Hi all, I have been lurking and using the forum for its wealth of useful information regarding to FAC application and general tips and tricks for all things relating to deer stalking, and so far have found this to be an excellent repository, especially to someone who is new to this!
I'm based on the border of 3 counties, being Suffolk, Cambridgeshire & Essex, so I'm really quite fortunate in that I'm reasonably likely to see at least 5 of the 6 species without having to travel too far for them.
My experience with rifles is largely recent, outside of playing with break barrel air rifles and BB guns as a teenager. I purchased a .177 Gamo GX 250 earlier this year which is great, fantastically accurate PCP air rifle. Recently also did a range session and had a go with a few calibres, .22 rimfire, .223, and .308. Really enjoyed the experience.
I've been incredibly lucky to have a friend who is already a well established stalker with years of experience, who has been kind enough to coach me and let me use his .243 rifle, and we've been out a handful of times this year successfully stalking Roe (and regularly seeing CWD & Muntjac). I performed my first gralloch with guidance a couple of weeks ago, and also had the fun task of boiling the head for a trophy, there's a smell that won't leave me for some time!
Currently working on obtaining my FAC, with a view to obtaining my own permissions. GP pro-forma went off this week, so hoping I won't have to wait too long for that bit. As far as I have been able to glean, Suffolk police aren't too terrible where it comes to processing FAC's, and again I count my luck knowing that I'm not having to get my application processed by Cambridgeshire, who don't seem to have the best reputation when it comes to application processing!!
I would appreciate (tentatively, I'm sure it's a deep area of vigorous discussion) some input where it concerns the calibre I should put on my application. This is in part due to the impending ban on lead ammunition in the not so distant future. I'm quite keen to avoid investing in say a .243 if lead ammo is on the way out, and instead I am considering .308 / 6.5 creedmoor.
Appreciate any advice given, and look forward to chatting and general discourse!
I'm based on the border of 3 counties, being Suffolk, Cambridgeshire & Essex, so I'm really quite fortunate in that I'm reasonably likely to see at least 5 of the 6 species without having to travel too far for them.
My experience with rifles is largely recent, outside of playing with break barrel air rifles and BB guns as a teenager. I purchased a .177 Gamo GX 250 earlier this year which is great, fantastically accurate PCP air rifle. Recently also did a range session and had a go with a few calibres, .22 rimfire, .223, and .308. Really enjoyed the experience.
I've been incredibly lucky to have a friend who is already a well established stalker with years of experience, who has been kind enough to coach me and let me use his .243 rifle, and we've been out a handful of times this year successfully stalking Roe (and regularly seeing CWD & Muntjac). I performed my first gralloch with guidance a couple of weeks ago, and also had the fun task of boiling the head for a trophy, there's a smell that won't leave me for some time!
Currently working on obtaining my FAC, with a view to obtaining my own permissions. GP pro-forma went off this week, so hoping I won't have to wait too long for that bit. As far as I have been able to glean, Suffolk police aren't too terrible where it comes to processing FAC's, and again I count my luck knowing that I'm not having to get my application processed by Cambridgeshire, who don't seem to have the best reputation when it comes to application processing!!
I would appreciate (tentatively, I'm sure it's a deep area of vigorous discussion) some input where it concerns the calibre I should put on my application. This is in part due to the impending ban on lead ammunition in the not so distant future. I'm quite keen to avoid investing in say a .243 if lead ammo is on the way out, and instead I am considering .308 / 6.5 creedmoor.
Appreciate any advice given, and look forward to chatting and general discourse!
