Drone Stalking - A Modern Option?

[London Jaeger]

I think it comes down to two questions -

Is it legal - Yes

Is it ethical - slightly more complicated as this is subjective. If you truly believe using a drone is in the spirit of fair chase, adds to the experience of the hunt in a positive way and is a tactic you would proudly tell people you employ and can defend that position, then it is a yes for you.

It would not be something I would ever want to see or use whilst hunting, but until there is a law on the matter that is just a personal preference. Each to their own.

 

[Stalker62]

If it's safe to shoot and in season. It gets shot.

I'd have shot all ten but two were mature bucks.

Forgive me for pressing the point.
Are you employed to protect crops?

 

[User00025]

I don't get your point.

I said when I go out I want to shoot as many as possible, as easily as possible. Not sure what's wrong with that? "as many as possible" isn't a definite number. neither is "some"

If I only see one I'm only going to shoot one. If I see more. I'll shoot more. A few days ago I shot eight roe does and kids out of a group of ten stood in a field of rape.

I butchered three for myself, gave two away staked one out for fox bait and the other two are dog food.

I'm out again in the morning. I'll shoot as many as possible again. or some. whatever.

You Sir are a Phillistine, fox bait and dog food. The best of meat rubbished. Find a couple of pensioners and cut it up for them.

 

[StephenToast]

You Sir are a Phillistine, fox bait and dog food. The best of meat rubbished. Find a couple of pensioners and cut it up for them.

Forgive me for pressing the point.
Are you employed to protect crops?

I own the crops.

I also shoot on a neighbouring farm for a friend.

Not sure how feeding them to my dog makes me a phillestine...

Would you prefer I bought this?

Wild Venison with Superfoods

Tender cuts of wild venison with a tasty blend of superfood and wholesome fruits and vegetables. Complete and nutritionally balanced. Single protein. Grain free. Individual Pack Size 400g. Suitable for adult dogs and puppies over 20 weeks of age.

www.naturesmenu.co.uk

Where do you think the venison for that came from?

Did you actually read my post. I gave two carcasses away.

The one I staked out was a small kid that I had shot quartering and burst the rumen. I took the saddles off and the rest was fox bait.

Had another roe doe this morning and three muntjac.

They will most likely all go to friends.

 

[Stalker62]

I own the crops.

Well that may go some way to explaining your post.
Is it the case then that you are not interested in "managing" the deer but merely see them as a pest to be eradicated?

The question is not meant to be inflammatory, so please do not take it as such. I am just trying to understand your circumstances.

 

[User00025]

I own the crops.

I also shoot on a neighbouring farm for a friend.

Not sure how feeding them to my dog makes me a phillestine...

Would you prefer I bought this?

Wild Venison with Superfoods

Tender cuts of wild venison with a tasty blend of superfood and wholesome fruits and vegetables. Complete and nutritionally balanced. Single protein. Grain free. Individual Pack Size 400g. Suitable for adult dogs and puppies over 20 weeks of age.

www.naturesmenu.co.uk

Where do you think the venison for that came from?

Did you actually read my post. I gave two carcasses away.

The one I staked out was a small kid that I had shot quartering and burst the rumen. I took the saddles off and the rest was fox bait.

Had another roe doe this morning and three muntjac.

They will most likely all go to friends.

Probably NZ venison. As I said there are plenty of old folk who cannot afford meat. End of story.

 

[StephenToast]

Probably NZ venison. As I said there are plenty of old folk who cannot afford meat. End of story.

Nope. Supplied by Ben Rigby. Carcasses minced whole.

Are you suggesting it is better to fly my dog food half way around the world?

 

[StephenToast]

Well that may go some way to explaining your post.
Is it the case then that you are not interested in "managing" the deer but merely see them as a pest to be eradicated?

The question is not meant to be inflammatory, so please do not take it as such. I am just trying to understand your circumstances.

Near enough.

Would you let 10 deer eat your crops day in day out?

I'm not sure what I expected from this site really but not to be criticised for shooting deer.

 

[User00025]

Near enough.

Would you let 10 deer eat your crops day in day out?

I'm not sure what I expected from this site really but not to be criticised for shooting deer.

Agreed but perhaps your uses of some of it (without initial explanation) may allocate more ammunition to opponents of our activities.

 

[Foxyboy43]

ST
Many SD members have very high regard for our deer population so if you will forgive me I think in fairness your initial post was difficult reading for some of us on this site whom, as only your much later post explained, are not in your particular position.This may have been exacerbated by the later reported “eight out of ten in a field” post which I suspect created a rather poor image but again before your full circumstances were known. The emerging picture for me and obviously other readers was not helped by the “feeding the dogs” response - hence I suspect the responses posted. Of course no-one would want the sustained crop damage that you were suffering so shooting was one of a number of options. I hope that by this response you can see this exchange in a better light rather than “criticism”.
Regards

 

[Stalker62]

Near enough.

Would you let 10 deer eat your crops day in day out?

I'm not sure what I expected from this site really but not to be criticised for shooting deer.

OK fella. Take a breath.

The site is the Stalking Directory - there is the clue.

You are new to the site (nothing wrong in that) and you post (without any explanation) that you shot eight deer in one day. I posed a question because I wanted to understand in what circumstances that would occur. I did not criticise you at all.

If you have taken offence at the posing of such a question then good luck with the rest of your posts.

 

[StephenToast]

OK fella. Take a breath.

The site is the Stalking Directory - there is the clue.

You are new to the site (nothing wrong in that) and you post (without any explanation) that you shot eight deer in one day. I posed a question because I wanted to understand in what circumstances that would occur. I did not criticise you at all.

If you have taken offence at the posing of such a question then good luck with the rest of your posts.

I have no trouble with your questions and no offence was taken.

the stalking directory? I was under the impression that deer stalkers shot deer?

Being called a philistine by thefourthhorseman was unnecessary. Unless his dogs are on a strictly vegan diet I'm not sure why he thinks he can criticise me for feeding meat to my carnivorous pets.

Going back to the original post. As I said before. I couldn't be bothered to faff about with a drone but I wouldn't judge someone negatively if they chose to.

Similarly I don't have a thermal imager. I can't justify the spend when 99% of my deer are shot in big open fields. Doesn't mean I begrudge someone else using it to make their life easier.

If I thought it would make £2000 worth of difference to my ability to shoot more deer I might consider it mind you.

 

[Stalker62]

I have no trouble with your questions and no offence was taken.

the stalking directory? I was under the impression that deer stalkers shot deer?

Being called a philistine by thefourthhorseman was unnecessary.

I am pleased that no offence was taken - none was intended.

I would not dream of speaking for others, so will confine myself to my thoughts. I am a recreational Stalker and I stalk for the love of the deer, love of the countryside and the utter joy of being out in nature. Each year my syndicate produces a cull plan (gone to Hell this year) for the farms and land we manage. There appears to be the difference, we try and manage the deer population in harmony with the need to protect crops and woods. We do not operate an "eradication" policy.

There is I think, a world of difference between seeing deer as "pests or vermin" and acknowledging their right to co-exist in balance.

For what it is worth, I regularly help out on a Fallow cull, so I am not adverse to culling significant numbers when the need is there: but it is again about managing and not eradicating.

A final thought, notwithstanding my earlier comment about not speaking for others.

TFH (for example) is more than capable of speaking for himself.

However, generally speaking, most posts are liberally sprinkled with healthy doses of humour and I would not be too quick to see the worst in those that do so.

 

[User00025]

In answer to your question, no my dogs weren't vegan and did have spoilt meat from carcases and the tripes. Your initial post was not terribly well worded and I only wonder that there were not more comments. Yes stalkers shoot deer, and therefore are members of this site, and yes we all have culls to do. This year as last has not been good and on our estate we have too many at present which we may not be able to come to terms with this season. However we are rather particular about not, (for want of a better word) "gut" shooting as all our deer enter the human food chain.
I would respectfully suggest that you choose not to tell people how many you drop out of a group in future as it does really promote comment and information to the ungodly on an open forum.

 

[Foxyboy43]

I have no trouble with your questions and no offence was taken.

the stalking directory? I was under the impression that deer stalkers shot deer?

Being called a philistine by thefourthhorseman was unnecessary. Unless his dogs are on a strictly vegan diet I'm not sure why he thinks he can criticise me for feeding meat to my carnivorous pets.

Going back to the original post. As I said before. I couldn't be bothered to faff about with a drone but I wouldn't judge someone negatively if they chose to.

Similarly I don't have a thermal imager. I can't justify the spend when 99% of my deer are shot in big open fields. Doesn't mean I begrudge someone else using it to make their life easier.

If I thought it would make £2000 worth of difference to my ability to shoot more deer I might consider it mind you.

Just noticed that you only recently joined this eclectic bunch - bit of a baptism of fire! Welcome to the site from NI - you will find, as indeed have I, that “views” are given freely, sometimes in ways that at best could lead to offence or at worst electronic fisticuffs! I do hope you enjoy it - my electronic black eyes and busted nose aside, I certainly do!

 

[bogtrotter]

Near enough.

Would you let 10 deer eat your crops day in day out?

I'm not sure what I expected from this site really but not to be criticised for shooting deer.

That depends on the crops and the species of deer if its mainly roe as it seemed to be from your post then the damage
to cereal crops is negligible , fruit bushes yes, suger beet yes oil seed rape a little when young trees most definatly and a
few other things but cereals no! Roe are browsers not grazers while you no doubt see them among cereals have a look
for the damage you won't see it they may have a nibble here and there when they first appear through the soil they may
even have a nibble at the grains of wheat or oats when ripe prior to harvesting they don't like barley much!
In either case the damage is negligible Roe like variety they tend not to eat much of any one thing what they do like is the
various weeds that grow between the rows in cereals, now Reds in cereals is a whole different ball game but then it's more what they trample than what they eat.

 

[bogtrotter]

Many will take offence at Steven Toast's post but agree with him or not if it's his own ground he can do as he wishes
providing it is legal.
As a Pro stalker I have had a foot in both camps mostly guiding clients , where the objective was to manage the deer
keeping the population to a managable level while harvesting the surplus.
I have also been involved in eradicating deer from forestry blocks where every deer must be shot or as many as is humanly possible in these cases there have been times when a great many deer have been culledp
I much prefer the former where the objective is management, the latter is definitely not stalking but a job of work
Necessary work yesl and one I won't shirk from when it needs to be done but unlike the former its not one I can take
any great pleasure in.

 

[rem284]

Near enough.

Would you let 10 deer eat your crops day in day out?

I'm not sure what I expected from this site really but not to be criticised for shooting deer.

I shoot foxes when farmers are getting trouble with them. Some people in the village dont like the fact. The farmer said it would be different if someone was taking money out of their bank every night

 

[Tim.243]

Near enough.

Would you let 10 deer eat your crops day in day out?

I'm not sure what I expected from this site really but not to be criticised for shooting deer.

I am with you on this one, there is nothing in the site joining rule to explain your circumstances to shooting deer.

Get a farmers defence post up and running....

Tim.243

 

[User00025]

As a Pro stalker I have had a foot in both camps mostly guiding clients , where the objective was to manage the deer
keeping the population to a managable level while harvesting the surplus.
I have also been involved in eradicating deer from forestry blocks where every deer must be shot or as many as is humanly possible in these cases there have been times when a great many deer have been culledp
I much prefer the former where the objective is management, the latter is definitely not stalking but a job of work
Necessary work yesl and one I won't shirk from when it needs to be done but unlike the former its not one I can take
any great pleasure in.

We all who have been pro stalkers have had to do these things Boggy, and I'm sorry if I have caused the chap offence by calling him a Phillistine (quite mild really). I just don't think it's the right thing to spout off about in that way (8 out of 10) on an open forum.