Django
Member
for the BASC Arran scheme?What knife are you using my friend has just had a email they have to be stainless blades non porous handle and plastic sheath
for the BASC Arran scheme?What knife are you using my friend has just had a email they have to be stainless blades non porous handle and plastic sheath
It was good enough for me last year on stags - good beats Shedog/MacrieWell the .308 will have to cut the mustard this time round![]()
We were given Macrie along with Shedog. Macrie is very mature forest to the right of the road from Brodick that they have just put a new FLS road into to extract timber and it provides good wood frontage at LL - nice 10-pointer at LL from the log pile. It abuts the Sannox estate and from high ground, we had some good roaring with their huge stags but not sadly ours! Shedog is a good valley with a V-shaped road servicing the portion on the right and a road off on the left shortly after entering the valley that takes you over to another valley. There is a good mix of mature wood and clearfell and if you push out from the right of the beat you can access high open ground from which I missed an imperial because his harem was too attentive! That said, coming back down from that stalk and walking done the track to our car at the bridge at the end of the v-shaped road that defines the right section, my partner took a 13-pointer bruiser just off the road. If you take the left road and push up to high ground there’s a large tract not seen from the access roads - I was fortunate to take another 10-pointer there. The sole time I’ve stalked Shedog/Macrie it didn’t disappoint - the only challenge was closing the ground to get to the stags we could see as they were not responding to the calling.More info on shedog if possible please![]()



thanks for the advice, i'm up there for week 3....fingers crossed!As above, 20 should be more that sufficient; you will need a minimal of 6 for the shooting test (grouping of 3, 2 off sticks and one for the 200m gong) and I tend to stalk with a magazine of 5 with a spare loaded mag in a pocket. I have had a mare once and had to repeat the shooting test so a spare box of factory ammo for the shooting test is a sensible arrangement. People have found scope knocked, etc.
There is no point charging around your beat as you just push animals out into other beats. However, getting in and out of your beats takes time and can add to the disturbance so I always take what I need for lunch in the car with a selection of snacks, energy bars/drinks in my pack. On some beats where you need to stalk into a far area, I use a Vorn, in others, I can get all I need to take (inc emergency kit, clothing, etc) into a small pack. I always take too much! Some beats are better than others for getting back to the car, on others you can be out for most of the day.
Advice is to get out to where you intend to stalk/observe just before shootable light (you can be too early and I have watched animals drift back into the woods before there was enough light to shoot) and to stay out until it’s no longer safe to shoot - I have taken frequently at last light as animals emerge from the woods but you need to be in the right place at the right time. You effectively only have 8 morning/afternoon slots over the week (stand-fast Week 1 and 5 stags this year) so I make the most of being out on the beat and spend a lot of time watching areas, working out where best to be at first/last light.
Most newbies make the mistake of charging around the whole beat blighting it with their scent. Listen to Bob, think carefully about the wind and use the terrain to get into areas which are hidden from easy view of the access roads. Stalk steadily and carefully and you should get results - it’s a great opportunity and experience.
Week 3 same here - look forward to meeting youthanks for the advice, i'm up there for week 3....fingers crossed!
DittoWeek 3 same here - look forward to meeting you
I'll DM you......I know this thread is from last year, but I have just got a place on Arran this year with my mate, week 2. As we can't get to the Island until Monday night James suggested we took Brodick beat. As never been on Arran before does anyone have any advise for that beat or other beats or the whole thing? Heard good and bad so just wanted some feedback tbh
So would I, after loosing several days last time I was there with a faulty turret on my z6i, I shall never go on a trip without a spare scope again.I would take a spare scope with me just in case
And boots, that island is wetter than the North Sea, and places don’t look wet, but you can soon be knee deep in what looked like dry landPlenty of socks.
I went in up to just short of my chest, in one well camouflaged sphagnum deep hole ..... every time I see that bit of film in" Ice cold in Alex", where the spy gets in a spot of quicksand, brings it back the fright.So would I, after loosing several days last time I was there with a faulty turret on my z6i, I shall never go on a trip without a spare scope again.
And boots, that island is wetter than the North Sea, and places don’t look wet, but you can soon be knee deep in what looked like dry land
As far as ammo, I would always take more than needed, it’s a bloody long way, and a ferry crossing to buy more
I pulled a mate out this January at Machrie and I recognise that expression...... back the fright.

This is the famous BASC Arran “tea towel” picture - you should be able to work out the beats. When you are allocated your beat James will send you an OS map of your beat and and aerial one showing the boundaries. These new maps are not as good as the old ones
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