First Time Stalking - Any Advice?

[Tim.243]

Use ears and mouth in that ratio.
Don’t take the safety off until instructed.
Don’t shoot the wrong deer
If you don’t think the shot is on then don’t take it - better not to shoot than to wound
Always be muzzle aware
Look at what you are treading on - keep off the twigs!
Don’t put any eau de cologne on!
Move smoothly and deliberately.
Breathe when the crosshairs are on it and relax before pulling the trigger (easier than it sounds as I still get the adrenaline buzz when lining up a shot, even after more than a decade of stalking).
Watch the gralloch process carefully and note how it’s done
Offer to carry the beast if you are successful
Buy the coffee /lunch / beers!!
Enjoy yourself!!

Quite simple listen to the briefing, with a list as long as your arm people spend too much time on the list not the job in hand. People love to over egg the pudding.

To the op let us know how you got on please.

 

[Island]

You have two ears and one mouth, they should be used in (at least) that ratio.

Always be lower than your stalker / guide.

Stop when they stop, move when they move (quietly obviously).

Stay close and stay quiet.

Offer to help (with gralloch, dragging etc)

Most imporantly.....be an information sponge and ENJOY yourself.

 

[Bugsy]

Me personally the most important thing is “ mind and go for a no2 before you go “ .

 

[Turnips]

Me personally the most important thing is “ mind and go for a no2 before you go “ .

Strangely enough, this is now the thing I'm most worried about!

Quite simple listen to the briefing, with a list as long as your arm people spend too much time on the list not the job in hand. People love to over egg the pudding.

To the op let us know how you got on please.

I certainly will keep you posted


Thank you to everyone who has chipped in - there's a lot more responses than I was expecting so I'm not going to reply to them all but I have read them and taken all of your advice on board. Friday is the day, weather depending - so expect an update on Friday night/Saturday morning.

 

[VSS]

Advice I gave my daughter before her first stalk:
If your guide says don't shoot, don't shoot. If your guide says shoot and you don't want to shoot, don't shoot

Advice given by @Freeforester in a short video of him mentoring a young lady on her first stalk:
If I go low, you go lower. If I go through the grass, you go under the grass.

 

[Sol]

Walk behind your friend Is all I can say especially when your moving in towards a deer less visible movement the better, If your going through crop fields again stick behind and follow through the trail he makes.
Less noisy too the deer and less damaging to the crop too.

If he's calling in deer and your able to tuck yourself somewhere whilst having a good view do it, rutting roe can run in within 10-20 seconds and be standing 20 yards away.

 

[Overlay]

When you offer the sweets out make SURE they are in a complete noiseless wrapper

 

[TringSaint]

Quite simple listen to the briefing, with a list as long as your arm people spend too much time on the list not the job in hand. People love to over egg the pudding.

To the op let us know how you got on please.

Not over egging - all pretty common sense in terms of how to get the best out of a stalk.
Fail to prepare = prepare to fail!!

 

[Tim.243]

Not over egging - all pretty common sense in terms of how to get the best out of a stalk.
Fail to prepare = prepare to fail!!

Not seen any results if any of your stalking so yes prepare to fail..

 

[Tim.243]

When you offer the sweets out make SURE they are in a complete noiseless wrapper

Check if the guide has his dentures in Phil...

 

[sh1kar]

It’s stalking not shooting. Don’t assume a beast will be shot. Enjoy the hunt. Pulling the trigger is the easy bit. Oh. And that’s when the work really starts

 

[JH83]

You have two ears and one mouth, they should be used in (at least) that ratio.

Always be lower than your stalker / guide.

Stop when they stop, move when they move (quietly obviously).

Stay close and stay quiet.

Offer to help (with gralloch, dragging etc)

Most imporantly.....be an information sponge and ENJOY yourself.

This

Don’t crowd the stalker, equally don’t be 30 yards behind ‘glassing’ when he is clearly looking to get moving. Just watch what they do and mimic it. No slamming doors, twinging wire, heavy foot stomps.

 

[TringSaint]

Not seen any results if any of your stalking so yes prepare to fail..

Well, I don’t have many blank stalks and often take multiple deer per stalk and have done for plenty of years.

I don’t really feel the need to post every success on here

Enough cock measuring?

 

[Tim.243]

Well, I don’t have many blank stalks and often take multiple deer per stalk and have done for plenty of years.

I don’t really feel the need to post every success on here

Enough cock measuring?

 

[TringSaint]

You can be a bell-end at times.

 

[Overlay]

I've never been deer stalking, but I've been offered the opportunity to go out on Roe Bucks this weekend, weather depending. I'll be with an experienced shot, who is a guide (also a friend), so I should be in good hands.

Is there anything I should know, or any etiquette (been around on game bird shoots to know there are certain things you should or shouldn't do) that I ought to be aware of before I go?

I'll not be shooting, so that's one thing less to worry about. I have done my DSC1, and if I enjoy myself then the chap showing me the ropes has offered to mentor/sponsor me with my firearms with a view to getting a centrefire on my FAC.

I'm really looking forward to it, regardless.

Have a good day turnip - soak it all up and enjoy every minute, its long learning pastime the more you go the more it will grab you, did i mention sweets
Good luck and enjoy,and no you dont need a creedmore - there I've said it

 

[Tim.243]

You can be a bell-end at times.

 

[TringSaint]

Just for you
180m with my 243.
Enjoy

 

[purdeydog]

If your guide misses a deer say ‘You missed that’ in a confused tone. Will go down well.

 

[Graycj]

One bit of advice I appreciated was always be a bit lower than your stalker. If he crouches, crouch a little lower. If he drops to a knee, kneel a little lower. Reduces chances of you being spotted by a deer before him and ****ing off your mate.