Making stalking more accessible

Make it too easy & you will end up with "slob hunters". Slob hunters bring the sport into disrepute & as we all know legislation is intended to pull the horns in on the lowest common denominator but it ends up causing much more grief for the 99% who do the right thing than to those who dont care.
 
There is plenty of shooting/stalking to be had, you just have to be willing to pay for it. Not sure opening up FC land is a very good idea. The majority of hobby stalkers don’t have the time required to the job efficiently.
 
Not sure opening up FC land is a very good idea.

In France, the Office National de la Chasse et de la Faune Sauvage organises guided stalking on State owned land. It's pretty good value but by no means cheap. It's a good revenue stream and offers good hunting opportunities. There's no reason why the FC couldn't do the same here.
 
In France, the Office National de la Chasse et de la Faune Sauvage organises guided stalking on State owned land. It's pretty good value but by no means cheap. It's a good revenue stream and offers good hunting opportunities. There's no reason why the FC couldn't do the same here.


We do
 
interesting thread
its dictated by ££ sadly but what isn't in this country and those with the deepest pockets arn't always the most suitable
I was recently in the company of two gentlemen with many thousands of acres here and abroad with all the banter and showing of pictures on phones not once was the mention of the female deer !! just big heads and big dollar signs
stalking sadly IMO isn't in the best shape ...if all the guys with big acres helped just one newbie and all the newbies were honest and trust worthy it maybe different who knows ??
Norma
 
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Ah good, glad to hear it. I didn't know the FC did that. Could someone point me towards more details please? I'd be interested to see what's on offer. I don't know what's going on, I have a sort of stalking thirst on...
 
Ah good, glad to hear it. I didn't know the FC did that. Could someone point me towards more details please? I'd be interested to see what's on offer. I don't know what's going on, I have a sort of stalking thirst on...

Go onto the FC web site
 
going to stick my neck out here and possilbly ruffle a few feathers but I dont think stalking should be made avalible to every tom dick and harry, stalking deer is a responsabilty that should be worked upto not just somthing you can dip your toe into and have a go at. Theres to many have a go heros in the countryside buying guns and rampaging about blasting at this and that with no real idea what there doing or why there doing it, I'm sure if i asked half of them to paunch a rabbit under a ash tree they would either not know how to do it or what a ash tree looked like and the other half would say "well I dont eat the rabbits I shoot so I just hedge them" and whilst I would never want to see shooting of all types as a old boys club with no way in I would like to see people work there way up from the bottom learning there way through it all and become true countrymen and women along the way not just someone who has a gun and access to land.

No feathers ruffled here.....I completely agree with you.
If you want to dip your toe as you say then get you wallet out and be restricted to paid days out! Personally I wouldnt pay a penny to shoot anything.
I never set out to get into deer management.....my passion was (and still is I suppose) rabbit control....and i was bloody good at it because I put the hours in. You cant "take a few for the pot" or "leave some for next season" for sport....or let your foot off the gas....your there to do a job. When the rabbits where all gone or under strict control then deer where next on the agenda.
If you dont want to pay for it and want to go whenever you want then you have earn it
 
interesting thread
its dictated by ££ sadly but what isn't in this country and those with the deepest pockets arn't always the most suitable
I was recently in the company of two gentlemen with many thousands of acres here and abroad with all the banter and showing of pictures on phones not once was the mention of the female deer !! just big heads and big dollar signs
stalking sadly IMO isn't in the best shape ...if all the guys with big acres helped just one newbie and all the newbies were honest and trust worthy it maybe different who knows ??
Norma

I dont think it is all about ££! Its about the stalking going to true countrymen that are passionate about managing the land rather than having a hobby. Hobbies can be expensive, they fit in around your lifestyle and sadly come at a cost....but deer stalking to me isnt a hobby its a way of life and came about not because i "fancied it" but because I earned it.
Ok it may be hard for someone starting out.....some will get lucky and some wont, but dont expect to walk into it on a free pass and I certainly dont think it should be made any more accessible than it already is
 
I dont think it is all about ££! Its about the stalking going to true countrymen that are passionate about managing the land rather than having a hobby. Hobbies can be expensive, they fit in around your lifestyle and sadly come at a cost....but deer stalking to me isnt a hobby its a way of life and came about not because i "fancied it" but because I earned it.
Ok it may be hard for someone starting out.....some will get lucky and some wont, but dont expect to walk into it on a free pass and I certainly dont think it should be made any more accessible than it already is
fortunately f ferret I've my share of stalking and thankfully don't pay for it I'd like to think I'd earnt it too I've even been known to pass on some of my good fortune to several SD members not so fortunate which was my point really I guess .I was lucky had a generous mentor or two and I will pass that on sadly many won't all they see is ££ signs rather than good deeds .
kind regards Norma
 

Is that a new thing ranger?? Or on an district by district basis? Have u always taken clients out

I knew they used too and have heard a few stories from the boys, but definitely never heard of it in recent times. That was back in the days of the maestro vans.
I have heard the FC boys out of grizedale did take clients out
I checked the link u provided and it does list the whole of Scotland.
 
Is that a new thing ranger?? Or on an district by district basis? Have u always taken clients out

I knew they used too and have heard a few stories from the boys, but definitely never heard of it in recent times. That was back in the days of the maestro vans.
I have heard the FC boys out of grizedale did take clients out
I checked the link u provided and it does list the whole of Scotland.

Been pretty much all of the time I have been with the F.C. We did have a couple of years when very little was on offer. I personally wouldnt offer it as the nature of our job doesn’t suit being fussy over which stag or buck we shoot.
 
Make it too easy & you will end up with "slob hunters". Slob hunters bring the sport into disrepute & as we all know legislation is intended to pull the horns in on the lowest common denominator but it ends up causing much more grief for the 99% who do the right thing than to those who dont care.


Their sort are already massively prevalent, and seem to think that an air rifle and some cheap camo (along with their Nike Air Max trainers...) means they are some super-hunter.
I was stood in the stable yard last summer talking to a landowner on my big permission (about 8 miles from the nearest town, so god knows where they came from) when a couple of 'that sort' strolled in, tracksuited up and smoking. They then proceeded to try and get permission to shoot on there, punctuating every other word with 'f*ck', still smoking and gobbing onto the floor. When the old boy said no, they then got aggressive, told him and me to f*ck off and said that they'd 'be back' (We reported them & their car reg to police, and as of yet, no sign of them!) With that sort of pleb around, is it no wonder that shooting becomes more exclusive to try and keep them out?!
 
Their sort are already massively prevalent, and seem to think that an air rifle and some cheap camo (along with their Nike Air Max trainers...) means they are some super-hunter.
I was stood in the stable yard last summer talking to a landowner on my big permission (about 8 miles from the nearest town, so god knows where they came from) when a couple of 'that sort' strolled in, tracksuited up and smoking. They then proceeded to try and get permission to shoot on there, punctuating every other word with 'f*ck', still smoking and gobbing onto the floor. When the old boy said no, they then got aggressive, told him and me to f*ck off and said that they'd 'be back' (We reported them & their car reg to police, and as of yet, no sign of them!) With that sort of pleb around, is it no wonder that shooting becomes more exclusive to try and keep them out?!

Were they, perhaps, on drugs?
 
Been pretty much all of the time I have been with the F.C. We did have a couple of years when very little was on offer. I personally wouldnt offer it as the nature of our job doesn’t suit being fussy over which stag or buck we shoot.

From the other side of the fence: Agreed..I've shot the odd stag on this scheme, but it isn't for the fussy. The ranger tells you what to shoot and you get on with it. I mainly stick to hinds as it cheaper and colder (and less midges). I do it because I get to some tough and varied terrain. Its the stalking / being out for me..pure and simple.
 
A side note. A friend has come back from stalking Sika in Peebles. He went with Tweed Valley Stalking. By all accounts, he enjoyed it and wasn't expensive. Just a thought
 
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