How did you get yours?

[SimpleSimon]

Hi all,
As a newbie to the sport(?) I was just wondering what the 'norm' is for acquiring deer stalking. I.e:
Do most people pay daily with one of the numerous companies I've seen offering this?
Or do you pay a landowner for permission to take deer on his land whenever you want on a monthly/ yearly/ whatever basis? If so then is this in syndicates, and how much would you expect to pay?
Or do you simply ask around like you would with 'ordinary' permission for rabbits or the like and hope somebody says yes?
Sorry for what is probably a silly question, but as an outsider I have no real idea of how one goes about getting opportunities to stalk. Cheers!

 

[Wingy]

There's no simple answer, to be honest all of the above.
Knock on doors and if you get some free permission fantastic
Payed stalks can be good but could get expensive when you add up travel, stalk, cull fee, trophy fee, then buy the venison that you shot! This can vary with different outfits.
A syndicate could be good but again can vary on expense, travel, what deer are on the ground, size of ground, how many times a year you can attend (other members share dates), do you have to buy venison at game dealer rates or do you keep what you shoot? Is there a limit on number of visits or deer you can shoot?
Which ever way you go I wish you the best of luck
Wingy

 

[stratts]

Welcome Simon,
Where and what do you shoot currently and how long for? I get on well with the farm manager where I've been doing pest control and kept badgering him until he let me shoot some munties for the freezer just to shut me up, lol!! Doing the DSC1 helped there and also with me getting a DMG place locally, which I would not have got without it. I know it's not everyones cup of tea but as a noob stalker I'd suggest doing the DSC1 for starters as it will show a level of knowledge when you approach people and you also learn a lot about deer and stalking.

Good luck with it mate,

Stratts

 

[jimbo1984]

To be honest I was very lucky my best mate is a pro stalker and got me on his ground with him a lot of it is free but we do pay a small fee for some of it per annum , that said its surprising how many farms aren't stalked at all ! I'd suggest having a knock on some doors and asking ( don't turn up in camo ) we recently got an extra 300 acres just by asking a neighboring farmer to one of our boundaries all for free so you never know your luck

 

[K1200r_sport]

Hi all,
As a newbie to the sport(?) I was just wondering what the 'norm' is for acquiring deer stalking. I.e:
Do most people pay daily with one of the numerous companies I've seen offering this?
Or do you pay a landowner for permission to take deer on his land whenever you want on a monthly/ yearly/ whatever basis? If so then is this in syndicates, and how much would you expect to pay?
Or do you simply ask around like you would with 'ordinary' permission for rabbits or the like and hope somebody says yes?
Sorry for what is probably a silly question, but as an outsider I have no real idea of how one goes about getting opportunities to stalk. Cheers!

As a potential newbie this is a very good question and I will be reading the responses with interest. Thanks SimpleSimon

 

[Mungo]

Of course, there is a strong vested interest in NOT revealing the best ways to go about getting ground. Or, indeed, to actively misinform.

I speak as someone who has just lost ground to the rich and unscrupulous.

 

[SimpleSimon]

Thanks for all the advice so far folks.
Stratts, I don't currently have any permission where I am at the moment. I've previously only airgunned for rats, but I used cadet rifles extensively when I was younger (.22lr and 5.56 NATO) at the range. My father-in-law and brother-in-law are both members/coaches at a local rifle club, so my first plan is probably to join up there and start the ball rolling on my FAC. My wife knows a couple of local landowners, so she might be able to at least get me some bunny shooting.
Would members recommend doing DSC1 as a newcomer, or maybe getting a few days guided stalking first and then go for DSC once I've had some experience?

 

[jimbo1984]

I'm not normally a huge fan of the dsc level 1 except in the circumstances you describe , as a complete newcomer to the sport I think it will benefit you

 

[jcampbellsmith]

In summary, you need to meet folk that stalk face to face. So join any organisations that facilitate that. My Dad told me to join the BDS and do my DSC I. From that opportunities slowly emerged. I've also joined a rifle club, BASC, SGA and a pheasant syndicate. I try and take paid days out somewhere new at least once a year.

It's a slow process.

Good luck.

​JCS

 

[daven]

Of course, there is a strong vested interest in NOT revealing the best ways to go about getting ground. Or, indeed, to actively misinform.

I speak as someone who has just lost ground to the rich and unscrupulous.

Different country, but people are people wherever you go.... I just started this year after a 25 year break and am in a whole new world than back then when it comes to getting permission etc.... I've found hunters today to be pretty much just flat out snobby in just about every area related to the sport... I made notes with my contact info and expressed an interest to help out around the lease and with the pigs/varmints, put them in clear plastic bags (laminated some) and put them on stands in ares where pig damage is high and on a couple hunter meeting shacks.... I have been invited on 4 drive hunts so far... All by older folks (60+) ... Younger ones won't give you the time of day... Been hunting land that belongs to the city and a big training area pretty regular and have been offered a 110 hectare lease there that I may take, if I don't find anything else... Really don't want the responsability that comes with having any other lease (pay for crop damage, get calls 24/7 anytime someone sees an animal that don't look right, animal hit on a road, you get called, etc.... The place that has been offered has no strings except a kill plan that you have to meet (7 deer) each year.... Stands are all built/repaired by the forestry folks and you don't have to worry about selling meat... Just kill, dress, and hang in the cooler with your info on it.If you want the meat yourself, you have to pay for it, but the heart, liver, and trophy is yours...
Good luck

 

[Erik Hamburger]

1. The quickest route into shooting/stalking is to join a shoot local to you and become a beater. You'll soon get to know like-minded people and if you get on well with the keeper and shoot captain you will get requests to help with jobs and invites to beater's day, vermin day etc. , rabbiting and foxing, pigeon-shooting etc-and you'll find that many beaters are experienced SGC and FAC holders with the right contacts.
If the land where your shoot is based has a stalker try to meet him/her and offer your help and ask if you can join in with a few stalks as an observer to learn.
2. Another route would be to join a rifle shooting club/range - again here you'll find quite a few vermin shooters and stalkers and eventually you can get your foot in the door somewhere.
3. Yet another route would be to pay for accompanied stalking in your area and make contacts and network through that route. If you can find a professional pest controller/wildlife manager and offer to help you may also get lucky.
4. To get permission for fee stalking from a landowner/farmer focus on the smaller farms, make sure you can show copies of your qualifications (DSC1 as a minimum), and make it very clear you are an amateur so you have no commercial interests. Sharing any venison 50/50 with the landowner is often an acceptable arangement.
5. There may be a deer management group (DMG) active in your area- make contact and start helping as a volunteer.
6. Establish a relationship with a farmer who sells produce from the farm direct to the public. Once you are an established well-known cash-paying regular customer of the farm produce it becomes extremely difficult for the farmer to turn you down when you ask nicely for shooting permission. Limit this to rabbits and pigeons to start with, the deer stalking often follows.
7. Local RFD's and shooting retailers often have good contacts and it wouldn't harm you to ask your local retailer for a recommendation or an introduction.
8. Finally, stay well clear of so-called 'trophy-shooting' which is generally not compatible with responsible deer management (a personal view, many will disagree . Focus on shooting for delicious meat to eat and shooting for conservation and crop protection. Ethically and morally you'll be in a better position than if you are just after a set of trophy-antlers to hang on the wall.

Good luck!

 

[Pine Marten]

I don’t know if you’re in a rural or urban area, but when I started out a couple of years ago, living in London and knowing no-one who stalked, I faced a similar situation to yours. I’d done some target shooting, and shot small game for a long time, but this was something else. I started out doing DSC1 (after years of doing a lot of reading just because I wanted to) before ever going out stalking, simply because the course I was able to go on in Kent was at the time. But either way, I needed to learn about stalking and didn’t have anyone else to show me the ropes. For a novice and someone with no-one else to learn from, it was brilliant. It helped with the FAC application too as it showed I was serious about stalking. After that, I booked some paid stalking with Sikamalc from this site, after asking around to find some prices in locations I could travel to easily enough. Here’s the key to not paying through the nose: go on cull stalks for prickets, does, cull roe bucks, etc. They tend to attract no or little trophy fees. You should be able to specify beforehand to your guide that you don’t want to shoot any trophy animals. Besides, generally, I know it’s hard when you’re excited, but no-one’s forcing you to squeeze the trigger. You need to plan well in advance though. Certainly around here, places go quickly. Now I pretty much have rolling bookings six months in advance, but then I also don’t go stalking very often. How much stalking you do depends on individual availability, location and finances I suppose.

I’ve also subsequently been invited stalking by a couple of people on this site who are just generous and wanted to help out a newcomer. If such invitations come your way, accept them! Either way, good luck, be patient, and persere!

 

[daven]

1. The quickest route into shooting/stalking is to join a shoot local to you and become a beater. You'll soon get to know like-minded people and if you get on well with the keeper and shoot captain you will get requests to help with jobs and invites to beater's day, vermin day etc. , rabbiting and foxing, pigeon-shooting etc-and you'll find that many beaters are experienced SGC and FAC holders with the right contacts.
If the land where your shoot is based has a stalker try to meet him/her and offer your help and ask if you can join in with a few stalks as an observer to learn.
2. Another route would be to join a rifle shooting club/range - again here you'll find quite a few vermin shooters and stalkers and eventually you can get your foot in the door somewhere.
3. Yet another route would be to pay for accompanied stalking in your area and make contacts and network through that route. If you can find a professional pest controller/wildlife manager and offer to help you may also get lucky.
4. To get permission for fee stalking from a landowner/farmer focus on the smaller farms, make sure you can show copies of your qualifications (DSC1 as a minimum), and make it very clear you are an amateur so you have no commercial interests. Sharing any venison 50/50 with the landowner is often an acceptable arangement.
5. There may be a deer management group (DMG) active in your area- make contact and start helping as a volunteer.
6. Establish a relationship with a farmer who sells produce from the farm direct to the public. Once you are an established well-known cash-paying regular customer of the farm produce it becomes extremely difficult for the farmer to turn you down when you ask nicely for shooting permission. Limit this to rabbits and pigeons to start with, the deer stalking often follows.
7. Local RFD's and shooting retailers often have good contacts and it wouldn't harm you to ask your local retailer for a recommendation or an introduction.
8. Finally, stay well clear of so-called 'trophy-shooting' which is generally not compatible with responsible deer management (a personal view, many will disagree . Focus on shooting for delicious meat to eat and shooting for conservation and crop protection. Ethically and morally you'll be in a better position than if you are just after a set of trophy-antlers to hang on the wall.

Good luck!

Had a guy tell me something close to that on my first hunt (he invited me)..... I let a real nice buck walk by waiting on a better shot for a spike that was coming behind him... A few minutes later, just as I was about to get my shot, he shot.... First buck made it down to his area and all of a sudden his morals and ethics weren't as good as he thought mine should be.....

 

[SimpleSimon]

I've never had much interest in trophies, I'd much rather have a good day out in nature and some venison in the freezer than antlers for the wall. Besides, they'd look ridiculous in my modest suburban living room!

 

[devon deer stalker]

I'm not normally a huge fan of the dsc level 1 except in the circumstances you describe , as a complete newcomer to the sport I think it will benefit you

I echo those thoughts, however don't expect it to open any doors, of all my permissions only one farmer know's what a DSC1 is (and yes i have DSC 1&2)and the rest couldn't give two hoots if you have it, they just want any deer problem sorted.
I got my permissions in various ways, but since i created my website i gained another two in the past 12 months by farmers who had no existing stalker on their land but were seeking one!
Anyone in Devon want to buy a website?!
Cheers
​Richard

 

[Cut+Squirt]

Here's my top tip .. be careful with syndicate stalking, there can be lots of
pitfalls .. I know a number of lads, myself included, who have been burnt to the tune of thousands
when joining their first syndicate.

Before spending a lot of money, book a few stalks on the does throughout
winter and see if you definitely want to pursue the sport... Join one of the shooting
organizations .. the BDS runs some great courses and talks... Decent syndicates
do exist for little money but you will seldom see them advertised... Meet people
face to face and doors will eventually swing open.

 

[timbrayford]

Of course, there is a strong vested interest in NOT revealing the best ways to go about getting ground. Or, indeed, to actively misinform.

I speak as someone who has just lost ground to the rich and unscrupulous.

Become rich and unscrupulous!

In all seriousness though if you were a landowner with stalking rights and needed a return on your investment, why wouldn't you sell these to the highest bidder?

atb Tim

 

[jcampbellsmith]

Here's my top tip .. be careful with syndicate stalking, there can be lots of
pitfalls .. I know a number of lads, myself included, who have been burnt ....

Yes, spot on. The first syndicate I joined was a rip off. Shot one very expensive roe. I still haven't worked out where you go to hire the stunt roe deer that are standing around all over the ground when you go to view it.

Regards

JCS

 

[Roedinator]

Thanks for all the advice so far folks.
Stratts, I don't currently have any permission where I am at the moment. I've previously only airgunned for rats, but I used cadet rifles extensively when I was younger (.22lr and 5.56 NATO) at the range. My father-in-law and brother-in-law are both members/coaches at a local rifle club, so my first plan is probably to join up there and start the ball rolling on my FAC. My wife knows a couple of local landowners, so she might be able to at least get me some bunny shooting.
Would members recommend doing DSC1 as a newcomer, or maybe getting a few days guided stalking first and then go for DSC once I've had some experience?

Id use the wife route you've got nothing to lose all to gain
if as you say the landowners know her that's half the battle
​best of luck. Regards pete

 

[Taff]

Get to know as many land owners as possible, and don,t be afraid to ask, any acerage will do, to start with, it's amazing how much land is not stalked, I picked up just under a 1000 acres the other day, which has roe and fallow on it, just by asking the owners wife if she liked venison.
​