New guy from Suffolk

[Hudson1984]

HI all, hoping to pick your brains into the world of stalking and shooting in general really!

We have a lovely/lively Labrador, who we'd been training through normal training clubs. Sadly as he's gotten older (he's just coming up to 2) he's just gotten progressively bored of it and really despondent. So we have started taking him gundog training - I think the trainer took all of 90 seconds and had his firm attention and had him walking to heel etc. AMAZED!!

This has gotten me thinking of actually shooting for myself, and perhaps given some more development bringing along my little fluffy friend.

I've only ever shot clay in the past and that was a long while ago. Martial arts has always been my hobby however my knees don't seem to be able to take it anymore (moving is fine, running is fine, cycling is fine - being chucked around for 90 minutes isn't) so I'm after a new hobby myself especially if there's a social aspect!!! I don't really know too many people these days and i'm keen to widen my social network as well as find something enjoyable to do.

I'm very keen on shooting for food, i'm really not wanting to shoot for the sake of shooting (each to their own of course) but 200 bird shoots for example doesn't appeal to me. Which is what peeked my interest in Deer Stalking, my thought was i'm involved in conservation which is great, and only kill one animal (I assume) and can fill the freezer for a good while!

Of course, as suggested, i'm new
I know nothing
I've lots to learn.

Any help would be fantastic, any others in Suffolk open to a newbie tagging along on a shoot as a bag carrier would also be great.

Hope to speak with you all soon, be great to get out there a bit and try something new.

so, I guess the main question is - where do I start? is there anything east Suffolk in terms of training? Clubs?

 

[white van man]

Hi
And Welcome to Stalking directory, it's a great platform for getting acquainted with fellow stalkers and looking for advice, which you will certainly get and most of it will be good.
My advice re:training would be to do your DSC 1, you will definitely need this certificate to get any stalking as most land owners ask for it as a minimum. After the swatting part I did the practical at Thetford which can't be far from you.
Good Luck.
Steve.

 

[Colonel]

Welcome to Stalking Directory, that’s good advice. When you do the DSC1 you will get to meet people from your area and who knows what that will lead to. Also from Suffolk

 

[Neoublie1]

Hi there and welcome, good read
Barry

 

[VSS]

Welcome. You have come to the right place! Warning - you will be hooked on stalking before you know it!
I only dropped into this site for a bit of advice a few years back, no thought of stalking, and now I seem to have a cabinet full of rifles, a freezer full of venison, and a daughter wanting to make a career out of deer management!
Shot my first deer in Suffolk. There are some very helpful people in your area.

 

[Andy-shooter]

Welcome!

I’m in Suffolk (just outside Bury) and there are a few of us in the area who have met up and formed a sort of local group. We are terrible at organising meet ups but they do happen occasionally.

I’d love to be able to offer you to tag along but I’m still looking for my own ground.

In the meantime, If you’d like to get out for a stalk and see if you like it I can recommend the BASC scheme in thetford forest (although my understanding is that Rob the stalker/teacher there is moving on shortly). Alternatively Chris the stalker on the Euston estate is excellent too. In either case you can use the estate rifle (assuming you are not a prohibited person) so you don’t even need a FAC.

Andy

 

[Hudson1984]

Hi all, thanks for the replies. I'll have to take a look at the Thetford course, that's only down the road really - I work in Diss so fairly central for me.

Like the idea of using the estate gun as i'm gunless.....at the moment.... i'll have to work on the wife on that one - promise of a freezer full of venison would probably do the trick!!

 

[GBPOTM]

Welcome and enjoy

 

[JAYB]

Welcome to the site,

John