Gralloch assistance

[GlennUK]

Dear All

not sure if this is the right section to ask, but I was wondering if anyone in the Essex/Kent/Herts area would consider letting my accompany them on some stalking with a view to me learning getting some experience with gralloching?

I have a stalking mentor, but it appears he isnt going out much at the moment and so whilst i have plenty of opportunity to shoot deer, i have no practical experience of the gralloch. I know I can look at videos online, but would prefer if possible to get some hands on under the guidance of someone with experience if I can.

For info i live 5 mins form J28 M25, can travel.

Thank you for looking and of course, for any assistance that may be available.

Glenn

 

[finnbear270]

I would be very surprised if you are still asking / looking after the weekend.
Loads of Deer and stalkers round your way.

 

[GlennUK]

I would be very surprised if you are still asking / looking after the weekend.
Loads of Deer and stalkers round your way.

Thank you, i world not wish to be presumptuous, but am hopeful.

 

[finnbear270]

Thank you, i world not wish to be presumptuous, but am hopeful.

You don't have to be present on the ground entirely, a bit of larder work if you can't accompany to the shot, would be valuable.

 

[GlennUK]

You don't have to be present on the ground entirely, a bit of larder work if you can't accompany to the shot, would be valuable.

Understood

 

[VSS]

For a good learning experience, I'd highly recommend the gralloching and larder work course run by @flyingfisherman.
Ok, so it's a long long way for you to go, but in a single day you'd get to gralloch multiple deer of three different species using a variety of methods, under the guidance of an expert tutor.

 

[GlennUK]

For a good learning experience, I'd highly recommend the gralloching and larder work course run by @flyingfisherman.
Ok, so it's a long long way for you to go, but in a single day you'd get to gralloch multiple deer of three different species using a variety of methods, under the guidance of an expert tutor.

Thanks, that's helpful.

 

[sy247]

Thanks, that's helpful.

I would also be interested in this

 

[VSS]

Thanks, that's helpful.

I would also be interested in this

My daughter and I went on the course some years back. It was a really worthwhile day. Learnt loads.

 

[GlennUK]

Still looking if anyone can assist, i would appreciate it. Thank you for looking.

 

[finnbear270]

Still looking if anyone can assist, i would appreciate it. Thank you for looking.

You are in the same county as Tim.243

 

[Tim.243]

Still looking if anyone can assist, i would appreciate it. Thank you for looking.

Get the deer up in the air (if you can) remember all the hundreds of thousands that are killed in UK mainstream food production are not cleaned out on the floor. !
Cut a small hole, take the (ball tipped) tripe knife and down you go.

 

[rutland]

Don’t be scared of it. As tim said above watch the video. Also you tend to learn real quick if you catch the green bag lol.
Pity your not in our postcode otherwise you could come for a stalk and clean your own under supervision

 

[Tim.243]

Don’t be scared of it. As tim said above watch the video. Also you tend to learn real quick if you catch the green bag lol.
Pity your not in our postcode otherwise you could come for a stalk and clean your own under supervision

I had offered the OP to come over to a farm not far from him and work out his "zero" issue which he declined so you get video help instead.

 

[HonestJohn]

Can’t believe how many people go out for a paid stalk, but are never shown how to gralloch or quarter the deer, etc. probably because the guide wants them coming back and not moving on to their own ground, who knows!
Helped a gentleman on here not long ago with how to butcher a deer and prep a trophy after an outing with a local stalker. Made a massive difference to him from just being shown what to shoot, to being involved with what comes after. He left my house with a car full of meat, and a gentleman he was indeed, because a lovely card and a bottle of fine whiskey arrived in the post not long after

 

[sy247]

I get the feeling guides generally think guests aren't interested in getting their hands dirty, although that is only my assumption.

I also didn't necessarily want to bother the guide and ask them to show me because they often seemed in a bit of a rush to get finished up at the end of the stalk, probably wanting to get home for breakfast or dinner and a cup of tea.

 

[HonestJohn]

I also didn't necessarily want to bother the guide and ask them to show me because they often seemed in a bit of a rush to get finished up at the end of the stalk, probably wanting to get home for breakfast or dinner and a cup of tea.

That’s what they get paid for, no? Too much of this - “follow me quietly, when I put the sticks up, you shoot it…then you pay me and f*** off home immediately”

 

[sy247]

That’s what they get paid for, no? Too much of this - “follow me quietly, when I put the sticks up, you shoot it…then you pay me and f*** off home immediately”

Yes I agree. I realised following someone around and taking a shot at a deer wasn't teaching me anything above what I had already learnt.

 

[Jh1986]

Can’t believe how many people go out for a paid stalk, but are never shown how to gralloch or quarter the deer, etc. probably because the guide wants them coming back and not moving on to their own ground, who knows!
Helped a gentleman on here not long ago with how to butcher a deer and prep a trophy after an outing with a local stalker. Made a massive difference to him from just being shown what to shoot, to being involved with what comes after. He left my house with a car full of meat, and a gentleman he was indeed, because a lovely card and a bottle of fine whiskey arrived in the post not long after

I had been on a number of paid stalks before getting my own ground. Each one, I had wanted to do the gralloch. The first one, the guide heard that I said I wanted to do it and thought that meant I wanted to be shown so he whipped the knife around in a flash and had it done himself all whilst unhelpfully explaining it.

The second didn't do a proper gralloch but we basically butchered in the field and it was dark so whilst still useful, it didn't help with my gralloch.

The third, I dropped two deer in quick succession and said that I wanted to do the gralloch. Once again, the guy thought that meant talking me through it whilst he did it. Maybe I'm too polite because I shut up and don't say anything.

My next deer was solo and I probably learn more from actually getting on with it and doing it, than on then from any of those paid stalks.

The only thing I'm not 100% on is this tunnelling out business. At the moment I'm a cable tie and cut it off man. That leaves the bladder in though, so I'm going to have to try tunneling next time and getting it all out

 

[sy247]

I had been on a number of paid stalks before getting my own ground. Each one, I had wanted to do the gralloch. The first one, the guide heard that I said I wanted to do it and thought that meant I wanted to be shown so he whipped the knife around in a flash and had it done himself all whilst unhelpfully explaining it.

The second didn't do a proper gralloch but we basically butchered in the field and it was dark so whilst still useful, it didn't help with my gralloch.

The third, I dropped two deer in quick succession and said that I wanted to do the gralloch. Once again, the guy thought that meant talking me through it whilst he did it. Maybe I'm too polite because I shut up and don't say anything.

My next deer was solo and I probably learn more from actually getting on with it and doing it, than on then from any of those paid stalks.

The only thing I'm not 100% on is this tunnelling out business. At the moment I'm a cable tie and cut it off man. That leaves the bladder in though, so I'm going to have to try tunneling next time and getting it all out

Tunnelling is the bit I am least confident with but I am getting there. I'm not very practical and always worry about messing it up and spoiling the carcass. Like anything though, practice makes perfect.