Where to get first stalk

Gully

Well-Known Member
Hello, I posted earlier in the 'Introduction' section to see if I could get any suggestions of where I can get an introduction to stalking/deer mgmnt in my local area (SW Herts). 'Predatorcontol' suggested I post in this section so please see my original post below; any help would be appreciated.



Hello, I'm on here to introduce myself. I'm new to this game, having got into shooting a couple of years ago. I currently shoot small ground game and am in a local syndicate for pheasants. I like the social aspect of bird shooting but have come to realise I'm happiest when out walking with my gun and dog taking the odd one for the pot. I've got a 7 month old GWP that I'm trying to train up at the moment.

My mind has turned to stalking and I'm currently reading up the DSC1 literature and have booked myself on one of the Pre-DSC training days with BASC in June, mainly to get more experience with CF rifles and also to help my FAC application when I go for it.

I've been looking for someone to take me on a trial stalk. I've contacted a few of the companies that I've found on the internet but have found it hard to find someone who will call me back or seems interested in taking me out, even though I'll be paying. It seems they're more interested in those who want to pay big money for a trophy. Family commitments mean I can't travel too far from home (Herts/Bucks borders).

I wonder if anyone on here can suggest somewhere where I can get some experience - I don't mind not shooting on the first occasion and I don't mind paying.
 
Have you tried the basc scheme in thetford?

95quid - you'll get a chance to shoot a cf, and if you pass the test a chance to shoot a deer.

Des Green is a legend - he was the guy who took Gordon Ramsey out and has been a professional stalker for about 200 years - just think of him as a bit like Yoda

95 quid aint a lot to fork out to see if you like it before committing your money to DSC1 etc and will look good for FAC that you have had some practicval experience

not too far.

no trophy fees
 
Des Green is a legend - he was the guy who took Gordon Ramsey out and has been a professional stalker for about 200 years - just think of him as a bit like Yoda

Yoda! Yoda :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Wait til I catch up with him :lol: :lol: He will not like Yoda! but I love it :lol: :lol: :lol:
 
Gully,

I am not in your neck of the woods, but if you have no luck locally please Pm me and I will sort you out a days stalking in West Sussex on Roe Bucks.

All the best Sikamalc
 
Thanks for the advice. I've just booked on the Kings Forest shoot for a day in June. I'm getting excited already and its just the thing to get my DSC reading back on track.
 
Well done Gully.

You will be fine on your Level 1. You are very lucky to be able to have some practical experience beforehand. I am pleased that you have booked for June and wish you luck.

Steve.
 
Good on ya gully - you'll definitely get some experience and advice with a rifle and you'll almost certainly see deer (I think they now have an estate rifle that might limit you to shooting muntjac only) but you will have a great time with some great company

June'll soon be here and then the money will really start to flow

If anyone else wants to get a good grounding or just try stalking - they can do a lot worse than spending a little bit of money before plunging in headfirstlet us know how ya get on

Gully PM me with more details of where you are .. I work on the cambs/herts border and would be happy to meet up for a beer/coffee to help give you some pointers etc if you like!!
 
Thanks for all the help. This looks like a good forum - some of the hunting ones seem to be populated by 13 year old idiots.

I think the estate rifle there is a .223 so I guess its for muntjac only. Nautilus, I'm on the other side of Herts, between Aylesbury & Hemel Hempstead, just on the edge of Ashridge Forest, so its teeming with deer down here.
 
Gully, you will love it! No ifs, no buts. You will have a cracking time and wonder why you didn't start this lark years ago. All the best! :D
 
Gully
though late in my reply , as Nautilus stated you would not have a better stalker than DES GREEN , in Thetford FOREST . I had a PM and AM stalk with him , had MUNTJAC and ROEBUCK ON BOTH MY OUTINGS, my claim to fame is I shot my first munty from Ramseys seat!!! He can regail about that !. In MY opinion you are on a winner !! stalker assistance wise , the rest is up to you !!
Regards trapper.
 
Just a quick update - and a word of thanks to those who pointed me towards Des Green. Last night, in a wood in Suffolk, I lost my cherry!

I met up with him last night and after a time on the range punching paper and me bombarding him with questions we drove off the the BASC lease part of the forest. We parked up, had a coffee and chatted some more. The threatened rain failed to come and it was a lovely warm evening. We set off down a ride, him walking ahead with sticks and me with the rifle behind. After a few hundred yards, we saw some ears poking our above the nettles and paused. It was only a fox which headed off sharpish when he saw us about 20 yds away. Another 500 yds further on Des paused and planted the sticks in the earth, beckoning me up. There was a nice muntjac buck in the beeches about 50 yds to our right, quartering towards us. He saw us, and while I got into position on the sticks and took aim he started to head behind a tree. I paused, not sure if he was side on enough to take the shot. Des egged me on and I fired. The little lad dropped where he stood and after 10 mins we approached him, he was dead as a doornail. We headed off to get the truck and I did the gralloch under Des's expert eye.

I had a great evening, am now hooked and waiting for my FEO to call me back for a chat.

I'd post a pic but I'm not sure how this forum is with dead deer photo's
 
where to get the first stalk

Gully, Congratulations. A good account of the evening, that probably left you grinning from ear to ear. Welcome to the club.
 
Well done mate, I'll never forget my first and here I am 3 years later still as excited as that first time.

Waidmansheil and look forward to reading more reports!

Regards,

Amir
 
Gully

Well done, and nice write-up! Don't worry about the photo's of dead deer - if you look around on the site you'll see there are quite a lot already!

willie_gunn
 
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