Lack of response from deer stalking outfitters

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Dakaboy42

Member
Dear fellow stalkers
Just wanted to know if any nembers had the same experience of stalking outfitters here in the UK not reponding to enquiries. Some not even have the courtesy of replying to enquiries. I have now tried for a stalking opportunity with 4x guides and although two have answered back to say they will stay in touch - least to say with no response.
I have been hunting all over the world and with all my hunting enquiries for hunting abroad the responses were prompt , efficient and with all the information you enquired for. Needless to say I have accepted their offers to hunt.
Two of the recent enquiries in the UK were with very well known stalkers in the stalking world in the UK- no names mentioned.
Please share your experiences , I am eager to hear your ecperiences.

I am still looking for a stalking opportunity .
 
Dakaboy42 said:
Dear fellow stalkers
Just wanted to know if any nembers had the same experience of stalking outfitters here in the UK not reponding to enquiries. Some not even have the courtesy of replying to enquiries. I have now tried for a stalking opportunity with 4x guides and although two have answered back to say they will stay in touch - least to say with no response.
I have been hunting all over the world and with all my hunting enquiries for hunting abroad the responses were prompt , efficient and with all the information you enquired for. Needless to say I have accepted their offers to hunt.
Two of the recent enquiries in the UK were with very well known stalkers in the stalking world in the UK- no names mentioned.
Please share your experiences , I am eager to hear your ecperiences.

I am still looking for a stalking opportunity .
Click to expand...
With you saying you have been a resident for 25 years how many guides have you been out with in that time?
Too flip the coin I have been waiting for 3 months for some prices/pictures from Namibia but the Boer are to busy riding around in the bucky lol
 
You might find at this time of year outfitters are attempting too achieve there annual cull and are particularly busy, or there taking a slight break before roe bucks come into season.

Not that it justifies no contact however same time It could be a reason? or just weirdly anti-social outfitters I guess!
 
Don't rule out a hesitant response due to the content and tone of your enquiry. Point being most "Outfitters" will receive a multiplicity of questionable emails from chancers and ne'er-do-wells, so will therefore be most selective in what they respond to.

This is not to say you fall into this category but its something to consider in 2026.

K
 
I'm on other forums and people are asking the same question, but you don't need to be on a forum to have been in this situation yourself. There are a multitude of reasons why business and individuals don't get back in touch but I would say, my experience, is that any enquiry to any organisation or individual is less likely to get a response these days. Why? Not sure. Is it too many emails to deal with? Screening those people want to engage with depending on the nature of email or somebody's name? Ease of ignoring an email or web contact Vs the old landline when we had no idea who was calling so answered the thing when it rang (not like today where I've noticed companies have these stupid screening methods where they ask you to state a name and reason for a call, leaving a short message that's played at the other end where the recipient can decide if they want to answer or not). Too much automation? Then there's the volume of emails people get. Plus the very normal thing of being a human and having time off or being pulled into a thousand and one pointless meetings...! The list is endless but I do think service is generally getting worse in my experience.
 
Sol said:
You might find at this time of year outfitters are attempting too achieve there annual cull and are particularly busy, or there taking a slight break before roe bucks come into season.

Not that it justifies no contact however same time It could be a reason? or just weirdly anti-social outfitters I guess!
Click to expand...
Exactly this I suspect - was talking to one yesterday who contracts for the busy doe culling and is working all hours, remotely. He’s looking forward to drawing breadth shortly before engaging with this year’s stag offerings.
 
k760 said:
I'm on other forums and people are asking the same question, but you don't need to be on a forum to have been in this situation yourself. There are a multitude of reasons why business and individuals don't get back in touch but I would say, my experience, is that any enquiry to any organisation or individual is less likely to get a response these days. Why? Not sure. Is it too many emails to deal with? Screening those people want to engage with depending on the nature of email or somebody's name? Ease of ignoring an email or web contact Vs the old landline when we had no idea who was calling so answered the thing when it rang (not like today where I've noticed companies have these stupid screening methods where they ask you to state a name and reason for a call, leaving a short message that's played at the other end where the recipient can decide if they want to answer or not). Too much automation? Then there's the volume of emails people get. Plus the very normal thing of being a human and having time off or being pulled into a thousand and one pointless meetings...! The list is endless but I do think service is generally getting worse in my experience.
Click to expand...
Spot on analysis - hitting nail on the head
 
wytonpjs said:
Exactly this I suspect - was talking to one yesterday who contracts for the busy doe culling and is working all hours, remotely. He’s looking forward to drawing breadth shortly before engaging with this year’s stag offerings.
Click to expand...
I do appreciate some guys are busy this time of year but I am referring to enquiries throughout the year not only now - but anyway time will tell - may be I am lucky next time
 
@Dakaboy42 poor service seems to be quite common in the UK in my experience, then you get the added weirdness/snobbery that goes with stalking/shooting. You've really got to persevere to find the good eggs.
 
Honestly, I've not had this issue before that I ever recall. Pick up phone, speak to stalker, arrange date, go shoot deer.

How are you approaching folk - emails, texts or by phone? I suspect a lot of stalkers want to speak to someone to get a feel for them before taking them out (I certainly would) and may not respond to a random text or email. Not saying it's right but I'd certainly want to know who I was spending a day or two with before committing (especially if I had a good reputation and plenty of business).
 
Mt Al said:
PM'ing from this website vs. emailing has worked well for me, admittedly only on two UK stalks.
Click to expand...
I never got an enquiry from you, shame as we could of talked about my fishing/hunting in Montana, but that would of scared the deer away😂

To the OP, when I was guiding I answered every single pm/email within 24 hours, not replying displays a sign of ignorance/arrogance, so you have had a lucky escape!
Plenty of good guides out there that don't focus on self promotion.
 
devon deer stalker said:
I never got an enquiry from you, shame as we could of talked about my fishing/hunting in Montana, but that would of scared the deer away😂

To the OP, when I was guiding I answered every single pm/email within 24 hours, not replying displays a sign of ignorance/arrogance, so you have had a lucky escape!
Plenty of good guides out there that don't focus on self promotion.
Click to expand...

I think we may have talked about your elk success a few years ago. Seems you did way better than a vast majority of Montana natives, honestly very impressive! Hope you make it back and let me buy you a few rounds.
 
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