What would you say is required for a noob stalkers kit?

[stratts]

Righto guys I'm trying to get myself sorted with various basic gear after reading about what is required in particular for stalking.

Before I get flamed I don't mind (and have no shame!) admitting that I am trying to get myself sorted as cheaply as possible for starters coz money is tight! Over time I'd like some better, more expensive gear but that can wait.

What does your stalking kit consist of? Any items that you carry that are essential and others that are just 'handy'?

I'm thinking along the lines of the list below but am I over complicating things?

Roe sack
Small 1st aid kit
Small torch &/or head torch ( I have a cree)
Fixed blade knife with easy clean handle (I have various Frost, Mora, etc)
Sharpening stone (I have a DC4 whetstone)
Deer call (I have a Buttolo)
Small fold up waterproof mat
Bullet pouch
Bino's on harness
Latex gloves and tissues/wipes
Water bottle & purification tablets
Small pair pruning snips
Iphone
Shooting sticks
Boresnake

I have a fair bit of shooting related stuff already but am missing the following if anyone has anything cheap and cheerful knocking around for sale?

Roe sack
Bullet pouch (in pocket or stock mounted)
Binocular harness so bino's sit on my chest better

Cheers

Stratts

PS
After reading my list I reckon it would be a good kit to have for walked up and bunny shooting too!!

 

[Pine Marten]

Well if I were you, I'd start with several sacks full of gold...

 

[stig]

You say "money is tight" then list more stuff than I've got...

Fixed blade knife with easy clean handle
Bino's
Shooting sticks
Rifle

(and a bit of string for a suspended gralloch - that's nearly free)

 

[Bigboab29]

If im going stalking for a morning or an evening all i take is my rifle, ammo, sticks, binos, knife, suitable clothes and a bit of string. Maybe take a bit more if i'm gona be out all day on the hill but generally go as light as possible.

 

[stratts]

You say "money is tight" then list more stuff than I've got...

Fixed blade knife with easy clean handle
Bino's
Shooting sticks
Rifle

(and a bit of string for a suspended gralloch - that's nearly free)

Ha ha sorry I spose it does read a bit funny but the stuff I have now has been acquired over the years by bargain hunting, swapping stuff and all before my twins came along to bleed me dry!!

 

[jamross65]

All that goes in my pockets when I am stalking or sitting in a high seat is the following:

Knife
Drag rope/cord (depending on species and distances being walked)
Bar of Dairy Milk (nearly always carry chocolate with me when stalking)
6 pairs est. latex gloves
Plus head torch only if evening stalk.

That's it, the lot. Nothing on my belt or hanging from anywhere else.

The rest of the stuff you list is probably in my Landy...

 

[stratts]

If im going stalking for a morning or an evening all i take is my rifle, ammo, sticks, binos, knife, suitable clothes and a bit of string. Maybe take a bit more if i'm gona be out all day on the hill but generally go as light as possible.

This is what I was wondering about over complicating things. I like to read alot of varying books/online and sometimes think I get carried away!! Or over enthusiastic!!

 

[stig]

I must confess, I've bought myself one of Poppins' Sika Sack for Xmas, well, my kids have been "bleed(ing) me dry" too so it will magically arrive from them

 

[Bigboab29]

This is what I was wondering about over complicating things. I like to read alot of varying books/online and sometimes think I get carried away!! Or over enthusiastic!!

Theres nothing wrong with your list Stratts. As said above a lot of the stuff you have mentioned i will have in the car for if i need it. But if you want to take it with you theres nothing wrong with that and a lot of people probably do carry it (may save your life some day). I think im just getting lazy and like to go with the bare minimum i can get away with

 

[Bigboab29]

all before my twins came along to bleed me dry!! [/QUOTE]


I feel your pain mate

 

[stratts]

all before my twins came along to bleed me dry!!

I feel your pain mate[/QUOTE]

Ha ha good thing is they are boys so will eat anything, ie, rabbit, pigeon, veg I grow on the allotment.

Bad thing is now they are nearly 5 they eat so much I can't shoot/grow enough for all of us and I can't make cheap sweets and chocolate!!

 

[Pine Marten]

Ha ha good thing is they are boys so will eat anything, ie, rabbit, pigeon, veg I grow on the allotment.

I wasn't aware that the male young of the species lived from a different diet than the females.

 

[Jason]

Here's my 10p worth,

Rifle, scope, Ammo, Fixed blade knife, Latex gloves, torch and binoculars

you can find yourself a stick whilst out stalking ( find a hazel copse and cut yourself a stick)

Bit of 2m loop of rope with a bit of stick chucked through one end will do for your drag rope don't need anything to flash.

Fist aid kit is handy but again keep it simple, plasters antiseptic cream and wipe will get you home anything more serious dial 999.

That's it. don't worry about calls if you have roe on your ground you'll use the buttalo for a couple of week a year.

 

[Ranger22]

All i take is my rifle,ammo, bino's,dog, knife, length of rope (used for dragging, tying deers legs together so i can carry them, line for tracking) and my phone

Al

 

[kev.rem700]

All i take knife,first aid kit,phone,bullet pouch,roesack,nitril gloves,tourch all in my bum bag.my dog binos and my rifle

ATB

kev

 

[Taff]

Rifle,ammo, knife, phone,bottle of water,back at truck, tray. You can waste a lot of money on things you will never use.

 

[Caberhill]

Binocular harness so bino's sit on my chest better

If I were you try one of those harness before you but one, you might just save yourself a few quid... I had one and I absolutely detested it despite thinking it'd be great. They make it extremely difficult to shed layers of clothing and extremely annoying if you need to crawl. The strap that comes with Swarovski binoculars is an improvement on a bog standard strap and still gives you some play.

 

[stratts]

Thanks for the input guys and I'll see if I can find a shop with a harness in mate, cheers. They do look handy in all the photos coz i hate having them dangling about round my neck!

 

[Mungo]

OS map of your ground.

Cardboard box, block of post-it notes, black marker and cello tape. Sits in car to be used to make target for zeroing.

Spare pair of socks, in a zip loc bag. Nothing quite so nice as dry socks when you most want them.

 

[biffo]

Must have bit of kit most of you have missed........toilet paper. Always have this and needed it at 7am this morning out on a stalk in the woods.........also good for wiping misty optics..