Are moderators required or just easy enough to get that many people use them? Here in the USA it is a bit of a process to get one, you are correct there.
Coming soon from Texas...
- Thread starter capt_kurp
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WH308
Well-Known Member
No requirement, but as a lot of uk stalking is done in “relatively” close proximity to civilisation (farm land etc) and in the interest of preserving ones hearing they are pretty common. If you applied for one with your rifle it would be given without question. But they are (oddly) classed as a firearm in uk law, so you have to have one listed on your licence should you want to use one. If you don’t use it that’s your choice, but you can’t buy one without having it on your license. I hope that makes sense.
Moderators are considered in the same way that rifles are for licensing purposes. So you have to have it specified on your certificate and indeed can't own one without a certificate. Having said that, an application for one (for each rifle) will invariably be granted. All you have to do is quote health and safety for your hearing. Partly, it's also because the UK doesn't have the many wide open spaces the USA does (some, not as many), so it's also a good thing to have one to avoid annoying nearby residents. You will find that there are more people that use them than don't. Also, firearms aren't as common as in Texas for sure. Make a bang or two over here in some places and it's not impossible that there'll be someone who thinks there's a serial killer at loose or the EU is invading us for leaving and call the cops, who will come along all tooled up to pass the time of day.
This is a local shop for local people.
Welcome from Essex, good luck with hunting in the UK!
Stalker62
Well-Known Member
spannulman
Well-Known Member
Welcome to you. Some useful advice already on here and you can search a huge resource of knowledge in past threads.
Just to clarify, the ‘ borrowing‘ of an ‘estate rifle’ isn’t strictly borrowing in that you would use the rifle provided but will always be in close contact with the estate stalker or keeper. It isn’t borrowing in the sense that you can take it away with you or keep at home. You may have got that already but wanted to clarify.
in uk a shotgun cert holder may borrow another‘s shotgun for a short period without putting it on their cert but that is not allowed with rifles, even though you have a firearms certificate.
The estate rifle stalking is probably like your guided hunting, except you don’t have a rifle and the guide or stalker will probably carry the estate rifle until you get into position for the shot. At least that’s my experience in highland scotland. It might be different in lowland stalking like norfolk. Others on here will be able to say.
You might enjoy pigeon shooting here too ( from hides using decoys) Usually it is free once you have local contacts but that might be difficult to obtain at first. But there are guides who will take you out and set you up then leave you to it so you get that solo hunting experience and even if you have to pay it is probably the cheapest form of wing shooting you can do here. But you’ll need your own shotgun cert for that. But getting a shotgun cert here is far easier than a rifle. You need only be a fit person and have a need such as the desire to shoot clays.
Just to clarify, the ‘ borrowing‘ of an ‘estate rifle’ isn’t strictly borrowing in that you would use the rifle provided but will always be in close contact with the estate stalker or keeper. It isn’t borrowing in the sense that you can take it away with you or keep at home. You may have got that already but wanted to clarify.
in uk a shotgun cert holder may borrow another‘s shotgun for a short period without putting it on their cert but that is not allowed with rifles, even though you have a firearms certificate.
The estate rifle stalking is probably like your guided hunting, except you don’t have a rifle and the guide or stalker will probably carry the estate rifle until you get into position for the shot. At least that’s my experience in highland scotland. It might be different in lowland stalking like norfolk. Others on here will be able to say.
You might enjoy pigeon shooting here too ( from hides using decoys) Usually it is free once you have local contacts but that might be difficult to obtain at first. But there are guides who will take you out and set you up then leave you to it so you get that solo hunting experience and even if you have to pay it is probably the cheapest form of wing shooting you can do here. But you’ll need your own shotgun cert for that. But getting a shotgun cert here is far easier than a rifle. You need only be a fit person and have a need such as the desire to shoot clays.
Hi from up North in Yorkshire.
You could always look into the visitors permit if it lasts a year and bring with you with a view to then getting your UK certificate. You should be able to get a contact in the local police forces firearm licence team to engage with them early on to discuss for the area you are moving to
Might be worth asking if you can then transfer your rifle on to the UK licence and/or explore the shipping back to US process if not after your visitor permit expires
You could always look into the visitors permit if it lasts a year and bring with you with a view to then getting your UK certificate. You should be able to get a contact in the local police forces firearm licence team to engage with them early on to discuss for the area you are moving to
Might be worth asking if you can then transfer your rifle on to the UK licence and/or explore the shipping back to US process if not after your visitor permit expires
Bavarianbrit
Well-Known Member
If it is the Lakenheath base will they still have a rod and gun club? Or have they been done away with? I am near the Hoenfels training area in Germany and there are a few hunters of the US persuasion around here, I see them on driven days for boar.
Welcome to the UK. My son has just done the reverse and after spending some time In Texas on an internship, he fell in love with the state and a lovely local girl. He moved over, got married and is now living in Austin with access to some Whitetail hunting.
His interest in deer stalking was sparked by a very generous and kind member of this forum who took him out on his first ever stalk which got him hooked.
Covid has put on hold my plans to visit him for a while but Texas is a fantastic place to visit for gun enthusiasts.
His interest in deer stalking was sparked by a very generous and kind member of this forum who took him out on his first ever stalk which got him hooked.
Covid has put on hold my plans to visit him for a while but Texas is a fantastic place to visit for gun enthusiasts.
paul o'
Well-Known Member
Welcome to the SD and welcome to the UK 
. Your find your need to have a sense of humour or even humour bi-pass as its a tad different over here . As an old pal of mine once said when visiting the Alamo . "We have older public toilets in the UK and they have all the windows and doors ? " went down well with the chap dressed as a park attendant he was speaking too by all accounts ! 
. Your find your need to have a sense of humour or even humour bi-pass as its a tad different over here . As an old pal of mine once said when visiting the Alamo . "We have older public toilets in the UK and they have all the windows and doors ? " went down well with the chap dressed as a park attendant he was speaking too by all accounts ! 
Remember the one I told you abt the Arabic stamps in my passport and the US customs guy Paul...Welcome to the SD and welcome to the UK
No you need read it from R to Left lol
LeftHandGuy
Well-Known Member
Welcome to the SD. Hope you have a great time during your posting to the UK.
Some things to consider; there are no hunting licenses in the UK, just open and closed seasons broken down by species and sex. There are consequently no tags either, the only real limits are your budget and your schedule.
If you know what your postal (mailing) address is or will be you can join one of the organizations that support deer stalking and crucially will include insurance coverage. I would look at the British Deer Society, but there are others.
There is no requirement to complete any hunter education, but there are courses available, and completing your DSC1 is one way of easing your FAC application with some police forces. Plus it’s a genuinely useful qualification. When I moved from the UK to PA the Game Commission accepted my DSC as the equivalent of hunters ed’ and it truly is much more comprehensive.
I am sure others will chime in but those are my first thoughts.
Some things to consider; there are no hunting licenses in the UK, just open and closed seasons broken down by species and sex. There are consequently no tags either, the only real limits are your budget and your schedule.
If you know what your postal (mailing) address is or will be you can join one of the organizations that support deer stalking and crucially will include insurance coverage. I would look at the British Deer Society, but there are others.
There is no requirement to complete any hunter education, but there are courses available, and completing your DSC1 is one way of easing your FAC application with some police forces. Plus it’s a genuinely useful qualification. When I moved from the UK to PA the Game Commission accepted my DSC as the equivalent of hunters ed’ and it truly is much more comprehensive.
I am sure others will chime in but those are my first thoughts.
paul o'
Well-Known Member
Sorry I forgot to mention the Gun club across the road ( Eriswell lodge ) near the school . When I was a member we had some first class cookouts with the lads and girls and there kids from the base back in the day ,they may still have a team that use it ? .
Eriswell Lodge
Brandon Road
Eriswell
Brandon
Suffolk
IP27 9FB
Telephone: 01638 534045
Email: info@eriswell-lodge.com
Eriswell Lodge
Brandon Road
Eriswell
Brandon
Suffolk
IP27 9FB
Telephone: 01638 534045
Email: info@eriswell-lodge.com
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