Kent based what to do next?

[luca$]

Hi all,

So I’m just trying to work out how it works nowadays with deer stalking.

I’m 27, just received my Sgc and will be going for my fac in the next couple months.
I’m half Swedish so I grew up around family hunting and eating venison for Christmas etc but it seems like it’s a bit harder here in the UK.

I feel like the only way I’m going to be able to stalk deer here is to do paid stalks? Is this the reality for new deer stalkers here?
I just completed my DSC1 as I want to learn as much as possible but I feel like getting any use of out it is a bit far fetched especially being in Kent.

Does it just take time to get permissions? A bit of luck? I sent out 50 emails the other week for pigeon shooting and recieved 5 no’s. This is after also offering services from my construction company aswell but I feel like it’s a bit over the top just for a permission.

Maybe I’m being spoilt, can anyone share their views?

Cheers

 

[VSS]

There are lots of stalking opportunities in the UK, and lots of different routes in. I think it's probably the easiest fieldsports activity to get into.
But you've got to start somewhere, and paid outings are as good a way as any to get out and about.

 

[luca$]

There are lots of stalking opportunities in the UK, and lots of different routes in. I think it's probably the easiest fieldsports activity to get into.
But you've got to start somewhere, and paid outings are as good a way as any to get out and about.

Yeah fair enough I just think there’s a misconception floating about, on one hand we hear about the amount of damage deer cause and how we need more people to be able to cull them and then on the other hand trying to actually do that is impossible without having to have to pay for it

 

[Tim.243]

Yeah fair enough I just think there’s a misconception floating about, on one hand we hear about the amount of damage deer cause and how we need more people to be able to cull them and then on the other hand trying to actually do that is impossible without having to have to pay for it

What crops did these 50 places/farms have growing where you might protect their crops from pigeons?

 

[nf-fuse]

Yeah fair enough I just think there’s a misconception floating about, on one hand we hear about the amount of damage deer cause and how we need more people to be able to cull them and then on the other hand trying to actually do that is impossible without having to have to pay for it

Accurate.

Part of the problem is large swathes of good ground have a some one with permission to shoot there but they don't actually shoot the ground or very rarely.

 

[luca$]

What crops did these 50 places/farms have growing where you might protect their crops from pigeons?

It was a mixture of places but I contacted various farms and orchards for a mix of rabbit and pigeon shooting and also equestrian areas, basically anywhere with land that I thought might need it

 

[luca$]

Accurate.

Part of the problem is large swathes of good ground have a some one with permission to shoot there but they don't actually shoot the ground or very rarely.

Yeah, realistically I understand it because you don’t want a random person shooting on your land, I know the only way I’m going to get permissions is by physically speaking to land owners, on top of that I don’t think Kent is particularly susceptible to deer damage

 

[Tim.243]

It was a mixture of places but I contacted various farms and orchards for a mix of rabbit and pigeon shooting and also equestrian areas, basically anywhere with land that I thought might need it

Yes I get that but what is growing locally on the arable land is what you need to be looking at!
Thinking and knowing are quite different,
I have locally
Winter/Spring Barley
Winter wheat
OSR
Winter beans
Borage
Peas
Canary seed
Lucerne

With only one being feed on around 6pm anything on that list you have around you have seen pigeons on?

Tim

 

[Bo Diddley]

Yeah fair enough I just think there’s a misconception floating about, on one hand we hear about the amount of damage deer cause and how we need more people to be able to cull them and then on the other hand trying to actually do that is impossible without having to have to pay for it

You have summed the situation up in a nutshell.
Keep asking/grovelling, and I'm sure by the time you are 55 you will have something worthwhile

 

[luca$]

Yes I get that but what is growing locally on the arable land is what you need to be looking at!
Thinking and knowing are quite different,
I have locally
Winter/Spring Barley
Winter wheat
OSR
Winter beans
Borage
Peas
Canary seed
Lucerne

With only one being feed on around 6pm anything on that list you have around you have seen pigeons on?

Tim

So the land I have access to right now is through Kent wild fowlers, brilliant resource but the arable land I can shoot on right now is 99% wheat and one field that’s fallow so no pigeons, but also, it’s a bad month for it anyway so I can’t complain

 

[luca$]

You have summed the situation up in a nutshell.
Keep asking/grovelling, and I'm sure by the time you are 55 you will have something worthwhile

Haha I’ll eventually get the permissions I’m after but I’m a spoiled young man so I want it now

 

[Bowland blades]

Paid stalks with a whole selection of guides , is the way to go ! Some vendors are great , others are terrible but costs can work out better without large upfront fees that syndicates sometimes ask for . Free stalking is all about who you know and traveling around to various vendors of stalking , i have to say the vendors vary in quality and price massively . But don't book again with folks who fail to deliver and there are plenty who will take " clients" on an armed walk
Over time you will settle with a few vendors and gain contacts

 

[Bo Diddley]

Haha I’ll eventually get the permissions I’m after but I’m a spoiled young man so I want it now

It'll come your way, keep trying. Get to know as many folks involved in fieldsports/stalking as you can, if you come across as a genuine chap to those folks, doors may start to open.

 

[Tim.243]

So the land I have access to right now is through Kent wild fowlers, brilliant resource but the arable land I can shoot on right now is 99% wheat and one field that’s fallow so no pigeons, but also, it’s a bad month for it anyway so I can’t complain

Kent Wildfowlers have OSR in Essex so you need to do a bit more homework or the little group who shoot it keeps that to themselves, they pulled some up and drilled it with beans

 

[Flash G 74]

Haha I’ll eventually get the permissions I’m after but I’m a spoiled young man so I want it now

Patience is a key for finding some shooting , Enjoy with the Kent Wildfowlers , Book a days stalking, Join a Pheasant shoot as a Beater, Good luck

 

[luca$]

Paid stalks with a whole selection of guides , is the way to go ! Some vendors are great , others are terrible but costs can work out better without large upfront fees that syndicates sometimes ask for . Free stalking is all about who you know and traveling around to various vendors of stalking , i have to say the vendors vary in quality and price massively . But don't book again with folks who fail to deliver and there are plenty who will take " clients" on an armed walk
Over time you will settle with a few vendors and gain contacts

Yeah 100% I’ll be starting with paid stalks, the fellows I did my DSC1 with seems brilliant although I’m not sure what the pricing is like but someone mentioned a gold trophy muntjac was £350 which seems a bit steep for a species that’s meant to be invasive and culled at any time lol

 

[luca$]

It'll come your way, keep trying. Get to know as many folks involved in fieldsports/stalking as you can, if you come across as a genuine chap to those folks, doors may start to open.

Yeah that’s the way forward but it feels a bit malicious trying to befriend people for a sole objective, I understand that if you don’t ask you don’t get but trying to build entire relationships based on trying to get something doesn’t sit right with me

 

[luca$]

Kent Wildfowlers have OSR in Essex so you need to do a bit more homework or the little group who shoot it keeps that to themselves, they pulled some up and drilled it with beans

Ah yes I should of mentioned that I only use land that’s very close to me, I haven’t yet explored the other fields a bit further away

 

[luca$]

Patience is a key for finding some shooting , Enjoy with the Kent Wildfowlers , Book a days stalking, Join a Pheasant shoot as a Beater, Good luck

Yeah I’m aware these things aren’t served to us on a silver platter but I just wanted to get a feel for other peoples opinions, I’m sure in a couple years I’ll feel very differently

 

[Bowland blades]

Yeah 100% I’ll be starting with paid stalks, the fellows I did my DSC1 with seems brilliant although I’m not sure what the pricing is like but someone mentioned a gold trophy muntjac was £350 which seems a bit steep for a species that’s meant to be invasive and culled at any time lol

TBF in woodland stalking muntjac you don't have much opertunity to asses the trophy likewise CWD . Very different if tour on Sika, Red, Fallow etc Roe are actually a bit difficult to take a stab at ( i just had a good roe head and the measure was not a medal ) point is the CIC measurer could not make a guess so how the heck can the client know before the shot ?