Fruit&Veg Grower learning the art of deer stalking

[SomersetDave]

Hi folks, I'm Dave. I work as a market farmer on some lovely land in Somerset, I have the permission for just over 400 acres of land with Roe, fallow and muntjac. I did my DSC01 over a year ago and then getting my FAC took nearly a year (!?) and since then I have been saving up to buy rifle/scope etc (nearly there, I'm rather skint!). Looking at a cheap .243 for now just to get me going and aiming to spend a little more on the scope, but my budget is incredibly tight... I'm just itching to get going! Just creating an account as i love reading the posts on here and can imagine it's a really useful resource for the future. I've been out on several deer stalks but not actually had opportunity to shoot one, so I'm looking forward to that day. I'm only interested in the venison, for me and my friends/customers

I think the next step for me is to get out regularly and get to understand the deers behaviour better on the land and get an idea of yearly cull target (the landowners and I want to keep deer populations very healthy and to keep seeing them, so likely only a few a year). I've just written a deer management plan for the landowner as we're also going to be replanting some woodland soon and it needs to be in place by then.

Cheers

 

[T.eddie]

Welcome from Essex

 

[25 Sharps]

Hi folks, I'm Dave. I work as a market farmer on some lovely land in Somerset, I have the permission for just over 400 acres of land with Roe, fallow and muntjac. I did my DSC01 over a year ago and then getting my FAC took nearly a year (!?) and since then I have been saving up to buy rifle/scope etc (nearly there, I'm rather skint!). Looking at a cheap .243 for now just to get me going and aiming to spend a little more on the scope, but my budget is incredibly tight... I'm just itching to get going! Just creating an account as i love reading the posts on here and can imagine it's a really useful resource for the future. I've been out on several deer stalks but not actually had opportunity to shoot one, so I'm looking forward to that day. I'm only interested in the venison, for me and my friends/customers

I think the next step for me is to get out regularly and get to understand the deers behaviour better on the land and get an idea of yearly cull target (the landowners and I want to keep deer populations very healthy and to keep seeing them, so likely only a few a year). I've just written a deer management plan for the landowner as we're also going to be replanting some woodland soon and it needs to be in place by then.

Cheers

If your budget is incredibly light you’ve chosen the perfect calibre. Lots of people offloaded .243s with the impending lead ban (even though it was no issue for England and wales and is now no issue for Scotland).

You should be able to get set up for £350-£500,,possibly less if you don’t want a mod.

Welcome along

 

[Lever357]

Keep an eye out on auction websites - Wilson 55, Holts etc

 

[25 Sharps]

Keep an eye out on auction websites - Wilson 55, Holts etc

Also Netherhampton, which is down the road from me and closer to the OP.

Home

 

[VSS]

Welcome aboard!

Buy this rifle, and you'll be set up for life:

For Sale: - Parker Hale Safari DeLuxe .243

I have a Parker Hale in 243 calibre which just isn’t getting used anymore. It is in very nice condition for a working Rifle. A couple of scratches to the stock which I have tried to show in the photographs and a slight ding to the trigger guard, but other than that it is great. Nicely figured...

www.thestalkingdirectory.co.uk

 

[25 Sharps]

Welcome aboard!

Buy this rifle, and you'll be set up for life:

For Sale: - Parker Hale Safari DeLuxe .243

I have a Parker Hale in 243 calibre which just isn’t getting used anymore. It is in very nice condition for a working Rifle. A couple of scratches to the stock which I have tried to show in the photographs and a slight ding to the trigger guard, but other than that it is great. Nicely figured...

www.thestalkingdirectory.co.uk

I have a meopta 7x50 about to go up for sale for £140 that would sit very happily on that rifle….

 

[bullet chucker]

Welcome to the site.

BC.

 

[Zephyrjim]

Welcome aboard!

Buy this rifle, and you'll be set up for life:

For Sale: - Parker Hale Safari DeLuxe .243

I have a Parker Hale in 243 calibre which just isn’t getting used anymore. It is in very nice condition for a working Rifle. A couple of scratches to the stock which I have tried to show in the photographs and a slight ding to the trigger guard, but other than that it is great. Nicely figured...

www.thestalkingdirectory.co.uk

If you do buy this, send me a message and I'll send you some mounts to go with it,for free.

 

[SomersetDave]

Thanks for all the welcome messages everyone , and thanks for the offers, I'm going to sit down after payday this month and decide on some gear, i do want a mod and need to buy some better sticks too. I might be interested in the meopta scope too that it tempting. I was going to aim for a synthetic stock rifle as I'm generally s**t at looking after things properly

 

[25 Sharps]

Thanks for all the welcome messages everyone , and thanks for the offers, I'm going to sit down after payday this month and decide on some gear, i do want a mod and need to buy some better sticks too. I might be interested in the meopta scope too that it tempting. I was going to aim for a synthetic stock rifle as I'm generally s**t at looking after things properly

I wouldn’t panic about wood, my rifles get wiped down if wet, bore snake and away, most are wood and it’s never been an issue.

 

[SomersetDave]

I wouldn’t panic about wood, my rifles get wiped down if wet, bore snake and away, most are wood and it’s never been an issue.

Okay, thats good to know. I have been eying up this one Howa .243 1500 Varmint, Exc. Cond. | GunTrader
I've heard good things about Steve, plus i can test it/zero it there and its very close to me, hes also got a nice wooden sako but more pricey

 

[bumpy22]

Okay, thats good to know. I have been eying up this one Howa .243 1500 Varmint, Exc. Cond. | GunTrader
I've heard good things about Steve, plus i can test it/zero it there and its very close to me, hes also got a nice wooden sako but more pricey

Steve is great to deal with and very knowledgeable. Was there yesterday and they have a good selection rifles

 

[25 Sharps]

Okay, thats good to know. I have been eying up this one Howa .243 1500 Varmint, Exc. Cond. | GunTrader
I've heard good things about Steve, plus i can test it/zero it there and its very close to me, hes also got a nice wooden sako but more pricey

Steve is sound, the hogue stocks are a bit flexible and some people don’t get on with them, off sticks I never had an issue with mine.

The good thing is you can upgrade over time.

 

[User00047]

Thanks for all the welcome messages everyone , and thanks for the offers, I'm going to sit down after payday this month and decide on some gear, i do want a mod and need to buy some better sticks too. I might be interested in the meopta scope too that it tempting. I was going to aim for a synthetic stock rifle as I'm generally s**t at looking after things properly

I’m **** at looking after things properly too!
I bought a CZ550 deluxe with a wood stock, quite a long time ago and it still shoots as well as the day I bought it.
Welcome to the site from Cornwall, and sunny Sittingbourne in Kent