Help: Practical Shooting lessons for stalking? Nr. Edinburgh

[chriswjx]

Hi folks,

Question I have for any who could help. Basically looking out for how I could best go about getting practical experience shooting at deer targets?

Had my first ever stalk last weekend on the roes down in the borders, and sadly came home empty handed. Plenty seen, including 1 young doe that was about 180yd away when we noticed it driving up a logging track. We tried to stalk closer as the guy I was with was worried that it would be a tricky shot and wanted to get us a touch closer (under 150yd) before setting the sticks up but she spooked a shortly after. (I was amazed that she stayed at all, as she noticed the giant white pickup truck trundling along towards her!)

Finished the morning with a desire to get some time on a range trying to replicate that scenario (and maybe further shots?) so that I would have the confidence to say that I can put the lead where it needs to go from those ranges. Found one fellow near Stirling that offers lessons of a similar vein, but require a minimum of 2 to run, other ranges/clubs I've seen local (or been recommended previously) are either indoor .22 or extended range full bore (FKBRC) which, whilst I'm sure would be useful to learn that sort of distance shooting skills, is not quite what I was having in mind. Was thinking, practice shooting off sticks at a DSC1 style target over the 150yd mark? Just was along the lines of how I wouldn't want to have to turn down the shots that presented on that day!

Thanks in advance,

Chris

 

[Heym SR20]

Hi folks,

Question I have for any who could help. Basically looking out for how I could best go about getting practical experience shooting at deer targets?

Had my first ever stalk last weekend on the roes down in the borders, and sadly came home empty handed. Plenty seen, including 1 young doe that was about 180yd away when we noticed it driving up a logging track. We tried to stalk closer as the guy I was with was worried that it would be a tricky shot and wanted to get us a touch closer (under 150yd) before setting the sticks up but she spooked a shortly after. (I was amazed that she stayed at all, as she noticed the giant white pickup truck trundling along towards her!)

Finished the morning with a desire to get some time on a range trying to replicate that scenario (and maybe further shots?) so that I would have the confidence to say that I can put the lead where it needs to go from those ranges. Found one fellow near Stirling that offers lessons of a similar vein, but require a minimum of 2 to run, other ranges/clubs I've seen local (or been recommended previously) are either indoor .22 or extended range full bore (FKBRC) which, whilst I'm sure would be useful to learn that sort of distance shooting skills, is not quite what I was having in mind. Was thinking, practice shooting off sticks at a DSC1 style target over the 150yd mark? Just was along the lines of how I wouldn't want to have to turn down the shots that presented on that day!

Thanks in advance,

Chris

Chris,

Join the Lothian and Borders Rifle Club. We shoot just south of Edinburgh for the first half of the year every other weekend and as daylight gets longer in the evenings.

Targets are put to 575 yards.

Targets are gongs stalking targets etc and its mostly deer stalkers getting practice and shooting off sticks is a common practice.

Down at Braidwood shooting ground there is a air rifle range with small targets out to 30 yards. You rent a pellet gun. Get a spring powered rather PCP and you can plink away to your hearts content for not a lot of money. This will give you lots of trigger time, and confidence etc. and don’t bother with sticks. Get your self good shooting offhand with the confidence to do so. Then sticks, rests etc just make life a lot easier.

There is a lot of bollox talked about drops etc - forget for the time being. A deer legal stalking rifle zeroed 4cm high at 100m will be within 4cm of the point of aim out to 230m 4cm is about the thickness of most cross hairs when you sight on a deer (depending of course on the scope).

I have been stalking nearly 30 years. I would not take a 180 yard shot off sticks at a small doe. I would get in closer. If absolutely essential to take the shot I would drop into a more stable position such a sitting shot off sticks or more solid tree stump etc. or go prone, again off a bag etc.

Deer stalking is about stalking, its not about sniping at long range.

 

[Haggis Hunter]

I agree with Heym SR20 that membership of LBRC and a shot on club days will give you good experience and confidence. It’s a safe but relaxed atmosphere. Lots of stalkers there and shots at various ranges possible. We do have roe sized targets.
Have to agree I’d pass on a 180yd shot off sticks at a wee doe. Most of my stalking has been on hill reds so just getting into using sticks really. I practice by shooting bunnies with the 22 off sticks.
hh

 

[User00040]

Deer stalking is about stalking, its not about sniping at long range.

What is long range?

 

[chriswjx]

Thanks Heym and Haggis!

I think I remember Ed mentioning LBRC when I last went in. Is he the best contact to speak to further about it?

The chap taking me out agreed with both of you, from memory (which is quite faint despite it only being last weekend, due to being knackered from covid ) he was saying we had just managed to get around 150yd from her when she spooked, and ideally he wanted to get me to 120yd before taking the shot. Reason why I've kept the 180yd distance in my head is the last stalk of the morning was towards one on the other side of a wee valley, and he had me setting up on the sticks at a doe which I felt was a similar distance to the youngster (though this one was an older doe). Looking through the scope it felt like a fairly decent target size to aim at? Though thanks to an inconvenient tree branch, by the time we had shifted to the right enough to get a clean shot, she decided to head back into the woods!

 

[Heym SR20]

Yes Ed is probably the easiest chap to speak to re LBRC.

And not having a clean shot - well I reckon on average to take one deer for every full day of stalking. Somedays you get lucky and take a couple, but there are plenty of outings when you do not have the opportunity to take a deer - none seen, wrong sex, not part of the cull plan, no safe backdrop, too far, not presenting properly, too close to where retrieval will be a pain in the arse, or it’s getting late, I have had a good walk and shooting one now would then entail a load more work, gralloching, extracting, lardering butchering etc and I really cannot be bothered.

Re long range, I consider longer ranges to be any distance where you need to consider adjusting point of aim to take into account distance and / or wind. It may be by simply holding a bit higher or to one side or adjusting the scope or sights.

And for me its definitely long range when you need to aim above the kill zone.

Long range is a variable depending on rifle, cartridge and target, so long range for a 22 3 ft lbs Webley air pistol is very different to a 6.5 PRC shooting a high BC bullet.

It also depends on the comfort and skill of the stalker. Most deer are shot at 100 ish metres, especially in lowland areas. So for most a 200m shot is longer range.

Most highland stalkers shooting off bipods are very comfortable at 200m and will take a 300m if needs be.

Many elk hunters in Montana etc are comfortable shooting 350 to 400m. Rifles are sighted for this and shooting at a dustbin lid sized target.

 

[slider]

Heym and HH give good advice. And don't be disappointed if you have a blank on a stalk. I'm lucky if I get one every 5 or 6 outings (I claim lack of deer not lack of skill )

 

[chriswjx]

Heym and HH give good advice. And don't be disappointed if you have a blank on a stalk. I'm lucky if I get one every 5 or 6 outings (I claim lack of deer not lack of skill )

2 years salmon fishing has gotten me well accustom to the blank As I said to the guide, at least unlike salmon fishing, I could definitely say I've seen and had chances (tricky ones, but chances none the less). Don't know how many days I've been out on the Tay and not seen a single fish show, let alone get a bend in the rod.

 

[finnbear270]

You'll take the shot automatically when it feels right, pressure to shoot is for the cullers with a truck to fill, chill & stalk.

 

[jcampbellsmith]

For some immediate practice, you could take a trip to Gardners Guns at Longtown. There's a 22 PRS match on there on this coming Sunday.
Regards
JCS

 

[VSS]

You'll take the shot automatically when it feels right,

Absolutely this ^^^
You won't even hear the bang.

 

[Koenig]

You really must only shoot to a distance where you can reliably ensure good shot placement. 180m would be too far for me to feel comfortable off quad sticks on a little Roe. But that’s just me. If you are going to use sticks then practice with them and become proficient.

 

[Dunwaters]

What is long range?

On live animals, its any distance from which you are less than certain of hitting your aim point.
It very much depends on your shooting position, a shot that qualifies as long range offhand would be a chip shot from a rest.
Shooting at paper targets or the enemy would require a different definition.