Dilemma - should I call it a day and pack up

[Dunwaters]

For me Stalking must be enjoyable and i get far more from a tough stalk than i do from an easy shot at a half tame deer . The place , the crack etc is the best part

This is what everyone says, but when it comes right down to essentials very few people are happy to part with their cash after an unsuccessful hunt.
Most people willing to spend their time and money travelling to experience a hunt have an idea in their mind of what they expect, all of them expect to succeed.
Managing those expectations, assessing skills and fitness levels and tailoring the experience to match is the most difficult part of any guides job.
A big spoonful of luck is always most welcome.

 

[Crowstalker]

As some others have said if your uneasy woth what is being asked of you maybe just keep your hand in paid stalks as and when you need to fill the freezer. You can also take up target shooting woth the rifle for some enjoyment and no killing at all.

 

[bottletopbill]

Don't rush and regret it. look at all option's

 

[Bowland blades]

This is what everyone says, but when it comes right down to essentials very few people are happy to part with their cash after an unsuccessful hunt.
Most people willing to spend their time and money travelling to experience a hunt have an idea in their mind of what they expect, all of them expect to succeed.
Managing those expectations, assessing skills and fitness levels and tailoring the experience to match is the most difficult part of any guides job.
A big spoonful of luck is always most welcome.

I always say to those new to the sport , see no slots , see no deer (arse end running off in the distance is still seeing a deer ) on the actual land your on certainly dont go again . There are certainly stalkers who take folks out on what they know is going to be a blank and there are also clients who cannot shut up gabbing etc , so it cuts both ways and the end is the empty ground stalking guides.

 

[Bowland blades]

This is what everyone says, but when it comes right down to essentials very few people are happy to part with their cash after an unsuccessful hunt.
Most people willing to spend their time and money travelling to experience a hunt have an idea in their mind of what they expect, all of them expect to succeed.
Managing those expectations, assessing skills and fitness levels and tailoring the experience to match is the most difficult part of any guides job.
A big spoonful of luck is always most welcome.

of course , Some guides sometimes over sell and sometimes clients underperform. both can blame the other one but see no deer at any distance on the land available and see no sign of deer the client would need to think very carefully if he ever returned.
The vast majority though are cool on both sides

 

[Overlay]

I have stopped wildfowling because my old club went a bit bananas and screwed up the rule book that was a major reason why the club is still here after 100 years plus, changing many a members attitude to what the game was all about . I simply dont go with commercial guys when stalking , there must be a few good ones but it is just have yet to meet or go out with one that I really liked to hunt with ( partly its pressure to produce that extrudes from them i am sure ) and then others have built big reputations for talking folks on armed walks - the exact opposite. For me Stalking must be enjoyable and i get far more from a tough stalk than i do from an easy shot at a half tame deer . The place , the crack etc is the best part

Hi BB

Earlier I said something on thread re stalking preferences, there is a bucket load of confusion regarding stalking

Leisure stalking pay as you go. Your time your pace your dollar and you find you are with decent outfitter who does the job

Your own permission do what you like when you like to maintain the status quo’s

Shared stalking / share the cost Work together have a good experience with a good pal

Syndicate. The fluffy bit
May get your type of shooting as you want it low numbers, high numbers good blokes in it. ? Venison sales
May be restrictions on say just high seats, greedy members taking the **** etc. ? Venison sales
Half decent members shitty lease leader or owner. **** under pressure stalking. ? Venison sales
**** lease **** leader **** cull days, high pricing low venison no goes homer. No syndicate venison sales
High ongoing price suffocated stalking, secret society on numbers shot no syndicate venison. Just the occasional goes homer

Any of the above can very easily do turn into a shambles for individual stalkers, cost money, frustration moves in and to top it all you get a good bag then you either leave it on the estate, goeshomer ? And or it’s Gamedealer time if you’ve done the job decently and of course if he wants it and pays the price you think you deserve

No wonder there are always whinges on price, amount of shooting, venison availability and yep venison GHD PURCHASE

All of this could be minimal if everyone took more time in choosing decent stalkers and syndicate, the lease, confirmed venison sales chillers standards etc
It isn’t commercial but some people get in a topsy turvy big time, or give up or couldn’t care a monkeys as long as they get their monies worth

With the inevitable rise in deer population, **** poor performance from stalkers it’s no wonder the commercial shooters will pick up more work and they get it right

We have some very good credible outfitters out there as well


Commercial or organised cull days Some ingoing cost sometimes - money making. All organised the difference

 

[Bowland blades]

There’s a time and a place for culling and stalking a deer , both seperate things totally.
Stalking and even missing out on the deer is better in my book.
It’s about the company,the chat,a bit of grub somewhere , ripping someone for mucking up etc.

Hi BB

Earlier I said something on thread re stalking preferences, there is a bucket load of confusion regarding stalking

Leisure stalking pay as you go. Your time your pace your dollar and you find you are with decent outfitter who does the job

Your own permission do what you like when you like to maintain the status quo’s

Shared stalking / share the cost Work together have a good experience with a good pal

Syndicate. The fluffy bit
May get your type of shooting as you want it low numbers, high numbers good blokes in it. ? Venison sales
May be restrictions on say just high seats, greedy members taking the **** etc. ? Venison sales
Half decent members shitty lease leader or owner. **** under pressure stalking. ? Venison sales
**** lease **** leader **** cull days, high pricing low venison no goes homer. No syndicate venison sales
High ongoing price suffocated stalking, secret society on numbers shot no syndicate venison. Just the occasional goes homer

Any of the above can very easily do turn into a shambles for individual stalkers, cost money, frustration moves in and to top it all you get a good bag then you either leave it on the estate, goeshomer ? And or it’s Gamedealer time if you’ve done the job decently and of course if he wants it and pays the price you think you deserve

No wonder there are always whinges on price, amount of shooting, venison availability and yep venison GHD PURCHASE

All of this could be minimal if everyone took more time in choosing decent stalkers and syndicate, the lease, confirmed venison sales chillers standards etc
It isn’t commercial but some people get in a topsy turvy big time, or give up or couldn’t care a monkeys as long as they get their monies worth

With the inevitable rise in deer population, **** poor performance from stalkers it’s no wonder the commercial shooters will pick up more work and they get it right

We have some very good credible outfitters out there as well


Commercial or organised cull days Some ingoing cost sometimes - money making. All organised the difference

Its an all and various thing that flips one side to the other a true balancing act

 

[bottletopbill]

Been stalking twice and as overlay quoted there are good and bad stalker's.

Yes as I always state deer are wild and roam free but be careful who you go out with.

 

[Dunwaters]

I always say to those new to the sport , see no slots , see no deer (arse end running off in the distance is still seeing a deer ) on the actual land your on certainly dont go again . There are certainly stalkers who take folks out on what they know is going to be a blank and there are also clients who cannot shut up gabbing etc , so it cuts both ways and the end is the empty ground stalking guides.

of course , Some guides sometimes over sell and sometimes clients underperform. both can blame the other one but see no deer at any distance on the land available and see no sign of deer the client would need to think very carefully if he ever returned.
The vast majority though are cool on both sides

I couldn’t agree more, there’s good and bad everywhere once money enters the equation.
Bad guides are always found out sooner or later, bad clients get a lot more leeway because they are the ones paying.
As a guest you have expectations which may or may not be reasonable, it’s a guides job to sus out what you want and tailor your experience to match expectations as far as practicable.
Having done it a few times I find that most people handle success with aplomb.
Dealing with failure is the real test of character.

 

[75]

I simply dont go with commercial guys when stalking , there must be a few good ones but it is just have yet to meet or go out with one that I really liked to hunt with

There might be a common denominator here? I've generally found guides to be decent people with only the very odd exception. A key part of what makes them good at what they do (and allows them to build up good reputations) is a personable character and being easy to spend time with. I don't do much paid stalking but I've met a couple of "commercial guys" along the way who I would consider as friends now.

 

[Andrewslater]

I really don’t get this syndicates being asked to pay good money and then being given unrealistic targets to achieve. If the landowner wants the deer gone he should pay for contractors.

If the landowner wants an income from stalking, he can either employ his own stalkers to manage the deer and to take out fee paying clients, or he let a syndicate take the stalking for a fee and let them manage it for deer stalking purposes.

Its not very long ago when Scottish estates were valued on the basis of no of good Stags, braces of grouse, no of Salmon and trout etc they produced on a yearly basis.

Now they are valued on the basis of Carbon credits or some other mythical trading value.

He didn't say if the target was realistic or not, just that the fact running to a target didn't sit well with him.

If you have paid for the year why not just run with what you wants to do and if you cannot/don't want to make your quota , or the others cant make up for you, then i doubt he would be renewing anyways?

 

[Bowland blades]

There might be a common denominator here? I've generally found guides to be decent people with only the very odd exception. A key part of what makes them good at what they do (and allows them to build up good reputations) is a personable character and being easy to spend time with. I don't do much paid stalking but I've met a couple of "commercial guys" along the way who I would consider as friends now.

I have only paid for one stalk in very near to 20 years and that was CWD to complete the set , the guy wasn't a guide he just acted as one on the estate . Basically he new the boundaries and the lay of the land for where they hang out .
There are good and bad in all professions been some real sketchy guides and likewise clients , statistically it should be equal .

 

[Nickb]

Interesting that their is no input from the OP ?

 

[VSS]

Interesting that their is no input from the OP ?

Packed up, I expect.

 

[bottletopbill]

Guess I can be called sketchy as done one stalk with a top guy and a great mentor learnt so much and my second stalk with a different guy was a stand up and wait for deer to come hide behind that tree and told by home owner who lives on the land no deer been seen in months.


But we have to try and learn from our experiences

 

[Kersnow]

Interesting that their is no input from the OP ?

Many apologies, though had replied yesterday but cant see the post.

Thanks every one for your advice, comments and input which have been very useful and given me plenty to think about.

There is a lot for me to mull over the in next couple of weeks or so and everyone's input will help me make a considered decision that I am happy with.

 

[Devon Stalker]

Am relatively new to stalking. I have done my DCS1 a couple of years ago and finally got a rifle last year after long Covid related delays.

Have been doing 4 or 5 paid stalks a year with mixed success but that's the way it goes and was quite happy with this.

This season I packed up shooting reared game as it no longer sits comfortably with me and thought I would be fine with a bit of stalking and wildfowling where you take a surplus from a stable/sustainable wild population.

I recently joined a stalking syndicate where we have been given an expectation of how many deer we are expected to shoot in a year and don't feel comfortable with this to the point where am debating whether or not to pack up all live shooting and stick to clays.

Have paid my fees for the year but cant see me enjoying the stalking much so not sure if I should just call it a day now.

I think it comes down to a management plan and whether it’s a sustainable one. Perhaps if you asked to see it, it might give you some reassurance of the need to cull due to, for example, excessive timber damage.

 

[starr shot]

Am relatively new to stalking. I have done my DCS1 a couple of years ago and finally got a rifle last year after long Covid related delays.

Have been doing 4 or 5 paid stalks a year with mixed success but that's the way it goes and was quite happy with this.

This season I packed up shooting reared game as it no longer sits comfortably with me and thought I would be fine with a bit of stalking and wildfowling where you take a surplus from a stable/sustainable wild population.

I recently joined a stalking syndicate where we have been given an expectation of how many deer we are expected to shoot in a year and don't feel comfortable with this to the point where am debating whether or not to pack up all live shooting and stick to clays.

Have paid my fees for the year but cant see me enjoying the stalking much so not sure if I should just call it a day now.

So you’ve paid your fees much the same as paid stalking and can now go stalking as and when you want,Who’s to say you are actually going to shoot any deer there’s more to stalking than actually pulling the trigger.Just go out and see how you enjoy being on the ground,If you still don’t enjoy it yes it is time to give up.

 

[south-nofolk-stalker]

I think it comes down to a management plan and whether it’s a sustainable one. Perhaps if you asked to see it, it might give you some reassurance of the need to cull due to, for example, excessive timber damage.

Horlicks to the management Plan, the guy is PAYING for the privilege to be on the ground and shoot deer.

If the land owner was paying or the stalking was free THEN you have to pull your finger out and get on with it , but Paying to work lugging reds about, NAH JOG on that’s what I say!

 

[starr shot]

Horlicks to the management Plan, the guy is PAYING for the privilege to be on the ground and shoot deer.

If the land owner was paying or the stalking was free THEN you have to pull your finger out and get on with it , but Paying to work lugging reds about, NAH JOG on that’s what I say!

My thoughts as well he’s paying for the privilege of carrying out somebody else’s cull plan.