Advice ?

[patjack]

Take your time never rush a shot and make sure it's SAFE before squeezing that trigger.

 

[big ears]

Don’t listen to keyboard warriors on SD

 

[The Singing Stalker]

Before you take the shot. Figure out how you are going to get it back to the car.

 

[User00056]

'Shoot them at the top'

 

[JSW]

Always scan the sunny side of the hedge

 

[pendle]

Walk little , glass alot.
Don't look for deer . Look for movement

 

[VSS]

Don't look for deer . Look for movement

I'd rather spot them before they move. I'm not much good on running targets!

 

[pendle]

I'd rather spot them before they move. I'm not much good on running targets!

Flick of a tail or ear ,even shake themselves

 

[VSS]

Flick of a tail or ear ,even shake themselves

I tend to look for legs. I've noticed a lot of people focus there attention on a point 3-4ft above the ground when scanning an area through their binos, in the hope of spotting a flick of ear or tail, but deer can remain completely motionless for a surprisingly long time, particularly if alert. But if hidden in or behind bushes or some similar cover such as woodland edge, while their bodies and heads may be completely concealed by foliage their legs often poke down below the level of whatever their hiding behind, looking as if the bush is held up by an unusual bunch of sticks instead of just a normal branch. So I initially scan an area from ground level up to about 2ft.

(I'm only talking fallow here, as I don't know much about stalking other species, and I also acknowledge that the thermal goes some way towards making my method obsolete).

 

[kenbro]

Don't shoot the first fallow that comes out of the woods.

A friend of mine did a DSC1 course some years ago and the chap running the course introduced him to a ‘keeper to go for deer from a high seat.
The last words delivered by the guy before he left him with the gamekeer?
‘Don’t shoot the first deer you see.’
So he didn’t and no more deer showed that morning or the afternoon sitting.
He wished he’d ignored those words of wisdom.
Is there good reason not to shoot the first fallow you see, assuming it’s in season?
Especially if you’ve paid x number £££ for the opportunity.
Think it was £40 per outing at that time.
Ken.

 

[paul dillon]

An old boy once said take your time and look through the trees not at them took me a while to work it out don't focus on trees in the woods

 

[VSS]

A friend of mine did a DSC1 course some years ago and the chap running the course introduced him to a ‘keeper to go for deer from a high seat.
The last words delivered by the guy before he left him with the gamekeer?
‘Don’t shoot the first deer you see.’
So he didn’t and no more deer showed that morning or the afternoon sitting.
He wished he’d ignored those words of wisdom.
Is there good reason not to shoot the first fallow you see, assuming it’s in season?
Especially if you’ve paid x number £££ for the opportunity.
Think it was £40 per outing at that time.
Ken.

Yes, with regards to fallow.
They'll often group up just inside woodland edge, before moving out onto fields to graze (where they can more easily be shot). Not until after the first deer has emerged, and been grazing calmly without alarm for a few minutes, will the bulk of the herd begin to move out into the open. Waiting gives you a greater opportunity to take multiple deer from the group, and / or to be more selective in your choice of animal to cull.
And if you're looking for a potential wall hanger, he's not going to be the first on the field.

This advice was given to me by the site member who took me on my first ever stalking outing, and on the whole I've found it to be good advice.

 

[kenbro]

Yes, with regards to fallow.
They'll often group up just inside woodland edge, before moving out onto fields to graze (where they can more easily be shot). Not until after the first deer has emerged, and been grazing calmly without alarm for a few minutes, will the bulk of the herd begin to move out into the open. Waiting gives you a greater opportunity to take multiple deer from the group, and / or to be more selective in your choice of animal to cull.
And if you're looking for a potential wall hanger, he's not going to be the first on the field.

This advice was given to me by the site member who took me on my first ever stalking outing, and on the whole I've found it to be good advice.

Sounds good.
On my friends occasion the seat was looking into a ride and the first animal out was a muntjac.
Thanks, Ken.

 

[VSS]

Sounds good.
On my friends occasion the seat was looking into a ride and the first animal out was a muntjac.
Thanks, Ken.

In that case, I think he should have shot it!

 

[Merlyn]

Just be there when ever you get the opportunity. Even if you don't have a musket with you. You will always learn something.

 

[Brave Echo Niner]

“They’re just as likely to be where you are, as where you’re going.”

 

[Mr. Gain]

I tend to look for legs. I've noticed a lot of people focus there attention on a point 3-4ft above the ground when scanning an area through their binos, in the hope of spotting a flick of ear or tail, but deer can remain completely motionless for a surprisingly long time, particularly if alert. But if hidden in or behind bushes or some similar cover such as woodland edge, while their bodies and heads may be completely concealed by foliage their legs often poke down below the level of whatever their hiding behind, looking as if the bush is held up by an unusual bunch of sticks instead of just a normal branch. So I initially scan an area from ground level up to about 2ft.

(I'm only talking fallow here, as I don't know much about stalking other species, and I also acknowledge that the thermal goes some way towards making my method obsolete).

Great advice. It's a very useful subset of the instruction I give myself to look for "bits of deer" rather than "whole deer".

 

[mudman]

Turn the engine off before you take the shot

 

[Camdig]

Less is more in general terms.

 

[glasshalffull]

Check and recheck you've all your gear in the vehicle before you leave the house