Organizing a Hunting trip/exped

[Ackers-303]

Afternoon All,

I hope everyone is doing OK with this new lockdown!

I would like to draw on the experience of this forum, I am in the preliminary phase of planning a hunting trip.

As I'm sure many could relate, as life progresses and takes over, time spent with friends and family can decrease. I am certainly guilty of not making enough effort to keep up with my cousin's, uncles and aunts, and so many of my mates. In my current occupation, I feel very distant from them all!

All the lads of the family are all country folk, love shooting and the outdoors, and (most importantly) stalking to one degree or another.

I want to organise a long weekend stalking trip for the lads of the family. We have my Dad, and his two brothers, and two other cousin's, plus myself, so 6 in total. More than open to the idea of an extended family trip, but too many people can often be a hindrance, especially when hunting is the focal point. I think it would bring us closer and find that common ground we all have.

If anyone has ideas, experience, locations and itinerary possibilities then my ears are pinned back. I keen to find out people thoughts and advice. What other considerations should be taken into account? When is the best time? Cost effective? How long is too long? Where?

My initial thoughts are getting a nice lodge in the highlands, 4-5 days??, Get a nice Stag, or hinds. Staying somewhere homely, good staff, good food, not (too) extravagant. Could throw a decent amount of cash at it, but not sure of the prices. Advice needed. Not adverse to going abroad.

What I don't want it to be is a hand holding hunting trip where the shooter is handed the rifle at the last moment, with the gilly lining it all up etc. I want it to be a raw, unadulterated and wholesome experience! Basically I'm not a fan of people doing it all for me, if you know what I mean.

I welcome all thoughts and suggestions. I'm looking to do the ground work in the coming months for potentially autumn/winter trip.

Cheers all, I look forward to what you all have to say!

 

[stevec]

I am sure you could find lots of places. Might be worth speaking to Goldsmiths in Edinburgh, Galbraith's or Edwin Thompson in Galashiels, who all let stalking. I would be very surprised if you are allowed to go unguided though, as the estate will have particular beasts in mind to cull, although a good stalker will make you work and will make your week much more enjoyable, as you learn so much from them about the local area etc. I have always been guided in to a shooting position and told which beast to shoot, but a lot is down to you. I would make it absolutely clear that you want to work and don't want to be driven about in an agro etc. You will still have to gralloch / drag etc and help load ponies if applicable.

 

[Freeforester]

You'll need to determine how many Rifles are going to at any one time or day, most highland places in Scotland I know of don't shoot deer on Sundays, and consider what you are going to do when something possibly goes wrong, eg a beast gets wounded or even shot and then has to be extracted, with by what means, etc, or if someone gets injured through inexperience ( - and who is going to pick up the pieces, including responsibility for any issue, there's a lot more to it than meets the eye, and these are genuine possible outcomes that no self respecting landowner would want to have on their conscience, let alone have to defend or deal with generally); nice idea/dream, though a little more realism and thought may be required beyond the preliminary plans.

 

[sikamalc]

Drop me a PM with your details. I have been organising and running trips to the highlands for 34 years. All in including pick up and return to Inverness, all meals home cooked, vehicles, fuel, guides, 2 stags, one red and one sika, 6 days. Heads boiled out and capped off included, licences for overseas clients.
Total acerage is in the area of 25,000 acres on one area, 35,000 on another and the smaller one is 7000. All in the far highlands near Dornoch. We can normally take 4 rifles per day. Two on reds and two on sika. On sika you will have a guide each.

All you have to do is turn up with your clothes and rifle (or use one of ours) and we do all the rest for you. Plenty of references available, overseas and in the UK.

Good luck with your search.

 

[stevec]

Yes, I have seen experienced stalkers in real trouble with stuck argocats etc and unless you know the area well you could end up in real trouble. At best, you could push deer over the march or in to somewhere where you can't stalk them and spoil the next few days and at worst, you could easily end up totally lost, taking a shot on a neighbouring estate or having a fall or getting stuck somewhere. Good stalkers are professionals and will work to your ability once they get to know you. Most are also really interesting people who will only add to your experience

 

[stevec]

I suppose the only other think I can add is that in my experience (others on here will have much more), it is worth investing in good well broken in boots and gaiters and taking 8x binoculars and plenty of warm clothes. The place I normally go to insists on a moderated magazine rifle (no single shots) with a bipod and at least a 6x scope between 6.5x55 and 30-06 but other places will have different rules, I am sure and most will have good estate rifles.

 

[User00040]

My initial thoughts are getting a nice lodge in the highlands, 4-5 days??, Get a nice Stag, or hinds. Staying somewhere homely, good staff, good food, not (too) extravagant. Could throw a decent amount of cash at it, but not sure of the prices. Advice needed. Not adverse to going abroad.

Place I once worked at was £20k a week for what you describe, any stags shot were extra.

Maybe time to trade in a BitCoin if you have any!

What I don't want it to be is a hand holding hunting trip where the shooter is handed the rifle at the last moment, with the gilly lining it all up etc.

Sorry, but the above describes most commercially let stalking in the UK, especially Scotland. Unlikely to get 'free-reign' unless you are a repeat guest of provenance (even then still unlikely), in a syndicate, own the place or similar.

For one person it might be possible to 'rent/lease' some syndicate ground but it will probably be insufficient for your party.

Really puts things into perspective vs. other countries as we have no public land hunting unless you count wildfowling.

Best of luck in your search.

 

[stevec]

Hind stalking with self catered accomadation can be much less expensive

 

[CarlW]

I agree with all of the above. One thing to add: if you do take a lodge for a week, I would definitely take wives as well. It won't add anything to the cost (except in the margins), but will make the bill feel less frightening (and you will be able to say 'we' rather than 'I' when planning the trip). Women are also good to have around...at least in the evenings...

Second what @stevec says: call George Goldsmith (or similar) and get him to give you some options.

Best,

Carl

 

[Ackers-303]

@Freeforester, totally get what you are saying, and yes, much more thought will go into this. Merely the first few thoughts on the matter.

@caberslash Roger, I think it would be guided, but more for boundary deconfliction/navigation as we wouldn't know that area we would be out in. I rekon we would enjoy the trip if we worked for what we got.

 

[User00040]

@Freeforester, totally get what you are saying, and yes, much more thought will go into this. Merely the first few thoughts on the matter.

@caberslash Roger, I think it would be guided, but more for boundary deconfliction/navigation as we wouldn't know that area we would be out in. I rekon we would enjoy the trip if we worked for what we got.

@Ackers-303 without CV-19 being a factor I'd be looking at somewhere like this: Shooting Hunting Property | Australia | Ella Valla Station

Plenty of good wine from Australia, more so now the Chinese have stopped buying!

 

[Ackers-303]

I'll take a look!

What about hunting in scandinavia or eastern europe? (Taking covid out of the equation)

 

[EMcC]

Have you considered a trip to Croatia shooting driven boar? It would have to between November and January. I can arrange for a group of sixteen, subject to the lifting of corvid regs, at very reasonable rates.

 

[Sika98k]

Or a trip to Croatia to hunt golden jackal ? That’s a bit different. I saw it on eGun earlier. Not overly expensive either. High seat work, you might get a boar while you’re at it.

 

[South West Stalkers]

I'll take a look!

What about hunting in scandinavia or eastern europe? (Taking covid out of the equation)

Hello,
A combination of driven days and stalking in Hungary? Plenty of activity & sightseeing & Spa for wives too.
1 day on driven wild boar, another day on driven game and between some days stalking (semi-guided).
Send me a message if interested.

 

[User00025]

I agree with all of the above. One thing to add: if you do take a lodge for a week, I would definitely take wives as well. Women are also good to have around...at least in the evenings...

After a hard day on the hill???
Ok, probably in one of those huge Victorian baths in some old lodges, you can discuss your day before you nod off.

 

[tusker]

How about shooting Quail over pointers in Romania or Bulgaria. Really good sport we did this with dove shooting in the afternoon.
Tusker

 

[Bavarianbrit]

Or a trip to Croatia to hunt golden jackal ? That’s a bit different. I saw it on eGun earlier. Not overly expensive either. High seat work, you might get a boar while you’re at it.

I had one cross my track at 5 metres heavy foliage was in front and behind but I had other shooters left & right so no shot taken. But hey I have actually seen one, the hunt boss had said shoot on sight this was in Croatia.

 

[The Singing Stalker]

Only thing I can add to this that will help is, 'work on your fitness'. I see far to many people who are unfit and overweight. That might be ok off a highseat but if you are going to Scotland or even abroad you may be doing a lot of hiking.

I can now preach as I have lost half a stone and my fitness is reasonable to what it was.....

 

[Dunwaters]

Afternoon All,

I hope everyone is doing OK with this new lockdown!

I would like to draw on the experience of this forum, I am in the preliminary phase of planning a hunting trip.

As I'm sure many could relate, as life progresses and takes over, time spent with friends and family can decrease. I am certainly guilty of not making enough effort to keep up with my cousin's, uncles and aunts, and so many of my mates. In my current occupation, I feel very distant from them all!

All the lads of the family are all country folk, love shooting and the outdoors, and (most importantly) stalking to one degree or another.

I want to organise a long weekend stalking trip for the lads of the family. We have my Dad, and his two brothers, and two other cousin's, plus myself, so 6 in total. More than open to the idea of an extended family trip, but too many people can often be a hindrance, especially when hunting is the focal point. I think it would bring us closer and find that common ground we all have.

If anyone has ideas, experience, locations and itinerary possibilities then my ears are pinned back. I keen to find out people thoughts and advice. What other considerations should be taken into account? When is the best time? Cost effective? How long is too long? Where?

My initial thoughts are getting a nice lodge in the highlands, 4-5 days??, Get a nice Stag, or hinds. Staying somewhere homely, good staff, good food, not (too) extravagant. Could throw a decent amount of cash at it, but not sure of the prices. Advice needed. Not adverse to going abroad.

What I don't want it to be is a hand holding hunting trip where the shooter is handed the rifle at the last moment, with the gilly lining it all up etc. I want it to be a raw, unadulterated and wholesome experience! Basically I'm not a fan of people doing it all for me, if you know what I mean.

I welcome all thoughts and suggestions. I'm looking to do the ground work in the coming months for potentially autumn/winter trip.

Cheers all, I look forward to what you all have to say!

I’ve done this a few times,
First thing decide what you want to go after, maybe be a bit foreign ?
I’m personally a big fan of nice warm beds and good food and accommodation at the end of the day, but if you’re happy to bivvy in a refuse sack that’s your choice.
Set the dates in concrete and get deposits.
How much do you have to spend?
1K can go a long way, if it was me I’d go a bit exotic, whitetail or moose but I’d happily trot along on a mackerel bash in the bay, it’s going to be about the company.