Beginner Kit List

[Bowland blades]

Evening all,

As the title suggests I'm looking for a list of must have gear to get started with stalking and maybe some extra bits to look into as time passes. (This is excluding a rifle as I know what I will be getting in that regard).

I have done a lot of research but I don't want to just spend a load of cash on everything when I might not need it all tight at the start. I have also gotten quite tired of scrolling through reviews etc of all sorts of glass, shooting sticks, knives etc. I also dont have a ginormous budget so maybe not swarvoski and Harkila. Hoping that some of you might be able to advise on the bare necessities. Thanks

Get good binos , it deffo worth it I have 7x50 Swavoski i bought early on . Your not looking for obvious deer and thermal etc are not yet good enough for a good inspection . rifles ? a new one of a decent make in a plain Jane cartridge . I would use tikka as a marker but not necessarily the greatest but if you find better its unlikely you will have the skills to shoot as good as the gun can on deer for many years . Caliber is quarry dependant to a degree but do get something versatile , there's a lot of difference between a muntjac and a big rutting stag but 243 up will handle them both if you get the appropriate bullet for either .
Good boots are the most important clothing and deer are said to be colour blind but they have great hearing so dont buy stuff that "swishes" at every movement , the ears spin round on the deer and its off !
You are going to need a knife and i hear you on what you stated - but dont do what most do ie have about 17 in a drawer before you find the one you really get on with either

 

[Tim.243]

Evening all,

As the title suggests I'm looking for a list of must have gear to get started with stalking and maybe some extra bits to look into as time passes. (This is excluding a rifle as I know what I will be getting in that regard).

I have done a lot of research but I don't want to just spend a load of cash on everything when I might not need it all tight at the start. I have also gotten quite tired of scrolling through reviews etc of all sorts of glass, shooting sticks, knives etc. I also dont have a ginormous budget so maybe not swarvoski and Harkila. Hoping that some of you might be able to advise on the bare necessities. Thanks

All the answers from the gang...not one said chiller/tall fridge lol
still going to be warm for quite a while and mj in season also roe and very soon fallow /reds.
start looking for a drinks chiller/tall fridge the rest you can get by on

really gang think out the box..

 

[Overlay]

Get good binos , it deffo worth it I have 7x50 Swavoski i bought early on . Your not looking for obvious deer and thermal etc are not yet good enough for a good inspection . rifles ? a new one of a decent make in a plain Jane cartridge . I would use tikka as a marker but not necessarily the greatest but if you find better its unlikely you will have the skills to shoot as good as the gun can on deer for many years . Caliber is quarry dependant to a degree but do get something versatile , there's a lot of difference between a muntjac and a big rutting stag but 243 up will handle them both if you get the appropriate bullet for either .
Good boots are the most important clothing and deer are said to be colour blind but they have great hearing so dont buy stuff that "swishes" at every movement , the ears spin round on the deer and its off !
You are going to need a knife and i hear you on what you stated - but dont do what most do ie have about 17 in a drawer before you find the one you really get on with either

Hahaha Love the blade bit

How you gonna know whats the best or favourite

I have 7 blades and use them all 2 of em are unzipper small and large the 5 2 for red/fallow 2 fallow /roe 1 muntjac/ rabbits
They all earn their keep they are Alan wood 2 Danum 3
I have 2 others of which i will probably sell off

My lad 5- 2 unzipper 2, Emberleaf 1 Alan wood

For the larder dickie/ victorinox can’t beat em

Grinds
My knives all flat
My lads scandi

I can’t sharpen his and vice versa

In all honesty buy what you feel you’ll get on with and over time find the right blade that suits you and what you do, its not money or time thing buy what want to work with sometimes easy sometimes not

 

[8x57]

First on my list would be - Field Guide To British Deer Field Guide to British Deer - The British Deer Society
Second would be a pair of Vortex Crossfire 8x42 binoculars. Vortex Crossfire HD 8x42 Binoculars

 

[Mountain Bug]

If you're simply asking for must haves rather than a want list then a rifle, ammo, a knife and the desire to get out there is all you truly need. The other bits will reveal themselves soon enough. Better to buy as you realize a need rather than trying to plan for every possible scenario.I have more kit now than two people would ever use but still mostly go out with just the rifle, four cartridges, a knife and binos.


Scott

 

[Rory]

To add some bits, and repeat some (Ill caveat this with it being for a scenario where you'd be out for a few miles and not be going back to your vehicle without the deer);
- Cut proof glove (about £5) to be worn on your non-knife hand under nitrile glove, while gralloching or butchering.
- Head torch. I prefer ones that take AAA batteries, and carry spares, rather than rely on an internal battery which requires charging.
- Field guide to deer disease (little spiatl bound field reference booklet from BDS).
- Fablon'd map of your area.
- Two or three hi-viz orange stripes of tape or fabric to mark your shot site and deer location.
- Water bottle about 1litre (stay hydrated!) or small brew flask.
- Decent small first aid kit (more than just plasters and safety pins).
- Good fixed blade knife that is SHARP! 4-5" blade, not to deep (from spine to blade), with a decent 'belly' and try to avoid Scandi grinds. Full flat grind or sabre grinds work well.
- Spare knife, a good folder in a pocket that is also SHARP!
- Two reasonably sized S hooks taped together in a pocket makes for easy suspended gralloch off a branch with the smaller species.
- Cleaning rod - the three peice screw together brass type, which can be tucked away in a bum bag or daysack will make easy work of clearing any obstructions from a muzzle (especially those who carry muzzle down, a stumble could result in a muzzle plug).
- Gloves - I use nomex and leather summer pilots gloves (very dextrous) which cover the hands and avoid 'semaphore hands' when raising and lowering binos.
- Cleaning wipes to wipe hands and knife during phases in gralloch.
- Small bin bags or ziploc bags to stow used nitrile gloves, wipes etc. once done.
- Small (2"x2") bit of chamois on a cord round the neck to clear wet lenses.
- Good footwear. Spend good money on these and know what you want them to achieve (warm? waterproof? soft or hard sole? ankle support or high speed trainer?), your feet will thank you.
- Strapping/cordage. Some 6' nylon 1/2" strapping or a couple metres of 550 cord can be invaluable when you need them and don't weigh much.

There's loads more you could think of/carry, but like any planning scenario, think about what you might need, will it be useful, is it going to work when required to and do I know where it is when I need it.

 

[Pete6.5]

I think it's funny that when you start you have minimal kit and you make it work. Then you have a middle stage of having more kit than you need and more expensive. Then after many years you realise it's not all needed and you par it down to bare essentials or at least this is what me and some people I know have don't.
The lesson from this is if you are starting from new if you are able to skip the middle stage you will be a wise man.
I tell people when it comes to spending money on stalking it's far better to spend it on stalking experiences like a trip to Scotland with friends than on the next fancy bit of kit.

 

[j500app]

hultafors knives are well worth looking at,very good value.

 

[Cris]

When I started out, all I had was an old set of 8x30 binoculars, bit of rope and a knife.
Knife was tucked in my wellies, binoculars and rope in my army surplus jacket pockets.

Used the knife in its sheath as a handle for my drag rope wrapped round it.

Added a bipod a bit later and a roe sack after that.

You really don’t need much and depends on what you do with the deer after you extract it as to storage and butchery equipment, but you may just take direct to a game dealer and not need any of that either.

People get very hung up on gear.

 

[Overlay]

As per Tim 243
As your journey continues into stalking as mentioned previously you may want to look at extraction, and chilled storage etc nearer the time, Gamedealer or take home there will be a need for some kind of set up

 

[Tim.243]

When I started out, all I had was an old set of 8x30 binoculars, bit of rope and a knife.
Knife was tucked in my wellies, binoculars and rope in my army surplus jacket pockets.

Used the knife in its sheath as a handle for my drag rope wrapped round it.

Added a bipod a bit later and a roe sack after that.

You really don’t need much and depends on what you do with the deer after you extract it as to storage and butchery equipment, but you may just take direct to a game dealer and not need any of that either.

People get very hung up on gear.

As I said previously a drinks chiller/tall fridge would be on my earliest things on my list, as we all go shopping then stuff goes in the fridge. Previous threads of how to keep a deer cool traveling long distances is a prime example.
I run deer into a GD but it comes home first as they close after I get back. Also I like them to set and drain and double check after a head torch clean out. I only go out with kit which relates to what I am after so muntjac a knife small drag rope single leg hook rifle sticks.
Keeping meat clean and cool is most import and should not be left out.

 

[Klenchblaize]

Thread 'PRIZEWINNERS JUNE 2024' PRIZEWINNERS JUNE 2024

K

 

[finnbear270]

Tick spanner.

 

[Dunwaters]

You need a drivers licence, insurance and access to transport.
You’ll get very little stalking done without it.

 

[Cris]

As I said previously a drinks chiller/tall fridge would be on my earliest things on my list, as we all go shopping then stuff goes in the fridge. Previous threads of how to keep a deer cool traveling long distances is a prime example.
I run deer into a GD but it comes home first as they close after I get back. Also I like them to set and drain and double check after a head torch clean out. I only go out with kit which relates to what I am after so muntjac a knife small drag rope single leg hook rifle sticks.
Keeping meat clean and cool is most import and should not be left out.

Sensible and just what I do myself now after nearly 40 years of stalking. Next is looking at improving on the fridge / room and butchery.

 

[Sika98k]

Loo roll, you will find the after effects of bracken, moss or whatever detrimental to your personal comfort.

 

[finnbear270]

Loo roll, you will find the after effects of bracken, moss or whatever detrimental to your personal comfort.

Them Thar Pine needles can be a right Pain.

 

[Tim.243]

Sensible and just what I do myself now after nearly 40 years of stalking. Next is looking at improving on the fridge / room and butchery.

I think and have come to realize from meeting also reading on here that the dominating factors is peoples lifestyles which get in the way of simple tasks and ways around stuff. I have been brought up if you break it you fix it, when you shoot it you deal with it.

 

[sy247]

Rifle & scope,
ammo,
8×42 binos,
quad sticks,
Knife,
Length of rope,
Small knapsack in which to carry the rope, together with sandwiches, flask, a spare jumper, and to shoot off if you need to go prone. Would be a good idea to stick a small first aid kit in there as well.


I carried an awful lot more stuff when I first started, and I now know most of it was unnecessary.

A thermal is nice to have, but by no means essential.

This

 

[Wmjas]

I think it's funny that when you start you have minimal kit and you make it work. Then you have a middle stage of having more kit than you need and more expensive. Then after many years you realise it's not all needed and you par it down to bare essentials or at least this is what me and some people I know have don't.
The lesson from this is if you are starting from new if you are able to skip the middle stage you will be a wise man.

One thing on this I think is that as you start out you are unaware of your mistakes and aware that you are going to fail, the second stage is becoming aware and buying kit to mitigate failure as much as possible to prove to yourself you won’t fail. Then as you become comfortable with failure you are much more accepting of it and learn to use it as a teaching tool. The lesson is to start to learn from your failure early on and use it to your advantage I think. it’s a lesson I learn until I forget I’m afraid.

It's far better to spend it on stalking experiences like a trip to Scotland with friends than on the next fancy bit of kit.

This the best advice on this thread and one I have taken far too long to learn, thanks for the reminder!