So how often do you do it???

[Mike1979]

I have to balance my shooting with job and family so once every 4-4 days is my max.

As for the usual kill ratio of 3:1, yes this is what I have heard as being the average. I guess if you have land that holds multiple species then your chance of getting something is significantly increased - if I was to target only one species then my ratio would likely drop to the norm as I don’t always see all the species on each stalk.

The last bank I had on land I had permission to shoot over was on fallow and my kill ratio there was 3:1, but it was also an hour’s drive so a bit of a pain if you got repeated blanks - joys of stalking herding species over territorial ones I guess!!

I agree with your earlier point about your ground and would someone rather blank or shoot deer...if it were me I would rather be out on your ground (not asking for an invite ). Ive shot 4 fallow on some stalks and the same with Sika then plenty of blanks. Luck, skill and deer species all play there part as you well know. I had 3 roe come out of a wood and stand 70 yards away recently...they werent on the menu....bloody fallow were a pain so ended up taking one last light at 200 yards before they bolted through the hedge.

 

[Donkey Basher]

My outings per week varied over last winter based on my work/shift pattern, one week I might get out once or twice, other weeks three or four times. At the beginning of November I had the first 3 days straight specifically on the fallow & took another 3 days straight after them again in February once the pheasant shooting was finished all around, I also had a sustained effort over Xmas/New Year. Between 1st November and 5 April I had 7 blank outings - I've already put in a complaint to the landowner. about that For those interested, I averaged 1.9 deer per outing - 64% fallow, 23% muntjac &13% roe, all deer were shot within the period one hour before sunrise & one hour after sunset & with a deer legal rifle - no 'bonus shots' whilst out foxing unlike some places near me... It was a busy winter & I don't anticipate it being any less so in the coming years! I'm now done until August when I'll start on the prickets again - the landowner, his son & son-in-law will pop off a few roe bucks, I'm happy to leave them to it.

 

[VSS]

When I've got orders for venison I go stalking. When I haven't (or when I've done something stupid like cut my hand) I don't.

 

[TringSaint]

From the first of November to 31st of march 140ish days in the feild which averages 28 days a month. Over summer months 3- 5 days a week.

Wow!! That’s a lot!!
I fear that if I had to stalk that often then I might not enjoy it as much

 

[Mike1979]

When I've got orders for venison I go stalking. When I haven't (or when I've done something stupid like cut my hand) I don't.

Forgot about the hand incident...all better?

 

[Mike1979]

My outings per week varied over last winter based on my work/shift pattern, one week I might get out once or twice, other weeks three or four times. At the beginning of November I had the first 3 days straight specifically on the fallow & took another 3 days straight after them again in February once the pheasant shooting was finished all around, I also had a sustained effort over Xmas/New Year. Between 1st November and 5 April I had 7 blank outings - I've already put in a complaint to the landowner. about that For those interested, I averaged 1.9 deer per outing - 64% fallow, 23% muntjac &13% roe, all deer were shot within the period one hour before sunrise & one hour after sunset & with a deer legal rifle - no 'bonus shots' whilst out foxing unlike some places near me... It was a busy winter & I don't anticipate it being any less so in the coming years! I'm now done until August when I'll start on the prickets again - the landowner, his son & son-in-law will pop off a few roe bucks, I'm happy to leave them to it.

Thats good going, well done that man Let us know the response to your complaint lol

 

[VSS]

Forgot about the hand incident...all better?

Yes, all good thanks.
Just lost a bit of functionality and sensation in my thumb, so not too bad an outcome at all. Could've been a lot worse.
But was out of action for 12 weeks, then straight into lambing, so basically lost most of the fallow season

 

[Mike1979]

Yes, all good thanks.
Just lost a bit of functionality and sensation in my thumb, so not too bad an outcome at all. Could've been a lot worse.
But was out of action for 12 weeks, then straight into lambing, so basically lost most of the fallow season

Glad its a lot better. Not good to stab yourself with your occupation.

 

[Sandy25]

Wow!! That’s a lot!!
I fear that if I had to stalk that often then I might not enjoy it as much

When I was out at christmas I was doing morning and evening outings for three and a half weeks straight. The shine and fun of stalking had definitely rubbed off by then, so had a few weeks break before starting back on the bucks again.
You can definitely have too much of a good thing!

As an aside though and a slight deviation, I have found a massive change in mindset between my "recreational" perms where I go for the fun of stalking and there is no pressure for cull targets, and the estates where a target number of animals is set to be taken. Although I love the stalking, I have found that it becomes very pressured when you are trying to cull animals and are either seeing the wrong ones, or never quite get a shot on animals that need to be taken. That's when the 14 odd outings a week start to become a chore rather than being enjoyable, but then again it is hugely satisfying and rewarding to manage a resident deer population and see it progress and improve.
I have a huge amount of respect and appreciation for all the professional deer managers out there who do this day in and day out, it is proper graft!

 

[RCS Deer Management]

Wow!! That’s a lot!!
I fear that if I had to stalk that often then I might not enjoy it as much

It gets tiring, but I have never got to the point where I don’t want to do it anymore and doubt I ever will. I’m not sure I can imagine doing anything else

 

[Tyla]

At home between 2 and 4 times a week during fallow sesson, but also do several long weekend trips a year, some paid, some not. I account for between 100 - 150 a season, mostly fallow but quite a few muntjac and and handful of cwd too. I shoot 1 or 2 roe bucks a year and no does.

 

[David Barker]

Twice a week all year round 99% Roe. Dont think the numbers i shoot to be of any importance. What i will say is if i went out more i would shoot more.

 

[Bowland blades]

Thanks for the critique on my stalking, but that wasn’t the point of the thread.
The question is how often do you go out. Would you like to answer that question?

With regards the surrounding land, the answer is yes, it isn’t managed at all afaik, so being territorial deer they spread out. If you think that makes me a poor stalker because I don’t have to trek for miles to see a glimpse of a deer disappearing over the next hill then so be it. But telling me I should go and stalk in barren land is potty - why on earth would I do that?

If you had the choice of being able to go out onto land and had a very good chance of killing more than one deer per visit, are you telling me you would pass it up in preference to land with a 1:5 kill ratio?? I get it that shooting cwd and munties aren’t everyone’s cup of tea but that’s what I have around here - when live gives you lemons, you make lemonade!!

As for how hard I cull, I cull to the point where I am counting deer on the land that are sufficiently low in terms of deer per acre that the farmers are ok with. The cull is agreed and I hit it every year without fail. You might argue that I should exterminate everything I see but that isn’t what the landowners want.

Anyhow, back to the question - how often do you go stalking??

If you must ask , In over 20 years a stalker my annual "head count" has varied a lot" . I stalk all over the UK and right here at home in the forrest of Bowland , at present from year to year the amount of stalking and numbers of dead deer i have never actually kept personal records of numbers shot ( except when i did my level 2 or on a cull ) as i had to then and in those days it was i think a minimum of 3 beasts witnessed , nearly everyone put in a higher number back then because people where often told to go away and gather more evidence . It had to be unfenced truly wild deer also
I don't really get the thing about " if i could go on land and kill more " On a cull i would be looking for numbers and selecting the priority targets ( I cull for a few few mates around the UK). I don't judge any stalkers ability by the numbers killed as regards their skill , the management plan or none makes all the difference .
Shooting deer at night culling the Bag can be quite large - Though it means nothing of true skill .
Where there is no cull plan to reduce the population to a figure and just go out with the rifle ? I would shoot a lot less , if they where dumb deer ( perhaps little or not shot with any frequency ) i would only take what could be used .
Of course there are those who live their lives competing against god knows who and lets not forget the liars. Anyone can find my Facebook , insta accounts and visit my website if they feel the need to verify the fact i actually get out and stalk.
I suspect that the experienced Stalkers within this forum likely wont be found asking folks "how often they go stalking? " and " how many deer have you killed? "
Heck some folks actually pay for "culling" deer that are fenced in DSC 2 now allows for it even ( something i am totally against )

 

[JH83]

At this time of year not a lot! A few scrappy roe bucks already culled so take a few weeks to relax, and take the odd friend out. The first three months of the year it’s 2-3 outings a week minimum, often more, which with a full time job and a toddler, not to mention keepering a small shoot, and attempting to get into the gym 3x…is enough.

About blanks….5 years ago they were rare, however 2 of my biggest bits of ground we have really got on top of numbers and more importantly so have the neighbours so now a blank is not uncommon.

 

[HonestJohn]

Covering ground too frequently will make deer more skittish. There’s a diminishing return due to this, depending on size of ground of course. You might find you shoot more deer with 1 outing per week than if you covered it 3 times a week. If it was a large ground, clearly that’s irrelevant, but 1500 isn’t all that big, I wouldn’t want to cover it more than twice a month unless it was woodland

 

[Taff]

When I was living in the uk, usually three days a week, in NZ on deer one week a year, as we have no deer within 5 hours, summer is for fishing, goats and wild cattle winter time, usually once a fortnight, as will go rock fishing in between, in the uk last September three stalks, three deer, 6 days hunting with hounds , obviously this was trail hunting

 

[tozzybum]

Normally I go once a week and take a munty buck every 6 to 8 weeks now. We leave the does alone by agreement.
Normally there's groups of 3 in play but only take 1 at a time .
Foxes and bunnies are the main focus and any squirrels.
Only had Roe on the land once and they went during the Badger cull .
Fallow next door behind massive fences ,keeping fingers crossed theyl escape

 

[griff]

If you must ask , In over 20 years a stalker my annual "head count" has varied a lot" . I stalk all over the UK and right here at home in the forrest of Bowland , at present from year to year the amount of stalking and numbers of dead deer i have never actually kept personal records of numbers shot ( except when i did my level 2 or on a cull ) as i had to then and in those days it was i think a minimum of 3 beasts witnessed , nearly everyone put in a higher number back then because people where often told to go away and gather more evidence . It had to be unfenced truly wild deer also
I don't really get the thing about " if i could go on land and kill more " On a cull i would be looking for numbers and selecting the priority targets ( I cull for a few few mates around the UK). I don't judge any stalkers ability by the numbers killed as regards their skill , the management plan or none makes all the difference .
Shooting deer at night culling the Bag can be quite large - Though it means nothing of true skill .
Where there is no cull plan to reduce the population to a figure and just go out with the rifle ? I would shoot a lot less , if they where dumb deer ( perhaps little or not shot with any frequency ) i would only take what could be used .
Of course there are those who live their lives competing against god knows who and lets not forget the liars. Anyone can find my Facebook , insta accounts and visit my website if they feel the need to verify the fact i actually get out and stalk.
I suspect that the experienced Stalkers within this forum likely wont be found asking folks "how often they go stalking? " and " how many deer have you killed? "
Heck some folks actually pay for "culling" deer that are fenced in DSC 2 now allows for it even ( something i am totally against )

Care to explain the above statement.

 

[ABL]

I am very lucky that my shooting grounds are well fed with deer from surrounding areas where there is no shooting going on. So the wider populations are pretty big which means that my perms are well stocked each year.

So it’s a mix of that and knowing my grounds really well that helps me keep my kill ratios up, but I can completely understand why the ratio drops if you are shooting in large woodlands or on the hills.

I have a mix of cwd, roe and muntjac so I can pick and choose my quarry but given that these are arable or mixed farms once the crop is up then there is not much shooting to be had.

What I do try to do is to mix the trips across the farms and even shoot the land in sections, so I never visit one section more than once /month, unless there are a lot there. That way they don’t get too used to seeing me and their suspicions are kept to a minimum.

I should add that I have had blanks in that time but that’s when I’m not on my land, so when I have paid for stalking.

What part of the world are you shooting in?

 

[Sol]

We blank a lot I'd say now with summer coming into play Its going to be more in the realm of every 1/10-15 outings but in winter time I personally shot one deer from september too December, from January too now Its 5.


We see deer often, and plenty off them but trying to get into 150 yards on almost complete heather fields, isn't ideal the only bits of cover are stone walls and the occasional sapling the deer have spread.