 1]

+1 for New Forest and its a beautiful place to live

Red, Fallow, Sika, Roe & Muntjac

 

[Fabnosh]

I used to live on the edge of the New Forest but used private farm land for most of my shooting. The forest itself is a hard place to shoot and tightly controlled with the general public marching all over it. It’s rammed with grockles (tourists) from Good Friday until the last august bank holiday. House prices are very high.

Have you thought around the Purbeck area? Lots of Sika and nice to boot.

FN

 

[Twigsandbranches]

I used to live on the edge of the New Forest but used private farm land for most of my shooting. The forest itself is a hard place to shoot and tightly controlled with the general public marching all over it. It’s rammed with grockles (tourists) from Good Friday until the last august bank holiday. House prices are very high.

Have you thought around the Purbeck area? Lots of Sika and nice to boot.

FN

Very interesting, we haven't looked at the Purbeck area. We will need to visit!

Thank you for the suggestion!

 

[Craigsaun]

I have a friend who moved from Bedford to Exmoor , always been involved in deer management but is struggling to get any shooting in Exmoor

 

[Twigsandbranches]

I have a friend who moved from Bedford to Exmoor , always been involved in deer management but is struggling to get any shooting in Exmoor

Thanks for sharing.
I actually have Bedford on the list of places to investigate. In a round about way, this seems to say Bedford might be a good base for a hunter.

 

[Pete6.5]

I think the answer is to find the stalking and then the house.

 

[angusb1]

I live in Wiltshire and our Firearms Licensing Department are one of the best. I've not heard of better. Worth bearing in mind how reasonable the Firearms Licensing Department are in anywhere you plan to move to.

 

[Twigsandbranches]

I live in Wiltshire and our Firearms Licensing Department are one of the best. I've not heard of better. Worth bearing in mind how reasonable the Firearms Licensing Department are in anywhere you plan to move to.

Thank you, this is an excellent point!

 

[Lancashire1]

Exmoor is very much a hunting with hounds area, I try and spend as much time there as I can, I love the place, real old England.There are big shoots and estates there but I can't imagine you would fit in by just turning up want to shoot stuff

 

[Herb64]

I confirm Exmoor is a great place to live and shoot.