BASC podcast - night shooting - episode 63

[Norfolk Deer Search]

And through the use of wildlife cameras I would know what time I would need to be in place. Night licences cover all night.

Deer stalking isn’t rigid you know, you have to adapt to season, habit, weather, enforced movement etc…..

What would your solution be?

Do you not think that I’ve been there and done , that in the past and that’s why I have said what I have said?

You are just doing things or plan to do things that I did 10 years ago, I’ve even fed them in to the point where they were eating nearly 1/2T of wheat and beans a week to try and get them!

And guess what? There is many red deer there now as there ever has been.

The herd species are far from stupid that I will assure you, I’ve fed them and watched cameras sat and watched night and Day trying to figure them out and as soon as you put pressure on them at a certain time a day or you are there 24 hours a day they will just figure you out and be there when you are not there. They are far from stupid like I said.

Unless you have neighbours that are going to shoot them as hard as what you plan to you are just facing the wrong way in a force nine gale

 

[Mickeydredd]

So there’s no solution then is what you’re saying effectively.

In that case I and the farmer would just have to settle for shooting the few in dark you suggest using a night licence…..every little helps.

You do realise you are not the only stalker who has had to solutionise deer population control/reduction, there are some of us on here that know a bit too and have had success in that endeavour.

 

[Conor O'Gorman]

@Conor O'Gorman I haven’t yet listened to the podcast, but I fundamentally disagree that night shooting of deer should be seen as “normal” practice for sustainable deer management.

It’s being thrust upon us by the rewilding authorities that want all deer eliminated from the landscape. That’s not conservation, that’s species eradication.

BASC should be promoting sustainable management, and if particular land management cannot get their deer numbers under control we should be looking at alternatives such as getting more hunters onto the land. Indeed lets use some of the techniques used overseas. Rather than driven pheasant shooting we should start looking at driven deer whereby a large cull can be achieved by a team of guns in one or two days, rather than continuing harassing deer at night and driving them ever deeper into the woods, onto roads or into towns and villages.

Yes it would require training and organisation, but many British stalkers have the skills from shooting abroad, and the skills can be learned and developed. It just needs a change in mindset.

And given deer’s ability to breed naturally and not needing the cost of rearing, releasing, feeding phaesant / partridges etc i would suggest that driven deer would be a lot more affordable to the hunters, whilst at the same time providing a good income for estates from venison and hunting fees.

It’s easy enough to make your hunters very selective in what they shoot - either by instruction or by the wallet or combination of both.

Thanks, I will pass your suggestions onto James in the deer team. To be fair the podcast is about general practicalities of shooting at night, the equipment and hardly touches on deer, it's mostly about fox control. Worth a listen.

 

[Norfolk Deer Search]

So there’s no solution then is what you’re saying effectively.

In that case I and the farmer would just have to settle for shooting the few in dark you suggest using a night licence…..every little helps.

You do realise you are not the only stalker who has had to solutionise deer population control/reduction, there are some of us on here that know a bit too and have had success in that endeavour.

I’m fully aware I’m not the only stalker, but my experience comes from hard graft and if you’re not prepared to listen, carry you on rubs me up nor down!

I gave my red deer ground away. I can’t think of nothing worse, they’re simply not worth the blood sweat and tears

 

[Tim.243]

stop talking like tw@t Tim!

That is tradition and is something that is greatly needed and missed in this country!

Maybe if more people show respect for what they shot instead of just whacking and stacking we would have a better and more understanding network of stalkers in this country!

The tradition of the hunting horns on the continent is enough to put the heads up on the back of your neck, and when you stand on a drive hunt with probably 100 other hunters all part of one network of people to do a job then you realise how small or cog you really are.

Also no matter how big or small the hunt is the Horns are there and played.

Was waiting for you Lee....

Yes whacking & stacking is what we do

 

[Norfolk Deer Search]

Was waiting for you Lee....

Yes whacking & stacking is what we do

But Tim, that doesn’t mean I didn’t show the animals the respect that they required just because you sit there and think it’s stupid maybe you should be brave and go educate yourself instead of being a small minded Essex hick

 

[Klenchblaize]

stop talking like tw@t Tim!

That is tradition and is something that is greatly needed and missed in this country!

Maybe if more people show respect for what they shot instead of just whacking and stacking we would have a better and more understanding network of stalkers in this country!

The tradition of the hunting horns on the continent is enough to put the heads up on the back of your neck, and when you stand on a drive hunt with probably 100 other hunters all part of one network of people to do a job then you realise how small or cog you really are.

Also no matter how big or small the hunt is the Horns are there and played.

Yep, just not enough

owners in this Country.

K

 

[jall55]

Was waiting for you Lee....

Yes whacking & stacking is what we do

 

[Tim.243]

But Tim, that doesn’t mean I didn’t show the animals the respect that they required just because you sit there and think it’s stupid maybe you should be brave and go educate yourself instead of being a small minded Essex hick

Lol Death to the Four Legged Fuzzy Wuzzies was one of your favourite sayings .

I have asked our 3d printer friend to knock you up a hunting horn key ring....

 

[mudman]

Not at all. It is all low ground around the area.

The leaseholder on the Scottish Woodlands land next door could shoot them at last and first light easily but I've only seen a stalker there once in 6 years. The fodder crop is a great lure for the Reds to come into every year and they do so after last light. It's very frustrating for the farmer and syndicate members. A night licence would resolve the issue.

Don’t grow the fodder crop. Sometimes nature wins.

 

[Tim.243]

Yep, just not enough
View attachment 435693
owners in this Country.

K

Just not enough people shooting deer that is the problem 36K of members and only a few own a Stutzen

 

[Mickeydredd]

Don’t grow the fodder crop. Sometimes nature wins.

They will probably still come in to eat his grass, still a crop to the farmer