Is deer stalking affordable for the Average Joe?

[Rake Aboot]

I don’t know any well off stalkers.
Most deer round here are shot by average blokes out doing pest control, which is what deer stalking actually is

 

[bottletopbill]

Wished it was that way in the south east . Lots of knocking and getting no joy.
But at 69yrs still knocking and asking

 

[kieran222]

Pricing is driven by market value. You can't say a land owner is greedy because he charges as much as possible for the stalking rights. Every business is about maximising profits, farming isn't ant different.
There are plenty of farmers who allow free stalking but the reality is that most of these have stalkers at this stage. It definitely has become more popular in the last 20 years or so. I'm afraid for new stalkers trying to obtain free stalking, that ship has sailed.

 

[Taff]

Regarding leaving cards in letter boxes, don,t have a stupid name on the card suggesting you are professional company, i.e terminator deer control, vulpine vermin services, nothing ****es landowners/ keepers off more than a would be expert. Just put something like rabbit / squirrel and deer shooting wanted, if only one available that’s fine, and the simple your name email and phone number, never mention foxes as this can put peoples off unless they have a problem.

 

[Rake Aboot]

I’ve said this before, but the day I have to pay to shoot pests will be the day I stop shooting those pests. Deer are included in that.

 

[Deerhunter22]

Unfortunately in this day and age everything revolves around Money greed has took over humanity it’s a fact in some cases Money comes before family friends even health and life itself.

Ill second that comment, my mum has a patient who was spending 5k on a cruise, daughter said no you can't go thats my inheritance. Another patient had there daughter raid there house in there absence and try have the will amended so as to get the assets they wanted claiming the mother was of unsound mind in trying to do soo, that went to the Police and daughter charged. Some folks are really sick in the head, imagine putting your greed for money over your parents happiness and the last one doing something like that is just well words fail me.

 

[bottletopbill]

Ill second that comment, my mum has a patient who was spending 5k on a cruise, daughter said no you can't go thats my inheritance. Another patient had there daughter raid there house in there absence and try have the will amended so as to get the assets they wanted claiming the mother was of unsound mind in trying to do soo, that went to the Police and daughter charged. Some folks are really sick in the head, imagine putting your greed for money over your parents happiness and the last one doing something like that is just well words fail me.

How low I could not do that but as we all no vultures are lurking around. lower than a flee on a slugs belly

 

[Foxyboy43]

Nope!

 

[Deerhunter22]

How low I could not do that but as we all no vultures are lurking around. lower than a flee on a slugs belly

Sick isn’t it, when I was told of it I really couldn’t believe it it’s a whole other level of mental

 

[JH83]

I think the short answer is yes. With patience. If you want it all-your own private estates-and want it now, you need a lot of money.

Folks need to be prepared to go door knocking, even small farms that might not seem amazing, if held together as part of a bigger picture can be worthwhile. It amazes me how many folk who lament having no ground really don’t put the time in. Dress smart, be polite even if told to sod off. Don’t try to prise out existing stalkers, you’ll get a bad reputation that might well cripple you in the long term.

Paid stalking can be cheap. Cull days on munties and fallow, or roe does can be as little as a couple of hundred quid with the option to retain the carcass at no/little charge. If you shoot safely, accurately, decisively you may even be asked back. Of course there’s charlatans but once bitten twice shy-don’t go back.

Syndicates are a thorny topic but I, and many friends, have been in truly belting syndicates. Equally you have horror stories…but I frequently see seemingly good opportunities in the classifieds, so it pays to diligently check and be quick with a PM, it helps to have a ‘deer CV’ of experience and credentials on a phone note to quickly copy and paste.

 

[Chris Richardson]

I think the short answer is yes. With patience. If you want it all-your own private estates-and want it now, you need a lot of money.

Folks need to be prepared to go door knocking, even small farms that might not seem amazing, if held together as part of a bigger picture can be worthwhile. It amazes me how many folk who lament having no ground really don’t put the time in. Dress smart, be polite even if told to sod off. Don’t try to prise out existing stalkers, you’ll get a bad reputation that might well cripple you in the long term.

Paid stalking can be cheap. Cull days on munties and fallow, or roe does can be as little as a couple of hundred quid with the option to retain the carcass at no/little charge. If you shoot safely, accurately, decisively you may even be asked back. Of course there’s charlatans but once bitten twice shy-don’t go back.

Syndicates are a thorny topic but I, and many friends, have been in truly belting syndicates. Equally you have horror stories…but I frequently see seemingly good opportunities in the classifieds, so it pays to diligently check and be quick with a PM, it helps to have a ‘deer CV’ of experience and credentials on a phone note to quickly cope and paste.

indeed just had one email the main man on an estate ive been doing over 8 years even asking after hes been told thanks but no thanks weve got a stalker who is doing the job another who asks every 6 months too

 

[JH83]

indeed just had one email the main man on an estate ive been doing over 8 years even asking after hes been told thanks but no thanks weve got a stalker who is doing the job another who asks every 6 months too

Had it myself. A lot.

That’s a reputation that follows you. Not clever.

 

[Taff]

Someone is always trying to get stalking, you cannot blame them, we all asked at sometime, I remember someone who by some is regarded as a authority on roe, going around Hampshire using his status as a author to get as much stalking as possible for his mates (dmg) .

 

[Ged_GRS]

I shoot at a nursery/garden centre with land behind. I bet people would never think that shooting was available there but all legal species are allowed.
Its not just farmland available. I have also asked refuse tips for access. No luck yet mind.

 

[JH83]

Someone is always trying to get stalking, you cannot blame them, we all asked at sometime, I remember someone who by some is regarded as a authority on roe, going around Hampshire using his status as a author to get as much stalking as possible for his mates (dmg) .

Asking is one thing. No problem there.

Asking when you know it’s stalked, or even worse outbidding etc is a different kettle of fish.

 

[nic531]

Unfortunately the only open access to public land for shooting is crown land below the high tide mark For wildfowling. And even that these days is pretty restricted.

As I understand it, there is only one area of open access public land on the crown foreshore, and that is in Somerset near to Hinkley Point, cannot recall its name. The rest of the Crown Foreshore in England is rented, the hassle being mostly getting access to that foreshore as you do not have a right to cross private land to get to it, especially when carrying a gun. (BASC do a permit scheme where clubs do 'day tickets' for people wanting to try wildfowling btw)

I was lucky in that the resident stalker where I was a half gun on a pheasant syndicate cheesed off the landowner and we took over the stalking.... so a half dozen of us share the extra rent cost. less than a single guided stalk for a years shooting.

It is out there but takes luck or shoe leather... having moved every couple of years for half my life, I have used up a number of pairs just looking for shooting.

 

[Hayduke]

Anyone coming out of the cities to stalk should definitely have to pay for it. Rural communities need that injection of cash

Townies and city people shouldn’t be allowed in the countryside they just f/k it up!

 

[Taff]

Asking is one thing. No problem there.

Asking when you know it’s stalked, or even worse outbidding etc is a different kettle of fish.

Even now when hunting is free on farms here, I never go where someone else goes, or hunt pigs in a area where dog pig hunters are, it’s a easy way to home to a burn,t ute.
In the uk it is different, if the land is stalked already. The owner may not be happy with the present stalker, but feels obliged, you may be his way out, look at all the people on here who complain about people not doing there bit to control numbers, outbidding is just the way the world works sorry, I may not like it but it’s the way it is.

 

[Heym SR20]

Townies and city people shouldn’t be allowed in the countryside they just f/k it up!

So by your logic, country folk shouldn’t be allowed to go into the towns and cities to shop, work, sell their produce or to use medical services etc.

These days there are very few rural type jobs. Agriculture certainly doesn’t employ many people these days.

 

[Shabz]

So by your logic, country folk shouldn’t be allowed to go into the towns and cities to shop, work, sell their produce or to use medical services etc.

These days there are very few rural type jobs. Agriculture certainly doesn’t employ many people these days.

I’m happy to never visit a city! Fine by me.