taloac
New Member
So... the long awaited update.
For Christmas my wife purchased for me through a charity auction a stalk down in Oxfordshire, which I went on a couple of months back.
Was with a chap who was very knowledgeable and I think quite keen for me to enjoy myself, he was a professional stalker and did contracts etc. He knew a lot about what we were doing and was very happy to answer any of my questions.
We started off with a target set up to get used to the rifle, shooting first a .22 and then, I think it was Blaser, can't remember the calibre but the whole trigger unit dropped out which was pretty interesting. Shot from prone and using sticks from I think around 75m. He was happy with my shooting and would therefore allow me to take a shot if one arose.
As the evening went we began our stalk. The land was probably ~200 Acres of arable farm with some forested areas, and it was quite obvious from the start there were a lot of deer. Stalking through the first fields we spotted some on the far hedge, too far for me to feel comfortable taking a shot, but as we were looking a roe buck strode out maybe 10 meters in front of us and stopped and stared and inevitably spooked despite our best statue impressions. This was to be repeated 3 more times through the course of the evening, where what felt like that same roe buck would walk out very near to us and disappear again.
Guide had remarked it was a bit like snooker, spooking deer around the fields spooking other ones. We saw Roe, Muntjac and Fallow but ultimately we never had a good chance and eventually light faded and we had to call it there. My guide was a bit frustrated by this since there were so many deer around, and invited me another day in the winter. (2 days for the price of 1!)
I did really enjoy the time though, I could certainly see myself getting into this. I think I will wait and see for part 2 and hopefully my guide can provide a bit of guidance on what I could do for next steps if I wanted to get into it. I expect it would be DSC1 and probably FAC, but the kicker I think will be getting permissions.
Tom.
For Christmas my wife purchased for me through a charity auction a stalk down in Oxfordshire, which I went on a couple of months back.
Was with a chap who was very knowledgeable and I think quite keen for me to enjoy myself, he was a professional stalker and did contracts etc. He knew a lot about what we were doing and was very happy to answer any of my questions.
We started off with a target set up to get used to the rifle, shooting first a .22 and then, I think it was Blaser, can't remember the calibre but the whole trigger unit dropped out which was pretty interesting. Shot from prone and using sticks from I think around 75m. He was happy with my shooting and would therefore allow me to take a shot if one arose.
As the evening went we began our stalk. The land was probably ~200 Acres of arable farm with some forested areas, and it was quite obvious from the start there were a lot of deer. Stalking through the first fields we spotted some on the far hedge, too far for me to feel comfortable taking a shot, but as we were looking a roe buck strode out maybe 10 meters in front of us and stopped and stared and inevitably spooked despite our best statue impressions. This was to be repeated 3 more times through the course of the evening, where what felt like that same roe buck would walk out very near to us and disappear again.
Guide had remarked it was a bit like snooker, spooking deer around the fields spooking other ones. We saw Roe, Muntjac and Fallow but ultimately we never had a good chance and eventually light faded and we had to call it there. My guide was a bit frustrated by this since there were so many deer around, and invited me another day in the winter. (2 days for the price of 1!)
I did really enjoy the time though, I could certainly see myself getting into this. I think I will wait and see for part 2 and hopefully my guide can provide a bit of guidance on what I could do for next steps if I wanted to get into it. I expect it would be DSC1 and probably FAC, but the kicker I think will be getting permissions.
Tom.
sold all my Spaniels as i was no longer outdoors so much... 
upon applying for my FAC ive looked and looked. then eventually bit the bullet and contacted a guy who offered me an "introduction to deer stalking" course which brushes on everything.. consequently ive booked my DSC1 for the same time il be there and also an extra stalk on top. (if you want any info on this give me a message) not quite sure on the advertising rights 
i had to buy some gear...... 
