Part time professional

[Phil A.]

I’m curious as to what the options are for someone who wants to pursue a career in stalking but only as a part time profession.

I spoke with my local FC and they told me they only had a full time trainee position that I had to relocate for or they used contractors.

The local wildlife trusts don’t manage their deer it seems either.

Is I’m there such thing as a part time contractor? If so who should I be speaking to?

Forgive my naivety in being new to stalking but I never do anything by half!

Cheers,

Phil

 

[Pete6.5]

For part time go self employed and offer a service that someone wants. Get a reputation for being a trustworthy person that gets the job done quickly and efficiently. Spend tons of time getting your name about but don't tread over the line and become to pushy. And finally always remember there will always be someone offering to do your job that you work very hard at for free even if they can't do what you do.

 

[Pete6.5]

O and I forgot get your head around the fact that after all your costs come of the top you will be lucky to earn minimum wage. The answer to this is for your other job to be very flexible and profitable enough to subsidize your dream.

 

[arron]

If you go that that road , you will need to A ; deliver the agreed cull , there is more pressure on you than going out when you fancy a stalk ,, if you don't put the time and effort in you won't get a second chance and it's a small world,, B deliver the cull to a high standard of presentation ,folk will soon suss you out out putting crap in , there is a lot more to it than you may realise ,, but if your keen then best of luck , I wish I was more switched on to it when I was younger

 

[rem284]

I’m curious as to what the options are for someone who wants to pursue a career in stalking but only as a part time profession.

I spoke with my local FC and they told me they only had a full time trainee position that I had to relocate for or they used contractors.

The local wildlife trusts don’t manage their deer it seems either.

Is I’m there such thing as a part time contractor? If so who should I be speaking to?

Forgive my naivety in being new to stalking but I never do anything by half!

Cheers,

Phil

Contract cullers might need assistance or subcontractors. Winter time is the most effective time for culling. So by part-time do you mean you could only do deer work so many days a week all year round or you could do every day of the winter and have the summer off.

If you are new to stalking though it does seem a bit ambitious to want to be a professional or part-time professional. The difference between shooting the odd recreational deer and having the ability to cull several hundred or even into 4 figures is the difference between night and day. Having said that, we all have to start somewhere

 

[User00040]

Having dealt with a few, even the most well-meaning and friendly are nothing but bother.

Eg. night shooting; 'Will need to be home before midnight tonight, got something on tomorrow'

OK Cinderella, don't leave your glass slippers behind!

The difference between shooting the odd recreational deer and having the ability to cull several hundred or even into 4 figures is the difference between night and day. Having said that, we all have to start somewhere

Like knowing which deer farm gates aren't locked...

 

[Pete6.5]

Contract cullers might need assistance or subcontractors. Winter time is the most effective time for culling. So by part-time do you mean you could only do deer work so many days a week all year round or you could do every day of the winter and have the summer off.

If you are new to stalking though it does seem a bit ambitious to want to be a professional or part-time professional. The difference between shooting the odd recreational deer and having the ability to cull several hundred or even into 4 figures is the difference between night and day. Having said that, we all have to start somewhere

Nothing wrong with being ambitious I started my first business at 17. I only say what Ive said so people know what they are walking into. If deer stalking is what someone wants to do go for it.

 

[rem284]

Nothing wrong with being ambitious I started my first business at 17. I only say what Ive said so people know what they are walking into. If deer stalking is what someone wants to do go for it.

Yep, that's why I said "we all have to start somewhere"

 

[rem284]

Having dealt with a few, even the most well-meaning and friendly are nothing but bother.

Eg. night shooting; 'Will need to be home before midnight tonight, got something on tomorrow'

OK Cinderella, don't leave your glass slippers behind!



Like knowing which deer farm gates aren't locked...

One night shoot I heard a knocking sound coming from the passenger side. I looked and my young assistant was sleeping and the lamp was banging off the outside of the door. I poked him in the chest and told him he wouldn't see fcuk all with his eyes shut. Just then, I shot a few deer and thought, that will wake him up. Another 5 minutes and he was sleeping again. I then took the best lamp off him and gave him the "not so good lamp". He then just closed the window and went back to sleep. That was his last night with me. I am pretty sure it was before midnight

 

[Phil A.]

For part time go self employed and offer a service that someone wants. Get a reputation for being a trustworthy person that gets the job done quickly and efficiently. Spend tons of time getting your name about but don't tread over the line and become to pushy. And finally always remember there will always be someone offering to do your job that you work very hard at for free even if they can't do what you do.

The self employed route is definitely something I’ve been considering but it would probably be more of a food business as opposed to a culling service.

Contract cullers might need assistance or subcontractors. Winter time is the most effective time for culling. So by part-time do you mean you could only do deer work so many days a week all year round or you could do every day of the winter and have the summer off.

If you are new to stalking though it does seem a bit ambitious to want to be a professional or part-time professional. The difference between shooting the odd recreational deer and having the ability to cull several hundred or even into 4 figures is the difference between night and day. Having said that, we all have to start somewhere

How do the contracts work? Are they based on a cull target or a time commitment?

I’d not really considered a seasonal role but I guess that it is the most effective time to do the culling.
I’ve just been invited to shadow the wildlife rangers in Kielder later this year when they’re doing their culling.

My current situation is I am a part time Sous Chef and I run my side business which was my last out of control hobby of guitar building.

I’m looking to replace the chef work over the next couple of years.

 

[User00040]

I’ve just been invited to shadow the wildlife rangers in Kielder later this year when they’re doing their culling.

There is a contract running in Kielder so I would not mention contract stalking to the FE Rangers...

 

[Phil A.]

There is a contract running in Kielder so I would not mention contract stalking to the FE Rangers...

Why is that?

 

[sikamalc]

I started over 40 years ago, whilst being fully employed in another job. I gradually found ground and various estates to take on the management. It grew quickly and I eventually became full time as a self employed stalker, taking clients on all the species. Its take a LONG time to get there, and with the help of two or three good people who guide for me.
You also need a lot of experience, plus a very understanding partner/wife. That's where I scored big time. She cooks for all the clients when away, does all my bookwork and also when time allows has taken 3 species of deer with her own rifle.

Good luck with your endevours.

 

[rem284]

The self employed route is definitely something I’ve been considering but it would probably be more of a food business as opposed to a culling service.


How do the contracts work? Are they based on a cull target or a time commitment?

I’d not really considered a seasonal role but I guess that it is the most effective time to do the culling.
I’ve just been invited to shadow the wildlife rangers in Kielder later this year when they’re doing their culling.

My current situation is I am a part time Sous Chef and I run my side business which was my last out of control hobby of guitar building.

I’m looking to replace the chef work over the next couple of years.

Shadowing a wildlife ranger will be great for you to get a better idea of what doing it as a pro involves. It also will be a start of getting to know contacts and hopefully for you to get known for the right reasons

Contracts are normally on a number of deer to be culled from a beat. As with anything these days there is a lot of red tape, certificates and processes to go through. The trend now up here is to award bigger contracts to a main contractor and let him largely manage subcontractors

I hope it goes well and the good news is, there are more opportunities involving deer work now than ever before

 

[Limpo]

If you want to shoot lots of deer in Devon/Cornwall it's more likely going to cost you money rather than be paid to do it. Any money I make is from selling venison there are estates around here that get £5k p/a for the stalking which is made back by the stalker selling trophy heads (mainly to foreigners.)

 

[Uncle Buck]

One night shoot I heard a knocking sound coming from the passenger side. I looked and my young assistant was sleeping and the lamp was banging off the outside of the door. I poked him in the chest and told him he wouldn't see fcuk all with his eyes shut. Just then, I shot a few deer and thought, that will wake him up. Another 5 minutes and he was sleeping again. I then took the best lamp off him and gave him the "not so good lamp". He then just closed the window and went back to sleep. That was his last night with me. I am pretty sure it was before midnight

He must not have had his weetabix !

 

[Uncle Buck]

Shadowing a wildlife ranger will be great for you to get a better idea of what doing it as a pro involves. It also will be a start of getting to know contacts and hopefully for you to get known for the right reasons

Contracts are normally on a number of deer to be culled from a beat. As with anything these days there is a lot of red tape, certificates and processes to go through. The trend now up here is to award bigger contracts to a main contractor and let him largely manage subcontractors

I hope it goes well and the good news is, there are more opportunities involving deer work now than ever before

Sound move one contractor in charge of several subs. .. if there’s any fook ups the one man cops the needle so to speak. It also lightens the load on WRM’s smart thinking I’d say.

 

[NullMac]

The trend now up here is to award bigger contracts to a main contractor and let him largely manage subcontractors

With varying degrees of success

 

[Bavarianbrit]

If you want to shoot lots of deer in Devon/Cornwall it's more likely going to cost you money rather than be paid to do it. Any money I make is from selling venison there are estates around here that get £5k p/a for the stalking which is made back by the stalker selling trophy heads (mainly to foreigners.)

Can you still take out trophies from the UK to the EU?

 

[Pete6.5]

I will try and make a list of things needed to be a self employed contractor.

Dsc 1
Dsc 2
Deer management qualification
Quad ticket
Firearms ticket
Driving license
First aid
Register as a food business
Insurance (trade not the stuff you get as a member of a shooting organization)
Register as a business (remember you have to pay tax on any profit. )
You need a accountant if you are not willing to do it yourself.

Rifle
2nd spare rifle
Scope ( recommend a day night one in England remember your not there for sport or fun?
Mounts
Thermal
Sticks
4x4 truck
Trailer
Quad ( with insurance)
Chiller with painted floor, sink
Larder equipment
Rail system
Electric hoist

You have to build a big network of contacts to even get a look in on the contracts.
You have to build a relationship with multiple venison outlets and produce a perfect carcass every time. (this is very important it will generate a big proportion of your income.

There are lots of small things as well but I think this is a good start.