Advice for a novice

[ph363]

Hello all

So as a complete novice with no experience at all, I recently found a syndicate online that sounded brilliant. After a email and a chat I was offered a lot including full mentorship/help training and with getting FAC/SGC, so I got the insurance I needed filled in forms then I decided to do a bit more research before sending my money. I discovered that they had a lot of negative feedback. So have obviously decided to not go a head with it. After being really excited to disappointed, I need a new way forward. So far I have come up with this path

1) Clay pigeon and rifle shooting lessons and practice.
2) payed guided stalking
3) DSC1 course
4) mentoring scheme through BASC/BDS
5) DSC2 course

Guess I’m just after knowing if this is a good path forward any advise/guidance is much appreciated

Thanks

 

[Liveonce]

possibly also join a local rifle club, you would get plenty of opportunity to practice and meet like minded members.

 

[ph363]

possibly also join a local rifle club, you would get plenty of opportunity to practice and meet like minded members.

Thank you. I’ve looked some up and found one about an hour away from me,

 

[Kane01]

I am also new to stalking as well, and have gone down the paid syndicate route.
I would not let a few bad reviews put you off the whole thing, if you can try and reach out to local shooters and other stalkers in your area and see what their opinions on the syndicate are, failing that bring it up with the syndicate themselves, if they act sheepish about the reviews then something is definitely up.
Only real advice I can give is join a rifle club, makes getting your FAC and what rifles you want much easier in my experience, but again make sure the clubs a good fit for you, I have been target shooting a long time and some clubs can be downright depressing to be at.
Other than that, I would say if you are planning on doing a DSC get your DSC1 first before any guided stalking, its designed for beginners and will teach you a lot about the theory and safe aspects of stalking.

 

[sikamalc]

Depends on what stalking syndicate you are reffering too. There are one or two banned from this site, due to misrepresentation of what they actually have in permissions to stalk on.
There are syndicates around, but many are dead man's shoes, and all the good ones are soon filled if a place becomes available. Keep an eye out on the stalking available section on this site, or book an outing or two with a professional guide.

 

[cjm1066]

A few paid stalks is a good start to evaluate if you want to go further, explain you are a novice.

 

[Dunwaters]

Deer stalking isn’t for everyone, take a couple of paid outings and see how you like it before you invest serious time and money in something you may not enjoy.
Lots of people like the idea of stalking, and it is great, right up to the moment you’re standing over a dead deer wondering what the hell to do with it.
Not everyone has the stomach, or the facilities to deal with the nasty bits.

 

[Tim.243]

Hello all

So as a complete novice with no experience at all, I recently found a syndicate online that sounded brilliant. After a email and a chat I was offered a lot including full mentorship/help training and with getting FAC/SGC, so I got the insurance I needed filled in forms then I decided to do a bit more research before sending my money. I discovered that they had a lot of negative feedback. So have obviously decided to not go a head with it. After being really excited to disappointed, I need a new way forward. So far I have come up with this path

1) Clay pigeon and rifle shooting lessons and practice.
2) payed guided stalking
3) DSC1 course
4) mentoring scheme through BASC/BDS
5) DSC2 course

Guess I’m just after knowing if this is a good path forward any advise/guidance is much appreciated

Thanks

Join/find some local beating that way you can walk land looking around seeing how one part of shooting is carried out.
Lincoln you will see Fallow Roe Muntjac (slots ) fox. You might spot a deer creeping out of cover but you won't see that on the clay/rifle ground.
Get a feel for the land and how why things are done, Not that it will apply to you for a while but I ask all the farms what is being planted where winter/spring drill that way say winter beans the Fallow will be camped out when they are coming ready to cut and after.

 

[kieran222]

Remember that the forestry commission are offering grants to cover the cost of the DSC1 &DSC2 courses.
Generally syndicates and stalking offered through this forum can be relied on, or you can at least get feedback from people on here who have used the them. Always get feedback or recommendations.

 

[Jack3]

I'd recommend doing a few paid stalking and joining a local rifle club before signing up for a DSC1 course. Having some practical understanding/experience of stalking and rifle shooting will make the course that much more relevant and enjoyable. And don't forget - future paid stalks (booked) are a perfectly good enough reason when applying for a FAC however I'd personally hold off applying until you get your DSC1 and pass probationary period at rifle club.

 

[Kane01]

Remember that the forestry commission are offering grants to cover the cost of the DSC1 &DSC2 courses.
Generally syndicates and stalking offered through this forum can be relied on, or you can at least get feedback from people on here who have used the them. Always get feedback or recommendations.

I think they have closed now unfortunately, just had a look since I am pretty interested in doing my DSC1 and going down a forestry career.

 

[ph363]

Thanks guys, the syndicate from what I can gather is banned on here. after reading the comments I’ll definitely start with a few paid stalks to make sure this is me, even if it’s just a follow along, are people willing to take out someone with no shooting experience? Then I’ll join a rifle club for sure.

 

[Sandy25]

Thanks guys, the syndicate from what I can gather is banned on here. after reading the comments I’ll definitely start with a few paid stalks to make sure this is me, even if it’s just a follow along, are people willing to take out someone with no shooting experience? Then I’ll join a rifle club for sure.

Try some of your local shoots etc. do a bit of beating for them and then ask around if you can go and watch them stalking/foxing etc.

May well be someone there who can give you a bit of a show around and what to expect.

Should mention that don’t ask this on your first day, make yourself useful on the shoot, offer to help with feeding and stuff as well. Not a quick way in but can be very rewarding and you learn a lot.

Regards,

Sandy

 

[Jh1986]

right up to the moment you’re standing over a dead deer wondering what the hell to do with it.

That absolutely hits the nail on the head. That's exactly what happened on my first solo outing.

I did my DSC1 and think it was well worth doing. Expect to be on mentor condition anyway, so find someone good to do a few paid stalks with and then go from there. DSC1 was also where I met my mentor

 

[dryan]

Join a rifle club to get accurate and accustomed to rifle shooting.

Book a few paid stalks and do the DSC1.

Then join a syndicate or speak to farmers.

That's the route I took, then I met a woman who lived in serious deer country and moved across the water...

You only really learn fully when shooting on your own or with a buddy. I'm still learning and stalk 4 or 5 times a week.

 

[Stalker62]

Guess I’m just after knowing if this is a good path forward any advise/guidance is much appreciated

@ph363



You are welcome.

 

[Bugsy]

No No No .. this would be a better hobby .. trying to hit a wee white ball will only frustrate you but for the right money she’ll play with yer wee white baws

 

[Danhfromwales]

I'm also fairly new to stalking also, my route was getting my SGC back in 2019, mostly shot on my local clay ground (no unfortunately gone) and some rough shooting. Last year I made the move to join a home office approved club not far from me. After my probationary period, I then applied for a co terminus SGC and FAC. Got approved for what I asked for! The club also runs various courses including DSC1 which I attended recently and passed and now I've just arranged for my first payed stalk this coming January, after that ill start at looking to get an "open license" so I can use my own rifle's for stalking and not an estate rifle.

Take each step as it comes, if you have the drive you will get there.

 

[Tony0851]

You will be very lucky to get a open ticket so early in your shooting career. I've tried and had mine 3 years and still know joy.

 

[Jh1986]

You will be very lucky to get a open ticket so early in your shooting career. I've tried and had mine 3 years and still know joy.

Closed ticked and mentored condition when I got mine. Did some paid stalks and put in for a variation and to add some land. They called my paid stalk hosts and they all said I was safe shot etc.

Came back open.

Postcode lottery as usual