BASC Deer Management Scheme Arran
The Arran Deer Management scheme is open to all BASC members (who are in possession of their own stalking rifle) and is suited to both novice or experienced stalkers. Members will be given the opportunity to stalk red and deer in a commercial forestry environment. The scheme is designed to provide practical follow on experience or for those who have completed the Deer Stalking Certificate Level 1. The stalking area is a mixture of open hill and commercial forestry, hence the terrain can be arduous and physically demanding. Stalkers should ensure that they have a sufficient level of fitness and are not suffering form any medical condition which may endanger their own safety or restrict the activities of their stalking partner.
The stalking area is extensive and is located on the Southern half of the Isle of Arran, which is situated in the Firth of Clyde west of Ardrossan. Travel to Arran is facilitated by taking the Caledonian MacBrayne passenger/car ferry from Ardrossan to Brodick, which runs 4 times daily in both directions during the winter period.
All stalking which takes place, as part of the scheme will be under the overall supervision of a co-ordinator who will supervise the briefing, deployment of stalkers and conduct of all culling operations. The co-ordinators will be qualified assessor/accredited witnesses for the Deer Stalking Certificate and the scheme therefore offers members
some limited opportunity to obtain evidence towards the Deer Stalking Certificate Level 2. The co-ordinators are principally there as safety supervisors and they can only provide witness evidence for DSC 2 if their primary duties allow them.
It is emphasised that this scheme is not a DSC Level Two course.
As a result of the scheme’s success in achieving cull targets in past years and some anecdotal evidence of increased culling activity on private land around the forest, the cull for this season has been reduced significantly. Therefore we have reduced the number of weeks available to three stag weeks and 6 hind weeks. We will monitor the cull on a weekly basis and adjust stalking activity accordingly.
DATES
Stag wk 1 - Mon 21 to Fri 25 September 09
Stag wk 2 - Mon 28 to Fri 02 October 09
**Fully booked**
Stag wk 3 - Mon 05 to Fri 09 October 09
**Fully booked**
Hind wk 1 - Mon 02 to Fri 06 November 09
Hind wk 2 - Mon 09 to Fri 13 November 09
Hind wk 3 - Mon 16 to Fri 20 November 09
Hind wk 4 - Mon 18 to Fri 22 January 10
Hind wk 5 - Mon 25 to Fri 29 January 10
Hind wk 6 - Mon 01 to Fri 05 February 10
STALKING PROCEDURES
The stalking lease is very large, the beats are widely dispersed and only red deer are present on the island. There are multiple beats that BASC will use and these will be divided into two groups of four beats with a safety co-ordinator responsible for all the stalkers on the four beats within his area. Both of these co-ordinators will be very experienced stalkers and they will each have an ATV to assist with extraction of deer carcasses.
Participating stalkers will be paired off and two people will stalk together on each allocated beat in order to provide a measure of safety if an injury or illness occurs and also to enable initial extraction of the very large red deer that are resident within the FC woodlands on Arran. At all times there will only ever be one rifle loaded within each pair of stalkers and the loaded rifle will always be carried by the person who takes the lead. The lead stalker will continually ensure that his rifle is always pointed in a safe direction and each stalker will rotate. A more detailed safety briefing will take place prior to outings in the field.
RIFLES AND AMMUNITION
It is essential that anyone who intends to take advantage of the scheme has a basic knowledge of deer and stalking and is confident in using their rifle in field conditions. Practice is therefore essential! Potential stalkers should have taken the time to practice live firing from the sitting, standing and kneeling positions using a stick or other support. Before stalkers are allowed onto their beat they will be required to demonstrate that their rifle is zeroed by putting 3 shots in a 4” group at 100 metres. Stalkers who cannot achieve this will not be permitted to stalk live quarry.
Rifles and ammunition must comply with the Scottish legislation for shooting red deer:
Not less than 100-grain bullet weight
Not less than 1750 ft lbs muzzle energy
Not less than 2450 fps muzzle velocity
Ammunition that is designed to deform in a predictable manner
All rifles must be prepared and zeroed prior to arrival on the programme. Each co-ordinator will have ten stalkers to supervise and he cannot spend a protracted amount of time trying to sort out rifles that have not been properly prepared for the scheme. It would be prudent to bring enough ammunition to cover all eventualities that might occur over the five days.
The nearest gun shop is in Ardrossan and problems caused by lack of maintenance or preparation of firearms will necessitate a return ferry trip to the mainland. In addition if not enough ammunition is brought Ardrossan will be the closest source.
The Arran scheme involves stalking over demanding terrain in a climate where the weather can change for the worse in an instant. Anyone considering participating should be aware of the challenging nature of managing deer under these conditions and should be physically capable of taking part. During warmer periods midges will be prevalent and all participants will need to be prepared with repellents and/or head nets
A full synchronisation and safety briefing will be undertaken prior to commencing stalking operations. Each pair of participants will be issued a safety pack containing such items as two way radio, marked maps and emergency strobe light etc. The BASC scheme allows members to cull any deer on the cull plan that is in season. The choice of individual animals to be culled will be at the discretion of the stalker and there will be no additional trophy fees for male animals. Stag programmes will cost
£360 for 8 outings, and Hinds will cost
£200 for 8 outings. These fees are exceptionally competitive and are a unique BASC membership benefit.
If any stalker wishes to take venison home with them then it can be purchased through the FC ranger at the private sales rate.
OTHER FEES
Stalkers are expected to arrive with their rifles zeroed and the programme cannot cater for protracted delays to allow for rifles to be adjusted. A penalty fee of £50.00 may be charged for any deer missed or wounded.
Accommodation options on the island are numerous and should easily cater for all tastes and budgets. Once confirmation of a place on the scheme has been confirmed contact details for accommodation bookings will be provided. We have special rates with the two largest hotels on the Island for members on the stalking scheme. Details will be sent out with your booking confirmation.
BASC can accept no responsibility for delays or inconvenience incurred by cancelled or rescheduled ferries due to adverse weather conditions or any other reason.