First day.

Harris HillBilly

Active Member
Hi all.
Took sundogs advice and spoke to a local estates, regarding a day on the hill.
Turned up at the estate at the advised time in the Morning, and the head stalker introduced himself to me.
I did notice he looked me up and down, and I can only imagine it was due to the cloths I was wearing.
Jeans, dark blue Goretex jacked and wellies.
I did explain to him I didn’t want to purchase stalking clothing until I was certain it was for me.
I said that we would first need to check my shooting ability on the estate range, and asked if I had my own rifle.
I produced my Howa 308 with a T8 mod and a cheap scope, it had no makers markings on it.
All he said was hmmm, ok let’s go.
I felt, he felt this is going to be some day...
Went to the range and I think it all went fine, as the only response I got was again” hmmm ok, let’s go”
He allowed me to keep my target, and he said the distance was 100 Mtrs
I take it was ok, I did ask him, if he wanted me to try again and put it into the black 2” circle.
He just said it was ok.
Anyway it was a good day, as i got my very first 6 point stag.
I will be carrying on, and getting myself decent gear, like a good jacket, trousers and boots.
It was freezing on the hill yesterday.
I had a good professional stalker as a guide, I did notice at one point, he had lost his sense of direction, and couldn’t find where the deer where.
I had seen them and was watching them as he was walking in the opposite direction.
He noticed that I was sitting down, and he came back to me and asked why I was sitting down for.
I told him I was watching the deer, and all he ask me where are they were..
I pointed them out to him, and he said **** I thought they were further on..
Mind you they took off like they were in a 100 Mtr sprint.
I think he was a little embarrassed, but I suppose that stalking for you.
Even the so called experts get it wrong at times..
But a great first day, and can’t wait for my next outing next week.
 

Attachments

  • 782B8AF7-054D-4601-AE2F-F5966C21A36A.webp
    782B8AF7-054D-4601-AE2F-F5966C21A36A.webp
    90.2 KB · Views: 163
That’s a nice group shame it’s a bit to the right of center we all start somewhere mate clad you enjoyed the experience nowt wrong with your kit just spend the extra money on quality clothing pays in the long run SS
 
I find stalkers, men of few words..
I think I’d spend some money on decent clothing, as it was freezing out there..
He made no comment on the shooting, apart from it’s ok.
I had five shots, and as you can see they all went into that one spot, not one hit the black centre circle.
I have just got the rifle, a mate gave it to me.
DSC1 next stop..
Thanks Supersport
 
I find stalkers, men of few words..
I think I’d spend some money on decent clothing, as it was freezing out there..
He made no comment on the shooting, apart from it’s ok.
I had five shots, and as you can see they all went into that one spot, not one hit the black centre circle.
I have just got the rifle, a mate gave it to me.
DSC1 next stop..
Thanks Supersport
Good luck with DSC1 most pro stalker/ guides could write a book on horror stores about clients ld suggest you fined a stalker that you feel relaxed with and he with you you might even form a friendship people are very were these days about taking out guests stalking unfortunate it’s become a dog eat dog world at least you had a positive experience. SS
 
harris good day and long may hey continue. depending on click value looks like you want to go 2 inches to left 10mm clicks would be 5 left mate
 
Sounds like a great day out. Nice group as well. I think I would have wanted to have adjusted the scope and shot another group. I suppose on a red deer its not so critical as on a smaller deer like a muntjac or a roe.
 
Sounds like a great day out. Nice group as well. I think I would have wanted to have adjusted the scope and shot another group. I suppose on a red deer its not so critical as on a smaller deer like a muntjac or a roe.

Hi SY247

I actually thought the same thing, but I didn’t want to question the expert stalker I was with..
Many year of knowledge in the field, and a lot younger than me..
I’m learning my way, and looking forward to next week.
Thank you.
 
harris good day and long may hey continue. depending on click value looks like you want to go 2 inches to left 10mm clicks would be 5 left mate

Thanks for that advice Tom.
Will ask him next week, if I can do that on the estate range..
Just learning the way.
Thanks again Tom.
 
Hi dartmoordog.
It’s actually just over 1/2” for 5 shots.
The measurements between the lines is 1/4”.
I’m going to ask the Stalker next week if I can try and get In centred.
Will need to ask for some coaching, on how to sort it all out next week.
Thank you for your support.
Still learning, only shot air rifles before this.
 

That thought had half crossed my mind.

Whilst an admirable "5 shot" grouping is shown in the original post, there seem to be an awful lot of lead marks (not what I would expect to see with expanding jacketed ammunition) evidenced around awfully small holes for a .308Win on a card that has 0.25" line spacing.

If you had told me that the card had been shot with .22LR, or an air-rifle, then I may be more inclined to believe it. Particularly given that, going by the 0.25" line separation already stated, the lead markings would indicate a bullet diameter of somewhere in the region of 0.22"....
 
That thought had half crossed my mind.

Whilst an admirable "5 shot" grouping is shown in the original post, there seem to be an awful lot of lead marks (not what I would expect to see with expanding jacketed ammunition) evidenced around awfully small holes for a .308Win on a card that has 0.25" line spacing.

If you had told me that the card had been shot with .22LR, or an air-rifle, then I may be more inclined to believe it. Particularly given that, going by the 0.25" line separation already stated, the lead markings would indicate a bullet diameter of somewhere in the region of 0.22"....

Hi Island.
How do I respond to that?
You seem to have made a case for disbelieving my grouping, and account.
I don’t think that it deserves a response.
You believe you what you wish, but thats the target I was handed.
I can tell you what I used, which was as mentioned.
Forensic analysis, conclusions is air rifles..
What a lot of tosh..
 
Glad you enjoyed.
Do you have a picture of you and your first stag to share with us?

Hi James0586
It’s something I had not thought of doing..
I was so grateful for the opportunity, I was told that discretions was the norm.
Who I’m I to question it, being new to all this.
Why would anyone want to put there activities out there, I don’t need my ego boosted.
I came on here, because I was told people on here were a helpful in sharing experiences, and a good way to get information.
If I’m going to continue, which I fully intend doing it will be with discretions and stealth.
To be honest, taking a photos was the last thing on my mind.
I didn’t think it was the done thing, and the stalker didn’t mention it.
Plus, I think it’s quite distasteful to take photos of myself and dead stag or hind.
I think that is something that people do to make them feel more macho, that’s not me I’m afraid..
 
Last edited:
Well done and good group. Surprised the guide didn't suggest re zero as it wouldn't have taken long. He sounds like a miserable sod. Find someone else next time. You won't learn a lot if he doesn't explain things to you. There are lots of good guides out there.
 
Well done and good group. Surprised the guide didn't suggest re zero as it wouldn't have taken long. He sounds like a miserable sod. Find someone else next time. You won't learn a lot if he doesn't explain things to you. There are lots of good guides out there.

Hi Kieran222

We are very limited in opportunities on the Eilean Siar.
I’m just grateful that I’m getting the opportunity.
I will ask him next week.
Maybe, after I have been a few times he might open up and be more informative.
He is a little grumpy and a man of few words.
Thanks.
 
Back
Top