Subsistence
Well-Known Member
Just wondering what sort of success rates different people have in different environments. I know it will vary alot but just looking for some ballpark figures, Eg 60% Forestry plantation, 80% open fields
Success rate
- Thread starter Subsistence
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What are yours?
Subsistence
Well-Known Member
So far, solo, 0% in forestry plantation
AM_Lillycombe
Well-Known Member
I didn’t realise this was a thing. I thought there were that many that you could take your pick???
I’ve been stalking for only a year and have never not seen a shootable deer in Dorset/somerset/exmoor… I’ve only had 1 failed hunt and that was due to visibility not lack of deer “I still enjoyed it though”.
I’ve been stalking for only a year and have never not seen a shootable deer in Dorset/somerset/exmoor… I’ve only had 1 failed hunt and that was due to visibility not lack of deer “I still enjoyed it though”.
Subsistence
Well-Known Member
What environment are you stalking?
It's rare that I don't see a deer, but getting a safe shot is a different matter, I'm sure a large part of that is my lack of skill. Hence the question to see what others are able to achieve
Sika hinds in Agri forestry scenario are about 20% Stags in same environment 15%.
Roe in same environment over 50% success.
Alot of the success comes from learning how the deer like to move around area, once you learn their favoured paths and spots tbe success rate will go up.
Sika are different though they will make you question everything you have learned and really get you close to throwing the towel in all together.
Roe in same environment over 50% success.
Alot of the success comes from learning how the deer like to move around area, once you learn their favoured paths and spots tbe success rate will go up.
Sika are different though they will make you question everything you have learned and really get you close to throwing the towel in all together.
Subsistence
Well-Known Member
Are you generally getting them in the woods or in the clearings/firebreaks
Massive variation between different parts of the country.
Where I stalk in North Wales, I am unlikely to see deer on every outing, and I might shoot a deer on one outing out of four (so 25% success rate I suppose we're calling that).
On the other hand, there are places in England where I stalk that I'd be disappointed not to achieve 400% success rate or above.
It varies with seasons, this time of year cover is down making woodland environments easier, come spring roe bucks will be running all over finding territory.
I have a variety of high seats on forestry edge, I also spend alot of time spotting and stalking.
When on Farm land deer movements change all the time as livestock moves through or a field of fodder has been drilled etc.
Go with no expectations of a kill tuck your self in on a vantage point near a busy run and see what happens, you learn something every time.
Edit- slow down i still suffer from being in a hurry all the time its in my nature, but slowing everything down and taking in the environment is key, I still have to tell me self this every couple hours when stalking.
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Subsistence
Well-Known Member
Thanks for the tips
As other say, it varies considerably by season, weather, species, habitat etc - only you will know for the ground over which you stalk what is typical, but there will always be other factors that affect deer presence.
Keeping stats over years helps to inform the debate, but its not objective as there's so many variable over wild stalking. Getting out more doesn't necessary mean greater success. For me, the last decade looks like this:
Mostly open heathland but there open hill and forestry in there too.
Keeping stats over years helps to inform the debate, but its not objective as there's so many variable over wild stalking. Getting out more doesn't necessary mean greater success. For me, the last decade looks like this:
Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
Stalk | 6 | 28 | 36 | 64 | 49 | 51 | 68 | 92 | 129 | 123 | 6 |
Culls | 1 | 16 | 20 | 25 | 37 | 42 | 39 | 49 | 50 | 74 | 9 |
Stalks/cull | 6 | 1.75 | 1.8 | 2.56 | 1.32 | 1.21 | 1.74 | 1.87 | 2.58 | 1.66 | 0.66 |
Mostly open heathland but there open hill and forestry in there too.
Deerkeeper2
Well-Known Member
When I go out I have a plan, I look at the weather (importantly wind) forecast and I think where I will gain access to the ground and where I’ll park my truck.
I have an idea in my mind where I will likely see the first deer/group, how I will approach and where I will shoot from and even where I will gralloch.
I then have a further plans for where I will move on to to try for more beasts.
I am visualising the session from beginning to end before I even start. It’s a bit similar to the sports psychology thing where you visualise the ball going into the back of the net, you are making it happen.
I do the same whether I am culling on my own or with a guest the only difference being that I may want to adjust the approach to reduce range or get a different shooting position if I have a guest.
The big difference for me when it comes to success rate is this time of year I am heavily targeting female fallow so I walk past an awful lot of muntjac.
I have an idea in my mind where I will likely see the first deer/group, how I will approach and where I will shoot from and even where I will gralloch.
I then have a further plans for where I will move on to to try for more beasts.
I am visualising the session from beginning to end before I even start. It’s a bit similar to the sports psychology thing where you visualise the ball going into the back of the net, you are making it happen.
I do the same whether I am culling on my own or with a guest the only difference being that I may want to adjust the approach to reduce range or get a different shooting position if I have a guest.
The big difference for me when it comes to success rate is this time of year I am heavily targeting female fallow so I walk past an awful lot of muntjac.
Subsistence
Well-Known Member
Thanks for this,
I do also try to formulate a plan beforehand Re wind, approach, likely best areas. Though I haven't been having much luck. Probably due to a multitude of reasons, however seeing the hit rates of other more experienced stalkers in commercial forestry, I'm feeling a little better. I'll just keep plugging away, incorporating the advice given here.
I had been stalking solo for quite a while before I even saw any deer, let alone shot one. I knew the deer were there, there was evidence of that everywhere, but I just didn't ever seem to be there at the right time. Gradually I learnt their behaviour patterns and the factors that affected that (weather etc) and things started to fall into place for me.
Don't be disheartened. Every outing you learn something, whether you get a deer or not.
Subsistence
Well-Known Member
No not currently
RescueMe0007
Well-Known Member
I would guess that my success rate is about one outing in four is productive, for various reasons. When I do have success, I've been getting multiples frequently. I typically shoot on pasture lands alongside forestry. The forestry holds the deer during the day and they head out to graze, as the light's dropping, very occasionally where they're completely undisturbed they'll be out in the later afternoon. It's very hit and miss. Makes it all the more satisfying when it comes good.
Thermal is a game changer - you can miss so much that's out there - its almost cheating! However, when I was training I wasn't allowed to use thermal and stalked traditionally using good binoculars. I still do, but the thermal gives me an understanding of what's in the landscape and through the binos and observation, what's appropriate to follow-up or to leave. There is an incredible amount of luck in stalking - you can be the best stalker going but if the deer are not there, you cannot magic them out of thin air. Stalking is the bit that comes after the field craft where you try to use the wind, terrain and habitat to your best advantage to get in close enough to shoot, ideally 100m. That takes time, patience, observation and frustrated stalks to get the experience and knowledge. In the words of that old TV series (apologies VSS) - patience grasshopper........
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