Stalking lease

I have the chance of some local stalking but the land in question is entering into an environmental scheme which empathises very much on deer control, the issue is they require risk assessments, lone worker policy health and safety training etc?
Has anyone any templates for this type of thing and if so could they share them I would be very grateful

Hi - your best bet will be ChatGPT - this will write the policies and risk assessments for you if you give it the scope of your land.

Risk Assessment: UK Deer Management Using a Rifle​

Activity: Humane deer management (legal stalking and culling) using a rifle
Location: UK countryside (woodland, farmland, open moorland)
Assessor: ____________________
Date: ____________________
Review Date: ____________________

---

1. Legal & Regulatory Context​

• Firearms Act 1968 and subsequent amendments
• Deer Act 1991 (and Deer (Scotland) Act 1996 where applicable)
• Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981
• Relevant Home Office firearm licensing conditions
• Best practice guidance from BASC / BDS / Forestry England

Requirement: Only lawful species, seasons, calibres, and ammunition to be used. All shooters must hold a valid UK Firearm Certificate and land permission.

---

2. Persons at Risk​

• Deer stalker / shooter
• Other authorised persons (e.g. accompanying stalker, gralloching assistant)
• Members of the public (walkers, riders, cyclists)
• Farm workers / land managers
• Livestock and domestic animals

---

3. Hazards, Risks & Control Measures​

3.1 Firearm Discharge​

Hazards: Accidental discharge, unsafe direction of fire, ricochet, over‑penetration


Risks: Serious injury or fatality to people or animals; property damage


Control Measures:

• Rifle handled in accordance with recognised safe firearm handling principles at all times
• Positive identification of target, species, and safe backstop before any shot
• Shots only taken where a solid, safe backstop is present (e.g. earth bank)
• No shots taken toward skylines, hard surfaces, buildings, roads, or public rights of way
• Rifle unloaded during transit; loaded only when actively stalking and safe to do so

Residual Risk: Low

---

3.2 Presence of the Public​

Hazards: Walkers or vehicles entering the danger area unexpectedly


Risks: Injury or fatality; near‑miss incidents


Control Measures:

• Prior assessment of public access routes and rights of way
• Avoid shooting near footpaths, bridleways, roads, or dwellings
• High‑visibility signage where appropriate (e.g. forestry operations)
• Continuous observation of surroundings before and during activity
• Suspension of activity if public enter unsafe proximity

Residual Risk: Low to Medium

---

3.3 Misidentification of Target​

Hazards: Shooting wrong species, livestock, or protected animals


Risks: Illegal killing, animal welfare issues, prosecution


Control Measures:

• Clear visual identification of species, sex, and legality before shooting
• Adequate optics and light conditions only
• No shots taken in poor visibility (fog, heavy rain, dusk beyond safe limits)
• Familiarity with local livestock and wildlife patterns

Residual Risk: Low

---

3.4 Terrain and Environmental Conditions​

Hazards: Uneven ground, steep slopes, watercourses, adverse weather


Risks: Slips, trips, falls; immersion; reduced situational awareness


Control Measures:

• Appropriate footwear and weather‑appropriate clothing
• Careful route planning and knowledge of terrain
• Avoidance of shots where footing or balance is compromised
• Activity postponed during extreme weather or unsafe ground conditions

Residual Risk: Low

---

3.5 Lone Working​

Hazards: Injury without immediate assistance


Risks: Delayed medical treatment


Control Measures:

• Lone working plan in place
• Mobile phone or radio carried with adequate signal coverage
• Agreed check‑in procedure and expected return time
• First aid kit carried; basic first aid knowledge

Residual Risk: Low

---

3.6 Handling of Carcasses and Biological Hazards​

Hazards: Zoonotic diseases, sharp tools during gralloching


Risks: Infection, cuts, contamination


Control Measures:

• Use of protective gloves during gralloching
• Clean, sharp knives and safe cutting techniques
• Hand hygiene after carcass handling
• Carcass inspection in line with food hygiene guidance if entering food chain

Residual Risk: Low

---

4. Emergency Procedures​

• In the event of an accident, ensure firearm is made safe immediately
• Contact emergency services (999) if required
• Provide first aid within level of training
• Inform landowner and relevant authorities as necessary

---

5. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)​

• Suitable outdoor clothing and sturdy footwear
• Gloves for carcass handling
• Hearing protection where appropriate
• High‑visibility clothing if required by landowner or environment

---

6. Overall Risk Rating​

Overall Risk: Low when control measures are implemented and best practice followed.

---

Assessor Signature: ____________________
Date: ____________________

---

This risk assessment should be reviewed regularly and updated following any incident, near miss, or change in conditions or legislation.

Good morning ,the landowner seems to want a deer manager not a recreational stalker, if you know you can put in the time and effort and reach cull targets go for it < if not walk away> . once you take on such a commitment stalking become a chore no longer a pleasurable pass time, more of a head ache. good luck with your choice .

We are in the same situation as yourself, but further down the pipeline.

Manage an estate that is in environmental schemes so need to hit cull targets. @ashray is spot on - the stalking is great but it does start to become wearing when you are trying to get the cull figures required.
Depending on how well you know the landowner and the ground, would be good to work out how much work would actually need doing to make the area productive and stalking/extraction feasible, especially if you are on your own.
Weigh up if the costs you will incur on clearing, felling, making rides, putting up high seats etc will be covered by the venison that you can sell to AGHE or privately.

And finally, if you decide that it is workable and you want to do it, get the lease for a decent period, e.g 3-5 years so that you can actually implement you cull plans and management and conduct any work that you need to. Nothing worse than putting in loads of time and effort in the first year then losing the lease cause someone has offered to pay through the nose for it and you having nothing to show for it.

As others have said, ChatGPT for all the paperwork, saves a lot of time in the long run……

Any questions drop me a message

ATB,

Sandy

cumbrian said:

I have the chance of some local stalking but the land in question is entering into an environmental scheme which empathises very much on deer control, the issue is they require risk assessments, lone worker policy health and safety training etc?
Has anyone any templates for this type of thing and if so could they share them I would be very grateful

Click to expand...

Stephenbuck2489 said:

Risk Assessment: UK Deer Management Using a Rifle​

Activity: Humane deer management (legal stalking and culling) using a rifle
Location: UK countryside (woodland, farmland, open moorland)
Assessor: ____________________
Date: ____________________
Review Date: ____________________

---

1. Legal & Regulatory Context​

• Firearms Act 1968 and subsequent amendments
• Deer Act 1991 (and Deer (Scotland) Act 1996 where applicable)
• Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981
• Relevant Home Office firearm licensing conditions
• Best practice guidance from BASC / BDS / Forestry England

Requirement: Only lawful species, seasons, calibres, and ammunition to be used. All shooters must hold a valid UK Firearm Certificate and land permission.

---

2. Persons at Risk​

• Deer stalker / shooter
• Other authorised persons (e.g. accompanying stalker, gralloching assistant)
• Members of the public (walkers, riders, cyclists)
• Farm workers / land managers
• Livestock and domestic animals

---

3. Hazards, Risks & Control Measures​

3.1 Firearm Discharge​

Hazards: Accidental discharge, unsafe direction of fire, ricochet, over‑penetration


Risks: Serious injury or fatality to people or animals; property damage


Control Measures:

• Rifle handled in accordance with recognised safe firearm handling principles at all times
• Positive identification of target, species, and safe backstop before any shot
• Shots only taken where a solid, safe backstop is present (e.g. earth bank)
• No shots taken toward skylines, hard surfaces, buildings, roads, or public rights of way
• Rifle unloaded during transit; loaded only when actively stalking and safe to do so

Residual Risk: Low

---

3.2 Presence of the Public​

Hazards: Walkers or vehicles entering the danger area unexpectedly


Risks: Injury or fatality; near‑miss incidents


Control Measures:

• Prior assessment of public access routes and rights of way
• Avoid shooting near footpaths, bridleways, roads, or dwellings
• High‑visibility signage where appropriate (e.g. forestry operations)
• Continuous observation of surroundings before and during activity
• Suspension of activity if public enter unsafe proximity

Residual Risk: Low to Medium

---

3.3 Misidentification of Target​

Hazards: Shooting wrong species, livestock, or protected animals


Risks: Illegal killing, animal welfare issues, prosecution


Control Measures:

• Clear visual identification of species, sex, and legality before shooting
• Adequate optics and light conditions only
• No shots taken in poor visibility (fog, heavy rain, dusk beyond safe limits)
• Familiarity with local livestock and wildlife patterns

Residual Risk: Low

---

3.4 Terrain and Environmental Conditions​

Hazards: Uneven ground, steep slopes, watercourses, adverse weather


Risks: Slips, trips, falls; immersion; reduced situational awareness


Control Measures:

• Appropriate footwear and weather‑appropriate clothing
• Careful route planning and knowledge of terrain
• Avoidance of shots where footing or balance is compromised
• Activity postponed during extreme weather or unsafe ground conditions

Residual Risk: Low

---

3.5 Lone Working​

Hazards: Injury without immediate assistance


Risks: Delayed medical treatment


Control Measures:

• Lone working plan in place
• Mobile phone or radio carried with adequate signal coverage
• Agreed check‑in procedure and expected return time
• First aid kit carried; basic first aid knowledge

Residual Risk: Low

---

3.6 Handling of Carcasses and Biological Hazards​

Hazards: Zoonotic diseases, sharp tools during gralloching


Risks: Infection, cuts, contamination


Control Measures:

• Use of protective gloves during gralloching
• Clean, sharp knives and safe cutting techniques
• Hand hygiene after carcass handling
• Carcass inspection in line with food hygiene guidance if entering food chain

Residual Risk: Low

---

4. Emergency Procedures​

• In the event of an accident, ensure firearm is made safe immediately
• Contact emergency services (999) if required
• Provide first aid within level of training
• Inform landowner and relevant authorities as necessary

---

5. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)​

• Suitable outdoor clothing and sturdy footwear
• Gloves for carcass handling
• Hearing protection where appropriate
• High‑visibility clothing if required by landowner or environment

---

6. Overall Risk Rating​

Overall Risk: Low when control measures are implemented and best practice followed.

---

Assessor Signature: ____________________
Date: ____________________

---

This risk assessment should be reviewed regularly and updated following any incident, near miss, or change in conditions or legislation.

Click to expand...

Well done for posting this but I think you might want to expand 1 & 3.6 to include handling & disposal of waste?

Would also add to what @ashray & @Sandy25 have said.

I would want a minimum of 5 years on a lease with a right to extend included, simply because aside from the matter of high initial expenditure & work on rides, deer lawns, highseats, carcass disposal, chiller, etc. there are factors that may restrict your ability to hit a cull target one year but then exceed it the next, ie you need to be able to take a more long term approach.

For example, in the 4-5 years I’ve been on my current ground the cull numbers, & subsequent target for following season have increased, however, this year we are way behind on the fallow due to a combination of weather & removal of dead ash trees (ash die back). We are also well down on Roe which get left till the back end of the season but which now all seem to have vanished! Conversely we are way up on muntjac numbers.

I’d also want a clause in the lease that recognises external issues such as the above & prevents early termination if cull targets are not met.

Re things like highseats, vehicles for recovery, carcass handling/storage & waste disposal, who is covering the cost of this? - is it you or will the ‘estate’ cover it? Ideally this should all be the estates responsibility, but if it’s you then make sure your lease allows for your removal of all property should it not be renewed or terminated early & gives you sufficient time to do it!

Also, make sure that your lease does not restrict you from allowing others to assist you with the stalking - if it’s a large area &/or has high cull targets, you're very probably going to need additional resources. Plus of course you may want to invite friends/family on the odd occasion. We have 4 stalkers on our ground who communicate via a WhatsApp group, one of them is retired so takes the lead as far as coordination goes. We stalk individually if we have free time in the week - two of us work shifts, & tend to work as a team at the weekends or over holiday periods so we can cover a particular area & improve likelihood of seeing & shooting animals.

Don’t panic about all this or use it as a reason to write the idea off, use it as an opportunity to make yourself as aware as possible of what’s needed, what the intentions are & how you can make it work.

Good luck & look forward to reading all about the new ground

cumbrian said:

I have the chance of some local stalking but the land in question is entering into an environmental scheme which empathises very much on deer control, the issue is they require risk assessments, lone worker policy health and safety training etc?
Has anyone any templates for this type of thing and if so could they share them I would be very grateful

Click to expand...

Good luck with it,

Donkey Basher said:

Well done for posting this but I think you might want to expand 1 & 3.6 to include handling & disposal of waste?

Click to expand...

I thought the first part was a tad
But as you said most kind of him to post it, if you look at it most is what we do in our day to day stalking
Humane deer management (legal stalking and culling) using a rifle

This can be copied and edited to suit.