Getting started: The journey from a beginner to an advanced stalker

[rem284]

Try an find a good mentor. Practice everything that might get you extra deer.

I know one or two people who brag that they have been stalking deer for decades then question why I didn't shoot a particular deer. I said that it was on the skyline. To which they replied "what's the chances of hitting someone". I said "what's the consequences if you do".

A guy on several times over the years will tell me stories about when he has been out stalking. Near the end of the tale it's often "bang, bang, bang, bang" ( gets me thinking, fcuk sake even an useless old fcuker can get lucky and get a few deer) but then it's often ends with "I got it"

If you want fast tracked experience then go with a guy who wants to shoot and can shoot lots of deer in a professional manner. Watch, listen and learn. Ask loads of questions

 

[GaelicStalker]

Welcome GaelicStalker!

After a decade-and-a-bit of stalking, it’s clear to me that what experience and proficiency you gain depends a lot on what you have the opportunity to practice. In my case, I live in London and have a young family (although when I started this I didn’t, but I didn’t have any transport: similar sort of impact on ability to actually go stalking). I started out doing DSC1 when I’d been stalking maybe a couple of times. This was to do with availability of courses, I took the one I could make, but also I had to start somewhere and apart from books and magazines and this forum, I didn’t actually have anyone to show me the ropes, so it seemed a good place to start. It was, again, down quite a lot to opportunity and context. Since then, let’s say I have been out stalking maybe 50-60 times. Doesn’t seem like much for a decade, but that’s what I could do. I don’t have my own ground, and it wouldn’t be sensible to take it on as I don’t have the ability to commit to looking after it properly. So I did lots of paid stalks, still do the odd one, over time I’ve had more invitations, it sort of snowballs. One thing I have not had the chance to do is stalk much on my own (except high seats). It has happened on occasion, but not really enough to be confident that I’m self-sufficient. The chances are I could be, but I don’t know that for a fact. So if I break down what I can actually definitely do, that I couldn’t ten years ago, it pretty much boils down to this:

1. I can spot deer. Seems obvious but wasn’t true at the beginning. “Can you see the muntjac in front of us?”. “Where?”. “Behind the big tree.” “Which tree?”. “The one with the broken branch”. Erm no. Oh, it’s gone.
2. I can quite often spot deer before they spot me
3. I can identify deer species, and reasonably confidently whether they’re male, female, juvenile, old, young, pregnant, well, not so well.
4. I now know the importance of checking the wind, how to stay discrete, quiet, walk quietly, even half-decently plan a stalking route to get closer (although there’s nothing you can do about the two does right between you and the buck in buck season, and the opposite in doe season).
5. I can put the rifle up on sticks and the deer in the crosshairs reasonably quickly and quietly. I used to not be able to find the deer in the scope.
6. I can shoot well enough but I also know when a shot is probably too risky for me to take. BUT, I really need to become confident at shooting offhand. The absence of that has cost me a few opportunities in the last couple of years and I need to fix that. In lowland woods and fields, you will quite often come across deer very close, and then there are only a few seconds to make something of it. No time for sticks. Shouldn’t need them so close anyway.
7. I can DEFINITELY turn a dead deer into food. Competent enough gralloching, skinning, butchering, packing, storing and cooking. As verified by small children which is my main test.

So let’s say I’m competent enough after a decade. But really experienced and self-sufficient? Certainly not. And there’s a good chance it will never happen because you just need more practice at everything than I can get.

But good enough is good enough. We can’t all be Olympians. Good luck on your never-ending journey!

Thanks for the considered response - much appreciated!

 

[bogtrotter]

I gained employment as one , had to learn quick or would not have lasted long.

 

[DevonRifle]

Tha mi a' gabhail leasanan. But not very good yet!

Cànan uasal agus airidh air ionnsachadh. Gabh ris!

 

[willie_gunn]

Still struggle with #5. Any tips welcome!

Get out more and watch wildlife using binoculars, a telescope, or a camera fitted with a telephoto lens!

The problem is typically caused by the immediate difference between the sight picture of your regular vision/field of view and that which you see when looking through high magnification optics, combined with taking your eyes off the animal and looking at your rifle scope, binoculars, etc instead. The human brain is more than capable of directing your hands to lift the scope and bring it up to your eyeline without poking your own eyes out! Experienced wildlife and bird watchers do it without thinking.

So practice the following whilst out in the garden, when looking at birds or a distinctive fixture on a shed, fence or similar.:

Keep your focus firmly fixed on the subject matter.

Keep both eyes open.

Raise the scope/binoculars/telescope/camera eyepiece to your eyes without moving your head or your eyes.

 

[Reloader708]

Surrender all thoughts of a happy home-life.
Accept that most women (insert preferred pronoun) will hate the sight and smell of your 'outdoor' clothes.

You're spot on there, apparently I stink!

 

[User00040]

Still struggle with #5. Any tips welcome!

Look over the top of the scope and align the rifle, should get you close, also useful for shots at short distances.

Other tips:

Use quad sticks, other designs are not as good.

On flat ground you should be able to unfold them with one hand. But use both hands to place when on rough/uneven/tussock terrain.

You should be confident in shooting out to 300m with quad sticks, no excuses. If you can't, the something is wrong with your setup or technique.

Carry your scope on the lowest magnification if it is a variable (caveat, lowest magnification at which it does not 'tunnel'- have Leica, S&B scopes that do this at the lowest mag). Also you don't want the moderator in your view, which is why I DO NOT recommend mounting a scope as low as possible. Always use a dark coloured moderator cover.

Knowing the ground is 90% of the game, when and where do the deer come out to graze? Even the world's best stalker can't kill unseen deer!

Get to the best shooting position. The DSC courses often encourage stalkers to get close first then worry about a firing point. After spotting a deer and checking for safe backstop, angles and distance, my first thought is 'can I get a good shot from here?' No point being 50m away from the deer and having a willow bush/thicket blocking your bullet path.

If shooting longer ranges (250m+) make sure you have ample space to see reaction to the shot and where the deer goes after. Reload quickly and be prepared to shoot again, stay on target if you can. Always shoot on the lowest magnification possible at long range to give yourself the best chance of maintaining sight picture and good field of view. People often shoot better at lower magnifications.

Be aware of the ballistics of your rifle and ammunition. Test and practise out to as far as possible, learning not just drop but also wind drift. If you can shoot out to 400m with confidence, that is good for open hill/forestry restock situations where you cannot get any closer, but bear in mind my earlier point about having ample space to see what happens after. Discretion is the better part of valour.

If you shoot a lot of deer, you will need a dog.

Beware the 'expert', the more I learn, the more I realise how much I don't know. The best don't brag.

 

[sikasako]

In this order:
First, get out stalking with an experienced guide.
Second, do DSC1.
Third, get out stalking again with an experienced guide.
Fourth, repeat the third step several times.

Spot on VSS. Experience is the key.
I always look forward to being guided on a different bit of ground.
Every day is a school day and you pick up wee snippets of knowledge, which go into the memory bank and help you on future outings.
Once you start picking up on any things that the guide could have done better, then you really know that you are getting there!
When you feel that you are ready, then get your DSC2 under your belt.

 

[Stalker62]

You should be confident in shooting out to 300m with quad sticks, no excuses.

Well then, I have no excuse...

That (for me) is an awful long way off sticks.

Apropos shooting.

It always struck me as a wee bit odd that all the tests and drills (bar one) I ever had were standing, sitting/kneeling or prone.

The real world often finds me bent double in a high seat designed by a Munchkin, lying in a burn (left boot full of water) trying to shoot around a rock or hanging off a sheer drop on some Highland/Island cliff face, shooting down at an angle that would give the casual observer vertigo.

 

[User00040]

Well then, I have no excuse...

That (for me) is an awful long way off sticks.

From what I recall, you have been to Africa on safari?

Seems the PH's/guides use sticks exclusively, and some very long shots are taken on plains game there.

 

[Bowland blades]

Hi all,

I am new to deer stalking and am undertaking my DSC1 next month as my first step towards being a competent stalker. I was wondering if some more experienced stalkers might share what their route to proficiency in deer stalking and management looked like, and the steps they took, be it courses, lots of practical experience or a combination of the two.

My end goal is to be a skilled, self-sufficient stalker with a well rounded knowledge of all things involved from gralloching to conservation. Any insights and stories are more than welcome and I look forward to learning from you all.

Best wishes,

The most important bit is often missing , its tge mentor ( and I 100% don't mean the guy the police accept with a couple of years fac ownership ) . I was lucky indeed in my first mentor but I am still learning a goodly amount of new stuff every year as we all should and thats after two decades on deer and other quarry around 45 years
Still learning new stuff so the process never ends .
Just take care you listen to the right folks and put what you learn into those who come behind you

 

[Bowland blades]

From what I recall, you have been to Africa on safari?

Seems the PH's/guides use sticks exclusively, and some very long shots are taken on plains game there.

If its 300 yards then genrally there are better positions that can be taken or enough cover to stalk closer . I can shoot of sticks but I can definitely shoot better in other positions .
It's doing the extra things when you can that really makes a world of difference to the perfect kill shot . If that be waiting for a better presentation or adjusting your position . The quarry should be unaware before the first shot , or as near to that as one can reasonably get .
Besides getting your breathing and hart rate down , once the first shot is taken every next beast is progressively harder if your on numbers and a shot that was easy on the first becomes a heck of a deal harder on the next beast etc etc
Everyone should practice all positions and understand thier limits in each

 

[RM100]

I have been in your shoes and began stalking about 4 years ago.

I did the DSC1 (required for quarry on FAC, by my constabulary).

Went out a few times with some friends.

Miraculously, fell into a syndicate, which is a great advance. Someone took pity on me.

Important things:
1. Stay within your pay grade. For the first few years stick to very secure shots, no long shots, iffy/cowboy/punts. No crime if you don’t shoot a deer. Plenty of responsibility once bullets exits your barrel, respect the animals and the opportunities to shoot.
2. Safety first at all times, rifles are dangerous.
3. Enjoy your time out in the woods/highlands/badlands, that is the whole point. A deer in the bag is incidental.
4. Safety at all times. First and foremost.
5. Learn what do after your shot, properly, before your first deer.
6. Keep safe.
7. Safety, again and again.
8. Do everything slowly. Walk, shoot etc. If you had to rush a shot, was it really a shot worth taking?.
9. Enjoy the woods.
10. If you are fallow: yes, you will see plenty of arse heading off, you are not alone.


Remember, it’s a hobby, not a job.

Hope that helps.

 

[RM100]

Also: keep up with SD, plenty of wisdom here, as long you have thick skin.

 

[Stalker62]

From what I recall, you have been to Africa on safari?

Seems the PH's/guides use sticks exclusively, and some very long shots are taken on plains game there.

I have been very fortunate to have been a couple of times, and it looks like our (Covid cancelled) 2019 return to Mozambique has just had new life breathed into it for this year.

Indeed most PHs use sticks - a long shot off sticks (in Africa) was just over 120 yards. Most of my stick shots were sub 100 yards - it was all about hunting/stalking in.

My one exception was the Blesbok.






The herd were running back and forth at about 280 yards and we could not get nearer.
I still had my bipods on the rifle. His skull now hangs in the Man Cave.

 

[VSS]

you don't want the moderator in your view, which is why I DO NOT recommend mounting a scope as low as possible.

I'd rather have a low scope and no mod, quite frankly. I'm sure that many deer are wounded and lost as a result of people mounting scopes too high in order to accommodate unnecessarily large objective diameters.
A high mounted scope = poor cheek weld = poor shooting position = poor accuracy = lost deer.

 

[User00040]

I'd rather have a low scope and no mod, quite frankly. I'm sure that many deer are wounded and lost as a result of people mounting scopes too high in order to accommodate unnecessarily large objective diameters.
A high mounted scope = poor cheek weld = poor shooting position = poor accuracy = lost deer.

Solution? Build up the comb of the rifle...







Considering who these boys go after, they'd have no problem knocking over a few deer

 

[VSS]

Solution? Build up the comb of the rifle...

View attachment 240240

View attachment 240241

View attachment 240242

Considering who these boys go after, they'd have no problem knocking over a few deer

Yes, on any rifle with a traditionally shaped stock that's going to be necessary anyway if using a scope, no matter how low it's mounted.
In those pics you posted I would say those scopes are unnecessarily high. Far too much fresh air between scope and barrel.

 

[User00040]

In those pics you posted I would say those scopes are unnecessarily high. Far too much fresh air between scope and barrel.

Um... I'd say the USMC and their Scout Sniper program has been around long enough to know what they are doing.

If anything, it's the 1960's approach to rifle shooting that pervades the stalking circles which holds many stalkers back.

 

[David T]

Just get out. Two eyes, two ears and one mouth for a reason. The more you are out the more you will learn. Most important bit is enjoy it.
I always found that when I only took the bins out the beast I had been after for months would be standing side on, 100 yards away with the perfect backstop ! Always go for an armed walk now.