I take more spare cartridges when I go to the hill than I do for woodland stalking. 20 should be adequate and you will need something to carry them in be that spare magazines or a belt slide. Cardboard boxes come to bits when wet and many plastic boxes rattle. I also take two knives, one as a spare and don’t forget your mobile phone.
First trip to Scotland
- Thread starter Edd101
- Start date
MAH
Well-Known Member
If your taking a walking poles, or quad sticks, practice (bolt out) getting into the shooting position before you go. You'll need to do it quickly and quietly.
Try standing, kneeling, sitting., to suit deferment terrain, distance, reaction time.
Do it with a target, so you can judge how steady you position is.
Sounds like your a walker, so you'll know all about layers of clothing.
I pad out my 30 lt sack with bubble wrap.
Then even when it's empty of layers, you can still us it as a rest.
You should send your guide your kit list.
He/she will know the ground and be able to comment better than most.
M.
Try standing, kneeling, sitting., to suit deferment terrain, distance, reaction time.
Do it with a target, so you can judge how steady you position is.
Sounds like your a walker, so you'll know all about layers of clothing.
I pad out my 30 lt sack with bubble wrap.
Then even when it's empty of layers, you can still us it as a rest.
You should send your guide your kit list.
He/she will know the ground and be able to comment better than most.
M.
Heym SR20
Well-Known Member
I would take good boots and gaiters. Gaiters almost more important as they keep rain, snow and the inevitable bog out of your boots.
Also take your wellies.
Clothing. Most important a decent base layer of merino long johns and top. This keeps you warm and wicks away the moisture. And is warm even with the inevitable wet. As others have said a decent waterproof outerlayer. But in February it may well be cold so a down jacket if have is well worth taking in your pack.
Bipod, shooting sticks - very much depends on the ground and personal preferences. Open hill sticks are a waste of time, 95% of shots will be prone. Woodland - complete opposite.
A decent supply of your favourite snacks - It’s a long way from
Anywhere up there.
Also take your wellies.
Clothing. Most important a decent base layer of merino long johns and top. This keeps you warm and wicks away the moisture. And is warm even with the inevitable wet. As others have said a decent waterproof outerlayer. But in February it may well be cold so a down jacket if have is well worth taking in your pack.
Bipod, shooting sticks - very much depends on the ground and personal preferences. Open hill sticks are a waste of time, 95% of shots will be prone. Woodland - complete opposite.
A decent supply of your favourite snacks - It’s a long way from
Anywhere up there.
Echo what @Heym SR20 says about sticks.....if you're on the hill I would leave the quad sticks in the car - if you're in forestry, take the quad sticks!
It might be an idea to speak to the stalker prior to setting off and see if he/she can suggest anything to take with you.
February in Sutherland can be awful at times, but occasional bright days will make up for it! Very short daylight hours as well at this time. Good waterproofs and a map/compass/GPS.
Enjoy and don't forget the tip!
It might be an idea to speak to the stalker prior to setting off and see if he/she can suggest anything to take with you.
February in Sutherland can be awful at times, but occasional bright days will make up for it! Very short daylight hours as well at this time. Good waterproofs and a map/compass/GPS.
Enjoy and don't forget the tip!
Heym SR20
Well-Known Member
A couple of other points.
Take plenty of ammo. Its bugger all use sitting in your cabinet at home. It’s easy enough for a rifle to take a knock and you end using 10 rounds to get in back on zero. If you are culling hinds you may get several shots in the day. Whilst the vast majority go down on first shot, we have all had red deer that have taken three or four shots to go down. They were dead on first shot but no one gave them the message.
Take a couple of boxes - 40 rounds. You will probably shoot five in the week and come home with 35. Most estates have a range and often a good opportunity to have some fun.
If you have two rifles and room in the car - take both, even if other is not totally suitable.
Zero rifle to shoot 4cm high at 100m. This means you don’t have to worry about range and adjustments and have a point and shoot to a bit over 200m. When its sleeting, range finders struggle. Cold fingers struggle on turrets. Just get into the beasts, get down, cross on kill zone, squeeze trigger, beast down.
Fitness - if you can a few days before you go do a couple of long hard walks in your boots. Stalking in the north of Scotland is pretty hard physically, especially if you are well out of shape.
But, stalkers up there have a special type of fitness / stamina that allows them to keep going all day long on a mars bar and a can of iron brew. Don’t even try to compete. Start slowly and start cold - don’t have too much clothing on. But do have a warm layer in your pack. Go at a pace where you can comfortably talk. Especially for the first hour. And hopefully he will be using glass, so that you have to stop and look long and hard. If he is using thermal he will scan quickly and move on - bad luck!!
Whisky - tradition is that a bottle is opened and cork goes in the fire. Again don’t try and compete. You will regret it. You will be out on the hill at 5am. However some don’t let a drop of the heathen brew pass their lips.
Gloves and socks. Have two pairs with you on the hill. Have a light pair for the walk in etc/ climb in, hard going crawling etc. these are the ones you get wet. Then have a warm dry pair in the pack. Put these on when sitting up, waiting and later on when cold and tired. Ditto with socks. A dry pair later on in the day when you are cold wet and miserable makes a huge difference even if your boots are damp.
Take plenty of ammo. Its bugger all use sitting in your cabinet at home. It’s easy enough for a rifle to take a knock and you end using 10 rounds to get in back on zero. If you are culling hinds you may get several shots in the day. Whilst the vast majority go down on first shot, we have all had red deer that have taken three or four shots to go down. They were dead on first shot but no one gave them the message.
Take a couple of boxes - 40 rounds. You will probably shoot five in the week and come home with 35. Most estates have a range and often a good opportunity to have some fun.
If you have two rifles and room in the car - take both, even if other is not totally suitable.
Zero rifle to shoot 4cm high at 100m. This means you don’t have to worry about range and adjustments and have a point and shoot to a bit over 200m. When its sleeting, range finders struggle. Cold fingers struggle on turrets. Just get into the beasts, get down, cross on kill zone, squeeze trigger, beast down.
Fitness - if you can a few days before you go do a couple of long hard walks in your boots. Stalking in the north of Scotland is pretty hard physically, especially if you are well out of shape.
But, stalkers up there have a special type of fitness / stamina that allows them to keep going all day long on a mars bar and a can of iron brew. Don’t even try to compete. Start slowly and start cold - don’t have too much clothing on. But do have a warm layer in your pack. Go at a pace where you can comfortably talk. Especially for the first hour. And hopefully he will be using glass, so that you have to stop and look long and hard. If he is using thermal he will scan quickly and move on - bad luck!!
Whisky - tradition is that a bottle is opened and cork goes in the fire. Again don’t try and compete. You will regret it. You will be out on the hill at 5am. However some don’t let a drop of the heathen brew pass their lips.
Gloves and socks. Have two pairs with you on the hill. Have a light pair for the walk in etc/ climb in, hard going crawling etc. these are the ones you get wet. Then have a warm dry pair in the pack. Put these on when sitting up, waiting and later on when cold and tired. Ditto with socks. A dry pair later on in the day when you are cold wet and miserable makes a huge difference even if your boots are damp.
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Heym SR20
Well-Known Member
Spagnum moss does just as well.
Take twice as much paracetamol/ alka seltzer/lemsip as you think you'll need, in case of hangovers or man flu. If you put this in a well-stocked first aid kit, you can pretend you're a good boy scout - always prepared - rather than a decrepit alcoholic. You don't want feeling crappy to spoil it for you.
I was amused that this thread got to 20 posts without anyone remembering ammunition. Also remember your cleaning kit and particularly cleaning rods. I'd add plenty of extra socks.
I was amused that this thread got to 20 posts without anyone remembering ammunition. Also remember your cleaning kit and particularly cleaning rods. I'd add plenty of extra socks.
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